He was very glad, therefore, when his trick was up and Jerry took his place.
“Did you see or hear anything?” asked Jerry.
“Nary a thing except the wild animals,” replied Ned. “There’s a regular menagerie around here, by the sound in the woods.”
For several hours Jerry remained on guard. He was wide awake, for the sleep earlier in the evening had rested him considerably. Part of the time he sat on a log near the fire, and again, he would get up and pace back and forth looking around anxiously.
Jerry replenished the fire and then, feeling somewhat chilly, began to walk rapidly up and down, pacing about ten feet in either direction from the blaze. Once, when he had gone a little further, and stood near a big elm tree he fancied he heard a noise among the branches. Glancing up he was startled by hearing some one utter:
“Hist! Hist!”
“Who’s—who’s there?” faltered Jerry, for he was taken by surprise.
“Sh! Not so loud! Have they gone?” asked a voice.
“Who?” asked the lad, wondering who was speaking.