"
Thus spoke Erwin.
After more or less futile remonstrance, discussion and what not, they
finally settled down for the remainder of the night, the boys insisting
upon giving up the only habitable room to the women, though the latter
urged that the young men take at least a blanket or so along. Blaine,
being somewhat the stronger, declared that he would remain on watch for
the first two hours, adjuring Erwin to get all the sleep he could.
"Another thing; we haven't got much grub along. I don't know how much
the women have, but if it is scarce we must remember them."
In five minutes Orris was breathing heavily, taking full toll of
slumber, for he was not so very strong and the day's happenings had
exhausted him greatly. Blaine sought shelter under another angle of
the basement, and after a vigorous struggle against somnolence, finally
dropped off.
After that the old ruin was silent. Midnight passed. Unceasing
silence reigned. Suddenly there came a sound of planes coming down
from the upper air.
Finally a fretful voice rose up stridently, recklessly, saying through
a muffled megaphone:
"Ho, there -- below! Start up a flare -- a light, anything, so we can
know where and how to land."
Fortunately Erwin, who had really slept the longest, was roused by the
closing words. He heard the sound of wings above, and at once
apprehended.
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