“Nine o’clock,” said Virginia. “Bed-time! I guess we can see to undress by moonlight, can’t we?”
“What shall we do about the door?” asked Mary hesitatingly. “It won’t lock, you know.” 105
“That won’t matter,” said Virginia carelessly, while she covered the fire-brands with ashes. “There’s no one in the world around. Besides, Watch and King will take care of things. You don’t feel afraid, do you?”
“Oh, no!” announced Priscilla, trying her best to ape Virginia’s careless manner, and determined to act like a good sport at least.
“Oh, no!” echoed Mary faintly.
Vivian was unspeakably glad that her lot had fallen with Virginia, and that their bed was in the farther corner of the living-room.
“I wish Dorothy were here!” Virginia called fifteen minutes later to the brave souls on the kitchen cot. “Then ’twould be perfectly perfect. Good-night, everybody. Sweet dreams!”
“Sweet dreams!” whispered Priscilla to Mary, while she clutched Mary’s hand. “I don’t expect to have a dream to-night! Mary, don’t go to sleep before I do! We’ll have to manage it somehow! I’ll die if you do!”
“I won’t,” promised Mary.
But they were tired from excitement, and sleep 106 came in spite of unlocked doors. A half hour passed and every homesteader was sleeping soundly. The night wore on, midnight passed, and the still, stiller hours of the early morning came. It was yet dark when Mary was rudely awakened by her roommate kicking her with all her might. She sat up in bed, dazed, frightened. Priscilla was clinging to her.