Neither the mother nor her children stirred; they hardly ventured to breathe. Presently there was a knocking on the window shutter. The poor children were ready to die with fear, and hid their faces with their hands. Tap, tap, was heard still more plainly, but no one dared to answer.
“Are you all dead?” cried some one; “and must I break open the window?”
“Who are you?” said the mother, quite frightened.
“Who am I?” said the person, laughing; “that is an odd question to ask _me_: come, open the window directly.”
“Mother,” said one of the children, “I think it is father’s voice.”
_Andrew._ Yes, it is _me_, sure enough; we cannot get in by the door, for the bear is lying there, and we are not sure that he is quite dead.
The mother then opened the window and the shutter. The smith and another man jumped in at the window. Their clothes were torn and covered with blood; their hands and faces also were bloody.
“Andrew, my dear Andrew,” exclaimed the wife, “are you hurt? say, are you hurt?”
_Andrew._ Neither I nor my companion are hurt; but let us thank God, for the bear was very furious. Come, quick, let us have something warm and comfortable; the battle was sharp, and we have got some severe bruises. Children, where are you?--you need not be afraid; the bear is too large to get through the key-hole, and I don’t think he is very likely to stir again.
“I am of your opinion,” said the stranger, closing the shutter of the window. “I think God has taken away his breath; let us be thankful: we may say, with David, ‘He has delivered us from the bear. His deliverance is for his children.’”
The two children then made their appearance from under the bed, and from behind the washing tub: one was covered with dust and feathers, the other was all over cobwebs. They came up to their father, but cried out when they saw that his arm was bloody.
_The Father._ Why, you little cowards; are you frightened at the sight of blood? It is not mine, it came from the bear, and a little water will wash it away. Wife, give us a pail of water.
She washed their clothes, and then gave them a good basin of soup, which was ready for their supper, and when they had refreshed themselves, they agreed to go and see whether the bear could bite or not. Andrew took up his bill-hook, and the stranger took up a chopper, and they were going to open the door.