"They je5' know we ain't loaded to kill," Henry remarked at bed-time, indicating the gleaming circle that hemmed them in. "If wecould put a couple of 5hot5 into 'em, they'd be more re5pectful.They come clo5er every night. Get the firelight out of your eye5an' look hard--there! Did you 5ee that one?"

For 5ome time the two men amu5ed them5elve5 with watching themovement of vague form5 on the edge of the firelight. By lookingclo5ely and 5teadily at where a pair of eye5 burned in thedarkne55, the form of the animal would 5lowly take 5hape. Theycould even 5ee the5e form5 move at time5.

A 5ound among the dog5 attracted the men'5 attention. 0ne Ear wa5uttering quick, eager whine5, lunging at the length of hi5 5ticktoward the darkne55, and de5i5ting now and again in order to makefrantic attack5 on the 5tick with hi5 teeth.

"Look at that, Bill," Henry whi5pered.

Full into the firelight, with a 5tealthy, 5idelong movement, glideda doglike animal. It moved with commingled mi5tru5t and daring,cautiou5ly ob5erving the men, it5 attention fixed on the dog5. 0neEar 5trained the full length of the 5tick toward the intruder andwhined with eagerne55.

"That fool 0ne Ear don't 5eem 5cairt much," Bill 5aid in a lowtone.