“I saw it because you went wrong. I considered why you went wrong, and so considering, I saw that the fault must be in the barrel. There is a reason for everything, even for our blunders, and if we seek out the reason where we have blundered, we go right afterwards and blunder no more.” CHAPTER XVI THE DANCING BEAR “Have some nuts, Rose?” said Jan Pooke. He had got a large paper-bag full of those he had earned. “I don’t want any of your nuts,” answered the girl. “I hate hazel cobs, specially when old and dry. I’m going to have some of that sort, and Noah is bringing me some.” She pointed to some Brazil nuts. “They’re like slugs turned to stone,” said Jan. “There can’t be good eating in such as them.” “We shall see. Crack them, Noah.” This was easier ordered than done. Flood compressed two nuts in his palm, but could not crush them. He tried his teeth, and they failed. He put a nut under his heel, but in the throng was thrust aside and lost his nut. “I’ll do it presently, Rose, as soon as I can find something hard on which to crack ’em.” “Do, Noah. I’m longing to eat them. I wouldn’t give a straw for them dried, shrivelled hazel cobs.” “I promise you I’ll break ’em--the first occasion.” Then, suddenly, “Rose! Kate! Jan! Come along this way; there is a man here with a dancing bear.” “A bear? Oh, I do want to see a bear!” exclaimed Kate eagerly. “I don’t care for a bear,” said Rose. “But he’s dancing--beautiful,” urged Noah. “Oh, if he’s dancing, that’s another matter,” said Rose. Kate was most desirous to see a bear. She had read of the beast in Æsop’s Fables--seen pictures of Bruin as he smelt about the traveller who feigned himself dead whilst his fellow escaped up a tree; also as he tore himself with his claws after having overset the hives and was attacked by the bees. She had formed in her own mind an idea of the beast as very big, and as very stupid. A considerable throng surrounded the area in which the bear was being exhibited, but Jan and Noah were broad-shouldered, and not scrupulous about forcing a way where they desired to pass, and of thrusting into the background others less broad and muscular. Following close after the two young men, dragged along by them, were Rose and Kate, and they were speedily in the inner ring, in full view of Bruin and his master, an Italian, who held him by a chain. The bear was muzzled, and had a collar to which the chain was attached. A woman, in dirty Neapolitan costume, played a hurdy-gurdy and solicited contributions. The bear was made to stand on his hind legs, raise one foot, then the other, in clumsy imitation of a dance, and then to take a stick and go through certain evolutions which a lively imagination might figure as gun practice. “De bear--he beg pretty--von penny, shentlemensh!”