Chums of the Camp Fire

omes again!" said Bandy-

one almost holding his breath in the effort to train his

-whoo

ar this solemn cry from the depths of the

all the little Owls are feeling quite well to-night. Glad to have us for com

y, in some dismay, as though he feared he might have been dreadfully dece

assure him; "but it seems as though there isn

we agoin' to decid

, and see how we stan

n, eh?" sugg

andy-legs, as though in an uncertain state himself; "and

could be doin' blas

Toby. He sometimes startled his com

Max, after considering it for a brief time; "although so far a

he original question-bull

sagely; for not wanting to be outdone by Toby he had racked his brai

to make a little investigation on his own account. Perhaps he might

ether he k-k-keeps a bull, or a roa

we learn that he's the owner of such an animal, fi

I'll put it up straight to the old hayseed, and learn the truth. But say, hadn't we better be changing the subject some,

e had noticed that Steve grinned somewhat

s myself away back when I had the bad habit of seeing things in my sleep. And I know a fellow who thought he was in the heart of Africa watching the savage beasts come down t

ceroses and such things. Dreams come true sometimes. Think we want to wake up in the mornin' to find a lion sitting on that stump over there; a striped jungle tiger perched in this tree

d back at him, a

ch to-night?" remarked

hat's absolutely neces

t sleepers anyway,"

there. Then again it seems as if when I hit the hay I never know a thing till daylight comes. They may tell me we had a heavy storm in the midd

be one of the nights when you're on guard, and that if anyt

us, that might tempt a hungry 'coon or a fox. If so be you hear

e this is going to be one of my wakeful nights; so the rest of you can sleep

ace, he might have suspected that the other entertained serious doubts concerning the wisdom of depending wholly on his

ssing events. He too was a light sleeper, once he had impressed the fact upon his mind that there was n

where he could eat to his heart's content; and such of their provisions that they thought might tempt prowl

lion hanging around he'd gobble poor old Ebenezer the first thing. So if you hear a trampling and a n

he others copied his excellent example. These boys had been through the mill so often that long ago the

s and lift his head as some slight

readily enough that it must be some curious 'coon trying to find out what this bulky

vered that Ebenezer must have gotten to his feet again after a little rest, and started to cropping the grass once more; an

hird time for

d that aroused him now, but

s far from dark or gloomy under the canvas,

nd. Max lay there, and watched him curiously. Was Steve uneasy, and did he mean to s

d reason to change it. Steve did not pick up his little Marlin shotgun, as it might be exp

nearby spring. Still, if this were so Max wondered at him for not thinking t

ened to copy his example. When he wished, he could do some excellent stalking, and although Steve

to slip on his shoes, as Max had done. This in itself looked queer. Steve ought to know that walking was not the most

ng fresh from a warm blanket. Yet Steve did not seem to mind that little thing,

but he had also picked up his rifle which was lying conveniently near; for Max

itched exactly on the border of the little brooklet that ran from the bubbling spring, because there was

been mentioned I believe I'm some thirsty myself, so that I could stand a gulp or two. That's mighty nice water, and we don't

was himself fully convinced that he had outgrown the trouble; but Max believed it was liable to crop up a

ight have done, if possessed by the idea that lions were prowling near, and that it w

red from that it must be somewhere in the neighborhood of one o'clock; for long ago Max had learned the useful woodsman

ted across the bright silvery face of the moon; and when

dered easy by the fact that the chum's pajamas were of a light color,

and meant to indulge in a drink. Max had never heard of any one doing this when walking in their sleep; but he cou

meekly return to the tent. In the morning Max would accuse him of sleepwalking, and if Steve indignantly denied it, Max c

der. He even decided to stand where Steve must surely notice him on his return, and in

t the best of these may be smashed

as in t

at once a shrill scolding screech rang out,

caught the flutter of some hairy form that seemed to vanish amidst th

ing like a flash in a warmly contested game of baseball, he did not think to raise the gun he was gripping in one

ch made the echoes ring through the aisles of the forest; he se