"You can go, Fred," said Tom. "I'm going to stay awake until Sam and
Dick get back."
"Then I'll stay awake, too."
To tell the truth, nobody felt like sleeping, and all huddled together in a hollow, close to where the horses had been tethered. Wags came and rested his head in Tom's hand.
"Old boy, you know we are worried, don't you?" said Tom, and the dog looked up as if he understood.
It was a long time before their watches pointed to midnight. Then
Songbird stretched himself.
"I am so sleepy I can scarcely keep my eyes open," he said with a yawn.
"Then go to sleep," said Tom.
"I take a leetle nap, too," said Hans, and soon both were slumbering, leaving Tom and Fred on guard. They wished they had a fire—it would make things more cheerful—but they did not dare to indulge themselves, for fear their enemies might see the light.
By the time it was three in the morning, even Fred could hold out no longer. He dropped off, leaving Tom to keep the vigil by himself. But soon Songbird started up.
"Have they come back, Tom?" he asked.