It seems she was knocked over a precipice by an avalanche." "Was what?
Knocked where?
Over a precipice?
By a what--an avalanche?
Good Lord! I don't believe it.

I swear I don't.

She invented it all.
It's some of her infernal humbug.

She slid off over the snow, so as to get him to go after her.

Oh, don't I know her and her ways!" "Well, come now, old man, you shouldn't be too hard on her.