Then came the moon peeping in upon them, nearly an hour later than its appearance the previous night, and looking somewhat battered along one edge, showing how it was in its decline.
“Time we’re off to our blankets,” suggested Elmer. “Here’s Perk almost dislocating his jaws every time he yawns. What’s the use of sitting up any longer when we’ve got fairly decent beds of hemlock browse under coverings waiting for us?”
In this he was supported by both his chums, so they all packed off into the cabin, leaving the fire fixed so that it would burn for some hours. If the wind arose Elmer meant to step out and make sure no sparks were being blown into the underbrush; though at that summery time of year the chances of a conflagration might be reckoned next to nil.
So the door was closed and secured, Perk and the elongated chum seen safely into their blankets, and then Elmer himself took one last look around before following suit. Amos seemed to be sound asleep; at least his eyes were closed, and he was breathing easily. Elmer bent over and adjusted the other’s blanket in a solicitous way. He did not know that Amos opened his eyes and looked after him affectionately as he turned away; or that there came a suspicious moisture trickling down the boy’s cheek that was very like a tear.
Then darkness fell upon the scene, Elmer having shut off his little hand electric torch after he had tucked himself under his own blanket.
The night passed without any sort of alarm, for which Perk told himself he was very thankful as he again opened his eyes to find that it was morning, with his comrades—at least two of them—already outside, talking in low voices. Amos, however, still lay there, and seemed sound asleep. Perhaps he had passed a restless night, and only forgot his trouble in the hours of early morning.
Perk soon emerged from the shack and joined the others, who were making preparations for breakfast. Elmer, after asking whether Amos seemed to still be asleep, drew closer to the others and followed up his question by saying:
“Well, my plan worked after all, boys. You remember I said I would try to get the knife back into the possession of the tramp. I reckon that’s where it is this morning!”
“However did you manage that, I want to know?” Perk demanded, plainly surprised by what Elmer had said so quietly.
“Yes, open up and tell us the secret, that’s a good fellow,” Wee Willie urged, as the two of them closed in upon Elmer.