"And me?" said Billy.

"And me?" said Pip.

"And me?" said Tony.

"You see--you see," replied Charlie, "I overslept."

"That is," said Sid, "you slept _over_ the table. Three cheers for
Charlie, our faithful watchman! I nominate Charlie for _honorary_
sentinel."

The cheers were delivered, and Charlie was declared by the president to
have been unanimously chosen honorary sentinel.

"You see, boys," said Sid, patronizingly, "I don't know what would have
become of you if it hadn't been for _me_. My big brother Nehemiah was out
banging away all night, and he got tired and came home about three, and
said to me, 'You in bed now? I thought you were going to get up several
hours earlier than the lark.' Well--after a while--I dressed quick, I tell
you, and then I went and woke our governor, and Billy, and so on."

Sid omitted to say how long that "after a while" might be, and that his
brother aroused him several times, and finally he got into his clothes.
Nobody, however, was disposed to ask questions, as every one had slept
later than he intended.

"Knights of the White Shield!" suddenly shouted Sid, "three good ringers
on your bugles for our honorary member, Miss Stanshy Macomber? Here she
comes!"