The two men went out again, and in the complete silence which now prevailed their footsteps could be heard through the open door pacing up and down the path.
Returning, they reported that everything was quiet.
“Very well,” said Crow, “but, all the same, you had better get to your posts.”
The two men went out once more and closed the door after them.
“Bluff!” said Crow, insolently, to Westerham, “just bluff. But you cannot come bluff on us, for all your Yankee smartness.”
“No,” said Westerham; and his face was still the face of a man who is immensely amused and interested.
“What are you grinning at?” snarled Crow.
“I was grinning because, whatever you may contrive to do to me, it struck me as being rather funny that one man in a place like this should manage to scare so many.”
Crow's hand gripped the handle of his revolver.
“That will do,” said Westerham, growing suddenly serious, for he realised that while the men were posted at either end of the canal-path there was just a chance that Crow might risk the noise of firearms.