In Camp on the Big Sunflower

what d'ye suppos

just seen a ghost, for

cousin Owe

we'll just have to run things ourselves, Bandy. Hello! there, Toby, what under the s

fire blazing close to where the restless river

d to be Jucklin, also scrambled to his feet

as strong as an ox; but all his life poor Toby had been afflicted with

s were bowed, and appeared too short for his body. "Now open up and tell us what you saw

s?" asked the troubled one, his voice trembling

ndy-legs; "that's the easiest way to ma

rgetting to even stutter in his indignation. "I'm going to tel

boy. "Was it a real ghost you saw, or a snake? I'm

e you my word for that. But it had the awfu

t for a starter, wi

let up now," begged the b

r sure, b-but b-back of the

sked Bandy-le

seemed to swell up as he tried in vain to say t

stle, Toby, you si

he short boy declared, as he clapped a hand o

ther comical face, puckered his l

seemed to cure him for th

" asked Bandy-l

her; "I was only going to s

claimed one of those who listen

nge of eagerness in his voice, for Steve wanted to distinguish hi

a lot of gumps, when o

le beast may be makin

ade a flying leap in the direction

at his heels, and doubtless

their disappearance. Then they came crawling o

ger cat!" cried Steve, handling a

up and get what's coming to him!" declared Bandy-

right now. This rifle belonging to Max h-h-

eve, with more or less

it a whine, a cry just like a baby'd make? I've heard that's the way these panth

oices I heard,"

nd Owen coming back to

legs a

e as not," S

on the shoulders of our chums?" said th

, b-b-boys!"

comfortable just as I stand. What

o warn our c-c-chums, and s-s-stand that

oby, and perhaps try to swallow our only hatchet in the bargain. Besides, there's no need

whether it was a wildcat Toby saw, a panther, or one of those awful Injun

," the boy who stammered said, obstinate

e camp just then, eyed the warli

who seemed to be a well-put-up lad, with a bold, re

oby here thought he saw a hungry cat sizing us up, being in wan

aimed the party in question, s

toward his cousin Owen, and there w

it could have

opinion, which was to the effec

d out?" suggest

ts to tumbling all over himself. He saw a pair of staring eyes, and imagine

d, while Toby gru

ster Know-it-all? J-j-just you

" demanded the

by. "G-g-guess owls don't leave tracks, d-d-do t

all right," said Max, soothingly, for he saw that his two

u s-s-so," c

nswer me a few questions, p

-crack away," the other pi

e at the time you saw these yellow eyes staring at you-

ess right n-n-now that I couldn't s-s-say for sure whether the eyes were g-g

u!" exclaimed Steve; "he

king water to

declared Toby. "I s-s-s

all the rest. G-g-go

the same place?" ask

replie

t where, as you say, you saw

of wintergreen p-p-pokes up l-like the tuft of a

Now, the rest of you just hold your horses

ill," declare

out the facts, Max

They had the greatest confidence in this chum, whose knowledge of things

fire, and they could see that

rch, that's what

he is," ec

h the crooked legs; "and it's a jim dandy one, too. Now

my cat!" flashed up th

y one that saw the be

legs,

ellows, and watch what Max does

e first time, "if it should turn out to be any

Toby. "G-g-go mighty slow, boys, w

throwing that tomahawk, T

dy-

alking to hear yourself,"

had advanced,

nces seemed to take very little stock in the possibili

e same time thrust the blazing fa

e as you live, and I bet you it

mething up. P'r'aps it's an

us to come on, fellows!

ed forward, filled with a desire

, and yet at the same time the frown upon h

-w-wildcat?" bub

nia horned owl?

s head to bo

berly. "Fact is, the eyes Toby saw staring at him through the bus