The dogs will give warning if any one comes near." Nic obeyed, and as he went to say "good night" to the dogs--towards which he felt no animosity for the ducking they had given him--he saw that the two men were making their bed under the waggon, while the black was sidling slowly up to the fire.

There the Australian curled himself up like a great dog, while the doctor stood about a dozen yards away, searching the dimly seen landscape with a little pocket-glass.
Then Nic climbed in under the tilt, opened one blanket and doubled it, made a pillow of the other, and then-- "Yes, father--directly." For the dawn was beginning to break, and a bright light shone up among the branches of the trees, out of which came a series of piercing bird screams.
"Look sharp: kettle nearly boils." Nic scrambled from under the tilt, feeling now that he must be called to help keep watch, for he was convinced that he had only just lain down..