“I don’t suppose any of you want to get the single tent out and sleep ashore to-night?” said Frank finally, as he saw his comrades yawning, as if ready to turn in.

“Not me,” answered Bluff immediately.

“Some time later on I’m going to try it, but I want to get used to these queer scenes first,” remarked Will.

“He thinks an alligator might crawl up out of the river and gobble him up,” laughed Jerry.

“Well, we haven’t heard from you yet.  Are you getting out the tent?” asked Frank.

“I would, only it’s such a bother.  On the whole, I’m contented with the snug little bunky on board,” came the answer, at which Will shrugged his shoulders, as if to say he knew it would be so.

“All right, then; let’s go aboard.  I’ll fix up the fire here so it will burn a few hours anyway.  Kind of cheerful to see it as a fellow sits out his watch.  This log, pushed over to the blaze, might answer,” observed Frank, suiting the action to his words.

“Then we do keep a watch?” queried Bluff.

Frank looked around at their gloomy and impressive surroundings and then raised his eyebrows in an expressive manner.

“You just bet we do!” exclaimed Jerry.  “Here’s a swamp with all manner of wild animals in it, from alligators and wildcats to mosquitoes by the million.  How do we know but what some of them might take a notion to come aboard in the night?  I can see myself waking up to find a bobtailed cat cuddling up under my blanket with me; or a ten-foot ’gator sprawled out across Will, here, asking to have his picture taken.  Tell me about that, will you, fellows?”

“And then there may be other coons in hiding here; chaps who are wanted for something far more desperate than poor old George.  They might murder us all in our sleep.  Oh, yes, let us have a watch, by all means.  I agree to sit it out for the first two hours if Frank will take the second,” cried Will.

So it was settled.  They went aboard, and made preparations for sleep.  Of course, there were no regular bunks aboard the Jessamine, since the space was too limited to admit of such luxuries.  When the cruisers wanted to retire, two of them made beds of the seats, and the others found a suitable couch in the bottom.  In case of rain, the automobile top would protect them; but in dry weather it could be left partly off, so as to insure more air.

Frank and Will had the seats first on this night, for it had been so arranged that they would change around each night, so as to give every fellow a chance.  As Bluff put it, “just like we were playing a scrub game of ball, each one getting a chance to pitch and catch in turn.”

Will took up his place on the side toward the shore.  It was some little time before his comrades all settled down, but finally he knew they slept.  He sat there, watching the fire burn near by, and thinking of many interesting things, until, on striking a match, and examining his watch, he found that it was time he awoke Frank.