Out with Gun and Camera Part 13

"Oh, it's for you to say, Shep---you are leader this trip."

"Well, I guess we can all turn in."

And turn in they did about nine o'clock, with the understanding that they were to have breakfast at six in the morning and continue their journey as soon after that as possible.

Whether he felt the responsibility of leadership or not it would be hard to say, but certain it is that the doctor's son did not sleep near as soundly as did the others. He was very restless, and when he dozed off it was to dream of the lion that had escaped from the circus. He imagined that the animal had followed them to their camp and was bending over him and licking his face.

He uttered a groan of terror and sat up and opened his eyes.

As he did this a dark form leaped over him and out of the open tent. The fire had burned low, so what the form was Shep could not tell.

"Help!" screamed the doctor's son. He was not yet fully awake.

"Wha---what's the matter?" spluttered Snap, throwing aside his blanket.

"What's wrong?" came from Whopper and Giant simultaneously.

"Something---a wild animal---in here---jumped over me!" gasped Shep. "It just went outside!"

"Oh, you are dreaming, Shep," said Snap.

"No, I'm not. I saw it---felt it! Let me get my gun!"

The doctor's son threw off his blanket, leaped up and grasped his shotgun, that hung on one of the tent poles. He stepped to the opening of the tent and peered out anxiously.

"See anything?" demanded Whopper. He and the others were now up, and each was arming himself.

"N---no."

"I told you you were dreaming," came from Snap.

"Too many crullers for supper," was Giant's comment. "Sometimes they lay like lead in a fellow's stomach and give him all sorts of dreams."

"It wasn't the crullers," persisted the doctor's son. "I'm going outside and investigate." And he stepped out in the direction of the camp fire.

"Be careful," warned Snap. "If any wild beasts are around you want to be on your guard."

The doctor's son looked around with care, but could see no trace of the night visitor. He stirred up the camp fire and soon had a bright blaze going. The others had followed him outside and they stood shivering in the damp air.

"False alarm, I guess," said Giant, yawning. "What time is it?"

"One o'clock," answered Whopper, after consulting his watch. "Say, this is a dandy way of breaking up one's rest," he added sarcastically.

"If you don't believe I saw something---and felt something---you needn't," returned Shep tartly.

"Must have been a sand flea, or a water bug."

"Come, Whopper, don't get mad," came from Snap. "If Shep-----"

"There it is, behind the bushes!" burst out the doctor's son. "I just saw its eyes shining!"

As he spoke he raised his shotgun. But the eyes had disappeared.

"I saw something," came from Giant. "See, it's moving---back of the huckleberry bush."

Something was moving, that was evident, but what it was none of the young hunters could make out. Shep raised his gun again.

"Shall I take a chance and fire?" he asked of the others.

"Might as well," answered Whopper. "It couldn't be anything but a wild animal."

"Wait," cried Snap. He raised his voice. "Who is there?" he called out. "Answer, or we'll shoot!"

For reply there came a sound that thoroughly astonished the boys.

It was the bark of a dog, low and uncertain. Then there stepped into view a collie, wagging his tail doubtfully.

"A dog!" cried Giant. "Come here! come here!" he called, and gave an inviting whistle.

Slowly the dog came forward, still wagging his tail doubtfully.

When he was quite close he sat up on his haunches and began to move his fore paws up and down.

"He's begging!" cried Snap. "He must be hungry."

"I suppose he smelled our food and came for some," said Giant.

"Good little dog!" he cried. "Come here!" And as he snapped his fingers the collie came up to him and allowed the small youth to pat him on the head.

"That's your wild beast, Shep," said Whopper.

"Well, I knew it was something," answered the doctor's son. "That dog must have been in the tent."

"More than likely," answered Snap. "See how friendly he is," he added, for the collie was now leaping from one to another of the boys and barking joyfully. Giant gave him a cruller and he ate the dainty greedily.

"He's half starved," said Snap. "Must have wandered off into the woods and got lost."

"Is there a name on his collar?" asked Whopper.

"No, only a license number," answered Giant after an examination.

"Looks to me as if he might be a valuable animal."

"I think I've seen that collie before," said Shep.

"So you did---in the tent," said Whopper quickly, and set up a laugh.

"Oh, you know what I mean. He has a regular star on his breast.

Yes, I am sure I've seen him somewhere, but where I can't remember."

"He ought to be returned to his owner," said Snap. "But how we are going to do it I don't know. I don't care to go back just for the dog."

"Nor I," added Giant. "Let us take him along and bring him back with us when we come."

"If he'll stay with us," came from Whopper. "He may---if we feed him well," answered the doctor's son.