The laughing bear, and other storiesBell, Robert Bloomer Hare
Science
The laughing bear, and other stories
Bell, Robert Bloomer Hare
Children's stories
From his pocket he took his polished stone, which he placed in the
prince's mouth. In a few minutes the boy was completely paralyzed. With
eyes wide open and his hearing gone, he lay rigid all night.
At break of day the quack came to his side and said: "Young man, I
have made up my mind to teach you my art--on one condition. My work on
earth is to make all men as miserable as possible. When I see a man at
the height of his ambition, I step in and compel him to make a fool of
himself, and down and out he goes. Ha! If I cannot ruin him that way,
I tell something nasty about him to some deluded soul, who spreads the
news to the mob, and presto! my man is done for. Again, I like to throw
a microbe into the stomach of a healthy person and watch him squirm.
Come, join me and I will teach you the art of the magic stone."
Freed from the spell, at the Doctor's will, the boy sat up and
stretched his arms. But he shook his head to the proposal.
"Very well, then!" said the angry quack. Then he fastened about the
prince's neck a chain attached to a pole, and left the cave.
At once a great swarm of ants came running toward the boy. He fought
them off till he fell exhausted to the floor, his body covered with the
nipping insects. The pain of a thousand bites made him feel that his
end was near, and he closed his eyes, praying for death.
The quack came again and offered him freedom, if he would become one of
his followers. The prince made no reply; so his tormentor sat down to
enjoy the sight of his dying victim.
Suddenly the cave was darkened. The Doctor turned and saw the bear!
Staggering to his feet, he fled to an inner recess. Like a flash the
bear rushed over the ants, freed the boy from his chains, carried him
out, placed him upon the green grass, and began to lick his wounds.
In a few moments the prince opened his eyes, and upon the arrival of
the princess and the little man, he was smiling. Water was brought from
a nearby stream and Mikado washed Mousan's body and limbs.
"Mikado," said the bear, "I am going to find the quack and get his
magic stone. Please look after things while I am gone. I'll cure the
boy with the rascal's magic!"
In a few minutes the bear returned, holding in her paw the glistening
stone. "Now," said she, "let all wish that the prince may become well
again; and you, my dear Mousan, look at this stone."
They did so and Mousan recovered immediately. The poor boy could
scarcely believe that he was well again and that his dear Chonwa was
with him.
Then Mouwou gathered the children in her furry embrace.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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