Eph , get the gun ! He 's coming , he 's coming ! '' Eph had dropped his fiddle , and got down his gun before the girls could calm the children enough to tell their story , which they did in a somewhat incoherent manner . `` Down in the holler , coastin ' , we heard a growl , '' began Sol , with his eyes as big as saucers . `` I see him fust lookin ' over the wall , '' roared Seth , eager to get his share of honor . `` Awful big and shaggy , '' quavered Roxy , clinging to Tilly , while Rhody hid in Prue 's skirts , and piped out : `` His great paws kept clawing at us , and I was so scared my legs would hardly go . '' `` We ran away as fast as we could go , and he come growling after us . He 's awful hungry , and he 'll eat every one of us if he gets in , '' continued Sol , looking about him for a safe retreat . `` Oh , Eph , do n't let him eat us , '' cried both little girls , flying up stairs to hide under their mother 's bed , as their surest shelter . `` No danger of that , you little geese . I 'll shoot him as soon as he comes . Get out of the way , boys , '' and Eph raised the window to get good aim . `` There he is ! Fire away , and do n't miss ! '' cried Seth , hastily following Sol , who had climbed to the top of the dresser as a good perch from which to view the approaching fray . Prue retired to the hearth as if bent on dying at her post rather than desert the turkey , now `` browning beautiful , '' as she expressed it . But Tilly boldly stood at the open window , ready to lend a hand if the enemy proved too much for Eph . All had seen bears , but none had ever come so near before , and even brave Eph felt that the big brown beast slowly trotting up the door-yard was an unusually formidable specimen . He was growling horribly , and stopped now and then as if to rest and shake himself . `` Get the ax , Tilly , and if I should miss , stand ready to keep him off while I load again , '' said Eph , anxious to kill his first bear in style and alone ; a girl 's help did n't count .
XXXXX flew for the ax , and was at her brother 's side by the time the bear was near enough to be dangerous .
Eph Prue Seth Sol Tilly coastin door-yard first none perch