n, reaching for his rifle. "But let's keep a sharp
look out."
This they did for quite five minutes, and then so hardened were they to
their outdoor life that their restful breathing was the only thing that
disturbed the silence within the waggon, save a faint rustling at the
other end, caused by the doctor turning over, for during the last few
minutes he had been awakened from a deep sleep by the boys' muttering,
and now that they were quiet again he too went off soundly.
It still wanted an hour to the coming of the first dawn when Mark
started up.
"Here--what--" he began, when a hand was clapped over his mouth and he
felt Dean's lip at his ear. "Don't make a noise," his cousin whispered.
"What's the matter? Has the ape been again?"
"No. It wasn't a baboon; it was one of those pigs."
"Bosh! A pig couldn't climb into the waggon."
"No, no, stupid! Pigmy!"
"What nonsense! You have been asleep again."
"Yes, fast; I couldn't help it. So were you."
"Was I? Well, yes, I suppose I was; and I'm glad of it. But I have had
a sensible sleep."
"Well, so have I, but--"
"No, you haven't. Mine was, for I didn't get dreaming that I saw a
baboon."
"And I didn't either," whispered Dean angrily. "I was asleep, but I
woke up feeling a soft hand going over my face."
"Bah! You dreamt it."
"I didn't, I tell you! I could feel it as plain as could be; and then
it moved away from me, and I could just make out by the starlight that
it was passing its hand over your face. Didn't you feel it?"
"No," said Mark. "You can't feel ghosts and dreams. They only seem."
"Ghosts and dreams!" said Dean impetuously.
"Well, baboons, then--sleep baboons. Oh, I say, Dean, what's coming to
you? You used to be content with going to sleep like a top. But if you
are going to begin having dreams like this I shall sleep under the
waggon."
"Oh, you obstinate mule! Who said anything about baboons?"
"Why, you did."
"I didn't. I said it was one of those pigmies."
"Then you dreamt it. What time is it?"
"I don't know. Shall I strike a light?"
"What, and wake the doctor? No, it would only make him grumpy at being
roused for nothing. There, I can guess pretty closely. It wants over
an hour to dawn. So here goes. I'm off."
As he spoke Mark wrenched himself round, turning his back to his cousin,
and at the same time reached his face over so that he could breathe in
the cool, soft breeze that come
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