"A BEAR!" CRIED THE TAILOR.
"We were just coming through the wood," said the tailor, "when there, as close to us as the shoemaker is to the blacksmith, we saw——"
"A terrible creature," interrupted the tinker. "'Tis as large as a calf, I assure you——"
"And white as the mayor's shirt," cried the tailor. "It is a marvel that we escaped and if it had not been that I——"
"I saw it first," said the tinker; "but I stood my ground. I did not run till the tailor did."
The two would have been willing to talk till morning had not all the others determined to go to the wood at once and kill the bear.
"I cannot answer for the safety of the town till it is done," said the mayor; so every one ran for a weapon as fast as his feet could carry him.