Once more they found themselves approaching buildings, but they were low and scattered; evidently only in the outskirts of the village.
“We must be close to the harbour now,” said Jack.
“The greater reason that we should be cautious,” observed Bill. “This road, I suspect, leads right down to the part of the harbour we want to reach.”
They ran on, their hope of escape increasing.
Suddenly they heard the voice of a man shouting out, “Who goes there?”
Bill seized Jack’s arm, and pulled him down in the shadow of a high wall, near which they happened at that moment to find themselves.
Some minutes they waited, scarcely daring to draw breath.
The shout was not repeated.
“We may go on now,” whispered Jack; and getting up, they crept forward. Presently, below them, they caught sight of the harbour, with the stars reflected on its surface.
The most difficult part of their undertaking was now to be performed. They had to find out exactly where their raft lay.