Either boy was temped to jump up and run for his life, but the thought of what the other might say restrained him. It is even thus with whole regiments in action.
It was plain that two men had come up to the log and were talking.
A smell of strong tobacco told that one of them was smoking a pipe.
And with the powerful odour of bush weed was blended the milder perfume of a cigarette.
Tom and Dave watched the flame of the cigarette like a glowworm not twenty yards away, and once, when the smoker drew in a long whiff, they saw the outline of a dark, bearded face.
Scraps of conversation came down to the two trembling youths cowering among the leaves. It had anything but a re-assuring effect on them.
One man, he of the cigarette, spoke with an accent.
“Tell to me,” he said, “vat you sink ze best time?”
“About eleven o’clock at night,” replied the other. “He goes to bed early.”