Thus an hour passed. Then, of a sudden, all the lads found themselves
wide awake. Wags was barking furiously, and the hair of his body
seemed to be fairly standing on end.




CHAPTER XI

A STRANGE MEETING


"Something is wrong!" cried Snap, leaping up and feeling for his gun.
"What is it, Wags?"

The dog kept on barking and commenced to tug on the cord that held him.

"Shall I let him loose?" asked Whopper. All the boys were now on
their feet, and he and Giant were rubbing their eyes. The wind had
shifted and was blowing the smoke of the smoldering camp fire toward
the tent.

"Don't do it---yet," answered the doctor's son. "He might bite
somebody. Let us go outside first."

"Maybe it's that crazy hermit," suggested Whopper, and gave a little
shiver. He could still see that impish face glaring at him. "Be
careful."