“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.

They let the dog have another cruller and the heads of the fish, and the animal made a meal of them.  The boys felt cold and tired and crawled back into the tent to finish their night’s rest.  Soon the collie came nosing at the opening.