other side of the smouldering fire. The light was
reflected so clearly from his bearded face that it was seen distinctly,
while the position of Jack, muffled in his blanket, threw his own
countenance in shadow, which prevented the guide seeing it clearly.

Something prompted Jack to lie still and feign sleep, while he kept his
gaze on the man, who was looking fixedly at him. Suddenly Hank
pronounced his name in a low voice, repeating the call in a louder tone.
He wished to learn whether his young friend was unconscious, and, since
Jack made no reply, must have concluded he was sleeping.

The guide next threw more wood on the blaze, which burned up so brightly
that the reflection reached far out on the grassy plateau. Then, with a
single glance at the prostrate figure, the hunter turned away, his
footsteps as noiseless as if he were stepping on velvet.

Jack was mystified by the proceeding, but, suspecting its meaning, he
arose from his hard couch and passed outside. The moon had not yet
risen, but the bright stars were in the sky, and shining with the
brilliancy that he had noticed and admired on the previous evening. He
looked around for Hazletine, and, not seeing him, imitated his action by
pronouncing his name, but, as he suspected, he was not within hearing.

"He has gone off to make some investigations between now and morning. I
am glad of it, for he may learn something which he desires to know, and
which he would never find out by staying here. I wish I could have gone
with him, but no doubt he will do better alone."

It was demonstrated, therefore, that the guide had violated the very
rule which he had impressed more than once upon his young friends, for
he had left Jack Dudley sound asleep, as he believed, without any one
standing sentinel over him. But it was because the circumstances were so
exceptional and extraordinary that it justified such suspension of the
rules.

Jack did not hesitate to make himself as comfortable as the situation
would permit. He folded his blanket on the ground, and sat with his back
against the very rock where he had fallen asleep the night before.

"No danger of my doing it again," he reflected; "and it wouldn't make
any difference if I did, since Hank believes I am dreaming."

Jack supposed he threw the wood on the flame to keep away the possible
danger from wild animals that might be prowling in the neighborhood;
though, because of the reasons named, there was little to be