thirty feet wide in safety.
The others listened with sober faces until Whopper had finished,
and then burst out laughing.

"What did I tell you?" cried Snap. "I said Whopper couldn't help
telling a yarn."

"And such a one, too!" added Giant.

"And of course we all believe it," came from the doctor's son.

"Well, I had to do something---to help pass the time," said Whopper
a bit sheepishly.

"Sure you did," said Snap heartily. "It's all right, Whopper---only
don't ask us to believe such a story."

"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 Gian