th one on guard, it was rather hard for the other two to go
to sleep, though they were worn out by their long tramping around.
They slept only by fits and starts, and they were glad enough when
morning came and they saw the sunlight stealing over the tree-tops.

"And now for the camp!" cried Snap. "I hope nothing has happened
there during our absence."

CHAPTER XIV

THE BOYS AND THE WILDCAT

"Oh, what a night! What a night!"

It was Shep who uttered the words. The long spell of darkness had
at last gone, and looking up overhead he could see a bit of sunshine
striking the edge of the hollow.

In vain he had tried to get out of the tree. Every plan had proved
unsuccessful, and he had been held a prisoner through the long
hours which seemed to have no end.

He was both hungry and thirsty and had slept only by winks, as the
saying goes.

He no longer dared to think of the future, fearing he would go mad.
Was he really to remain there to die of thirst and hunger? Was the
hollow tree to prove his coffin?

A bird fluttered down into the hollow and startled him. He raised
his hand softly and tried to catch it, but like a flash the bird was
gone, and he was left as lonely as before.

Another hour passed and his thirst seemed to grow upon him every
minute. Then he grew desperate, and bracing himself, tried with all
of his strength to burst the hollow tree asunder. But the effort
availed nothing.

Presently he heard something that caused him to rouse up. It was
the sound of a shotgun, discharged at a distance.

"They must be out---perhaps they are looking for me!" he murmured.
"I hope they come here!" And he breathed a silent prayer that they
might not pass him by in his sore distress.

A little later he heard a curious scratching at the top of the
hollow. He strained his eyes and saw a bushy tail swishing around.

"A wild animal!" he thought. "Will it come down on top of me?"

He gave a low call and the animal disappeared. But then, after a
period of several minutes, it came back again and this time looked
down into the hollow tree, longingly.

"A wildcat!"

Shep was right; it was indeed wildcat that had come to pay him
a visit, and the beast seemed to be in anything but a good humor
as it glared down upon the imprisoned young hunter.

Would the beast spring down upon him? That was the question Shep
asked himself. As quickly as he could he raised his hand which
contained his jack-kn