For a long moment there was a silence.

A sense of preparedness ran from end to end of the column.

All things were ready, each man in his place.

The day's work was about to begin.
Suddenly, from a distance at the head of the line came the shrill trilling of a whistle.

At once the foreman nearest Vanamee repeated it, at the same time turning down the line, and waving one arm.