Whats The Correct Way To Write This Sentence? I'm Not Sure About The Comma And/or Full Stop.

[2gbmum]

“I would” said the squirrel, gulping them down.
or
“I would.” said the squirrel, gulping them down.
or
“I would.” said the squirrel gulping them down.
or
“I would” said the squirrel gulping them down.

thanks!

[sapelesam]

And we wonder why children struggle with punctuation, when some of the greatest minds on AB can't agree.

[Theland]

Depends on intended meaning. Apposition?

[cupid04]

I didn't know squirrels could talk. Perhaps I've lead a very sheltered existence ;-))

[sapelesam]

Bit late on that one Cupid.

[elliemay1]

"If you look in any novel, said Ellie, "you'll see that punctuation is inside inverted commas!"

[Flonska]

"If you look in any novel,"

[elliemay1]

Sorry I mucked that up! Should be:
"If you look in any novel," said Ellie, "you'll see that punctuation is inside inverted commas!"

[gingejbee]

...and nobody mentioned the missing apostrophe in "whats" (in the header)...

[Flonska]

Touche!

[weecalf]

Said the squirrel gulping them down “I would “

[Khandro]

The first one, but with a comma after "I would".

“I would”, said the squirrel, gulping them down.

[Khandro]

For some strange reason, when I looked at this there appeared to be no answers, I now see I'm the 31st.