"But is queer I should be so wide..

awake." At first he was on the point of lying down again, but then concluded to get up and get a drink of water.
He arose to his feet and stood in the open doorway, gazing into the darkness.

The faint light of a few stars shone in the waters of the bay, and between the waters and himself he presently saw a dark form stealing along, close to the ground.
What could that be?
Was it something real or only a shadow?
Dick rubbed his eyes and peered out more sharply than ever.

It was not a shadow, but a real form, slowly moving around to the rear of the house.
"An animal, or else a man crawling along," said Dick to himself, and reached for his gun, which stood close at hand.

Then he made up his mind to investigate, and stepped outside of the doorway for that purpose..