crouched close to me, and seemed almost
inclined to desert me; but I soon calmed him, although, for the life of
me, I could not understand why he should appear so frightened.

For a few minutes I sat upright and listened attentively, but not a
sound rewarded me for my patience. I heard Fred breathing heavily a few
feet from me, but I disliked to awaken him, as I knew that he was very
tired when he went to sleep, and as yet I had seen nothing that
warranted me in disturbing him. I was just about to speak to the dog in
an angry tone, when he suddenly uttered a sharp yelp, and I heard a
slight rustling within a few feet of me.

It was a peculiar sound, and startled me. It was not like the heavy or
light tread of man, but it seemed as though some substance was being
drawn across the floor at a cautious rate. Again it stopped, and all was
still; I held the dog firmly by the collar, but he trembled so violently
that I began to partake of his fear, and no longer delayed in awakening
Fred.

I reached over, and placed my hand upon my comrade's face, and the touch
awoke him instantly.

"Hist!" I whispered; "don't speak above your breath for your life. There
is some person in the room!"

I could feel my friend place his hand upon his trusty revolver, and I
knew that he was prepared for action. I shifted my position so that I
could got beside him, and then, armed in a similar manner, I awaited
further developments.

"What has disturbed you?" he asked, in a whisper that would have been
inarticulate two paces from us.

"I can't imagine. Even Rover has taken fright; and for the first time;
see how he trembles," I responded.

"Get your matches all ready, and when we wish a light we will have one
without delay. Hark! What was that?"

We both listened attentively. Not ten feet from us, we could hear a
movement that now sounded as though a man was crawling upon his stomach.
Carefully he appeared to work his way along, stopping every few seconds,
as though uncertain whether to advance or recede; and it seemed as
though we could hear our night visitor breathe during his pauses.

We did not wish to use our pistols, for we did not know but that the
former proprietor of the store was in the habit of giving lodgings to
miners, who were not acquainted with the change of ownership; but we
made up our minds that we would guard against such interruption of our
slumbers in future.

"We had better ask what he wants," whispered Fred, "a