By degrees the boys fell away, since Max had plainly announced that he would take the first watch.
No one seemed disposed to dispute the honor with him, because they were all very sleepy.
First Toby crawled under the tent, and by his heavy breathing they knew he was dead to the world.
Next Steve followed suit, and then Bandy-legs.
"Wake me early, mother dear, because to-morrow will be the first of May," the latter sang out, as he vanished.
This left only Max and Owen.
Now, the weight of his secret was weighing so heavily upon Max that he had made up his mind to take Owen into his confidence should a good chance arise.
It seemed to be on hand.
Accordingly, after binding his cousin to secrecy, Max began to relate the strange thing he had seen on the preceding night.
Of course Owen was properly shocked.