De Vaux took up the glass to look after their movements.
"They have made the point, handsomely," he said; "and there is a woman coming down to the shore, and a boy, too."
The friends agreed that there seemed every prospect of a successful negotiation; for a woman was seen going towards the garden with a basket, and Sam, the boy, had landed. Before long a basket was carried down from the house; while Sam and the woman were still busy in the garden.
"They had better be off as soon as they can," said de Vaux, "for the wind is certainly falling."
"There is a shower coming up over the island, Captain de Vaux," said Stebbins, touching his hat.
"Coming, sure enough!—look yonder!"—exclaimed Harry, pointing eastward, where heavy clouds were now seen rising rapidly over the wood.
"We shall have a shower, and something of a squall, I guess," added Stebbins.
There could not indeed be much doubt of the fact, for a heavy shower now seemed advancing, with the sudden rapidity not unusual after very warm weather; the position of the bay, and a wooded bank having concealed its approach until close at hand.
"We shall have a dead calm in ten minutes," said de Vaux; "I wish the Petrel was off."
But still there seemed something going on in the garden; the woman and Sam were very busy, and Charlie and Smith had joined them.