He stood on his hind legs , and seemed to sniff with relish the savory odors that poured out of the window . `` Fire , Eph ! '' cried Tilly , firmly . `` Wait till he rears again . I 'll get a better shot , then , '' answered the boy , while Prue covered her ears to shut out the bang , and the small boys cheered from their dusty refuge up among the pumpkins . But a very singular thing happened next , and all who saw it stood amazed , for suddenly Tilly threw down the ax , flung open the door , and ran straight into the arms of the bear , who stood erect to receive her , while his growlings changed to a loud `` Haw , haw ! '' that startled the children more than the report of a gun . `` It 's Gad Hopkins , tryin ' to fool us ! '' cried Eph , much disgusted at the loss of his prey , for these hardy boys loved to hunt , and prided themselves on the number of wild animals and birds they could shoot in a year . `` Oh , Gad , how could you scare us so ? '' laughed Tilly , still held fast in one shaggy arm of the bear , while the other drew a dozen oranges from some deep pocket in the buffalo-skin coat , and fired them into the kitchen with such good aim that Eph ducked , Prue screamed , and Sol and Seth came down much quicker than they went up . `` Wal , you see I got upsot over yonder , and the old horse went home while I was floundering in a drift , so I tied on the buffalers to tote 'em easy , and come along till I see the children playin ' in the holler . I jest meant to give 'em a little scare , but they run like partridges , and I kep ' up the joke to see how Eph would like this sort of company , '' and Gad haw-hawed again . `` You 'd have had a warm welcome if we had n't found you out . I 'd have put a bullet through you in a jiffy , old chap , '' said Eph , coming out to shake hands with the young giant , who was only a year or two older than himself . `` Come in and set up to dinner with us . Prue and I have done it all ourselves , and Pa will be along soon , I reckon , '' cried Tilly , trying to escape . `` Could n't , no ways . My folks will think I 'm dead ef I do n't get along home , sence the horse and sleigh have gone ahead empty . I 've done my arrant and had my joke ; now I want my pay , Tilly , '' and Gad took a hearty kiss from the rosy cheeks of his `` little sweetheart , '' as he called her .
His own cheeks tingled with the smart slap she gave him as she ran away , calling out that she hated bears and would bring her XXXXX next time .
Eph ax bear boy chap ears joke refuge shot thing