one of the boats upon several of the crossed bars, forming a sort of
shelter under which were spread several of the light mattresses that were
part of the equipment; and Swiftwater directed that the Scouts should all
"turn in" to this improvised barracks together, while he and Skookum Joe
retired to the other boat. The Indians were given several small canvas
coverings known in the army as "dog tents," and were to sleep around the
fire, which one of them was delegated to replenish during the night.

The attraction of the big campfire and the beautiful clear sky overhead
filled the boys with aspirations to "camp out," and they were rather
inclined to grumble at Swiftwater's orders compelling them to sleep on the
boat.

With the growing soldier spirit of the Scouts, they resented being
coddled, as Gerald chose to express it, and he voiced the sentiment of the
patrol when he said:

"Why can't we sleep by the fire, Swiftwater? I feel as if I was being sung
to and then tucked in same as I used to be at home."

"Ye'll have camping out enough before ye're through with the woods; and
I'm not going to take any chances with all that tundra over there, and
that swamp back beyond of starting the season with six fine cases of
malaria on my hands. Until ye're a little better acclimated and a little
more hardened, it's better for ye to sleep with a board or two under
you."

The good sense of the old scout's argument as well as a fine appreciation
of the miner's thoughtfulness for their welfare led the boys to at once
acquiesce, and Rand voiced their appreciation.

Although it was early in the season, and the insect world had hardly
awakened to life, there were a sufficient number of mosquitos about to
remind the boys of Colonel's Snow's injunction regarding the supply of
nettings, and Jack, after several vigorous slaps, murmured sleepily:

"Gee, that certainly sounded like a voice from home."

"They've got the good old Jersey accent," replied Jack.

"Straight from the Hackensack meadows," said Rand, referring to the once
most favored habitat of the mosquito in the East.

"I hae ma doots," said Don, "if that is a mosquito I killed just noo. I
think it was some new kind of night bird."

How long he had been asleep Jack did not know, when he was aroused by the
growling of the two dogs on the shore, and crawled out from under the
tarpaulin. The night was clear, and there was a fine starlight. In the
East there was the faintes