“Oh, he looked awfully big; as big as a bear,” Elizabeth told him.
“We’ll take a few inches off and allow him to be as big as a calf,” responded Jim. “Have to make allowance for your size and likewise for the size of your scare.”
“Sure you saw anything at all?” queried the man they called Bill.
“I should think I did,” returned Elizabeth, “when it followed me almost to the top of the hill.”
Bert, who began to have doubts, since there was nothing strange to be seen, felt a little ashamed at having brought the men there to no purpose and was inclined to mock his sister. “I guess you dreamed it,” he said. “I don’t believe there was anything at all but a dog. It’s just like you, Elizabeth, to get up an excitement all for nothing.”
Elizabeth began to wish that something to frighten her brother really might appear. “I reckon if you had seen what I did, and had been as near to it you wouldn’t say it was imagination,” she said indignantly.
“It could easy get away before this,” said Jim, giving countenance to Elizabeth’s story.
“Where was it you saw it first, sis?” inquired Bill.
“Right here,” Elizabeth began. “I was going to pick up some chestnuts—” She paused suddenly and pointed with shaking finger to a wild appletree overhanging the road. “There it is! There! There!” she cried, her voice quavering with excitement. “Oh run, run, Bert, it might spring on you,”—for Bert was nearest to the tree.
“Well, I’ll be switched if she ain’t right,” cried Jim, “for if there ain’t the blamed crittur up on that there appletree.”