Part 74 (1/2)

”Owl! calling like that!”

”Yes, to be sure. I've heerd 'em lots o' times when I've been late fis.h.i.+ng 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 fas.h.i.+on 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 wis.h.i.+ng that he was in his comfortable bed at the doctor's.

He waited for long over a quarter of an hour, keeping his lonely watch, but Bob slept on and snored.

At the end of about an hour and a half he thought it would only be fair to call his companion to take his turn, but he called in vain.

Then he tried shaking, but only to elicit growls, and when he persevered Bob hit out so savagely that Dexter was fain to desist.

”I'll let him sleep half an hour longer,” he said to himself; and he walked to and fro to keep himself warm.

It must have been after an hour that he called Bob again.

”All right,” said that worthy.

”But it isn't all right,” cried Dexter. ”It ain't fair. Come: get up.”

”All right! I'll get up directly. Call me in about ten minutes.”

Dexter waited a little while, and called his companion. But in vain.

And so it went on, with the sleeper sometimes apologetic, sometimes imploring, till it was broad daylight; and then Bob rose and shook himself.