He might be just opening his mouth to take her every moment.

At last she reached the door, which her father, who had gone out to look for her, had set wide open that she might run in at once; but all the breath was out of her body, and she fell down flat just as she got inside." [Illustration] Here Allister jumped from his seat, clapping his hands and crying-- "Then the kelpie didn't eat her!--Kirsty! Kirsty!" "No.

But as she fell, one foot was left outside the threshold, so that the rowan branch could not take care of it.

And the beast laid hold of the foot with his great mouth, to drag her out of the cottage and eat her at his leisure." Here Allister's face was a picture to behold! His hair was almost standing on end, his mouth was open, and his face as white as my paper.
"Make haste, Kirsty," said Turkey, "or Allister will go in a fit." "But her shoe came off in his mouth, and she drew in her foot and was safe." Allister's hair subsided.

He drew a deep breath, and sat down again.