f the deer, for he plainly saw it move, as though
a head were being raised. And what was evidently the truth burst upon
him. A wildcat had climbed the tree while they slept, and was now
trying to get at the venison!

CHAPTER VI

"SAVING THE BACON!"

Phil reached for his gun. Luckily he had it close by, even though
hardly expecting to make use of it during the night.

He fancied he heard a low snarking sound; possibly it may have been
pure imagination; though so wary an animal as a wildcat might have
detected a movement down below, where its human enemies held forth, and
signified by this means its displeasure at being disturbed in a feast.

Now the gun was being carefully pushed forth, advantage being taken of
the opening under the canvas cover, where Phil had released a couple of
the grummets. He wondered just how he was to get the butt against his
shoulder, under such peculiar conditions; but where there's a will
there nearly always can be found a way; and in the end this difficulty
was bridged over.

Then he thought of Larry. What a fright the sudden roar of the gun in
the confined space under the canopy would give his chum. But Phil had
warned him against being alarmed in case of a shot during the night.

Was the cat still there?

Looking closely he could see a movement as though the animal might have
finally reached the meat through the covering, and was busily engaged
chewing at it.

"Think of the nerve of the thing!" Phil was saying under his breath, as
he got ready to fire.

The report quickly followed. Phil, once he was ready, began to have a
fear lest the animal take sudden alarm, and make a leap that would
carry it beyond his range of vision. And the more he thought over the
thing the greater became his desire to punish the beast for its
audacity.

"Thunder!" shouted Larry, as he came floundering off his made-up bed,
landing in a struggling heap in the bottom of the motor boat.

"Oh! no, not quite so bad as that," laughed Phil, himself gaining an
upright position; and trying the best he could to throw out the old
shell, so that he might have the pump-gun in serviceable shape again.

Tony seemed to be the least disturbed of the lot. Familiarity with
alarms had considerable to do with it, no doubt. He had started to
open the flap of the canvas cover nearest him, so that he could thrust
his head out.

"What happened, Phil?" asked Larry, as he sat up on the floor of the
boat.