“Hush! Listen!” I said. “What’s that noise?”

We both listened, and my heart throbbed as I heard a regular plash and thud from off the sea.

“Boat,” said Bob decidedly. “Shall I hail it?”

“No,” I replied quickly.

“Why not? It’s a boat coming to fetch us.”

I could not think that it was, and creeping to where my father lay I shook him.

“Yes. Time to watch?” he said quietly.

“Hush! Listen!” I said.

He sat up:

“Boat,” he said, “close in.”