After the fire was brightened, there came a painful pause. Each boy was on his guard, with eyes straining from their sockets.
"I see something!" cried Fred suddenly.
"Where?" asked the others in a breath.
"There—but it's gone now."
Again they waited, and soon came a rustling on the other side of the camp, followed by the cracking of a bone which had been thrown away during the evening repast.
"There he is!"
"Shoot him!"
"No, don't shoot!" burst out Tom. "I know what it is."
"What?"
"Nothing but a dog."
"Nonsense."
"I say it is." Tom began to whistle. "Come here, old boy," he went on. "Good dog, come here."
At this, the animal stopped crunching the bone and came forward slowly and suspiciously. It was indeed a large, black dog, with curly hair and lean sides.
"Hullo!" cried Sam. "Come here, that's a good dog. Say, fellows, he looks half starved."
"Are you sure it ain't no catpob?" queried Hans anxiously.
