im.

But his ill luck made him once more startle Bob from his slumbers, for,
as he ran blindly to reach the shelter of the wood, he fell right over
the sleeping boy, and went down headlong.

"Here! I--oh, please sir, don't sir--don't sir,--it was that other boy,
sir, it wasn't me, sir. It was--was--it was--why, what games are you up
to now!"

"Hush! Bob. Quick! Let's run."

"Run!" said Bob excitedly, as the frightened boy clung to him. "I
thought they'd come."

"Yes, they're calling to one another in the wood," whispered Dexter
excitedly; "and there was a horrid something flew up, and shrieked out."

"Why, I heerd it, and dreamed it was you."

"Come away--come away!" cried Dexter. "There, hark!"

_Hoi hoi_--_hoi hoi_! came from not far away.

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Bob. "You are a one!" and putting his hands to
his mouth, to Dexter's great astonishment he produced a very good
imitation of the cry.

"Why, you'll have them hear us and come," he whispered.

"Yah! you are a coward! Why, it's an old howl."

"Owl! calling like that!"

"Yes, to be sure. I've heerd 'em lots o' times when I've been late
fishing up the river."

"But there was a big thing flew over my head, and it shrieked out."

"That was a howl too. Some of 'em shouts, and some of 'em screeches. I
say, I hope you've kept a heye on the boat!"

"Are you sure that other was an owl too!" said Dexter excitedly.

"Course I am. Think I've been out in the woods with father after the
fezzans, and stopping out all night, without knowing a howl?"

Dexter felt quite warm now.

"I never heard one before, and it frightened me."

"Yes, you're easily frightened," said Bob contemptuously. "You haven't
been to sleep, have you!"

"Yes, I have."

"Then you oughtn't to have been. If you've been to sleep and let that
boat go, I'll never forgive you."

Bob had hardly uttered the words when Dexter, who had forgotten all
about the boat, ran to the water's edge feeling sure that it was gone.

But it was quite safe, and he went back to Bob.

"What shall we do now!" he said.

"Do?" said Bob, yawning. "You sit and keep watch while I go to sleep
for a quarter of an hour. Then you may call me, and I'll take my turn."

Bob curled himself up after the fashion of a dog, and went off to sleep
directly, while, as Dexter, who felt chilly, began to walk up and down
between the water's edge and the steep cliff-like bank, he could not
help once more w