Jacob and the Raven 43

The bear growled angrily, for all the
beasts in that country dreaded the woman.

“Thou shouldst have kept him out of
her clutches,” she said. “As for the cave,
of course I can carry him as easily as if
he were my own cub, and it is lucky for
him that I, who can run: like a man on
two legs, was at hand.”

And with that she picked him up and
held him close, and shambled away at a
good pace, with the raven flying overhead
and croaking anxiously.” “Not too tight,
not too tight!” for he was afraid of her
hug. In this manner they went a long
way; the stars had been shining for hours,
and the northern lights dancing in the
heavens, before they saw before them a
black steep hill, Once or twice in the
journey Jacob had opened his eyes, and
then closed them again, feeling himself
clasped by something warm and furry, and
being too sleepy to trouble himself much
about anything. But when they stopped
he opened them wide and saw the door