“I’d have given a lot to have had a picture of that little scrap,” remarked Dolph, who was fond of taking snapshots with a kodak he carried.
“Well,” continued Amos, “you’d have had a fine chance at the time little Larz was sitting on Gabe, and pounding him for keeps, until he made him roar out that he’d had enough, and took back everything he’d said. I’ll never forget it. Gabe won’t either, though he never went back to get satisfaction being afraid that there were too many of that logging crew who had a bone to pick with him.”
“Yes, and I suppose nine out of ten believed they could down him, after the little Swede had shown them the way,” added Dolph.
“Now, about keeping an eye on our stuff tonight; how had we better arrange it?” asked Teddy.
“I could stay up on the watch,” remarked Amos.
“Yes, one-third of the time, and that’s all,” the other quickly observed. “You had it even harder than either of us, paddling against that current; because there were two in our boat to change about. And you’ve got to have some rest, as well as us. So here is what we’ll do; divide up the time between now and dawn into three parts. I’ll stand guard the first watch; then I’ll wake up Amos, and he’ll surely promise to give you a punch when his time is out. Get that, fellows?”
“Suits me all right,” declared Dolph; “and I don’t want any funny business, either, about getting me up. I’d be as mad as a wet hen if Amos lets me sleep on, and in that way cheated me out of my rights. We agreed when we started out on this trip it was going to be share and share alike, and no favors shown. Shall we crawl in now, Teddy, and leave you to yourself?”
“Yes; but remember to take my gun, everybody. He seemed to like it better than yours, Dolph,” the lumberman’s son went on to remark.
“Showed his good sense, that’s all; I’m not stuck on this gun half so much as I used to be. If it goes back on me again, I’ll throw it away after this trip, and get one like yours, Teddy. Come on, Amos, it’s us to snatch a few winks, while our brave chum mounts guards over our possessions.”