“It won’t rain so much when we get east,” said Alex. “When it does, Moise and I’ll get up and smoke. But it won’t rain to-night, that’s certain,” he added, knocking his pipe on the heel of his moccasin. “Throw the door of your tent open, because you’ll not need to protect yourselves against the mosquitoes to-night. It’s getting cold. Good night, young gentlemen.”
In a few moments the camp was silent, except something which sounded a little like a snore from the point where Moise had last been seen.
John nudged his neighbors in the beds on the tent floor, and spoke in low tones, so that he might not disturb the others outside. “Are you asleep yet, Rob?”
“Almost,” said Rob, whispering.
“So’m I. I think Jesse is already. But say, isn’t it comfy? And I like both those men.”
III
STUDYING OUT THE TRAIL
It must have been some time about five o’clock in the morning, or even earlier, when Rob, awakened by the increasing light in the tent, stirred in his blanket and rolled over. He found himself looking into the eyes of John, who also was lying awake. They whispered for a minute or two, not wishing to waken Jesse, who still was asleep, his face puckered up into a frown as though he were uneasy about something. They tried to steal out the other tent, but their first movement awakened Jesse, who sat up rubbing his eyes.