of the day. The little woods animals must
all be sleeping in their burrows, or the hollow trees where they had
their nests. Even the inquisitive squirrels were only noticeable by
their absence. A scolding bevy of crows alighted in a tree some distance
off, and kept up what Steve called facetiously a "crow caucus."

The time Jack meant to remain there resting, had almost expired when
both of the boys suddenly sat up, and held their heads in a listening
attitude.

CHAPTER VIII

WHEN THE CAT RULED THE ROOST

"I've heard foxes bark before, Jack," said Steve, with a trace of
excitement in his manner, "but never like that. I reckon now those
bowwows were plain dog!"

"Sure thing," remarked his companion, nodding his head at the same time,
while a pleased look flashed athwart his face.

"It wasn't so far away, either, was it?" continued Steve, meditatively.
"We have the air in our favor, that's true, but the sound was pretty
strong. Huh! seems as if we may not be the only campers in this stretch
of the Pontico Hills. Other folks have taken a notion to come up here. I
wonder if they can be Chester fellows, or from some other place."

"It doesn't matter much to us who they are, since we don't intend to mix
with them," said Jack, drily.

"That was a pretty husky bark, Jack, and I should say on a venture the
beast might be a fair-sized dog. I think I'll look around for a nice
club as we saunter along. Never did fancy being jumped on by a mastiff,
or a vicious collie. Been bitten twice already, and the third time might
be fatal to poor little Stephen."

"That isn't a bad idea," his mate told him; "and I'll copy your example.
Then if we are unlucky enough to run smack into the beast, we can keep
him at bay anyhow until his owners come up and rescue us. But I'd a heap
rather not have it happen. As you say, the air is coming toward us,
which is a good thing; for in that case even a dog with a good nose
wouldn't be apt to get our scent in a hurry."

Jack now evinced a disposition to move on. It was as if that series of
gruff barks from the unseen dog had acted as a sort of challenge; and
having a duty to perform he meant to carry it out grimly.

They accordingly walked on, not making any kind of haste. Indeed, Jack
showed a disposition to act cautiously. He was continually keeping a
careful vigil, and, as a rule, his eyes were directed ahead. There
seemed to be no longer a disposition to look for beautiful vistas t