“All right. You roll up in your blanket and I’ll take the first watch. No use for both of us to stay awake.”
Bob tried to persuade Jack to let him take the first watch but he would not listen to it declaring that he was not a bit sleepy and would not go to sleep even if he tried. So finally he gave in and was soon fast asleep on a bed of leaves a few feet back from where Jack was stationed.
For some time a light showed in the cabin and once or twice the sound of voices came to the boy’s ears. But about ten o’clock the light went out and except for the soft murmur of the tree tops in the light breeze and the occasional hoot of an owl, all was still. There was no moon and Jack could hardly see his hand before his face.
Slowly the time passed. He began to grow sleepy and by eleven o’clock he was having all he could do to keep awake. Swarms of mosquitoes hovered about him but they had had the foresight to bring along a bottle of citronella and they bothered him but little.
“They’d eat a fellow alive if it wasn’t for this stuff,” he thought as he got to his feet and moved about.
Bob had made him promise that he would call him at twelve o’clock sharp. So, although he hated to disturb his brother, who was sleeping soundly, he gave him a slight shake at the appointed time.
“Twelve o’clock and all’s well,” he whispered as Bob sat up.
“Anything happened?”
“Not a thing. I believe we might as well go to sleep. I don’t believe anything will happen.”
“Better be careful than sorry you know. I’ve had sleep enough. You go to it and I’ll keep an eye open.”