"What's he saying?" asked Ann anxiously.
"I can't hear, but he's awful cross. Now the Little Black Man has gone—now he's come back again, and—oh!"
"What is it? What is it?" cried Ann and Rudolf.
"He's got three animals on a chain—a bear, an'—an'—a lion—an' a great big white wolf!"
"Oh, Peter, darling, you know they're only dream animals!" Ann hastily reminded him.
"Well, they're most as nice as real ones, they're awful fierce—"
"What's the Little Black Man doing with 'em?" interrupted Rudolf.
"He's letting them loose," said Peter, "and they're smelling round—"
"He's putting them by the tree to guard us—that's what he's doing," broke in Rudolf.
"To swallow us up if we ever do escape!" wailed Ann, now thoroughly frightened. "Oh, Rudolf, whatever shall we do?"