“Sh! Let’s gather a big bunch of that dry grass we used to kindle our fire with, and have it handy where we can touch a match to it. Then we’ll wait for these men to land, and see what their intentions are.”
Pod agreed to get the grass ready and he crept silently off to the right, where he gathered quite a pile of it. He also put a lot of dry boughs and twigs on the hay, so that once a fire was started it would continue for some time after the hay had been consumed. Then he rejoined the others.
The low murmur of voices could again be heard, followed, by the splashing sound as before. The boat was evidently approaching slowly.
“They’re wondering if we’re asleep,” whispered Chot. “And of course, we are, to all intents and purposes.”
Not a sound was made in the little camp, and gradually the noise from the lake grew louder. Soon the splash of the oars could be plainly heard, and then the sound of voices speaking in whispered tones. What was said could not be made out for they did not speak loud enough to have awakened even a light sleeper.
Then the sound of a boat being drawn partly upon the beach came to them, and a low voice said:
“Make her fast, Hank!”
There was a low-muttered response to this, which the boys did not catch, and then by lying close to the ground, they could make out the figures of two men against the starlit sky. The figures moved slowly up the slight incline leading from the edge of the lake to the Comrades’ camp. So softly did they come that save for the occasional snapping of a twig, not a sound was made.
“It’s a good thing we were not asleep,” thought Chot. “They’d have caught us napping, sure.”
“I wonder where they are, Dave?” said a low voice, after a moment “I’m sure this is the spot.”