Rufus fairly roared the words out, so anxious was he that the boys should not fail to wake up, although, had he known it, they were wide awake and trembling with the tension of waiting till the decisive moment arrived.
Rufus grumblingly took up his watch while Ingalls rolled himself in his blankets. Tom rolled over on his side so that he was facing Jack.
"All ready, Jack?"
"Sure. Are you?"
"Yes, but we must wait till they are sound asleep. The racket that nigger made may have awakened Stapleton."
"Well, don't go to sleep again while we are waiting."
"Not likely. I was never more wide awake in my life."
"Same here. I can hardly wait till the moment comes."
Although it was early morning after the brief Alaskan night, still it was almost quite dark in the cave, which made the boys think that it must be overcast outside. However, this was so much the better for their plans, and they lay without stirring till the regular breathing of Ingalls and the steady continued snoring of his partner showed that both men were asleep.