r the night, the supper
was cooked, and all sat around the campfire to partake of the meal.
A certain part of it had been slightly burnt, but to this nobody paid
attention, although it would have been noticed if this had occurred
at home or at a hotel. But camping out makes such a difference,
doesn't it, boys?

"Supposing some wild animals came along to eat us up?" said Sam when
they were finishing their meal.

"Are there any wild animals around here?" questioned Songbird.

"I am sure I don't know. There may be bobcats in the timber."

"Vot is a popcat?" asked Hans.

"It's a kind of a wildcat--very strong and very fierce."

"Of dot peen der case, I ton't vonts to meet Mr. Popcat."

"I don't think any of us want to meet such a beast," said Tom. "Is
anybody to stay on guard to-night?"

"Don't ask me--I'm too dead tired," said Dick promptly.

"Nor me!" came from the others.

"Let us go to sleep and venture it," said Sam. "I don't think a thing
will come near us."

So it was decided, and as soon as the campfire began to die down,
one after another of the boys retired. Songbird was the last to lie
down, and soon he was slumbering as peacefully as the rest.

Sam had been sleeping perhaps three hours, when he woke up with a
slight start. He sat up and tried to pierce the darkness around him.

"Did anybody call?" he questioned after a pause.

Nobody answered, and he listened attentively. The horses had been
tethered in the bushes close to the shelter, and now he heard several
of the animals move around uneasily.

"Something must be disturbing them," he told himself. "I'll have to
get up and see what it is."

At first, he thought he would arouse some of the others, but all
appeared to be sleeping so soundly he hated to do so.

"They won't thank me for waking them up, unless it is worth while,"
was what he told himself.

He arose and felt his way over the others who lay between himself
and the opening of the shelter. Outside, there was no moon, but the
stars were shining brightly, and he could make out objects that were
not too far off.

As he moved toward the horses, he heard a rustling in the bushes. He
strained his eyes and made out a dark form stealing along close to
the ground.

"A wild beast!" he muttered. "I wish I had a gun."

He turned back to the shelter and aroused Dick, and then Tom. This
awoke all of the others.

"What's the matter?" questioned Dick, as he got out a pistol.

"Some sort