Scene in the hunter’s cottage.
Once Bruno saved his master’s life when he was thus overtaken in a storm. The baby was sick, and the hunter thought he would go down in the valley to get some medicine for him. The baby was in a cradle. His grandmother took care of him and rocked him. His mother was at work about the room, feeling very anxious and unhappy. The hunter himself, who had come in tired from his work a short time before, was sitting in a comfortable easy-chair which stood in the corner by the fire. The head of the cradle was near the chair where the hunter was sitting.[1]
[1] For the positions of the chair and cradle in the hunter’s cottage, see engraving on [page 30].
“George,” said the hunter’s wife, “I wish you would look at the baby.”
George leaned forward over the head of the cradle, and looked down upon the baby.
“Poor little thing!” said he.
“What shall we do?” said his wife. As she said this she came to the cradle, and, bending down over it, she moved the baby’s head a little, so as to place it in a more comfortable position. The baby was very pale, and his eyes were shut. As soon as he felt his mother’s hand upon his cheek, he opened his eyes, but immediately shut them again. He was too sick to look very long even at his mother.
Consultation between the hunter and his wife.
“Poor little thing!” said George again. “He is very sick. I must go to the village and get some medicine from the doctor.”
“Oh no!” said his wife. “You can not go to the village to-night. It is a dreadful storm.”