VI
VI
VI
VI
Just as they had told him that he had better play with them and get warm, a crackling of bushes and the sound of some heavy animal plunging through the underbrush was heard, and a moment later a huge brown bear lumbered out of the woods and came snarling towards them.
[Bear & Bunny]
“Where is my Brownie Cub baby?” it growled to the terrified Bunnies and Squirrels.
Mr. Bunnikins-Bunny, his teeth chattering with cold and fright, assured the Bear politely that he did not know where his Brownie Cub baby was, but he would let him know if he met it anywhere on his travels.
Suddenly the Bear caught sight ofthe Furry One, and with a loud yap of joy he trotted heavily towards it.
[Bears]
The little thing began to whimper with evident delight, and the big bear, sitting up on his haunches, lifted the small brown object in his huge paws.
In a few moments the littleBrownie Cub had told his father what dreadful things had happened to him, and how brave Mr. Bunnikins-Bunny had been.
The unhappy Bunnies and Squirrels meanwhile sat quaking with fright, not daring to move, and expecting every moment to be gobbled up by the terrible bear.
Very soon, however, their fears were relieved, for Mr. Brown Bruin, with large tears bobbling down hischeeks, and in a husky voice, began to thank Mr. Bunnikins-Bunny for his heroic action.
[Bunny]
When he saw how dripping wet he was, he tried to lick him dry; but when he opened his great red mouth, he scared poor Bunnikins nearly out of his wits, and the first lap of his huge rough tongue knocked him down, and pulled outbits of his soft fur.
When he recovered his breath, Mr. Bunnikins thanked Mr. Bruin for his kindness, but he begged to be excused from any more drying, as, being subject to rheumatism, he thought the wisest thing for him to do was to go home very quickly, and drink some ginger-and-cayenne-pepper tea.
Mr. Bruin begged to be allowed to call and see him the next day,and Mr. Bunnikins hurried home, and was soon in bed, well wrapped up in warm blankets, and sneezing violently from the cayenne pepper.