"Ay, ay, sir, doubtless it is, unless it be from some Yankee——"
An angry scowl on the captain's face led his officer to believe a hasty exit would be advisable.
Captain Carter was soon on deck.
The fog lay over the water with a darkness which could almost be felt.
Only the slightest wind stirred the waves, and the captain almost laughed at the thought of any enemy approaching.
He listened, but no sound smote upon his ear.
"I hear no boat, Gordon," he said. "Yet there is something like the sound of oars, though there is no noise of the rowlocks."
Gordon placed his partly closed hand before his mouth, trumpet-fashion, and whispered the one word:
"Sweeps!"
Carter laughed harshly.