finish your night's rest. I'll light my pipe and play
sentry for the remainder of the night."

"And I'll sit up with you," I said.

"No; go to sleep," he replied, firmly. "I am used to this sort of
thing."

"But I want to get used to it," I said.

"Afraid?"

This came with a slightly sarcastic tone, which made me turn away from
him, and go back into the shelter without a word.

"Come, Esau," I said; and I wrapped my blanket round me, and lay down at
once.

"It's all very well to say `Come, Esau,'" grumbled that gentleman. "You
ain't been half torn to pieces by a bear."

"But you are not hurt, are you?"

"How do I know when it's so dark?" he said, petulantly.

"But you could feel."

"No, I couldn't. I've heard that people who have been half killed don't
feel any pain at first; and there ain't a doctor nowhere."

"But, Esau," I whispered, seriously, "has the brute hurt you?"

"I keep on telling you I don't know. He pawed me about and turned me
over, and smelt me and stood on me once. I say: how dark it is!"

"Lie down," I said, "and try and go to sleep. I don't think you can be
hurt, or you would feel some pain. I felt the bear touch me too, but I
am not scratched."

"Must I lie down?"

"Yes; you would be better."

"But suppose he came again?"

"Gunson is watching. There is no fear."

"But I'm sure I can't sleep. It's too horrid to be woke up and find
wild beasts swarming all over you."

"Yes, it was startling," I said, as I listened to the noise he made
rolling himself in his blanket, and making the fir-boughs crackle as he
turned about. "I was horribly scared at first, but I don't think I mind
now."

"I do," said Esau, with a groan, "and I never pretended to be as brave
as you. It's of no use, I can't go to sleep."

"Why, you haven't tried yet," I said, as I began to feel satisfied that
his injuries were all fancy.

"No use to try," he said, gloomily. "Fellow can't go to sleep expecting
every moment to be seized by some savage thing and torn to bits."

"Nonsense!" I said. "Don't make so much fuss."

"That's right; jump on me. You don't behave half so well to me as I do
to you, Mayne Gordon."

I made no reply to this reproach, but lay gazing out into the gloom,
where after a few minutes I heard a faint scratch, saw a line of light,
and then the blaze of a match sheltered in Gunson's hands, and a flash
made as he lit his pipe and threw the match away, after which at regu