"Look out, Bill," I shouted, "it's nothing but mud there!"
But Bill didn't heed me. He hit with a swish and a thud instead of a splash, and didn't come up.
We put out in our rickety boat.
By that luck that favours the drunkard and fool, we laid hold on Bill's feet sticking out, just under the water. We tugged mightily and brought him forth, turned into a black man by the ooze ... otherwise, unharmed.
It was not till two hours after midnight that they whisked away townward and left me alone, so that the graciousness of silence could enfold me again. I looked forward to a week's peace, before they descended on the camp again. But I had a premonition that there was to be no peace for me there. For Randall had said to me before he drove away....
"You know Pete Willets? Well, he's liable to come here for a few days, during the week ... a nice quiet fellow though ... won't disturb you."
The thought of another visitor did disturb me. Though I knew Pete Willets as a quiet, gentle shoemaker in whom seemed no guile, I wanted to be alone to think and read and write.
Wednesday noon Pete Willets drove up, accompanied by a grubby Woman whom at first glance I did not relish.
"Hello, Johnnie, Frank said we could use the shack for a day or two."