The watch also ascertained which were the next three men to be
roused, and these and the succeeding watches agreed to lie next to
each other, in order that they might be roused without awakening
their companions.
In a few minutes there was a general unrolling of ponchos, and soon
afterward only sleeping figures could be seen by the dim light of
the smoldering fire. Mr. Hardy, indeed, was the only one of the
party who did not fall to sleep. Thoughts of the events of the last
twenty-four hours, of the best course to be adopted, and of the
heavy responsibility upon himself as leader of this perilous
expedition, prevented him from sleeping. He heard the watch return,
rouse the relief, and lay down in their places. In another half
hour he himself rose, and walked out toward the sentry.
It was a young man named Cook, one of the new settlers to the east
of Mount Pleasant. "Is that you, Mr. Hardy?" he asked, as he
approached. "I was just coming in to wake you."
"What is it, Mr. Cook?"
"It strikes me, sir, that there is a strange light away to the
southwest. I have only noticed it the last few minutes, and thought
it was fancy, but it gets more distinct every minute."
Mr. Hardy looked out anxiously into the gloom and quickly perceived
the appearance that his friend alluded to.
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