and when he dozed off it was to dream of the lion that had escaped
from the circus. He imagined that the animal had followed them
to their camp and was bending over him and licking his face.
He uttered a groan of terror and sat up and opened his eyes.
As he did this a dark form leaped over him and out of the open
tent. The fire had burned low, so what the form was Shep could
not tell.

"Help!" screamed the doctor's son. He was not yet fully awake.

"Wha---what's the matter?" spluttered Snap, throwing aside his
blanket.

"What's wrong?" came from Whopper and Giant simultaneously.

"Something---a wild animal---in here---jumped over me!" gasped
Shep. "It just went outside!"

"Oh, you are dreaming, Shep," said Snap.

"No, I'm not. I saw it---felt it! Let me get my gun!"

The doctor's son threw off his blanket, leaped up and grasped his
shotgun, that hung on one of the tent poles. He stepped to the
opening of the tent and peered out anxiously.

"See anything?" demanded Whopper. He and the others were now up,
and each was arming himself.

"N---no."