Stan Lynn Part 36

Stan followed, and a short time after half-a-dozen sentries were leaning upon their rifles in different places, keeping a strict watch upon the river, the direction from which danger was most likely to come; while, his part of the duties performed, the lad went to lie down on the bare boards in the office, near to where Wing was sleeping soundly. As he listened to the man's hard breathing a feeling of envy came over him.

He wished that he too could sleep and forget the danger, if only for an hour. He was completely f.a.gged with the day's exertions; the heat was great, and his brain was in a state of wild activity which made him feel that he had never been so wakeful before in his life.

All was very still without, and as he turned upon the hard boards it seemed that every one must have gone off to sleep at once, while he was growing more and more wakeful. Now and then he started up on one arm to listen to a strange cry that suggested the approach of the enemy; but after two or three repet.i.tions he came to the conclusion that it must have come from some riverside bunting, heron, or crane, and he lay down again, but only to ask himself whether he might not just as well get up and join Blunt, to share the night-watch, for he was more sure than ever that it was impossible to sleep under such circ.u.mstances as these.

"Yes," he said to himself, with a feeling of satisfaction, "I'll do that;" and it seemed to him that he got up to go and join the manager out on the dark wharf, where he could see him standing on a pile of stones close to the river-edge, leaning upon his rifle and gazing up-stream for the first sight of the enemy who might at any moment come.

Blunt turned upon him at once in the darkness, looked down, stretched out one hand and caught him by the shoulder, to say in a sharp whisper:

"Now then, my lad, time's up!"

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

"AM I GOING MAD?"

Stan made no reply, but stared straight up at him, to feel the grasp upon his shoulder tighten, while Blunt said again: "Now then, my lad, time's up!"

But this time there was an addition--"Do you hear?"

"Yes--of course," whispered back the lad; "but I don't know what you mean. What time's up?"

"Why, your time. Hang it all! You take it pretty coolly, when at any moment some hundreds of savage cut-throats may be down upon us. I couldn't have slept like that."

"Like what?" said Stan sharply.

"In the way you have done."

"I? I've not been asleep."

"Oh, haven't you? Why, you're asleep now."

"If I'd been asleep, how--Oh, what nonsense! If I was asleep, how could I have come out here to keep you company?"

"What!" cried Blunt, with a soft, chuckling laugh. "Well, you are a rum fellow! Do you know where you are?"

"Yes; standing out here on the wharf, with the river flowing softly down at our feet."

"Stoop down and put your hand in it, then."

Stan stretched out his right hand at once, and felt the rough boards, while at the same moment Wing drew one of those deep breaths which are so like snores.

The next moment Stan was sitting up feeling for his rifle.

"Here, I say, I haven't been asleep?"

"Of course not. You said you hadn't, and I can't doubt the word of a gentleman."

"Oh, how stupid!" said Stan in a hoa.r.s.e whisper, as he felt his rifle, and sprang up at once. "What time is it?"

"Just struck two by the American clock in the big warehouse."

"Then I have been asleep."

"I think it's very likely," said Blunt dryly.

"Then I must have been dreaming that I came out to you on the wharf because I couldn't sleep."

"And instead of your coming to me, my lad, I came to you. There! come along outside in the cool air; that will wake you up thoroughly; and I want to give you a few instructions and then lie down for an hour or two to get a little rest before the enemy come in the morning."

"Then you think they will come?"

"Most likely," said Blunt dryly. "Come along."

Stan was wide enough awake now, and proved it as soon as they were out on the wharf, where a pleasantly fresh breeze came off the water.

"Did you visit all the six posts?" he said.

"Yes, every one."

"Regularly?"

"Of course."

"Find any one asleep?"

"No; everybody was keenly on the watch."

"How did you know when the hours were up?"

"Guessed it," said Blunt quickly. "Are you wide awake enough now, my lad? You know where all the men are stationed?"

"Oh yes."

"Repeat the places."

Stan ran rapidly through the posts--east, west, north, south, back and front--and Blunt grunted his satisfaction.

"Good!" he said. "The fresh men have relieved those who watched with me, and there is a new pa.s.sword. Don't forget it. As soon as you approach you'll be challenged with 'Who goes there?'"

"Yes; I understand," said Stan eagerly.

"No, you don't. What word will you give to prove that you are a friend?"

"Don't know."

"Of course not. Remember it, then. 'Cartridge.' Understand?"

"Yes, perfectly."