Lusty cries quickly answered him, and trampling footsteps came near. He saw the gleam of the lantern go by, and then a rifle cracked sharply. The next thing he knew Jerry and Hamp were hauling him to his feet.
“Where’s the catamount?” he panted. “Did you kill it?”
“Missed,” replied Jerry. “I only had a snap shot. The creature bolted into the forest when it saw the lantern. We didn’t get here any too soon.”
“I thought I was a goner,” declared Brick.
His face was pale, and he trembled like a leaf.
Hamp had a great load of wood on his back, and the fire was soon blazing merrily.
The catamount made no sign for ten minutes, and then a wailing cry from far off told that he was retreating.
After waiting a little longer the boys went back to their warm blankets and pine boughs.
They fell asleep very quickly, and it was broad daylight when they got awake. The sun was behind murky gray clouds, and the air was bitterly cold. The snow crunched sharply under foot, and the lake was frozen from shore to shore.
The presence of the catamount in the vicinity decided the boys to hunt a new camping-place.