on a
boundless sea. An uncommonly red sun was setting and here and there the
bubbles were touched with fire. Far in the west dark shadows were stealing
up.

"Look," Henry suddenly exclaimed, "I think that the Spanish have gone into
camp for the night!"

He pointed down the stream and toward the western shore, where a thin
spire of smoke was rising.

"It's that, certain," said Tom Ross, "an' I guess we'd better make fur
camp, too."

They pulled toward the eastern shore, in order that the river might be
between them and the Spaniards during the night and soon reached a grove
which stood many feet deep in the water. As they passed under the shelter
of the boughs they took another long look toward the spire of smoke.
Henry, who had the keenest eyes of all, was able to make out the dim
outline of boats tied to the bank, and any lingering doubt that the
Spaniards might not be there was dispelled.

"When they start in the morning we'll start, too," said Henry.

Then they pushed their boat further back into the grove. Night was coming
fast. The sun sank in the bosom of the river, the water turned from yellow
to red and then to black, and the earth lay in darkness.

"I think we'd better tie up here and eat cold food," said Henry.

"An' then sleep," said Shif'less Sol. "That wuz a mighty comf'table
Spanish blanket I had last night an', Jim Hart, I want to tell you that if
you move 'roun' to-night, while you're watchin', please step awful easy,
an' be keerful not to wake me 'cause I'm a light sleeper. I don't like to
be waked up either early or late in the night. Tain't good fur the health.
Makes a feller grow old afore his time."

"Sol," said Henry, who was captain by fitness and universal consent,
"you'll take the watch until about one o'clock in the morning and then
Paul will relieve you."

Jim Hart doubled up his long form with silent laughter, and smote his knee
violently with the palm of his right hand.

"Oh, yes, Sol Hyde," he said, "I'll step lightly, that is, ef I happen to
be walkin' 'roun' in my sleep, an' I'll take care not to wake you too
suddenly, Sol Hyde. I wouldn't do it for anything. I don't want to stunt
your growth, an' you already sech a feeble, delicate sort o' creetur, not
able to take nourishment 'ceptin' from a spoon."

"Thar ain't no reward in this world fur a good man," said the shiftless
one in a resigned tone.

They ate quickly, and, as usual, those who did not have to watch wrapped
th