As he moved toward the horses, he heard a rustling in the bushes. He strained his eyes and made out a dark form stealing along close to the ground.
"A wild beast!" he muttered. "I wish I had a gun."
He turned back to the shelter and aroused Dick, and then Tom. This awoke all of the others.
"What's the matter?" questioned Dick, as he got out a pistol.
"Some sort of a wild animal is prowling around this place."
"Py chiminy! Vos it von of dem catpobs?" ejaculated Hans, turning pale.
"I don't know what it is."
"Where is it now?" came from Fred.
"I don't know that, either. It was slinking around yonder bushes a minute ago."
"Let us stir up the fire," put in Songbird. "All wild animals hate a big blaze." And he set the example, and Hans helped to heap up the brushwood.