"'Tis well enough, no doubt, in a dim light," said I, "though by now surely somewhat battered!"
Marc was already taking off his clothes. As he knotted them into a convenient bundle, there came from the woods, a little way back of the point, the hollow "Too-hoo-hoo-whoo-oo!" of the small gray owl.
"There's Tamin!" said I, and was on the point of answering in like fashion, when the cry was reiterated twice.
"That means danger, and much need of haste for us," I growled. Together we ran down into the tide, striking out with long strokes for the fine white line that seethed softly along the dark base of the point. I commended the lad mightily for his swimming, as we scrambled upon the beach and slipped swiftly into our clothes. Though carrying his bundle on his head, he had given me all I could do to keep abreast of him.
We climbed the bluff, and ran through the wet, keen-scented bushes toward the creek where lay the boat. Ere we had gone half-way Tamin met us, breathless.
"What danger?" I asked.
"I think they're coming back to tuck the lad in for the night, and see that he's comfortable!" replied Tamin, panting heavily. "I heard paddles when they should have been long out of earshot."
"Something has put them in doubt!" said Marc.
"Sure," said I, "and not strange, if one but think of it!"
"Yet I told them a fair tale," panted Tamin, as he went on swiftly toward his boat.