Part 4 (1/2)
He was right. Walking some distance from the tent, he made out, probably half a mile away, the dark forms of many men as they marched swiftly on in the darkness, their figures lighted up ever and anon by the gleam of a flashlight. But the camp in which the lad stood was perfectly quiet.
”Now I wonder--” he muttered--gazed silently ahead a moment and then turned back toward the tent, saying to himself: ”Guess I'll wake the others up.”
Chester and Colonel Anderson were aroused without much trouble. Not so Stubbs.
”What's the matter?” came the little man's query, when Hal prodded him gently in the ribs with his foot.
”Time to get up,” said Hal, briefly.
For a moment Stubbs opened his eyes and peered into the darkness--for Hal had made no light.
”Get up?” he exclaimed. ”What! Anthony Stubbs get up in the middle of the night? Not much!”
”But we are going, Stubbs,” said Hal. ”We don't want to leave you here by yourself.”
”Kind of you,” said Stubbs sarcastically. ”I can remember when you were not so solicitious of my welfare. Don't worry about me. I'll just sleep right along.”
He turned over and a loud snore a few moments later told that he was again in the land of dreams.
Again Hal prodded him with his foot.
”Stubbs! I say, Stubbs!” he called.
Directly Stubbs opened his eyes.
”And what's the matter this time?” he demanded aggrievedly.
”Hurry!” Hal exclaimed, thinking to get the little man up by a ruse. ”The Austrians are coming.”
”Run, then!” replied Stubbs. ”I'll hide here. They won't bother me.”
”Now listen here, Stubs,” said Chester, ”just when do you want to get up?”
Again Stubbs allowed his eyes to open and he peered into the darkness sleepily.
”What day is this?” he inquired mildly.
”Tuesday,” replied Chester; ”but what--”
”Then call me Sat.u.r.day,” said the little man gently, and closed his eyes in sleep once more.
”Ha! Ha!” laughed Colonel Anderson. ”He had you there, Chester.”
Chester appeared somewhat fl.u.s.tered.
”Well, he'll have to get up out of there,” he said wrathfully.
”Oh, come on and let him be, Chester,” said Hal. ”I guess nothing will hurt him. We'll be back by daylight and I'll venture to say we will find him here, still snoring.”
”Well, all right,” Chester agreed at length; ”but to tell you the truth, I don't just like that answer he gave me.”