trees was
reached without adventure, and he turned to look his last upon the two
tents shimmering in the starlight. As he turned again, satisfied that
the one was still shut and that Howie still lay across the opening of
the other, a firm hand took Vanheimert by either shoulder; otherwise he
had leapt into the air; for it was Stingaree, who had stepped from
behind a bush as from another planet, so suddenly that Vanheimert nearly
gasped his dreadful name.

"I couldn't sleep! I couldn't sleep!" he cried out instead, shrinking as
from a lifted hand, though he was merely being shaken playfully to and
fro.

"No more could I," said Stingaree.

"So I was going for a stroll. That was all, I swear, Mr.--Mr.--I don't
know your name!"

"Quite sure?" said Stingaree.

"My oath! How should I?"

"You might have heard it down the road."

"Not me!"

"Yet you heard of me, you know."

"Not by name--my oath!"

Stingaree peered into the great face in which the teeth were chattering
and from which all trace of color had flown.

"I shouldn't eat you for knowing who I am," said he. "Honesty is still a
wise policy in certain circumstances; but you know best."

"I know nothing about you, and care less," retorted Vanheimert,
sullenly, though the perspiration was welling out of him. "I come for a
stroll because I couldn't sleep, and I can't see what all this barney's
about."

Stingaree dropped his hands.

"Do you want to sleep?"

"My blessed oath!"

"Then come to my tent, and I'll give you a nobbler that may make you."

The nobbler was poured out of a gallon jar, under Vanheimert's nose, by
the light of a candle which he held himself. Yet he smelt it furtively
before trying it with his lips, and denied himself a gulp till he was
reassured. But soon the empty pannikin was held out for more. And it was
the starless hour before dawn when Vanheimert tripped over Howie's legs
and took a contented header into the corner from which he had made his
stealthy escape.

The tent was tropical when he awoke, but Stingaree was still at his
breakfast outside in the shade. He pointed to a bucket and a piece of
soap behind the tent, and Vanheimert engaged in obedient ablutions
before sitting down to his pannikin, his slice of damper, and his
portion of a tin of sardines.

"Sorry there's no meat for you," said Stingaree. "My mate's gone for
fresh supplies. By the way, did you miss your boots?"

The rabbiter looked at a pair of dilapidate