ick's heart thumped madly in his breast.
The gun was raised and he kept his finger on the trigger. But he did
not dare to shoot until he was certain of the object of his aim.

"I don't want to kill anybody," he reasoned. And he thought of a
story he had once read of a hunter shooting his companion who had
got the nightmare and was crawling around in his sleep. For all he
knew, it might be Sam or Tom, or one of the others.

But now came a sound which was not to be mistaken. It was a low,
savage growl, followed by the rustling of a bushy tail among the
brushwood. It was a wild animal, and it was getting ready to make
a leap for the boy!

Taking aim as best he could, Dick pulled the trigger. Bang! went the
firearm, and a snarl of pain and rage rang out. Then the beast made
its leap, striking Dick in the breast and knocking him over.

"Hullo! what's the row?" The cry came from old Jerry, who had been
sleeping next to Dick. "Who fired that shot?"

"Help!" answered Dick. "A wild beast has attacked me."

"A wild beast!" came from several throats at once.

"Let me get a shot," came from Tom, as he bounced out of the house,
pistol in hand, followed by Sam and Captain Blossom.

By this time Dick had gotten to his knees and was trying to fight
off the animal which had fastened its teeth in the youth's trouser
leg, for the boys slept with part of their garments on them.

"Shoot him! Hit him over the head with a club!" screamed the eldest
Rover. He expected every moment to have the beast fly at his throat,
and he knew that that would be his death.

Old Jerry turned back to get a pistol or a club. As he did this Tom
rushed past him and up to Dick's side. Taking a hasty aim, Tom
discharged the pistol twice.

Another growl rang out and the beast dropped back, shot through the
foreshoulder and the neck. Then Tom let drive once more and the beast
fell forward, shot through the left front leg.

"Good for you, Tom!" cried Dick, as he arose.

"What is it?" came from Captain Blossom, as he appeared with a shotgun.
A shot from this finished the beast and it rolled over and over in
its death agonies, and Sam finished it with a blow on the head with
a big club.

By this time the girls were crowding outside, having clothed themselves
with whatever was handiest. Torches were lit, and a ship's lantern,
and all went to examine the creature.

"It looks like a tiger," declared Tom. "Only it is not quite so large."

"I should say i