“Yes, and your father is going to relieve me at the end of four hours.”
“But—watch? What for?”
“Because there are Indians about. You don’t suppose we could leave the camp unguarded at a time like this, do you?”
“I—I never thought about it,” stammered Chris. “Did you, Ned?”
“Of course not. But is it necessary?”
“If you want to take care of your scalp, yes, my lad,” said the American dryly.
“Oh, but—” began Chris.
“You think there’s no risk, eh? Well, perhaps it’s not quite so bad as that, but we don’t want to wake up and find that the mules and horses have been swept off in the night. There, lie down and sleep. Whoever has the morning watch will wake you up to a good fire and such a breakfast as will make up for your cold water supper. Well—why don’t you lie down?—Here: stop! What are you going to do?”
“Going to speak to father.”
“No, no, don’t disturb him. I dare say he’s asleep by now.”