"He's after a torch, that's what," asserted Steve.
"S-s-sure he is," echoed Toby.
"There, he's found what he wants," declared the boy with the crooked legs; "and it's a jim dandy one, too. Now he's heading for the place you saw your big cat, Toby."
"N-n-never said 'twas my cat!" flashed up the other, aggressively.
"Well, you're the only one that saw the beast, anyhow," declared
Bandy-legs, stoutly.
"Oh, let up on all that talk, fellows, and watch what Max does," Steve broke in, impatiently.
"And," remarked Owen Hastings, speaking for the first time, "if it should turn out to be any sort of a wild animal, look out how you shoot."
"I s-s-should s-s-say yes," added Toby. "G-g-go mighty slow, boys, w-w-while our c-c-chum is in front."
"Then don't you think of throwing that tomahawk, Toby, remember," cautioned
Bandy-legs.
"Shucks! you're only t-t-talking to hear yourself," grunted the other, in scorn.