It was red and hot , and now and again it was a little darkened -- as it were , the embers of a bonfire smouldering . For the life of me I could not think what it might be . At last I came right down upon the borders of the clearing . The western end was already steeped in moonshine ; the rest , and the block house itself , still lay in a black shadow chequered with long silvery streaks of light . On the other side of the house an immense fire had burned itself into clear embers and shed a steady , red reverberation , contrasted strongly with the mellow paleness of the moon . There was not a soul stirring nor a sound beside the noises of the breeze . I stopped , with much wonder in my heart , and perhaps a little terror also . It had not been our way to build great fires ; we were , indeed , by the captain 's orders , somewhat niggardly of firewood , and I began to fear that something had gone wrong while I was absent . I stole round by the eastern end , keeping close in shadow , and at a convenient place , where the darkness was thickest , crossed the palisade . To make assurance surer , I got upon my hands and knees and crawled , without a sound , towards the corner of the house . As I drew nearer , my heart was suddenly and greatly lightened . It is not a pleasant noise in itself , and I have often complained of it at other times , but just then it was like music to hear my friends snoring together so loud and peaceful in their sleep . The sea-cry of the watch , that beautiful `` All 's well , '' never fell more reassuringly on my ear . In the meantime , there was no doubt of one thing ; they kept an infamous bad watch . If it had been Silver and his lads that were now creeping in on them , not a soul would have seen daybreak . That was what it was , thought I , to have the captain wounded ; and again I blamed myself sharply for leaving them in that danger with so few to mount guard . By this time I had got to the door and stood up . All was dark within , so that I could distinguish nothing by the eye . As for sounds , there was the steady drone of the snorers and a small occasional noise , a flickering or pecking that I could in no way account for . With my arms before me I walked steadily in .
I should lie down in my own place -LRB- I XXXXX with a silent chuckle -RRB- and enjoy their faces when they found me in the morning .
came contrasted keeping lightened shed steeped stirring think thought walked