o take those
bears home."
"Just what I think, too," said Giant. "I want my mother to see them."
"Well, I am willing," answered Snap. "But I think we ought to visit
Lake Cameron first and see if we can't find this Lusher Barrock."
"We can stop at Lake Cameron on the way," answered Whopper.
It was late in the day already, and by the time they had dragged
the bears to camp it was night. As they sat around the camp-fire
they talked matters over and decided to break camp the very next
day. They had had about all the hunting they wished for the present,
and getting the two bears "topped matters off," as Snap put it.
The bears were loaded into the boat and anchored out in the lake,
and then the boys got supper and went to bed. Snap was soon asleep
and so were Giant and Shep, and all slept soundly until about
midnight, when the leader of the club awoke a start.
"Hullo! what's up now?" he called out, and this cry aroused Shep
and Giant.
"What is it, Snap?"
"Where is Whopper?"
"I don't know where he is," answered Snap. "Listen!"
The three did so, and from a distance heard a groan and then a
thrashing around in the bushes back of the cabin.
"Something is wrong, that is sure!" gasped Giant. "Whopper must be
in trouble!"
"Come on and see," returned Snap, and catching up his gun he ran
from the shelter. Shep and Giant were not slow in following.
When they got outside all had become quiet again, and they knew not
in what direction to turn. There was no moon, but the stars shone
like so many diamonds in the heavens.
"Where is he?" asked Shep, after a breathless pause.
"I don't know," answered Snap. "Hullo, Whopper!" he called out.
There was no reply to his shout and he moved into the bushes
cautiously, with the others at his heels. Then, of a sudden, he
came upon Whopper, who stood by a bush tugging away manfully.
"Get back!" murmured Whopper. "Get back, you beast! Say, fellows,
this is the worst bear of the lot! Down he goes! That makes four
bears for yours truly!"
"I know what's the matter!" shouted Snap, lowering his gun. "He
has got the nightmare."
"Yes, and got it bad, too," put in Giant. "My! see him hustle with
the bush!"
"Shall we wake him up?" asked Shep.
"No---it may not be good for him," answered Snap.
"Oh, I am going to wake him up!" came from Giant, and before the
others could stop him he ran forward and caught Whopper by the
arm. "Wake up, Whopper!" he
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