At the very height of its clamor—while he strove in vain to catch its meaning—it passed abruptly into silence. He was left staring into the dark.
XIII
Toward midnight, the girl lying wakeful in the after cabin heard a tap at the door.
“Betty, are you awake?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t be frightened, but I think there may be a little excitement out here pretty soon.”
“What is it?”
“Some of the ‘swampers’ up to a bit of thieving, I fancy.”
“I’ll be out in a moment, Bob White.”
She found him, clad only in shirt and trousers, leaning against the side of the cabin, and staring shoreward. She divined his frank smile, and smiled in return.