Then with a little laugh Tom of Okanagan flung him across the tent.
"Great Columbus! It's good I found out in time," he said.
Alton was almost speechless still, and, while he gasped, the object he had fallen on moved strenuously beneath him.
"You might get up," it said.

"It's a somewhat unprotected place you're sitting on." "Confound you both," said Alton.

"Hand me the rifle." Seaforth afterwards remembered that he did not ask where the rifle was, which would have been the question put by most men, and as he held it out felt the stock touch Alton's hand.

Then there was a little rattle, and as Seaforth floundered to his feet a weird snarling cry broke out.
Alton was out of the tent in a moment, but Seaforth afterwards recalled the fact that they were all moving when he heard the sound, and Tom of Okanagan apparently groping for his axe and throwing things about.

He also decided that it might have been better if one had sat still and listened, but it is not given to human beings to always do the most appropriate thing.
Alton instinctively avoided the tent-line nearest the opening, which was unfortunate, because the peg had drawn a trifle, and Seaforth had moved it after his comrade had driven it.