odds, but he declined all offers to compete with Herring or any of
his kind, much to their chagrin and anger.

"You're afraid!" growled Herring with his customary sneer, but Jack
did not pay the slightest attention to the charge, and the other
boys laughed, this making the bully more angry than ever.

Nothing was said about patrolling the camp at night, and the boys
had an idea that the doctor did not know what had happened the night
before, and would, therefore, take no precautions.

They were considerably surprised, therefore, when they discovered
that Buck, as the cook was often called, was corporal of the guard,
and had the house servants for his assistants.

They kept watch at turns during the night, but nothing unusual
occurred, and Percival said to Jack with a laugh:

"Our pickets did good service last night, but I wonder if they will
be on to-night?"

"We can't tell. The doctor has said nothing, and we don't know if
he has done this on his own initiative or because of what he may
have heard."

"Well, it is evident that we boys won't be called on to act as guards,
and I am glad of it, for if there is anything I do not like it is
having to parade up and down in the cold and dark for nothing when
I might better be in my bed."