ded Joan, her
eyes bulging as she tried to see into the foliage.

Just as Alec decided to take aim and fire haphazardly, knowing that he
could not see in the dark but could frighten the tramps, Bob caught hold
of his arm. He was unaware that it held a gun that was cocked ready to
fire.

The rifle went off prematurely, the shot hit the mark without Alec's
trying for it, and a heavy thud informed the scouts that the bullet was
fatal! Instantly, however, there was such a commotion in the leaves, and
such a Bedlam of screeching! Finally a great flock of crows swept out of
the high tree and flew away to find a less dangerous roost.

The first streaks of dawn were penetrating the forest's darkness when
the offended crows left their ancestral tree; and the scouts looked at
each other in surprise. But Alec was sure it was not a crow he had
downed--it was too heavy for that!

So the boys crept carefully over to the place where they thought to find
the body of a tramp, while the girls followed at a respectful distance.
Then the relieved cry from Alec, and the laughing calls from the other
boys, hurried the girls to join their friends.

There they saw a dead wildcat of truly awesome size. In its clenched
teeth it still held the young nestling--the object of its nocturnal
climb into the tree. Alec's unexpected shot had hit true and had done
for the crafty animal.

"Well, this is some trophy to carry back home, eh?" cried Alec
delightedly, as he turned the cat over with his foot.

"I'm glad you didn't kill anything more than the wildcat," added Mrs.
Vernon.

"If you boys intend carrying that back to camp, you'll have to skin it
now and take only the pelt. You can't be bothered with the heavy beast
itself. Leave the carcass for the wild denizens that will be glad to
feed on this, their enemy," advised Mr. Gilroy.

"And do give us the crow! If it hadn't been for Joan and me you wouldn't
have had the wildcat!" exclaimed Julie.

"If it hadn't been for you two imaginative scouts we all would still be
snoozing peacefully beside the fire," laughed Alec.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE GRAND SURPRISE

When the scouts returned to their camp beside Little Moose Lake, they
were impressed anew with the peace and beauty of the spot. The canoe
trip had been delightful and exciting, but all were glad to get back to
a simple life once more.

Having seen the scout girls safely back home, and their canoes in the
lake for future use,