Satisfied with the way things were going Roger soon settled down to make himself as comfortable as the conditions allowed. "Perhaps this isn't as sweet and easy a bed as my own at home," he remarked, after yawning several times; "but then, as my mother always says, 'beggars mustn't be choosers.' And I can remember many a time when I've slept in worse places than a hollow tree." "Remember before you go to sleep, Roger, it's understood that the one who happens to hear anything suspicious is to wake the other up. If you feel me touch you on the arm and hear me whisper, keep as still as a church mouse. It may mean that Indians are outside, and looking for us." "I'll recollect, Dick, you can depend on it; and, if the tables should be turned, so that I am the one to get wind of the danger first, I'll do the same to you. So now, let's go to sleep." Roger found very little trouble in putting his words into practice, and in a few minutes Dick heard him breathing heavily. As he felt very much inclined that way himself, Dick made no effort to hold back sleep, and in a short time both lads were fast locked in slumber. Some time passed, just how long neither of them really knew, when Dick felt a violent tug at his arm. He was wide-awake instantly, and understood just where he was, as well as what the jerk signified. "What is it?" he whispered, as he felt for his gun the first thing, as though its touch would give him renewed confidence. "Something or somebody is moving around outside, Dick," whispered Roger. "Hist! listen!" remarked Dick, softly. There was a slight scuffling sound, and the stump at the opening moved violently. Then came the loud sniffing of some animal that was trying to thrust its nose through a very small crevice and, apparently, could not understand why the door was closed. "It must be a bear," said Dick, no longer keeping his voice confined to a whisper, but speaking aloud, "and this is his den. He wonders what has happened, and it may be he scents us, for he's trying to push his way in!" CHAPTER XVIII THE STORM ROGER was considerably relieved when he heard his chum say this with so much confidence. A bear might be troublesome, but it was not to be compared with an Indian, for the latter was likely to have allies close at hand who could be summoned by a signal whoop. "Do you think the beast can move the stump?" he asked Dick, at the same time feeling for his knife, which the other had turned over to Roger on discovering that it was really his property. "He is trying hard to do so," replied Dick. "Just listen how he keeps on sniffing at that crack," continued the other boy. "He knows that somebody has taken to his hollow tree, and he doesn't seem to like it at all. How about giving him a shot, Dick? At such close range you could easily knock him over." Dick, however, had his own ideas about that. At least, he did not make any preparations for the shot.