"Guess we won't have time to look about any more to-night. Never mind! There are evenings enough ahead of us before September. One thing out here--no matter how hot the day may be, it's always cool after dark. Let's be getting back to camp!" Two small kerosene-lamps from the cupboard made the cabin seem actually cheerful. Percy dug into one of his suit-cases and produced a pack of cards. "Let's have a game, fellows! What shall it be?" "Might as well put those up, Whittington," said Spurling. "We're going to turn in as soon as we get things arranged. We've a busy to-morrow before us." Somewhat disappointed, Percy put the cards back. Taking four wooden toothpicks, Jim broke them into uneven lengths. He grasped them in his right hand so that the tops formed a straight line. "Now we'll draw lots for bunks! Filippo's going to sleep in the hammock across that corner beyond the table, so he won't be in this. Longest stick is lower bunk next the door; second longest, lower bunk back; third, upper bunk near door; shortest, other upper. Draw, Throppy!" Stevens drew; then Budge and Percy followed him. They matched sticks. Percy got the lower near the door, with Budge over him; while Spurling drew the back lower, and Stevens the one above that. "Percy and I are the lucky ones," said Jim. "We can try this a month, then have a shake-up to give you top men a chance nearer the floor." Percy pulled out his wrappers and tobacco. Spurling nipped his preparations in the bud. "No cigarettes in here!" "Can't I smoke just one?" "Not inside this cabin. It's too close. We might as well make that a permanent rule." "All right! You're the doctor! But I thought it might help kill this smell of tarred rope." "I like the tarred rope better than I do the cigarettes." Percy went outside and burned his coffin-nail unsociably. When he came back the cabin was shipshape for the night. Jim was setting the alarm-clock. Percy, watching him, thought he detected a mistake. "You've got the V on the wrong side of the I," he said. "IV doesn't stand for six." "But I didn't mean six," retorted Spurling. "I meant four. Now you see why we haven't any time for card-playing. And as soon as we're really at work we'll be getting up a good deal earlier than that. Turn in, fellows!" He extinguished one of the small lamps. "You can put out the other one, when you're ready," said he as he crept into his bunk.