e; his
cowardly soul wasn't made for sleep when there was any danger about.

It was twenty minutes past three when Dick stepped over and nudged Dave
gently, next whispering:

"It's about time for you, now. You call Tom at a little after five, and
then tell him to call us all at seven o'clock."

Dave hurriedly dressed and took the air rifle from Dick, the latter then
getting back into his bunk and soon dropping off in sleep.

"Seven o'clock! All out! Step lively! Change cars for breakfast!" were
the next words that Dick Prescott heard.

By the time that the fellows had dressed, in the warm cabin, and had
started to pry the shutters back, the first dim promise of daylight was
showing in the east. A little later it was broad daylight.

By this time, too, after most of the fellows had slept soundly for
hours, the situation seemed altogether different. Even Dutcher slipped
out of his bunk and began to dress briskly.

"Say," he grinned, "but you fellows were somewhat scared last night."

"Yes," admitted Dave. "Weren't you?"

"Not a bit," asserted Hen bravely. "Sa-ay----"

He paused, looking around him in wonderment, then demanded tartly:

"What on earth are you fellows laughing at?"

"Laughing just to--to think what boobies we were when we had the brave
Hen Dutcher with us to set us a better example," answered Tom Reade
sarcastically. "No use in talking, Hen! You're the only fellow in this
outfit that has any sand."

"Say, you needn't try to get too funny, now," remarked Hen suspiciously.
"You fellows were all so scared that maybe you thought I was as bad as
you. But I was only putting it on, just to see how far you'd all go."

"You must have been satisfied, then," returned Dick grimly, "for we
surely were uneasy."

Hen blandly took to himself all the credit that was offered him for his
"courage," seeing which the Grammar School boys winked slyly one at
another, then busied themselves with the tasks of getting breakfast.

"To-day's programme will be more work, I suppose," began Tom, as the
lads seated themselves around the table.

"As I see it, it will have to be a day of work," Dick nodded. "For that
matter, we're learning that it's no use for boys to go camping,
especially in the winter, unless they're willing to work."

"What's to be done first?" Dave wanted to know.

"Well, we'll need more wood, and more water," Prescott replied.

"As it doesn't make much difference which we do first, I'm for gettin