pick up a bit of
my lost sleep while we wait, unless you object to standing sentry."

"Not me, matey, I managed to snooze some during the time you were away.
Lucky I had everything fixed for company and wasn't caught nappin' when
our friend Oscar tipped his hat an' made his bow. Now I was wonderin' if
he had that ole quick-firin' gun away back when he was riddlin' things
along in the Argonne--wouldn't it be a queer thing if true? He knew how
to rattle that cantankerous bus to beat the band an' he did nick me in
that silly o' ear o' mine that keeps on gettin' in the way every time I
have a little spat with a sassy guy."

Perk insisted on his chum making himself as comfortable as possible,
considering the cramped quarters they occupied in the cluttered cabin of
their ship, which continued to keep up a soothing movement with the
successive waves that worked in from the open gulf inclining a sleepy
person to slumber.

"I'll jest sit here an' ruminate while I consume my tobacco," announced
the accommodating Perk, making light of his job. "Once in so often I'll
take a look skyward with the glasses, so's to know if there's any chance
o' Oscar comin' back here to try it all over again. When the moon peeps
up in the east yonder I'll put a hand on your arm, so's to let you know
it's near time. Go to it, partner--do your stuff."

Jack was feeling pretty tired, since he had enjoyed mighty little decent
sleep from one cause or another during the last few nights. It was not
at all surprising, therefore, that he should be in slumberland before
five minutes passed after he and Perk had exchanged the last word.

The self-posted sentinel did just as he had promised, every little while
he would quietly stand up and with the glasses take a keen observation,
covering the blue vault above from one horizon to another, then, finding
all serene, he would silently resume his seat, with only a sigh to
indicate how he felt. Once more he filled his everlasting pipe, began to
puff delightedly, and finally lay back in a half reclining position to
smoke it out.

He was a great hand at ruminating, as he called it--allowing his
thoughts to travel back to events that may have occurred months, and
even years before, but which had been of such a nature as to fix
themselves in his memory most tenaciously. This afforded him solid
enjoyment, together with the charm of his adored pipe and he asked for
nothing better.

Thus an hour, two of them, and mor