They were perfectly still, and the sound was repeated. It was not like anything they had ever heard before. “It’s a bear!” wailed Doris. “I just know it is!” “I don’t honestly think so,” replied Marjorie. “Then what is it?” “I don’t know.” They were quiet for a few minutes, and the sound kept recurring. “Marj!” whispered Doris, “I can’t stand it! I’m going to call the men!” “I wouldn’t, Doris.” “I’ve got to--I’m so scared, I’d never live through the night.” Immediately she let out a piercing shriek. “Mr. Hilton! Bob!... _Bears!_” Instantly the men were awake, and had pulled on their boots, and seized their guns. “Where? Where?” demanded Bob. “We can’t see them--only hear them!” answered Doris. “Listen!” During the silence that followed, the weird howling could be heard again. Both Bob and Mr. Hilton burst out laughing. “That isn’t a bear! It’s a coyote!” said Mr. Hilton. “And far off too. It won’t hurt you!” Doris breathed a sigh of relief. “Are you sure?” she demanded. “Positive.” “I’m awfully sorry I wakened you,” she said, apologetically. “Oh, that’s all right,” replied Mr. Hilton pleasantly. “Now go back to sleep.” One by one the girls’ heads disappeared inside the tents, but not before their owners had addressed some laughing remark at Doris, teasing her for her fears. Nor could the girls go immediately to sleep again; for a long while tent-mates lay there whispering to each other, and from the suppressed giggles that were heard from time to time, they were evidently enjoying the situation immensely. After they had quieted down, an idea occurred to Mae. “Doris!” she called. “Hello, Doris!” “Well, what now?” demanded Doris. “If you hear anything more, you just scream like that again, and you’ll scare all the bears within fifty miles.” “I don’t care!” responded Doris; “if there are bears around here, I won’t stay.” This sally caused another chorus of giggles, and the chiding was resumed again until Marjorie put a sudden stop to it by calling sharply, “That’s enough, girls! It’s mean to tease Doris so--especially when none of you are a bit braver than she is, but only less nervous. Now go to sleep!” After this rebuke, all was quiet. But although there was no more talking, not all of the girls went to sleep right away. Marjorie was right; they were not braver than Doris; and as they lay there thinking about her remark, wondering what they would do if a bear really did appear, they began to realize that they did not at all relish the possibility. In the end, the fatigues of the day and the good health of the girls asserted themselves, and they fell into a sound sleep.