'Couldn't bear t' do it--could you ?' 'Don't seem as if I could,' she whispered, thoughtfully, her chin upon her hand.
Then she rose and went to the window.
'O my! how dark it is!' she whispered, looking out into the night.
'Purty dark!' I said, 'but you needn't be 'fraid.

I'll take care o' you.
If we should meet a bear I'll growl right back at him--that's what Uncle Eb tol' me t' do.

I'm awful stout--most a man now! Can't nuthin' scare me.' We could hear them talking below stairs and we went back to bed, intending to go forth later when the house was still.

But' unfortunately for our adventure I fell asleep.
It was morning when I opened my eyes again.

We children looked accusingly at each other while eating breakfast.