The course which Wharton took led them towards the Lone Mountain, within a short distance of which they camped that night, making for themselves a rough fortress of boulders, and (intensely to Towzer's disgust) doing without fire and tea.
'Cold tommy after a day like this!' ejaculated he mournfully, holding up a chunk of heavy dry bread as he spoke.
'Better anyway than cold steel for supper!' said Dick, a little grimly.
CHAPTER XIX
THE GAMBLERS 'PUT UP'
'Towzer, my lad, you mustn't take it unkindly, but I think you and Frank had better watch together to-night. You see you ain't as used to camping out as Snap and me, and there's a good deal of risk to-night,' said Wharton.
'Quite right, Dick!' said Frank; 'I know we're duffers, but Rome wasn't built in a day.'
'No, no, lad, I know that, and you'll be as good as any of us by-and-by. Will you and Snap take the first watch till midnight?'
'All right; wake up, young 'un!' cried Frank.
'No fear of us both sleeping at once,' said Towzer sulkily to his brother, 'you snore so.'