"D-d-d-d-do you thi—thi—think they're going to attack us?" stammered Stacy.
"How do we know?" snorted Ned.
Neither the Professor nor the guide having made their appearance, the boys took for granted that the two men were asleep. Such was the case so far as the Professor was concerned, but Tom Parry was lying on his bed awake, a quiet smile on his face.
"Are you sure it's a wild animal, Tad?" whispered Walter.
"Of course. What else could it be?"
"Then I'll tell you what let's do."
"What?" demanded Ned.
"Let's get our rifles and crawl up to the top of that knoll yonder, where the sound seems to come from——"
"And take a shot at them," finished Ned. "Good idea. What do you say, Tad?"
"I guess there will be no harm in it," decided the lad, considering the question for a minute.