The fire was fixed to hold out several hours. Bluff, despite his declaration that he meant to keep awake, and watch, crawled into one of the tents and snuggled down under a blanket, since the night air was cool, even for July.
So the silence of slumber presently fell upon the camp by the wayside.
It must have been about midnight when Frank was awakened by a tremendous neighing on the part of old Peter, the horse, fastened to a tree near by.
Thinking the beast might have become caught in the rope, and need attention, Frank crawled out of the tent. The fire was low, and darkness hovered over the camp.
Just as he appeared, to his astonishment he saw the kettles and coffee-pot, as well as every frying-pan in camp, begin to creep along the ground in a long line, and then ascend toward the branches of the tree, in jangling unison.
CHAPTER IV
THINGS BEGIN TO HAPPEN
"Talk to me about that!" exclaimed Jerry, as he thrust his head out from the tent.
"What's it all mean?" demanded Will, still half asleep, while crawling forth.