“Think the frost’ll hold, sir?”
The doctor looked up now—he knew boy Bounce’s ways.
“What else have you to say, boy, eh? Out with it.”
“Oh, nothing sir, only there’s been a bear a-squatting yonder, and a-lookin’ at ye for the last five minutes, and maybe he’s going to spring.”
Dr Barrett sprang first though. The monster was within thirty yards of him. He seized boy Bounce’s rifle, and next moment Bruin rolled over the ledge dead at their feet.
“Why didn’t you hit him, you young goose?”
“Cause as ’ow, sir,” said boy Bounce, coolly, “you told me never to do nought ’athout first consulting you.”
“Is it a bear?” said Paddy, rushing to the scene of action.
“Well,” replied the doctor, smiling as he resumed his work, “it is something very like it, Paddy.”
“Sure and it’s meself ought to have killed him, and not that young spalpeen Bounce.”