rs of darkness.

Dan believed that, owing to his having made a study of the detective
business, Sam Barney knew better than they what should be done toward
warding off the threatened attack, and, regardless of the labor
involved, he proposed that a sentinel be stationed just outside the shed
door.

"I'll go on guard until twelve o'clock, and you can sleep all that time;
then I'll call you an' take my turn at it," Dan said after they had
discussed the matter in all its bearings for ten minutes or more.

"How do you count on keepin' awake?"

"That can easily be done, 'cause I'll walk 'round the yard, an' the
nights are just about cold enough to make a feller want to move lively."

"I don't believe Jip Collins would dare do what he threatens."

"He would if he thought the game could be worked without too much risk,
an' I tell you, Seth, if both of us turn in an' go to sleep he might
carry the whole shed away without our knowin' it."

"All right; I'll 'gree to it, though if he should come 'round we mustn't
have too much of a row, 'cause you remember what I told Sam 'bout not
wantin' to be taken for a fighter in this neighborhood, else I'll never
get into the Department."

"You can be pretty certain I shouldn't tackle him alone, an' if them two
fellers from Brooklyn 'mount to anythin', why you an' I together
wouldn't have too much of a show."

Then, after repeating that he was to be called at midnight in order to
perform his full share of the labor, Seth went into the box-like
apartment, and Dan began his work as watchman.

During the first half-hour he paced to and from one end of the yard to
the other, scrutinizing carefully every unfamiliar object, until it
seemed to him the night was more than half spent.

"I must have been here four hours now, an' Sam Barney left 'bout
half-past seven, so I haven't got a great while to tramp 'round," he
said to himself, and just at that moment the clock on a neighboring
steeple struck the hour of eight.

He was both surprised and discouraged at thus learning that the time was
passing so slowly, and it suddenly came into his mind that he was very
tired.

It was foolish to keep constantly moving around, because if Jip Collins
should come he would see the sentinel and make no effort to carry out
his threats until the coast was clear.

Therefore it was that Master Roberts built a seat from pieces of board
just inside the shed, and seating himself where he could have a full