"What is it, Snap?" "Where is Whopper?" "I don't know where he is," answered Snap. "Listen!" The three did so, and from a distance heard a groan and then a thrashing around in the bushes back of the cabin. "Something is wrong, that is sure!" gasped Giant. "Whopper must be in trouble!" "Come on and see," returned Snap, and catching up his gun he ran from the shelter. Shep and Giant were not slow in following. When they got outside all had become quiet again, and they knew not in what direction to turn. There was no moon, but the stars shone like so many diamonds in the heavens. "Where is he?" asked Shep, after a breathless pause. "I don't know," answered Snap. "Hullo, Whopper!" he called out. There was no reply to his shout and he moved into the bushes cautiously, with the others at his heels. Then, of a sudden, he came upon Whopper, who stood by a bush tugging away manfully. "Get back!" murmured Whopper. "Get back, you beast! Say, fellows, this is the worst bear of the lot! Down he goes! That makes four bears for yours truly!" "I know what's the matter!" shouted Snap, lowering his gun. "He has got the nightmare." "Yes, and got it bad, too," put in Giant. "My! see him hustle with the bush!" "Shall we wake him up?" asked Shep. "No---it may not be good for him," answered Snap. "Oh, I am going to wake him up!" came from Giant, and before the others could stop him he ran forward and caught Whopper by the arm. "Wake up, Whopper!" he called. "Wake up, old man! You've got 'em bad!" At first Whopper paid no attention. "Then his struggles with the bush ceased and he opened his eyes and stared about him in bewilderment. "Wh-what is the matter? Wh-where am I?" he stammered, gazing around stupidly. "You've been asleep and dreaming," explained Snap. "You thought you were after a bear." "So I was---after a dozen bears. Did I---I kill any?" "There are no bears here. You were only dreaming." "Oh!" Whopper rubbed his eyes. "No bears at all?" "None but what we shot yesterday. You went to sleep and the next thing we knew you were out here, pulling at this bush." "Where am I?" "Back of the cabin," put in Shep. "You had better go to bed again." "And please don't dream of any more bears," added Giant, with a grin. Whopper scratched his head in perplexity. "Funny how I got here! I don't understand it at all. Oh, but say, I was having the fight of my life!" "I should say so," answered Snap, looking around. "You must have pulled up those three bushes yonder. Getting strong in your sleep." "I am glad he didn't dream I was a bear," remarked Shep. "There wouldn't have been anything left of me by the time he woke up!" "I know how it was," said Whopper, as the full truth dawned on him. "I ate a very hearty supper last night, and when I went to bed my head was full of those two bears we brought down. That gave me the nightmare." "Then, after this, we'll have to send you to bed supperless," said Snap.