“That’s the way to talk to them,” said Frank, peevishly.
“You weren’t very civil.”
“Well, who’s going to be to people who shut you up. It’s no use to be ‘my lord’ without you behave like one. Now let’s go to sleep.”
Easier said than done. First in the hot darkness came the ping-wing of a mosquito, then the restless sound made by the boys fidgeting about, and the low dull murmur of the men talking in the veranda.
“What’s that?” said Ned, suddenly.
“Bother! Go to sleep. Only our chaps walking underneath to see if all’s safe below. I say,” he added, after a pause, “I know what I shall do if they don’t let us out soon.”
“What!”
“Say I want to learn to smoke—late some evening.”
“And make yourself sick.”
“No; I’ll make them sick. They’ll bring a pipe and some burning charcoal.”