One night, she said, she was awakened by a heavy tramping near her, and
looking up in the moonlight, saw two great black beasts, which she thought
were her father's oxen, and so she sat up and called, 'Buck,' 'Bright,'--
for these were their names, but they had no bells, and looked like two
great shaggy black dogs. They stood on their hind legs upright and looked
at her, but went away. These animals were bears, but the child did not
know that, and she said she felt no fear, for she said her prayers every
night before she lay down to sleep, and she knew that God would take care
of her, both sleeping and waking."
"And did the hunter take her home? asked Lady Mary, who was much
interested in the story.
"Yes, my dear, he did. Finding that the poor little girl was very weak,
the young man took her on his back. Fortunately he happened to have a
little wine in a flask, and a bit of dry biscuit in his knapsack, and this
greatly revived the little creature. Sometimes she ran by his side, while
holding by his coat, talking to her new friend, seemingly quite happy and
cheerful, bidding him not he afraid even if they had to pass another night
in the wood; but just as the sun was setting, they came out of the dark
forest into an open clearing.
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