"Here--Horn-Devil!" It took a great deal of courage for Sara to speak
soothingly to the giant caterpillar; but you see the butterfly people
were beginning to think her a very wise, brave person, and that made
it rather necessary for her to be one. So she gave a little gulp which
the spectators took for a sign of bravery, and drawing nearer by
inches, actually laid her hand on the rearing, plunging,
panic-stricken creature! He lurched and snorted terribly when her hand
first touched him, but as he did nothing worse, Sara grew braver and
more hopeful, and began to pat and stroke him and say soothing words.
Of course he could not understand the words, but he seemed to
understand the tone, for presently he stopped rearing, and at last
stood quite quiet, only breathing hard and trembling a little.
"Now, Snoodle, come here!" cried Sara, nerving herself for the supreme
test of her theory.
The Snoodle sprang forward at the word, and, as Sara had foretold,
threw his paws about the Horn-Devil's neck. The Horn-Devil sprang into
the air, making a sort of wild, whinnying sound (the only sound Sara
ever heard, then or afterward, from a caterpillar); but as Sara patted
him kindly and the Snoodle only wagged himself ecstatically, he grew
quiet again, and allowed himself to be hugged without further protest.
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