Chapter 4

Chapter 4 At four o'clock the kids were waiting in front of the hotel. Jack's van showed up a few minutes later. Jack opened the rear doors. "I brought a tent big enough for all three of you," he told them. "Where will you sleep?" Ruth Rose asked. "In this." Jack showed them a rolled-up string hammock. They all climbed in and buckled up. Jack joined the late-afternoon traffic. "Where are we going to camp?" Dink asked. He was sitting in the back with Josh, and Ruth Rose

was up front with Jack. "How about near the water?" Jack asked. "Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to see an alligator nest." "They make nests?" Josh said. "Like birds?" "Not like birds. Mother alligators lay their eggs on the ground and cover them with vegetation," Jack explained. Jack parked his van at the head of the trail. Between the four of them, they managed to carry the tent, Jack's hammock, and two small food coolers. They took a different trail to the bay this time, and soon came to the clearing at the water's edge. "Just dump everything near the boats," Jack said. "We'll get your tent set up before it gets dark." Josh peeked under one of the upside-down boats. "There are no alligators here, right, Jack?" he asked. "No, it's too open," he said. "But they often hunt at night. When it gets darker, look for two yellow spots in the water. Alligator eyes reflect light, so our campfire will help us see them."

As Jack and the kids set up camp, their shadows grew longer. Soon the sun was behind the trees. After the tent was up, Jack hung his hammock between two trees. He gave the kids some containers. "Fill these with water," he said. "We have to drink salt water?" Josh asked. "Yucko!" "No, we'll need it to put out our campfire later tonight," Jack explained. "I brought bottled water for drinking." The kids walked to the water, which was only about twenty feet from their tent. As Josh stooped to fill his jug, Dink dropped his hand on Josh's shoulder. "Is that an alligator?" he whispered. "I see two eyes!" "Duh," Josh said. "I guess I can tell a floating branch from a reptile!" Ruth Rose joined in. "But … but that branch is swimming toward you!" "Very funny" Josh said. He lugged his container back to Jack. "Just set the water by that tree," Jack said as he scooped a depression in the sand. He made a wall around it with rocks and damp sand.

Then the kids helped him find dead twigs and branches. Soon they were sitting around a cheery blaze. The dancing flames made all their faces look ghostly. Dink thought of zombies and alligators. He scooted a little closer to the fire. "Okay who wants hot dogs, lemonade, and marshmallows?" Jack asked. "We do!" Josh yelled.

Jack opened the coolers and began pulling out tons of food. The kids roasted their dogs and ate them by the fire. By the time they had finished their marshmallows, stars were visible. The moon was

full and partly hidden by clouds. A few lights flickered way out in the Gulf. Dink was the first one to yawn. Then everyone else started yawning. They covered the fire embers with sand, and Jack doused the pit with water from the bay. "Sleep tight," he said as the kids crawled into the tent. "You guys can sleep near the opening," Josh said. He crawled to the farthest end of the roomy tent. "Why?" Dink asked. "You usually like to sleep by the door." Josh pulled off his shirt and used it for a pillow. "Yeah, but this way if an alligator crawls in here," he said, "he'll eat you and Ruth Rose first!" Later, Dink suddenly sat up in the tent. A noise had wakened him. He listened, then peered out through the zippered opening. Moonlight through the trees cast shadows on their campsite. Then Dink saw a tiny light moving in the woods. Dink's first thought was that he was seeing