“I don’t believe they have any idea of letting us alone, if they can manage to get on board the Rambler,” Clay declared. “I have often read that lawless negroes and whites are alike alert for plunder during flood seasons, and it is floating goods those fellows are after, unless I am much mistaken. We’ll have to keep a sharp watch to-night.”
“Wouldn’t it be wiser to drive them away?” asked Alex., with one of his grins.
“We have no right to drive them away,” Case suggested. “We may get into trouble if we try it. I’ll watch half the night and not mind it at all.”
Alex. nudged Jule in the side and whispered in his ear for a moment.
“Jule and I will watch the first half,” he then said. “Perhaps they will go off home by midnight, and Case won’t have to watch at all.”
“Alex.,” Clay exclaimed, “you’ve got some mischief in your mind. Heretofore you’ve come out of your scrapes with whole bones, but sometime you’ll get into serious trouble if you don’t stop running out nights. I strongly advise you to let those levee negroes alone! You go to bed early, and I’ll watch the boat!”
“Who’s got mischief in the mind?” grinned Alex. “I guess I can stay up until midnight without gettin’ into trouble! You see if I don’t make the dandy watchman to-night! When it comes to keeping guard, I’m the candy boy!”
“You usually manage to get into trouble when you are left alone!” laughed Clay.
“If I can’t be good to-night,” grinned Alex., “I’ll be careful.”
Nothing more was seen of the negroes at that time, although the boys were satisfied that they were still on the island, as no boat had been seen to leave it.