n
cakes for his own eating.

He coated them with the thick molasses, and set the keg down side by
side with a bag of potatoes which had been brought from the settlement.

There these provisions remained when, earlier than usual, the party
turned in, and stretched their tired limbs to rest, lying down, as they
had done before when sleeping under canvas, with all their garments on
save coats and moccasins. Whether Uncle Eb forgot his "m'lasses," or
whether he purposely left it without, there not being a spare inch of
room in the small tents, no one then or afterwards inquired.

As a result of the jolly intimacy that had sprung up between the two
companies during the few days when they had all things in common, the
boys disposed of themselves for the night as they pleased. Neal turned
in with the doctor, Royal, and Joe, the four stretching themselves on
the evergreen boughs, with their feet to the opening of the tent, and
their rifles and ammunition within reach. Of course the Winchesters were
empty, it being a strict rule that firearms should not be brought into
camp loaded.

The younger Sinclairs, with Cyrus, Dol, and Uncle Eb, occupied the other
tent.

It seemed to Neal that he had hardly slept one hour,--probably it was
nearer to three,--during which time he had been dreaming with vague
foreshadowings of the final and crowning sport of the trip, the grand
moose-stalking, and of Herb Heal, the mighty hunter, when he was
awakened by a shrill scream just outside the canvas. He started, with
his heart going whackety-whack. The cry was sudden and intensely
startling, appearing twice as loud as it really was when it broke the
pathetic stillness of the _brulee_, where not a tree rustled or twig
snapped, and the night wind only sighed faintly and fitfully through the
newly springing growth.

Again sounded that startling screech; and yet again, making a dreary,
piercing din.

"By all that's funny! it's another coon," gasped Neal; and he gently
pinched the shoulder of Joe, who lay on his left.

"Joe!" he whispered. "Wake up! There's a raccoon just outside the tent.
I heard his cry."

The guide was awake and alert in an instant. So, too, was Dr. Phil.

"What's up, boys?" asked the latter, hearing a murmur.

"There's a coon close by," said Neal again. "Listen to him!"

Even while he spoke, young Farrar caught sight of two feathered things
hopping along the avenue of light which lay between him and the
camp-fire, th