Dave did, and he rose to a sitting posture so abruptly that Don at once followed his example, at the same time demanding in a startled tone: “For goodness’ sakes, what’s the matter?”
“Nothing just now, but there may be soon,” responded Sam cheerfully. “Dave, I guess Tom would be horrified at the thought of our being guilty of such an amateurish proceeding—all of us almost going to sleep at the switch.”
“Say, that sounds like a big bunch of something!” broke in Don, peering eagerly in the direction from whence the sounds of snapping twigs and loud rustling were coming. “What—what can it be—oh—Great Scott—look there!”
Several animals, resembling hogs, had suddenly emerged into view from behind a tangled mass of vegetation, and behind these were evidently a great number of others.
“Peccaries!” remarked Dave, briefly. “Fellows, I think we’d better be on the move.”
“Peccaries!” echoed Don, with a little tremor of alarm. He gazed at the animals with fascinated attention. Never before in his life had he seen any wild animal larger or more dangerous than a jack-rabbit, and, somehow, he felt thrilled at the sight of these savage denizens of the woods. He rather wondered, too, at the calmness of both Dave and Sam.
The peccary, with its big head, long snout and small ears, is not a handsome animal, and the actions of these particular specimens made them look still less attractive to the New Orleans lad.
“By George, fellows!” he blurted out suddenly, “they’re coming this way!”
As he spoke the leader of the advancing horde, a large, vicious-looking beast, uttered a peculiar, challenging grunt and increased his pace, whereupon the three began a hasty retreat.
“We’ll give ’em all the room they want!” panted Don.