"Something is stinging me to death," declared Walter, anxiously, "I smart, burn, and itch all over."
"Me too," chimed in the captain's voice, "I've laid quiet here and took it rather than wake you boys up. Jehosaphat, what is it?"
Charley chuckled. "It's nothing dangerous," he explained, "evidently we are entertaining a few thousand of those fishermen's closest friends—bedbugs. Light up the lantern, Walt, and let's have a look."
An examination by the light showed their faces and bodies covered with red, angry-looking blotches.
"There's no use trying to sleep here," Charley declared. "Let's go out on board the 'Dixie.' It will be pretty close quarters sleeping in her cabin but anything is better than this."
"But our things will be all stolen," Walter objected.
"They will not bother anything to-night for they will think we are inside, and we will be back before they are up in the morning," said his chum.
Chris was awakened and the four crept softly out of the shack closing the door carefully behind them.
To reach their skiff, they had to pass the other shacks. As they came opposite the first one Charley, who was in the lead, stopped short with a muffled cry of horror.