“I don’t think that I will go to bed,” said Breene.
“They won’t hurt you if you do not hurt them,” said Bill.
“You may know that, I may know it, but do the bears know it?” asked Breene. “No, sir, I am going to sit right here by the fire all night.”
“Suit yourself,” said Bill, and curled up in the pine needles.
CHAPTER XVI—A LOOKOUT STATION IN THE MOUNTAINS
Bill found it rather hard to get to sleep. The pine needles were not as soft as they seemed at first. Then there were the usual noises that are ever prevalent in the forests. The creaking trees, falling branches, small animals wandering through the darkness hunting for food, and occasionally a larger animal coming down to the river for water. Each in turn gave Breene a start and he was continually calling to Bill.
“What’s that?” asked Breene on one of these instances.
“What and where?” asked Bill sleepily.
“There,” replied Breene, pointing into the darkness.
Bill looked in the direction which Breene pointed and saw a pair of shining eyes. They had the bright shine and green tint of a cat’s eyes. Coming out of the darkness they looked as large as two baseballs. Bill was wide awake after looking a short time into those luminous spots standing out against the otherwise dark background. The impression that he received as he looked into those eyes was both fascinating and terrifying. They must belong to one of the various species of mountain lions, thought Bill.