By signs, however, we understood each other very well and I intimated to them that I would stretch out before the fire all night.

But they refused to allow me to lie on the floor.

I understood them to mean for me to take the bed as the man was going away somewhere.

This I did and was soon sound asleep.

At one o'clock in the morning, I was awakened with an impression that some one was in the room near me.