"Where?"
"Down the—uh! Oh, ma Dieu!"
The Egret and her light had disappeared round a bend and the negro was pointing at the empty moonlit river. Hoots of laughter greeted him.
"Guess you got 'em, Sam. No other boat round here."
"Ma Dieu! Ah seen him. Yoh gen'men sho' they wasn't no boat?"
"You're raving. No boat at all."
"Oh—Oh——!"
"Shut up!" cried White. "Shut up!"
A moment's silence. Then, from a black corner on the ditcher came the negro's voice, moaning in cutting minor notes a primitive jungle croon of fear and terror. White laughed grimly, making no effort to quiet him. Roger stared up the river and made out a flicker of purple light shooting up from the eastern horizon into the misty heavens.
"Thank God!" he said in relief. "Daylight is coming."