would take the first watch.

No one seemed disposed to dispute the honor with him, because they were all
very sleepy.

First Toby crawled under the tent, and by his heavy breathing they knew he
was dead to the world.

Next Steve followed suit, and then Bandy-legs.

"Wake me early, mother dear, because to-morrow will be the first of May,"
the latter sang out, as he vanished.

This left only Max and Owen.

Now, the weight of his secret was weighing so heavily upon Max that he had
made up his mind to take Owen into his confidence should a good chance
arise.

It seemed to be on hand.

Accordingly, after binding his cousin to secrecy, Max began to relate the
strange thing he had seen on the preceding night.

Of course Owen was properly shocked.

He, too, had the utmost confidence in Steve Dowdy, and found great
difficulty in believing that the other could ever descend to such a low
state as making a thief out of himself.