TED'S PRICKLY BEAR. 
43 
could hardly find a better camping-ground. The tents, 
boys ! " 
This last was addressed to the guides, who at once 
quietly set about their preparations for the night. While 
the boys gathered eagerly about Rob, as he described the big 
game he had seen, two tents of light, strong drilling were 
taken from the packs and pitched. They were of the 
" Shelter " form, with side flaps that were secured to the 
ground by pegs. These were necessary to keep out 
the little winged tormentors whose falsetto songs already 
began to ring unpleasantly in the ears of the hunters. 
The mosquito bars were now stretched across the front 
of the tents, admitting light, air, and nothing else, unless 
perhaps the midges, or no-see-' ems, whose approach the 
Indians feared. 
In the midst of Rob's glowing account, there arose a 
series of howls and cries, mingled with the barking of a 
dog, close by the camp. 
All hands seized rifles and axes, and ran to the rescue. 
" Oh, murther ! Oh, save me, quick ! She's comin' 
afther me, sure ! Come quick wid yer guns ! " 
A moment later a shout of laughter went up from the 
rescuers. Even the taciturn Indians smiled. 
There was the valiant Teddy, with his hair fairly 
standing on end, glaring wildly at a small black animal, 
which crouched in a tree, about ten feet from the ground. 
" Sure, I have fixed it wid me eyes," said Teddy. 1 
have a shpell on it, I have. If I look off, it'll jump." 
