Page:The Enchanted Knights; or The Chronicle of the Three Sisters.djvu/15

Rh what a sight!—a most ferocious bear striding straight towards him. The poor count was very much frightened at the apparition; he could not escape, nor was he armed to encounter a bear; yet, at all hazards, he took the spear in his hands to defend himself as well as he could. The monster approaching closely, stopped and growled these words distinctly:—“Robber! thou plunderest my honey tree! and shalt pay for thy misdeed with thy life.” “Alas! my lord bear,” supplicated the count, “do not devour me—I do not covet your honey—I am an honest knight. If you feel an appetite, pray content yourself with my humble repast, and be my guest.” Thereupon he presented to the bear all the potatoes in the pouch, but the beast disdained his offer and angrily replied, “Wretch! thou canst not redeem thy life at that price; promise me instantly thy eldest daughter, Wulfield, for a wife, or I devour thee.” The count, in his fright, would have promised to the enamoured bear his three daughters, and his spouse into the bargain, if he had asked for them, for necessity knows no law. “She shall be your’syours [sic], my lord bear,” said he, beginning to recover from his fright, “but,” added he cunningly, “on condition that you redeem the bride and come yourself to