Step Hen wanted to know.

"I was thinking about that a minute ago, Step Hen," replied the scout-
master; "and sort of made up my mind they'd be apt to climb that pile of
rocks yonder. You see, it overlooks this pool, and a man might lie
there near the top and watch us all he wanted, provided the moon came
out, and gave him the light he'd need."

Everybody thereupon cast an eye aloft.

"I'm afraid that moon business is just what's going to happen right
soon," observed Giraffe.

"Yes, there isn't going to be a storm after all," remarked the skipper;
"clouds are breaking night now, and it was a false alarm, you see."

"Well, hardly, with me," ventured Bumpus; whereupon everybody tittered,
because they knew what the fat scout meant; and there were three others,
who, if they were as candid as Bumpus, might have added:

"Me too!"

Half an hour passed by, and they were really getting tired, for it was
now in the neighborhood of half-past ten o'clock, as Thad told them the
last time he consulted his little dollar watch that gave him so much
satisfaction in all his outings.

Still, none of them wanted to be the fellow to first crawl under his
blanket, it being only a matter of pride that kept Bumpus at least on
deck, blinking like an owl in the daytime, as he tried to keep his eyes