There they paused and began to roar and growl furiously and tear up the ground with their claws.
Pomp nearly split his sides with laughter.
It was to him the funniest thing he had seen for many a day.
“Golly, I jes’ reckon dat was one very much s’prised bear,” he cried, hilariously. “I jes’ fink he don’ want no paht ob de Steam Man any more.”
But in this surmise Pomp was wrong.
The two bears had again begun to advance down the mountain side.
They advanced cautiously, taking much time and sniffing the air suspiciously as before.
They took a detour, and both approached the Steam Man from the side.
Steadily, cautiously they approached. Again Pomp pulled the valve.
As the Steam Man’s whistle went up on the air both bears went tumbling back somersaults.