Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/131

 The fresh boughs in the corner invited slumber, but both missed Abner and Charlie. Ordinarily Bub would have thought nothing of living alone in the woods for an indefinite period of time. But now he felt a strange sensation of uneasiness. He almost wished he was in the open with only his blanket for protection.

Finally, in an effort to cast off the spell he boisterously challenged, “I’ll dare you to go out doors.”

“It is very dark outside,” countered Stanley.

“You don’t dare go out and walk around the shack.”

“But what good will it do? There are bears about here. There are rocks and stumps and it is very dark. It is more comfortable in here.”

“I dare you to go,” persisted Bub. “You don’t dare to and I do.”

“Now I haven’t admitted I do not dare go,” slowly replied Stanley, smiling in deep amusement at Bub’s persistence. “I simply say I do not want to go. You say you dare to; you are on record as daring to. So, go ahead.”

Bub grinned ruefully, but did not hesitate to rise and reach for his rifle.