called. "Wake up, old man! You've
got 'em bad!"

At first Whopper paid no attention. "Then his struggles with the bush
ceased and he opened his eyes and stared about him in bewilderment.

"Wh-what is the matter? Wh-where am I?" he stammered, gazing around
stupidly.

"You've been asleep and dreaming," explained Snap. "You thought you
were after a bear."

"So I was---after a dozen bears. Did I---I kill any?"

"There are no bears here. You were only dreaming."

"Oh!" Whopper rubbed his eyes. "No bears at all?"

"None but what we shot yesterday. You went to sleep and the next
thing we knew you were out here, pulling at this bush."

"Where am I?"

"Back of the cabin," put in Shep. "You had better go to bed again."

"And please don't dream of any more bears," added Giant, with a grin.

Whopper scratched his head in perplexity.

"Funny how I got here! I don't understand it at all. Oh, but say,
I was having the fight of my life!"

"I should say so," answered Snap, looking around. "You must have
pulled up those three bushes yonder. Getting strong in your sleep."

"I am glad he didn't dream I was a bear," remarked Shep. "There
wouldn't have been anything left of me by the time he woke up!"

"I know how it was," said Whopper, as the full truth dawned on
him. "I ate a very hearty supper last night, and when I went
to bed my head was full of those two bears we brought down. That
gave me the nightmare."

"Then, after this, we'll have to send you to bed supperless," said
Snap.

"Not much!" cried Whopper.

CHAPTER XXIX

A STRANGE MEETING IN THE FOREST

Despite Whopper's nightmare and what had followed, the boy hunters
slept soundly for the rest of the night. All arose at daybreak and
procured what was destined to be their last meal in the camp for
that season.

"I rather hate to leave the spot," said Snap, while packing away the
breakfast things. "We have had some good fun here."

"We must come back some time, by all means," declared Shep. "Maybe
this winter."

"Yes, some hunting up here in mid-winter wouldn't go bad," came
from Giant. "We could bring snowshoes along and have jolly times."

"That's the talk!" ejaculated Whopper. "I have always wanted to go
hunting on snowshoes, And we could build a big snowhouse, too."

"Well, that is something to talk over another time," put in Snap.
"Remember, just now we want to locate that mill robber if we can,
and also get those bea