I was that scared I couldn't have spoken a word if my life had depended on it; and all the time I was trying my hardest to scream.

I thought it was a wild beast that had walked in from the woods to devour us all." "But, Eliot," said the Little Colonel, still laughing, "you know we don't have wild beasts in these woods nowadays.

There hasn't been any for yeahs and yeahs." But Eliot shook her head doubtfully, and when the boys came up with a banjo and French harp to put the bear through his performances, she watched the dancing at a respectful distance.

She was not at all sure about her safety after that, as long as she was in sight of the Kentucky woods.

She could not be convinced that all sorts of ravenous beasts were not lurking in their shadows, and would not have been surprised at any time to have met a live Indian in war-paint and feathers.
Eugenia's frenzied wail became a byword, and for many days one had only to say, "Oh, _don't_ eat me!" to start a peal of laughter..