a little can of ground
coffee. As Cousin Archie had supplied much more than they could ever use
on the trip, all of them thought they could easily afford to be a bit
generous, since the occasion had come to their very door, as it were.

When George had faded away in the shadows the boys resumed the tasks his
coming had interrupted. Naturally enough, their conversation was in
connection with the great questions which the South had had to struggle
with since the emancipation proclamation had freed so many million blacks
and placed them on their own responsibility.

"I don't suppose any of you want to get the single tent out and sleep
ashore to-night?" said Frank finally, as he saw his comrades yawning,
as if ready to turn in.

"Not me," answered Bluff immediately.

"Some time later on I'm going to try it, but I want to get used to these
queer scenes first," remarked Will.

"He thinks an alligator might crawl up out of the river and gobble him
up," laughed Jerry.

"Well, we haven't heard from you yet. Are you getting out the tent?"
asked Frank.

"I would, only it's such a bother. On the whole, I'm contented with the
snug little bunky on board," came the answer, at which Will shrugged his
shoulders, as if to say he knew it would be so.

"All right, then; let's go aboard. I'll fix up the fire here so it will
burn a few hours anyway. Kind of cheerful to see it as a fellow sits out
his watch. This log, pushed over to the blaze, might answer," observed
Frank, suiting the action to his words.

"Then we do keep a watch?" queried Bluff.

Frank looked around at their gloomy and impressive surroundings and then
raised his eyebrows in an expressive manner.

"You just bet we do!" exclaimed Jerry. "Here's a swamp with all manner of
wild animals in it, from alligators and wildcats to mosquitoes by the
million. How do we know but what some of them might take a notion to come
aboard in the night? I can see myself waking up to find a bobtailed cat
cuddling up under my blanket with me; or a ten-foot 'gator sprawled out
across Will, here, asking to have his picture taken. Tell me about that,
will you, fellows?"

"And then there may be other coons in hiding here; chaps who are wanted
for something far more desperate than poor old George. They might murder
us all in our sleep. Oh, yes, let us have a watch, by all means. I agree
to sit it out for the first two hours if Frank will take the second,"
cried Will.

So it was settle