"
"That's all right," spoke up George. "The only suggestion I have
to make is that we rotate the hours, if we keep this up many
nights."
"What do you mean?" inquired Fred.
"Why the one that comes on at eleven o'clock one night comes on
at twelve-thirty the next night. The one who comes on at
twelve-thirty will report at two and so on. We'll just keep
pushing the schedule up every night so we'll all be the same when
we're done."
"How shall we know when our turns come?" inquired John.
"Every fellow is to call the one who is to take his place."
"But suppose the villain comes between spells?"
"We'll have to take our chances on that," said John.
The proposed scheme was finally accepted. About six o'clock Sam
returned with the Black Growler and when the plan was explained
to him he readily consented to accept the part which had been
assigned to him.
That night at eleven o 'clock he called Fred who was to have the
first watch. After the first half-hour the young guard in the
silence that rested over the great river found the time dragging
heavily. In order to keep awake he walked about the dock, peering
intently in every direction. Not a sign of danger had been
discovered, however, when at half-past twelve he summoned Grant
to take his place.
Grant also was not molested and when he called George at two
o'clock he said sleepily, "It all seems like fool business
anyway, Pop.
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