"A blaze usually helps to keep
away wild beasts."
"Oh, if any come, I reckon the horses will give us warning," said Phil.
"We can tie them close by." And this plan was carried out.
Some cedar boughs had been strewn on the floor of the tent, and on these
the chums laid down, and did their best to go to sleep. Dave dropped off
first, and was presently followed by Roger. But Phil was restless and
turned from one side to the other.
"Oh, pshaw! why can't I sleep?" murmured the shipowner's son to himself
in disgust, and then out of curiosity he looked at his watch. By the
glare from the campfire he saw that it was nearly one o'clock.
He was just straightening out again when a peculiar rustling among the
horses caught his ears. He listened for a moment, then sat up straight.
"Something doesn't suit them," he reasoned. "Wonder what it can be?"
He hesitated, then turned over on his hands and knees and crawled to the
opening of the tent and peered around outside. The campfire had burned
rather low, so that objects a short distance away were indistinct. He
saw that the horses were huddled together and had their heads turned
toward a clump of bushes at one side of the shelter.
"Something must be over yonder," reasoned the youth. "Wonder if I had
better arouse the others?"
He looked at Dave and Roger.
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