Somehow or other, there had been so much to talk about while they sat around the bright crackling fire after supper that no one had thought to mention the little mystery of the first night of their stay on Bass Island.
Dick remembered about it when he was undressing, and was half tempted to break rules by crossing over to the tent where the three gentlemen were to sleep, with the intention of speaking to Mr. Holwell.
“What’s the use?” he asked himself on second thought. “It would only bother him more or less, and perhaps make him have a sleepless night; because I’m sure he’d begin to think something about poor Asa. In the morning I’ll watch my chance and tell him about it.”
Accordingly, Dick held his peace. His tent mates were Leslie Capes, Peg and Andy Hale, all congenial companions, and Dick expected considerable enjoyment during the nights they would be together.
Talking aloud was prohibited after half-past nine, so that if any fellows like Nat and his cronies, who had their quarters together, wished to converse they would have to do it in whispers.
Mr. Bartlett had laid down strict rules, and the penalties for breaking these would fall heavily on the heads of the offenders. Curtailing all privileges might cause the guilty ones to repent of having been so rash.
For once in their lives Nat, Dit and Alonzo found it necessary to do as they were told; and they were already regretting their step in deciding to accompany the campers on the outing.
Dick had purposely chosen a particular spot near the exit when arranging his blanket. He did this for several reasons. In the first place he liked the idea of attending to the fire in case he happened to wake up during the night, just as all old woodsmen and hunters were in the habit of doing, Dick understood. Then again, if there came any sort of alarm, and he wished to get out in a hurry, it would be more convenient for him than if he had to stumble over several boys who were beginning to sit up and get in the way.
Truth to tell, about this time the mysterious events of the preceding night began to take hold of his mind. Much to his chagrin, for some little time Dick could not banish them, try as he would.
“Here, this will never do,” he finally told himself after he had turned over as many as four different times, his thoughts busy all the while. “Just forget everything but the one fact that you’re sleepy, and it’s getting pretty late.”