caught it just before it went out. The sound was now
clearer. Was that the crunch of feet upon the snow? Yes, he heard it
plainly. A twig snapped somewhere back of the big rock, then another,
then another. There was an answering of the whine. He felt for his
pocket ax; but, alas! it was at the cabin--he had no weapon, not even a
jack knife. Why had Ham taken the shovel with him? Pshaw! was it really
a sound at all, or was he still in his baby days? No, he was no baby,
but--there it was, a low growl, coming nearer and nearer. It flashed upon
him in a second--the hunters had scared up the animal, and it was coming
toward him--toward the light! He felt faint, then sick; but it was no
time to be sick! He swallowed at the big lump in his throat and wondered
if the animal really would attack him. He could plainly hear the
crunching in the snow now, and he fancied he saw two green eyes staring
at him from the shadows. Yes, and there were voices! He could hear them
laughing. Suddenly a twig near him broke, and another and another. He
cried out in terror, shrill agonized, cries for help. He dropped the
candle in the snow. Just how he got out of the hole where his feet were
buried he could not tell. He started to run, but his legs were still
tied to the bag, and at the first step he fell headlong. He was crying
now--great sobs shook his frame. He tore the bag free with a jerk and
started off as fast as the soft snow would let him, shouting "Help!" at
the top of his voice. He stumbled on through the snow, following the line
of least resistance. Finally he emerged from a dark thicket just in time
to see three men and a great dog come out of an opposite thicket. They
laughed heartily as they turned upward on the trail. The dog's eyes were
gleaming green in the half-light, and the one man carried a heavy rifle
on his shoulder. The dog turned, sniffed, then whined, but made no
attempt to leave his masters.

The men had evidently not seen him. He stood for a second irresolute, his
teeth chattering, his heart pounding, then, turning, he saw the sparks
from the cabin chimney and in another moment he was safe inside.

Back in the woods where Sleepy had been planted the rest of the fellows
were shouting and laughing.

"Yes, I'll take it back," cried Ham. "Sleepy can go when he gets started,
but O my! what a lot it takes to start him! I don't believe he ever
moved so fast before, do you? Mr. Dean, you're a wonder on the growling
stunt--I