Now let us go back to the attic room where Ben and Albert Graham were snugly ensconced in bed.
“I wonder whether he’ll come,” said Albert.
“That is uncertain,” returned Ben, “but if he does we must be ready for him.”
“The trouble is, I’m terribly sleepy. He might come and rummage all over the house without my hearing him.”
“Then I’ll tell you what we’d better do. Do you think you can stay awake for an hour?”
“Yes; I can if I set out to.”
“Then we’ll take turns sleeping. I’ll go to sleep now, and when an hour has passed you wake me up, and then I’ll keep watch. There’s a clock in the room, and there are some matches on the washstand in a box, so that you will know when to call me.”
“All right! Can you go to sleep right off?”
“Yes; it won’t take many minutes.”
In less than five minutes Ben’s quiet breathing was sufficient evidence that he was in the land of dreams. Albert made a determined effort and managed to keep awake till he thought an hour must have been passed.