It swerved to come directly toward them.

Suddenly Helen realized that the beast was not a dozen yards distant.

She was just beginning a new experience--a real and horrifying terror in which her blood curdled, her heart gave a tremendous leap and then stood still, and she wanted to fly, but was rooted to the spot--when Dale returned to her side.
"That's a pesky porcupine," he whispered.

"Almost crawled over you.

He sure would have stuck you full of quills." Whereupon he threw a stick at the animal.