iver.--Resumption of
the Journey._

For the first half of the day the boys had been in great spirits.
Laughter, noisy conversation, jests, chaff, and uproarious songs
had all been intermingled, and the carriage was a miniature Bedlam.
But after their stoppage at the wayside inn a change took place,
and on resuming their journey, they seemed like a very different
company. The air of the marshes now began to act upon them. They
felt it to be raw, and chill, and unpleasant. A general feeling of
discomfort and a general sensation of gloom pervaded all of them.
Bob held out most bravely, and strove to regain the jollity which
they had felt before. For a long time his fun and nonsense provoked
a laugh; but at length his fun grew fainter, and his nonsense more
stupid; and the laughter grew less hearty and more forced, until
at length the fun, and the nonsense, and the laughter ceased
altogether.

Frank felt upon himself the responsibility of the rest to an unusual
degree. He was only a few weeks older than David, but he was far
stronger and more mature in many respects. David was a hard student,
and perhaps a bit of a book-worm, and had a larger share of the
knowledge that may be gained from books; but Frank had seen more
of the world, and in all that relates to the practical affairs of
common life he was immeasurably superior to David. For this reason
Frank often assumed, and very naturally too, the guardianship of
the party; and so appropriate was this to him, that the rest tacitly
allowed it. As for Uncle Moses, none of them ever regarded him as
their protector, but rather as an innocent and simple-hearted being,
who himself required protection from them.

Frank, therefore, on this occasion, kept warning the whole party,
above all things, not to let themselves go to sleep. He had heard
that the air of the Pontine Marshes had a peculiar tendency to send
one to sleep; and if one should yield to this, the consequences
might be fatal. Fever, he, said, would be sure to follow sleep,
that might be indulged in under such circumstances. The anxiety
which was created in his own mind by his sense of responsibility
was of itself sufficient to keep him awake, and left him to devote
all his energies to the task of trying to keep the others awake
also, and thus save them from the impending danger.

At first they, all laughed at him; but after a time, as each one
felt the drowsiness coming over him, they ceased to laugh. Then
the