My, but bed's going to feel good!"

If there was one thing Vedder took pains about, it was in the arrangement
of his blankets. To avoid the unpleasant exposure of toes he had
worked out an elaborate system of folds and safety-pins until the
combination resembled a sleeping-bag more than anything else. It was
his habit to attend to this immediately after supper so that at bedtime
there need be no shivery delay in getting fixed for the night. This
evening he climbed ponderously to his perch, inwardly congratulating
himself on his forethought, for the others, chattering busily on the
day's doings, were only beginning to spread out their blankets.

"It pays to be systematic," he thought complacently, and thrust his legs
between the warm folds with a luxurious sigh of content.

An instant later a howl of terror resounded through the camp, followed by
a convulsive movement of Vedder's legs and body which disrupted the neat
arrangement in a flash. Dale Tompkins, sitting on the edge of the lower
bunk, had no time even to roll aside before the fat boy, still gurgling
with fright, landed on him with a crash that shook the tent.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE MISSING SCOUT

"What the mischief is the matter with you?" demanded Tompkins, rubbing
his head where it had come into violent contact with the floor.

"A snake!" palpitated Vedder, from the entrance of the tent, to which
he had fled. "There's a snake in my bed!"

"You're crazy with the heat, Puffy!" exclaimed Ranny Phelps, forcibly.
"How could a snake get into your bunk?"

"It's there, just the same," panted Vedder, his eyes bulging. "When I
put my feet down they hit against something cold and--and slimy that
squirmed about. Ugh! If I hadn't got out so quick, it would have bit
me sure as anything. You look and see, if you don't believe me."

By this time the camp was astir. As Ranny took the lantern and went
over to Vedder's bunk, several boys from neighboring tents crowded in
to see what was up. When they learned the nature of the rumpus they
were vastly more excited than the other occupants of Tent Three, who
seemed strangely unaffected by the situation.

"Hanged if there isn't something here!" said Ranny, in a puzzled tone,
looking down on the blankets. "Get a couple of sticks, fellows, and some
of you hold down the edges of the blankets so it can't get out."

Court Parker turned his back suddenly and choked oddly; Tompkins's face
was flushed and twitching. But th