By the time the last trip was made and the goods piled on the beach
and covered with a large tarpaulin, it was dark and all were utterly
worn out by their labors. The girls had prepared an extra good
supper, and of this they ate heartily and then sat around a little
while, when they went to bed.
At the beginning the castaways had kept guard during the night, but
of late this had been done away with, everybody being satisfied that
no harm could befall them during the darkness.
But as the doorway to the house was an open one it had been considered
the duty of one or the other to sleep directly in the opening. This
was Dick's night, and the eldest Rover lay there sleeping soundly
until about two in the morning.
By this time the moon had disappeared and the stars were partly hidden
by some clouds. The night was quiet, save for the hum of insects in
the jungle back of the house and the soft lap-lap of the waves on
the beach of the bay.
Suddenly Dick awoke with a start. He sat bolt upright, wondering what
had brought him to his senses so quickly. He listened intently, but
nothing unusual greeted his ears.
"I must have been dreaming, or something," he thought. "But is queer
I should be so wide.. awake."
At first he was on the point of lying down again, but then concluded
to get up and get a drink of water.
He arose to his feet and stood in the open doorway, gazing into the
darkness.
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