Gard crept along the slope, and found a roost above the landing-place.
His brain was in a whirl. Bernel had tried to cross to him and was drowned. Nance had swum across. Brave girl! Wonderful girl! For him!—and for news of Bernel. It was terrible to think of Bernel, dead on his account—terrible! It would not be surprising if Nance hated him. Yet, what had he done?—what could he do? He had done nothing. He could do nothing; and his teeth ground savagely at the craziness of these wild Sark men who had brought it all about, and at his own utter impotence.
But Nance did not hate him. And she had swum that dreadful Race to warn him. Brave girl! Wonderful girl!
And then—surely the grinding of an oar, as it wrought upon the gunwale against an ill-fitted thole-pin—out there by the Quette d'Amont!
His eyes and ears strained into the darkness till they felt like cracking.
And the muffled growl of voices!
His heart thumped so, they might have heard it.
He must wait till he was sure they meant to come in. But they must not come too close.
It was an ill landing in the dark, and there were various opinions on it. But there was no doubt as to their intentions. They were coming in.
"Sheer off there!" cried Gard.