“What do you want?” asked Jack.
“Where’smygum?” was what Budge wanted to know, and his companions laughed.
“I guess you’re all right when you can chew gum,” spoke Jack. “But what made you go over by that sulphur spring?”
“I was shooting jack-rabbits,” explained Budge, “and I thought that would be a good place. I didn’t like the smell, but pretty soon I fell asleep, and then——”
“Yes, and then if Jack and Nat hadn’t come along you’d be sleeping yet,” added Sam.
“’Sright,” admitted Budge.
They helped him back to camp, and he was soon feeling better, but he registered a firm resolve not to go too near the deadly gas spring again. Hunting was over for the day, and they were all soon gathered about the camp fire, telling their various experiences.
It was the middle of the night when Jack, who was rather restless, was awakened suddenly. At first he thought some one had called him, but as he raised up and looked over at his sleeping companions he realized that none of them were awake.
“I wonder what that noise was?” he asked himself.