I'll just dream about him coming, see if I don't!" he warned Larry, as
he prepared to crawl into the swinging canoe, where his blankets had
been placed.

"All right," answered the other; "only don't you go to whooping things
up here too lively. Remember there are others, and that they want to
snooze right along till morning. I'm glad Frank didn't draft you for a
sentry, though."

"Oh! it was nice of him," answered the small boy, readily. "But then
you see, Frank knows I just can't keep awake to save me. And what good
is a sleepy guard, I'd like to know. Hope I've got it fixed now so I
won't feel the ribs of this blessed Oldtown canoe poking me in my slats
tonight. They kept me uneasy last night to beat the band. Aw! I'm
awful sleepy, Larry; and I guess I'll turn in."

"Good. Only go careful, or you'll roll out the other side. That boat
swings with a hair trigger. The least touch starts her to going.
There you are. It's rockabye baby for you, Elephant. Mother's little
darling boy, go to sleep now like a good kid!"

Elephant mumbled some sort of answer but in another minute he was off,
fast locked in the arms of the dream god. Larry lost little time in
following his example, for he expected to be called at a certain hour
by Frank, who would have the first watch himself.

Darkness fell upon the interior of the workshop. If there was any
sound to be heard, such as the heavy breathing of some sleeper, the
sigh and moan of the night breeze without deadened this.

Frank had assumed a comfortable position. He could sit there and allow
his mind to grapple with numerous things that interested him; at the
same time feel that he was keeping a strict watch. Time passed on.
The air happened to be coming from the direction of the town, so that
when the clock in the church tower struck the hour he could easily hear
the sounds.

In this way he knew how his watch went on, and when it would be time to
change places with Larry. To the average lad there is something
approaching a fascination in this near approach to life in the open.
The mere fact that peril threatened, so as to compel a night watch, was
enough to keep Frank from feeling drowsy. But then he always had a
peculiar faculty for controlling his weaknesses. Most other boys would
have had to fight desperately to remain awake.

He had just counted the strokes as the town clock droned off the
midnight hour, and was wondering whether he had not better let