"_Wuph_!" and lurched over sidewise up against his companion, but jerked
himself up again, and said in a gruff whisper full of reproach, "Don't
go to sleep, Master Tom."
"No. All right, I'm awake," replied the boy, laughing to himself, and
the watching went on again, the time passing very slowly, and the earth
which had felt so soft beneath the knees gradually turning hard.
There was not a sound to be heard now, till the heavy breathing on his
left suggested that David was dozing off again, and set him thinking
that one was enough to keep vigil, and that he could easily rouse his
companion if the thief came.
He felt a little vexed at first that David, who had been so eager to
watch, should make such a lapse; but just in his most indignant moments,
when he felt disposed to give a sudden lurch sidewise to knock the
gardener over like a skittle, and paused, hesitating, he had an
admonition, which showed him how weak human nature is at such times, in
the shape of a sudden seizure. One moment he was wakeful and thinking,
the next he was fast asleep, dreaming of being back at Gray's Inn--
soundly asleep, in fact.
This did not last while a person could have counted ten. Then he was
wide-awake again, ready to continue the watch, and let David rest.
"It's rum though," he said to himself, as he crouched there, and now
softly picked a leaf to nibble, and feel suggestions of taking a powder
in a spoonful of black-currant jelly, so strong was the flavour in the
leaf. "Very rum," he thought. "One's wide-awake, and the next moment
fast asleep."
He started then, for he fancied that he heard a sound, but though he
listened attentively he could distinguish nothing; and the time went on,
with David's breathing growing more deep and heavy; and upon feeling
gently to his left, it was to find that the gardener was now right down
with his elbows on the ground and his face upon his hands.
"Any one might come and clear all the pears away if I were not here."
But Tom felt very good-humoured over the business, as he thought of
certain remarks he would be able to make to the gardener next day; and
he was running over this, and wishing that some one would come to break
the monotonous vigil, when there was the sound of a door opening up at
the cottage, and then steps on the gravel path. Directly after Uncle
Richard's voice was heard.
"Now, Tom, my lad, just ten o'clock; give it up for to-night. Where are
you?"
Before Tom could make answer there was a quick movement on his left, an
elbow was jerked into his ribs, and David exclaimed in a husky whisper--
"Now, my lad, wake up. Here's your uncle."
"Yes, uncle, here!" cried Tom, as he clapped his hand to his side.
"Well, have you got him?"
"Nay, sir," said David; "nobody been here to-night, but I shall ketch
him yet."
"No, no, be off home to bed," said Uncle Richard.
"Bime by, sir. I'll make it twelve first," said David.
"No," cried Uncle Richard decisively. "It is not likely that any one
will come now."
"Then he'll be here before it's light," said David.
"Perhaps, but we can't spare time for this night work. Home with you,"
cried Uncle Richard.
"Tell you what then, sir, I'll go and lie down for an hour or two, and
get here again before it's light."
"Very well," said Uncle Richard. "I'll fasten the gate after you.
Good-night. No: you run to the gate with him, Tom."
"All right, uncle," cried the boy; and then, "Oh my! how stiff my knees
are. How are yours, David?" he continued, as they walked to the gate.
"Bit of a touch o' rheumatiz in 'em, sir. Ground's rayther damp.
Good-night, sir. We'll have him yet."
"Good-night," said Tom. "But I say, David, did you have a good nap?"
"Good what, sir? Nap? Me have a nap? Why, you don't think as I went
to sleep?"
"No, I don't think so," cried Tom, laughing.
"Don't you say that now, sir; don't you go and say such a word. Come, I
do like that: me go to sleep? Why, sir, it was you, and you got
dreaming as I slep'. I do like that."
"All right, David. Good-night."
Tom closed the gate, and ten minutes later he was in bed asleep.