'possum to give the dogs if
they came at you."

"That's right, Master Nic. If old Zaunders was shouting 'em on, they
wouldn't take no notice of the meat; but if he waren't there they'd be
friends at once, and eat it. So I'm ready for 'em if they comes after
me."

"And you're going to try if you can find where they keep the boat
to-night?"

"_Sn-n-n-ork_!" said Pete, pinching his arm, and as the deep, low,
snoring went on, Nic grasped the reason.

For there was a faint rustling of the dry corn-leaves, which stopped,
and went on again in the utter darkness, while beyond it the low murmur
of talking continued.

"The talking kept on to cover Humpy's movements," thought Nic. "He has
heard us, and is coming to listen."

Pete snored again, moved uneasily, and began to mutter in a low tone:

"Couldn't throw Humpy Dee?" he said. "Let you see. Better wrastler
than him. _Snore--snurrk_!"

The rustling ceased, and then went on again.

"Where's that there moog o' zyder, lads?" muttered Pete in a dull,
stupid way. "Where's the huff-cap?"

Then he smacked his lips, and said "Hah!" softly, turned himself over,
yawned, and began to snore, keeping it up steadily, while the rustling
went on; but it sounded now as if the man who made it was retiring.

Nic listened, with every nerve on the strain, while Pete kept on the
snoring, and a minute later he made out clearly enough that Humpy Dee
had returned to his companions, and distinctly heard the change in the
conversation, as the man whispered the result of his investigation.

Pete's snore was lower now, and sounded as if it would last; but it did
not, for the next moment Nic was conscious that his comrade was leaning
over him; a pair of lips touched his ear, and a voice whispered:

"He thinks he's clever, but we can be too sharp for him."

"Don't talk any more," whispered Nic softly, "or he'll come back."

"Right," said Pete, and the snoring recommenced. And as Nic lay there
in the darkness, thinking over his companion's words, and feeling that
it would have been madness to have made any attempt to leave the
barrack-like shed, with watchful enemies both within and without, and
the certainty in his mind that Humpy Dee's intention was to betray Pete
so as to get him flogged for attempting to escape, the snoring went on,
with a strange lulling effect. He had toiled hard that day in the
burning sunshine, and had lain down after his supper with that pleasant
sensatio