But they had
scarcely lain down when crashes in the underbrush startled them, and
they heard a great noise as of a herd of cattle running past. The old
Squire peeped out at the door. "I guess it's deer," he said.
"Something's scared them."
He lay down again; but a few minutes later they heard what sounded like
a shriek a long way off up the stream. Billy started up. "Now what do
you s'pose that was, Joe?" he exclaimed.
"I--I don't know."
"It sounded," said Billy, "just as the schoolmistress did when she
stepped on a snake last summer."
They sat up to listen; pretty soon they heard the noise again, this time
much nearer.
"It's coming this way, Joe!" Billy whispered. "What do you s'pose it
is?"
They continued to listen, and soon they heard a short, ugly shriek close
by in the woods.
"Joe, I'm afraid that's a catamount," Billy said unsteadily.
The old Squire picked up the useless gun and sat with it in his hands.
For some time there were no more outcries; but after a while they heard
the crumpling of snow and the snapping of twigs behind the camp. Some
large animal was walking round; several times they heard the sough of
its breath.
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