CHAPTER XVIII.
JOE DIGBY MISSING "Merritt! Merritt, wake up!" The boy sleepily opened his eyes and saw bending over him the pale features of Rob, whose voice quivered with suppressed excitement as he shook the other's shoulder.
"I didn't hear reveille blow yet.

What's up?
Have I overslept ?" murmured the young corporal.
"No, it's not six-thirty yet--barely after half past four, in fact.
But young Digby--he had the night watch, you know--and was to have been relieved at three o'clock.

Well, Ernest Thompson, his relief, roused out at that hour, but not a trace of Digby was to be found!" "What!" The sleepy boy was drowsy no longer.

"Digby gone ?" "Hush! We don't know yet.

Don't wake any of the others.