CHAPTER XXIII.
MR. PEABODY'S TROUBLES.
When the party camped for the night the custom was to arrange thebaggage wagons in a semicircle, and provide a resting-place for thewomen and children inside. As they were passing through a countryoccupied by Indians it was necessary to post one or more sentinels tokeep watch through the night, and give notice of any who might be seenlurking near the camp. Fortunately, however, an Indian attack was seldommade at night. The time generally selected was in the morning, when theparty were preparing to start on their day's march. Tom, as a boy, wouldhave been excused taking his turn; but this did not suit him. Herequested as a favor, that he might stand watch with the rest.
"Can he be relied upon? Is he not too young?" asked Fletcher, theleader, of Mr. Ferguson.
"You can depend upon him," said the Scotchman confidently. "There'smore manliness in Tom than in many men of twice his years."
"Then I will put his name on the list," said Fletcher.
"That's right. I'll answer for him."
But there was one of the travelers who was by no means eager to stand onwatch. This was Lawrence Peabody, the young man from Boston. He soughtan interview with Fletcher, and asked to be excused.
"On what grounds, Mr. Peabody?" asked Fletcher, surprised.
"It doesn't agree with me to lose my night's sleep," said Peabody. "I amnaturally delicate, and----"
"Your excuse is not satisfactory, Mr. Peabody. We are banded together ina little community, having mutual rights and mutual obligations. In thearrangements made for the common safety it is your duty to bear yourpart."
"I am willing to provide a substitute," said Peabody eagerly.
"Where will you find a substitute?"
"I have been talking with Tom Nelson. He says he is willing to serve inmy turn."
"He will serve when his own turn comes; that will be all we can expectof him."
"But he is only a boy. Why should he be expected to take his turn?"
"If he is old enough to be a substitute, he is old enough to stand watchfor himself."
"But, Mr. Fletcher, I am very delicate," protested Lawrence Peabody. "Imust have my regular sleep, or I shall be sick."
"We must take our chances of that, Mr. Peabody."
"I shall be very likely to go to sleep on my post."
"I wouldn't advise you to," said Fletcher seriously. "It might bedangerous."
"Dangerous!" ejaculated Peabody nervously.
"Precisely. If a lurking Indian should surprise you, you might wake upto find yourself scalped."
"Good gracious!" exclaimed the Bostonian, his teeth chattering, for hewas not of the stuff of which heroes are made. "Do you--think there isany danger of that?"
"Considerable, if you neglect your duty."
"But perhaps I can't help falling asleep."
"Mr. Peabody," said Fletcher sternly, "you must keep awake. Not onlyyour own safety, but that of the whole camp, may depend upon yourvigilance. If you choose to risk your own life, I don't complain ofthat, but you shall not imperil ours. I therefore give you notice, thatif you fall asleep on guard you will be drummed out of camp, and left toshift for yourself."
"But I couldn't find my way on the prairie," said Peabody, very muchalarmed.
"You had better think of that when you are tempted to close your eyes,Mr. Peabody," replied Fletcher.
Lawrence Peabody walked off, feeling very much disconcerted. Ferventlyhe wished himself back in Boston, where there are no Indians, and a manmight sleep from one week's end to another without any danger of losinghis scalp.
"What's the matter, Mr. Peabody?" asked Tom, observing his melancholyappearance.
"I don't think I shall ever live to see California," answered Mr.Peabody plaintively.
"Why, what's the matter now?" asked Tom, checking an inclination tolaugh; "are you sick?"
"I don't feel very well, Tom. I'm very delicate, and this journey isalmost too much for my strength."
"Oh, cheer up, Mr. Peabody! Think of the gold that awaits you at the endof the journey."
"It's all that keeps me up, I do assure you. But I am afraid I shallnever live to get there," said Peabody, with a groan.
"Don't think of such things, Mr. Peabody. Of course none of us is sureof living, but the chances are, that we shall reach California inhealth, make our fortunes, and go home rich. At any rate, that's what Iam looking forward to."
"I wouldn't mind so much but for one thing, Tom."
"What is that?"
"Fletcher insists that I shall take my turn in standing guard. If I werenot so delicate I wouldn't mind; but I know I can't stand it. I'll giveyou two dollars to take my place, every time my turn comes."
"I am willing, if Mr. Fletcher is," said Tom, who was by no means averseto making a little extra money.
"But he isn't. I proposed it to him, for I was sure I could arrange withyou; but he refused."
"I suppose," said Tom slyly, "he thought I couldn't fill your place. Youare a brave, resolute man, and I am only a boy."
"Tom--I--I don't mind telling you; but I am afraid I am not brave."
"Oh, nonsense, Mr. Peabody! that is only your modesty."
"But I assure you," said the young Bostonian earnestly, "I am speakingthe truth. If I should see an Indian crawling near the camp I'm reallyafraid I should faint."
"You won't know how brave you are till you are put to the test."
"But do you think there is any chance of my being put to the test? Doyou think there are any Indians near?" asked Lawrence Peabody, wipingthe damp perspiration from his brow.
"Of course there must be," said Tom. "We are passing through theirhunting-grounds, you know."
"Why did I ever leave Boston?" said Mr. Peabody sadly.
"You came, as I did, to make your fortune, Mr. Peabody."
"I'm afraid I can't keep awake, Tom; Mr. Fletcher tells me, if I don't,that he will turn me adrift on the prairie. Isn't that hard?"
"I am afraid it is a necessary regulation. But you won't fall asleep.Your turn will only come about once in two weeks, and that isn't much."
"The nights will seem very long."
"I don't think so. I think it'll be fun, for my part."
"But suppose--when you are watching--you should all at once see anIndian, Tom?" said Peabody, with a shiver.
"I think it would be rather unlucky for the Indian," said Tom coolly.
"You are a strange boy, Tom," said Mr. Peabody.
"What makes you think so?"
"You don't seem to care anything about the danger of being scalped."
"I don't believe I should like being scalped any more than you do."
"You might have got off from standing watch; but you asked to be allowedto."
"That is quite true, Mr. Peabody. I want to meet my fair share of dangerand fatigue."
"You can stand it, for you are strong and tough. You have not mydelicacy of constitution."
"Perhaps that's it," said Tom, laughing.
"Would you mind speaking to Fletcher, and telling him you are willing totake my place?"
"I will do it, if you wish me to, Mr. Peabody."
"Thank you, Tom; you are a true friend;" and Mr. Peabody wrung the handof his young companion.
Tom was as good as his word. He spoke to Fletcher on the subject; butthe leader of the expedition was obdurate.
"Can't consent, my boy," he said. "It is enough for you to take yourturn. That young dandy from Boston needs some discipline to make a manof him. He will never do anything in a country like California unlesshe has more grit than he shows at present. I shall do him a favor bynot excusing him."
Tom reported the answer to Peabody, who groaned in spirit, and nervouslywaited for the night when he was to stand watch.