Part 25 (1/2)

”He's asleep! He's got a nightmare!” thought d.i.c.k, and as Tom attempted to pa.s.s him he caught his brother by the arm.

”Let go-I want to reach home plate!” growled the sleepwalker, and tried to break away.

”Tom! Tom! wake up!” cried d.i.c.k, and retaining a firm grip on his brother's arm he shook him vigorously.

”Oh!” groaned Tom at last. ”I-what-stop shaking me!” he added, in confusion.

”Wake up, Tom! Wake up!”

”I-er-I am awake! What are you shaking me for?” demanded the fun-loving Rover. He could see no fun in the present proceedings.

”Tom, you've been walking in your sleep,” said d.i.c.k. He raised his voice.

”This way, fellows; I've found him!”

”Where is he?” and Sam came running, followed by Fred and Hans.

”Have I-er-really been walking in my sleep?” asked Tom, sheepishly.

”Doesn't this look like it?”

”Why, where am I?”

”Up the lake sh.o.r.e. We missed you and hurried out to find you. You were just going to run into the lake when I grabbed you.”

”Was he really walking in his sleep?” asked Sam.

”Yes, unless he was shamming,” answered his elder brother.

”I wasn't shamming,” stammered poor Tom. ”I-er-I was dreaming about a ball game, and I was-er-trying to make a home run! Say, this is punky, isn't it?” he added, staring at the crowd, blankly.

”It's a good thing d.i.c.k came up in time,” said Sam. ”Supposing you had run into the lake.”

”Oh, I guess the bath would have woke him up,” said d.i.c.k. ”But I am mighty glad I stopped him,” he added.

”You're not more glad than I am,” said Tom. ”I guess I ate too much supper. I couldn't sleep at all at first.”

”I guess you had better chain yourself fast in the tent after this,”

remarked Fred. ”d.i.c.k, it was lucky you woke up.”

”Something pressed me on the ankle. It's a little sore yet. I guess Tom stepped on it when he left the tent-but I didn't wake up fast enough to catch him then.”

All walked back to the tent and sat down around the campfire to talk the matter over. But nothing new was learned and presently they retired again; and this time all slept soundly until morning.

”First in the lake for a morning plunge!” shouted Sam, as he rushed out.

”Come on, everybody, it will wake you up!”

”I'm with you, Sam!” answered Fred, and side by side the pair ran down to the water and plunged in.

”Phew! as cold as Greenland!” spluttered Fred, as he came up.