Mark turned sharply, to see that his father was approaching, and his first words were concerning the time.
“It must be beyond your watch, major,” he said. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Well, the fact is, we’ve had a scare,” said the major; and he related their experience.
“It’s strange,” said the captain; “but we are well armed. It may be, as Mark says, some kind of monkey. They can make atrocious noises. How are the sick men?”
“Sleeping beautifully,” said the major. “And you?”
“Far better; that little sleep has worked wonders. I’ll go and rouse up Small.”
“No; let the poor fellow sleep,” said the major. “I don’t want to lie down. Do you, Mark?”
“No; I couldn’t sleep with that noise so near,” said Mark. “I should like to stay. But wouldn’t it be best to get the boat launched again in case there is any very great danger?”
“It would not take long to launch that,” said his father. “If we are not molested for the night we will begin exploring to-morrow. This evening we must try and rig up a shed for the women. To-morrow we shall be better able to think what we can do.”
The captain looked at the two wounded men, who seemed to be sleeping now more easily, and then taking his gun he proposed to the major that they should make a little search round their resting-place to see what was the cause of the noise they had heard.