the summer noon
Let his dreams waft him in spirit to the Happy Hunting Grounds . As for me , I am getting an old man , whose arrow-hand lacks strength to pull back the string of the bow . It can be but a few short years before I enter upon the long , last sleep , so it matters not Sleep , brother . '' But Black Bull Pup , as is often the case , was tender of heart as well as choleric , and hastened to say that his venerable comrade must take some much-needed rest , so that within five minutes the ugly Cropped-eared one was making the sweet hush of the summer noon hideous with his snores , whilst Black Bull Pup was beginning to wonder if , after all , he had not been `` got at '' again by his Machiavelian friend . It was not a pleasant reflection , and it really was a very drowsy sort of afternoon . Four minutes later he was sound asleep himself . Slowly toiling up the stony , sun-dried bed of the tarn came Pepin the dwarf , and alongside him , showing unusual signs of animation -- he had scented brother bears -- came Antoine .