angements were made. Fires were laid ready for instant
kindling, so that in case of a midnight alarm the woods might be quickly
illuminated, and the enemy readily discovered.

Paul went about certain preparations on his own account, nor did he take
any one into his confidence, not even his chum.

"When does the moon set to-night, Wallace?" he asked, knowing that the
sober Carberry Twin always kept informed concerning such matters.

"Eleven twenty-seven," came the immediate reply, just as if Wallace
might be reading it from an almanac; and so he was, only it was figured
out in his wise old brain, and not printed upon book paper.

"Then if there's going to be any sort of row, believe me it will hold
off until after that time," remarked the patrol leader, positively.

"Yes, Ted is always copying after the Indians in those cheap library
stories he buys for his nickels," Wallace made reply. "Those five-cent
redmen never used to attack a camp until the moon had gone down.
Generally it was just before peep of day, because men, and boys too,
seem to sleep sounder then."

"All right. You and I will be on deck to receive them. I've fixed it so
our turn comes after eleven, for I knew the new moon would be gone by
then. That gives us a chance to snatch some sleep beforehand," remarked
Paul.

Once more, just before taps was sounded, he made the rounds of the
encampment in order to reassure himself that all was well.

At that time nothing suspicious caught his eye. If any of their foes
were hovering near by they knew well how to conceal themselves so as not
to be discovered.

Dobbin was still munching the sweet grass as far around him as his rope
would permit. Like most old raw-boned horses he seemed never able to get
enough to eat. Still, Paul thought that the expedition would be reduced
to more or less straits if deprived of old Dobbins' services; and so he
ordered that the animal be led up closer to the camp, being secured to
a tree where he could be watched.

With the warning call from the bugler there was an immediate dispersal
of the merry group around the campfire. These boys had been drilled in
the duties that devolve upon organized forces in the field. They
understood that without discipline nothing could ever be accomplished;
and all were ready to obey orders to the letter.

There was a little good-natured scrambling when the rude beds were made
up; but as soon as "taps" really sounded all activity ceased. No fe