being thus reflected from its inner surface. An armful
of twigs and another of dry grass formed the boy's bed, and a drink of
river-water his supper. He had thought of passing the night in the
log-hut; but as darkness came on he could not bear the thought of its
lonesomeness. It was bad enough to be alone on the river-bank, with a
broad expanse of star-dotted sky to look at; but that forlorn little
hut, shut in on all sides by the dark forest! Ugh! It made him shiver
to think of it. No; he was decidedly better off where he was, and even
if his father came along during the night, which Winn did not think
probable, he could not fail to see the notice posted beside the
signal-fire. It was important that he should remain near his new raft
too, so that at the first streak of daylight he could board it and be
off.

After a while the lonely lad fell into a sleep filled with troubled
dreams. An owl came and hooted above him; the night wind sighed
weirdly through the tall timber behind him; while queer gurglings,
mysterious splashings, and other strange sounds came from the
swift-flowing river close at hand. Although none of these sounds
wakened the boy, they tinged his dreams with their uncanniness.

For some hours he slept, and then woke with a start. He was sitting
bolt upright, and felt certain that something cold and wet had just
touched his face. He put a hand to his cheek. Yes, there was a wet
spot. What were those two bright points shining in the dim fireglow!
They looked like eyes. Winn sprang to his feet. At his movement the
glowing eyeballs vanished. Some animal uttered an indescribable sound,
something between a bark and a snarl, there was a rustling of dead
leaves, and then all was still.

While the boy stood trembling with the vague fear that always
accompanies a suspected but unknown danger, and staring blankly into
the darkness, there came to his ears from the forest depths a sound
that was almost as terrifying as the recent presence of the unknown
animal. It seemed a mingling of howls, cries, and groanings. It rose
and fell, now loud, and then almost inaudible; but it always came from
the direction of the deserted log-hut. At length it ceased, and now
Winn noticed for the first time that a faint light was beginning to
tinge the eastern sky above the tree-tops.

"Daylight is coming," thought the boy, "and it is high time for me to
be off." He was glad of an excuse for leaving a place that