“Wall, I doan’t know, of course, what his plans be, but Cale, he’s a great feller tew keep his word; an’ if so be he’s told this company as he’ll run things straight jest believe me they ain’t agoin’ tew be no place for them two poachers around his fox farm. He’d run ’em off with his gun mighty quick. Yes, Cale keeps his word; an’ thet’s what makes me a leetle bit shy ’bout bein’ able tew convince him tew leave my ears whar they belongs. But Lina, bless her, sez as haow he jest cain’t hold aout, when he hears what I gotter tell him; an’ Lina, she orter know.”
Thad admired the man more than ever. Just because of his faith in Lina, here was Jim ready to put his head in the lion’s mouth, so to speak. Thad suspected that he might be carrying some very important intelligence to the bearded giant of the pine woods; but whatever it was, Jim did not take the trouble to enlighten him; and Thad did not really think he had any business to ask.
After that Jim seemed to lapse into silence, and seeing that he did not appear anxious to continue the talk along lines that concerned his personal matters, the scoutmaster turned to the others again.
The hour was now getting rather late, and while those who had remained in camp during much of the day might not be unusually tired, Step Hen gave signs of falling asleep by the fire. Several times his head gave a lurch to one side, so that presently Giraffe caught him roughly by the arm.
“See here, d’ye want to take a header square into the blaze, Step Hen?” he demanded, as the other opened his eyes, and looked sleepily at him. “I like fires as well as anybody, but excuse me from getting roasted in one. Don’t you think he ought to be sent to bed, Mr. Scoutmaster? He’s so logy right now, that the chances are ten to one he’ll climb in, and wrap the blanket around his head instead of his feet. Seems like you’ll have to appoint a dry-nurse to look after the poor baby, or else he may freeze to death in the night.”
But Step Hen did not wait for any permission to retire. He just crept away, and vanished under the folds of the second tent, which he shared with Thad and Davy Jones.
Indeed, the others were that sleepy they declared they would not be long in following his example. Thad himself was the first to get up and stretch.
“It’s late, fellows, and we ought to be turning in, if we want to be good for anything to-morrow. And remember, that if this sort of thing keeps up, we’re going to change the programme, and let every scout have a share in keeping sentry duty, working in couples. It doesn’t seem exactly fair that when Eli and Jim have to work all day with the paddles, or in any other way, they ought to spend half the night standing guard. Hello! there’s Eli right now, coming in on the trot, as if he had some news for us. What’s up, Eli?”
The old guide had been down to the shore of the lake to take a look at the canoes; and he was plainly bringing some sort of news, if they could judge from his hasty steps; and the look of concern on his dark face.
“Canoe comin’ along daown yonder; mout be Cale’s agoin’ ter pay us a visit,” he remarked; and his words aroused the sleepy boys as thoroughly as though they had been ducked with a bucket of ice-water.