"O dear me!" exclaimed little Davie, quite overcome, and trembling in every limb. "He'll eat you. Joel, I'm going to tell Polly."
"You can't," said Joel, coolly; "you said 'Black-an-blue-hope-to-die-if-I-do,' and I'm goin' to take you."
"Oh, I can't go," declared Davie, bouncing up in terror. "I ain't goin'. I ain't, Joey. I ain't----"
"Sh-sh!" warned Joel, with another nip.
"I ain't--I ain't--" cried David, softly, through his tears.
"Pshaw! I guess there ain't any bear up there," said Joel, scornfully. "Be still, Dave!"
"An' old--old Bandy Legs'll catch--catch me," mumbled David, digging his small knuckles into his eyes.
"Old Bandy Legs has been dead ever'n ever so long. I guess a thousand years," said Joel; "an' there's flowers there--oh, most beautiful ones!"
"Are there?" asked David, taking down his hands. "What kinds, Joel?"
"Oh, all sorts. The most be-yewtiful flowers, red and yellow and green, you can't think, Dave Pepper."