All of the other boys were much surprised by Spouter’s declaration that there was some sort of animal in the branches of the tree Andy had just ascended.
“What is it, Spouter?”
“Are you sure you saw it?”
“Was it a squirrel?”
“Couldn’t be a bear, could it?”
“No, it wasn’t a bear. It wasn’t large enough for a bear,” answered Spouter. “It was just about the size of a great big tomcat.”
“Maybe it was a wildcat!” exclaimed Gif. “Wildcats have been shot more than once around here.”
All of the boys rushed to pick up the firearms which had been dropped when they had boosted Andy up the tree. Then they began to circle the tree, looking up in all directions for a sight of the wild beast.
“What is it?” yelled Andy. And then he added quickly: “If you shoot, don’t shoot me!”