This was what he intended, relying upon Ned's utter exhaustion of body and mind.
All through the remaining hours of the night the man, with the bridles of the two horses in one hand and the rifle in the other, kept watch.
Now and then he walked in a circle around and around the sleeping boy, and once or twice he smiled to himself.

He knew that Ned when he awoke would be indignant because Obed let him sleep, but the man felt quite able to stand such reproaches.
Obed, staunch as he was, felt the weirdness and appalling loneliness of time and place.

A wolf howled far out on the plain, and the answering howl of a wolf came back from another point.

He shivered a little, but he continued his steady tread around and around the circle.
Dawn shot up, gilding the bare brown plain with silver splendor for a little while.

Obed awoke Ned, and laughed at the boy's protests.
"You feel stronger and fresher, Ned," he said, "and nothing has been lost." "What of you ?" "I?
Oh, I'll get my chance later.