And instantly they were tremendously wide awake.

Before they knew why they did it, they were uncurled from the ball in which they slept and, crouching side by side, glaring savagely up the narrow passage that led to their back door.
"There they saw a pair of cruel eyes, small and flaming, and set very close together, which seemed to float slowly down towards them." Here Uncle Andy was so inconsiderate as to pause, as if he wanted to think.

The Babe could not hold himself in.
"Was it a snake ?" he demanded breathlessly.
"There you go again, interrupting," growled Uncle Andy, most unfairly.
"And who ever heard of a snake's eyes flaming?
But the Little Furry Ones knew what it was at once; and the hair stood straight up on their necks.

Of course they were frightened a little.

But most of all were they in a rage at such an impudent intrusion.