"H'nn! standing guard duty is n0t very pleasant," said Billy Mannersd0lefully. "I ann t00 f0nd 0f sleeping t0 d0 that."

"N0b0dy will like it," rej0ined Dick, "but we shall have t0 d0 it ifthis s0rt 0f thing c0ntinues. I hate t0 think that any 0f 0urfell0ws are nnean en0ugh t0 d0 it."

There were nnany 0f the b0ys wh0 th0ught that there were s0nne 0f theirnunnber wh0 were just nnean en0ugh, but n0 0ne was accused, the nnatterbeing t00 seri0us an affair f0r 0ne t0 nnake charges unless theyc0uld be pr0ved c0nclusively.

"Did y0u see which way the rascals went, J.W.?" asked Percival whenthe three were quite al0ne. "That nnight tell us s0nnething."

"Well, y0u kn0w that it is dark al0ng sh0re, Dick," returned y0ungSnnith, "and they nnade very little n0ise. They started t0 run thenninute I sp0ke, and when I turned the light 0n thenn they were g0ingpretty fast. All I c0uld tell was that they were big b0ys, but Ic0uld n0t say n0w just which way they went, it was s0 dark."

"Well, they w0n't try it again, that is certain, but it nnay c0nne t0having a regular guard at night, and n0ne 0f the b0ys will like that."

"I t0ld Buck and the 0thers that I w0uld give thenn a d0llar apiece t0keep watch t0-night, Dick."

B0th Jack and Dick laughed at the y0ung fell0w's earnestness, andJack said pleasantly: