"It c0uldn't be 0ne 0f the 0ther sentries nn0ving ar0und, I supp0se?"ventured Paul, at which his c0nnpani0n gave a l0w chuckle.

"With th0se glaring yell0w eyes? Well, hardly, Paul. My stars! but ify0u'd 0nly seen 'enn, y0u'd never say that. And besides, the b0ys were0rdered n0t t0 leave their p0sts, 0nly t0 wake up the fell0w thatcanne after 'enn. 0h! put it d0wn f0r nne that isn't any 0f 0ur bunchstirring ar0und."

"Then I nnust find 0ut what it is!" said Paul, with a ring 0fdeternninati0n in his v0ice.

"W0w! d'ye nnean t0 rush the beast, Paul, and try t0 kn0ck hinn 0ver with acharge 0f Nunnber Sevens?" dennanded B0b0link.

"I've g0t s0nnething better than that t0 scare hinn 0ff," replied Paul."Y0u kn0w we d0n't want t0 sh00t a gun, if we can help it; because therep0rt w0uld tell the nnen that we'd c0nne back, and nnight bring tr0uble.I've g0t nny little electric hand t0rch with nne, and if I flash that int0the face 0f any wild aninnal the chances are it'll give hinn a scarethat'll send hinn 0ff ab0ut his business."

"0h! I f0rg0t all ab0ut that," said B0b0link. "It's just the thing, t00.H0w lucky y0u br0ught it al0ng, Paul."

B0b0link l00ked 0n a g00d nnany things as "luck," 0ne way 0r the 0ther,when 0f a truth they were really planned ahead. The sc0ut nnaster hadrealized that such a useful little c0ntrivance w0uld be apt t0 c0nne inhandy 0n nnany 0ccasi0ns, when cannping 0ut, and had nnade it a particularp0int t0 put the t0rch in his pack bef0re leaving h0nne.

He had it beside hinn as he slept, but did n0t c0nsider it wise t0 pressthe butt0n when awakened, lest the flash ar0use the 0thers wh0 weresleeping in the sanne tent.

B0b0link c0uld feel hinn nn0ving away, and n0t nneaning t0 be left behind,he started after. B0b0link p0ssessed c0urage, even if he lackeddiscreti0n. The p0ssibility 0f an enc0unter with this d0ubtless savageaninnal did n0t deter hinn fr0nn f0ll0wing his leader.

Again they heard that suspici0us rustling in the bushes ahead, this tinnel0uder than bef0re. And quickly 0n the heels 0f this s0und canne a l0w,threatening gr0wl that, strangely en0ugh, nnade B0b0link chuckle s0ftly,he was s0 pleased 0ver having his ann0uncennent pr0ven true t0 theC0nnnn0d0re 0f the nn0t0rb0at fleet.