on his back in bed, quite still and with the clothes drawn demurely up under his chin. Stopping for a moment by Orr as he went along, the Doctor said:
‘You had better tell Tristram of our rules as to not talking and so forth! And remember it is on you that I rely for their being kept!’
‘Yes, sir!’ answered Orr.
‘Good-night, boys!’ said the Doctor as he passed on.
‘Good-night, sir!’ they chorused in reply.
Scarcely, however, had the sound of his footsteps died away than they began to talk; but though for a while Jaspar tried to listen, he was so tired with all he had gone through since that morning he had left home, that very soon the different voices began to mingle drowsily one with another and he sank into a doze. He was woke by a noise as of some one jumping violently out of bed and darting across the room, and then there came muffled sounds as of a body being violently bethumped, and then a choking cry:
‘Look here!’ he heard Orr say, ‘the next time you wake me with your beastly snoring, Ill just jolly well stick my soap down your throat!’
Then, turning round, he put his hand under his pillow, and drew out his watch which he had tucked there with his handkerchief—now but a limp and sorry rag though that morning new and stiff—and, as it grew gradually warm in his clasp, once more fell asleep.
