"
"That is likely enough, if we had encountered one of the animals you
mention."
"Then I throw myself between you and the savage brute."
"Supposing you were not half a mile off at the time."
"No fear of that--he rises, on his hind legs, and glares."
"Is it a hyena or a bear?"
"Oh, whichever you like--he opens his jaws, and growls."
"Like the wolf at Little Red Riding Hood."
"I plunge my arm down his throat and choke him."
"Clever, very; but are you not wounded?"
"I beg your pardon, however; all my thoughts are centred in you--I
think of nothing else."
"I am insensible, am I not?"
"Yes, more than ever--we all run towards you, and exert ourselves to
bring you back to your senses."
"Then I come to life again."
"No, stop a bit."
"But it is tiresome to be so long insensible."
"My mother has luckily a bottle of salts, which she holds to your
nose--I run off to the nearest brook, and return with water in the
crown of my cap, with which I bathe your temples."
"Oh, in that case, I should open one eye at least. Which eye is opened
first after fainting?"
"I really don't know."
"In that case, to avoid mistakes, I should open both."
"It is only then, when I find you are recovering, that I discover the
brute has severely bitten my arm."
"Then comes my turn to nurse you.
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