We followed his
example, one after the other, each doing so rather to provide
himself with a spoon than with any hope of cultivating a taste
for oysters.
Our spoons were now ready, and gathering round the pot we dipped
them in, not, however, without sundry scalded fingers. Ernest
then drew from his pocket the large shell he had procured for
his own use, and scooping up a good quantity of soup he put it
down to cool, smiling at his own foresight.
`Prudence should be exercised for others, not just for oneself,'
I remarked. `Are you so much better than your brothers? Your cool
soup will do capitally for the dogs, my boy; take it to them, and
then come and eat like the rest of us.'
Ernest winced at this, but silently taking up his shell he placed
it on the ground before the hungry dogs, who lapped up its contents
in a moment; he then returned, and after waiting for the soup to
cool some more, we all went merrily on with our dinner.
While we were thus busily employed, we suddenly discovered that
our dogs, not satisfied with their mouthful of soup, had espied
the agouti, and were rapidly devouring it. The boys all began to
yell, and Fritz first threw a stone at the dogs and then, seizing
his gun, flew to rescue it from their hungry jaws. Before I could
prevent him, he struck one of them with such force that his gun
was bent.
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