They passed the silent group near the tents and entered the shelters, proceeding at once to get undressed. It looked for a moment as though the ones outside were going to remain up, but they straggled in at last and went to bed. As Ted was crawling in the small boy came in and started to undress.
“I’m not going, Ted,” he said. “I’m going to stay with you.”
“Good boy!” was Ted’s only comment.
The night was peaceful and in the morning the two bands again formed in groups, the ones who were going to leave sticking close to Plum and the others working at the meal as though nothing had happened. The rebels did their share but said nothing and they ate in an unbroken silence.
Besides Tom Clayton there had been another desertion from the ranks of those who were leaving. Alfred Paulson refused to go with Plum and his party. The new section leader tried to argue him into it.
“No, Ted is the leader of this camp,” said Alfred, firmly.
“He was the leader of it, you mean!” Plum said loudly. “Pretty soon he’ll be leading himself home all alone! Something else will happen around here and then the rest of the fellows will come running home, so you might just as well come now.”
“I’m going to stay right here with Ted!” said Alfred, stubbornly.
The breakfast was over and the rebels who were on committees helped to put the camp in order. When it was over with Plum spoke to his four young companions and they went straight to their tents and began to get their duffle together. The others stood and watched them in silence for a time.
“Confound it, this breaking up of the camp will give us somewhat of a black eye!” grumbled Buck.