it came again. First I thought it
was a fire fly. Then I knew it couldn't be--it was too big. Then I saw it
steady for about a minute and then it went out.

I sat up and just stared at the spot where I had seen it and I didn't make
a sound. I wasn't exactly scared, but I wondered what it could be.

Then I crept away and started over that way in the dark. I wasn't scared,
but I was kind of nervous, sort of.

CHAPTER XXV

IN THE DARK

Just then I heard a rustle and I could see a black form quite near. I saw
it move behind a tree.

"Who's there?" I said; but there wasn't any answer.

I stopped for two or three seconds, because I didn't know just what to do,
then I walked up to the tree and just as I came near, the form stepped out
from behind it.

Then I heard a voice say, "What do _you_ want here?"

I said, very surprised, "Dorry? Is it you?"

He said, "What do you _want_ here?"

"I don't want anything," I said; "I just saw a light and I came to see what
it was. What's the matter?"

He said, "Nothing, I'm going to bed."

"Did you have the light?" I asked him.
"Maybe you only saw it same as I did. Only you act awful funny, sort of."

He said, "I've got as much right to be up as you have. Nobody can sleep on
that hard ground."

"Why didn't you dig a hollow for your hip?" I asked him, "same as I do.
Hard ground will never keep a fellow awake. It's your hip. Gee, you're a
scout; you ought to know that."

"Come on back," he said.

I don't know, but something about the way he acted made me feel sort of
funny-suspicious, kind of.

I said, "Were you hunting for something with your flashlight? What's the
matter? Why don't you tell me what you came out for?"

"There isn't any reason, and why should I tell you anyway?" he said.

"Well," I said, "because I'm your patrol leader for one thing. And as long
as Mr. Ellsworth isn't here, I have a right to ask you. I'm not mad. Only
I wonder why you got up and came away, that's all. Anyway, I got a splinter
in my finger grabbing one of these trees, I know that."

"You want to find out if I've got the flashlight?" he said.

"No, I don't want to find out if you've got your flashlight," I said,
"because I know you have. I'm not that kind. First you have to say I didn't
speak about the splinter for that reason." I said; "you have to take back
what you said."

"I never said you were sneaky," he said; "here, take it."

"It's no crime to have a flashlight, I hope