“Is anybody going to stand guard to-night?” asked Giant to change the subject.

“What’s the use?” questioned Snap.  “I don’t think anybody or anything will come to disturb us.”

“Well, you can never tell,” said Shep slowly.  “But if you fellows don’t care to stand guard we’ll let it go at that.”

“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.