They keep themselves taut in their own selves--there, at the bottom of the spine--the devil's own power they've got there." Jim mused a bit.
"Think they have ?" he laughed.

It seemed comic to him.
"Sure! Look at them.

Why can't you gather yourself there ?" "At the tail ?" "Yes.

Hold yourself firm there." Jim broke into a cackle of a laugh, and rose.

The two went through the dark woods back to the cottage.