"And now we must be off." So saying he tucked the Dog under his arm and jumped up and away.
Far, far away they sailed. The gum seemed to have given the suit new life—and why shouldn't magic gum improve a magic suit? It seemed to Billy that this jump was by far the longest he had ever taken.
Indeed, he felt so very happy that he commenced to sing, "Over the Hills and Far Away"—but alas! for Billy this was a fatal step. He had hardly gotten any further in his song than "far away," when he saw flying to meet him several shaggy bears.
He saw flying to meet him several shaggy bears.—Page 141.
"I suppose I'm in for it now," he said to himself; "they look fierce enough to be some more of Nickel Plate's friends. I wonder if I shall ever get to Bogie Man's house, anyway."
"Gr-r-f gr-r-r!" growled the foremost bear when they got in speaking distance. "Gr-r-r-r gr-r-r-rf!" growled the other bears.
But true to his habit, Billy put on a bold front, and smiling politely said, "Good afternoon."
"Afternoon," said the first bear gruffly. And then all the bears surrounded Billy and flew along by his side.