the interior of that
shop, without being seen by the boys, and his dignity impaired.

"Now, get busy, Elephant, and tidy up the mess you made," said Larry,
as he once more crawled under his blankets.

"And remember," said Andy, severely, despite the grin on his face, "we
don't stand for any more of this foolishness."

"Let me help you tie the canoe, so that it can't swing," Frank
observed, taking pity on the victim of the mishap; for Elephant was
still rubbing his elbows, and making faces as though they hurt him.

So after a little, peace once more fell upon the camp. The swinging
canoe had been so firmly secured that it could not "kick" as Elephant
declared it had done before. Then the light was put out again, and
darkness reigned.

Frank again sat there, engrossed in thought. And naturally his mind
went out in the direction of the recent event. If a false alarm could
cause such confusion and excitement it was probable that in case there
came a genuine one things would take on a still more brilliant color.

He could hear Elephant turning from side to side. Perhaps his arms
pained him; and thinking thus Frank was sorry he had not insisted on
swabbing them with some witch hazel which they kept handy in the shop,
in case of bruises while working. But he did not think it good policy
to disturb the entire bunch again in order to relieve the slight pain
of Elephant who must sooner or later grow used to hard knocks, if he
ever expected to face the world.

Finally the boy in the canoe became quiet. Sleep had evidently
mastered him, for ere long Frank caught his heavy breathing at such
times as the wind stopped sighing around the eaves of the shed.

It must be growing near one when he expected to hand over his duty as
sentry to Larry. All he waited for was to catch the stroke of the
hour. He had the lay of things well in his mind, and could even have
moved about the shop in utter darkness without tumbling over anything;
for he and Andy had spent uncounted hours under that roof during the
last year.

Ah! there was the anticipated stroke, sounding quite clearly.

"Frank!" came in a low tone, almost a whisper.

"Hello!" answered the sentry, "that Larry?"

"On deck. Must have been my call the wasn't it? Thought I heard one
strike," as Larry began to raise up alongside Frank, shedding his
blankets as he did so.

"Have you been awake all the while?" whispered Frank, surprised.

"Guess pretty much," chuckle