But it was quite evident by the expressions of the two children that they at least thought they had seen something of a dangerous nature. Gerald pointed toward a clump of low-growing pines on the other side of the brook as he said in a tense, half-whispered voice: "Whatever 'twas, Dan, it's hiding in there." Then he explained: "Julie and I were crossing the water on those big stones when, snap, something went. I whirled to look. Honest, I expected to see a grizzly, but there wasn't anything at all in sight. Julie and I stood just as still as we could; we didn't even make a sound! Then we saw those bushy trees moving, though there wasn't a bit of wind, so we know whatever 'tis, it's in there." While the small boy had been talking, Dan had been loading the gun. "You'd better let me go alone," he said to the children, but their disappointed expressions caused him to add: "At least let me go ahead, and if I think best for you to come, I'll beckon." Dan crossed the brook on the big stones and went toward the clump of small stubby pines. Then he stood still, watching the dense low trees intently. His heart beat rapidly, not from fear, for he almost hoped that it might be a grizzly, and yet, would it not be unwise to shoot at it with a small gun? It might infuriate a huge beast, and so endanger all of their lives. But, although he waited, watching and listening for many minutes, no sound was heard. He began to believe that the children had imagined the stealthy noise they thought they had heard, for, after all, they had not really seen anything, and so he beckoned them to join him. They leaped across the brook and were quickly at his side. "Wasn't it a bear, or a wildcat, or anything?" Gerald asked eagerly. Dan shook his head, as he replied with a laugh: "Don't be too disappointed, youngsters, even if you don't see everything on the first day. This time it was just a false alarm." But Dan was mistaken, for, from a safe hiding place, the old Indian, Slinking Coyote, was watching their every move. "Why don't we shoot into that pine brush anyway?" Julie suggested. "We might scare out whatever is hiding there." But Dan didn't wish to do this. He felt that it would be safer to have the larger gun with him before he started beating up hidden wild creatures of any kind. "Come along, youngsters, let's get back on the home-side of our brook and set up a target," the older boy suggested as he crossed the brook, followed by the children. In their door-yard Dan paused and looked about meditatively. "I want to set up a target near enough to be within call, and yet far enough away to keep from disturbing Jane too much with our racket." "Oh, I know!" Gerald cried. "Over there, just above where the road bends! That'll be a dandee place. Won't it, Dan?"