But the last hour had pinched Hepburn's features into something of the wan haggardness they would wear when he should first be lying still for ever.
And now the two men were drawing near a creek, about eight miles from Monkshaven.

The creek was formed by a beck (or small stream) that came flowing down from the moors, and took its way to the sea between the widening rocks.

The melting of the snows and running of the flooded water-springs above made this beck in the early spring-time both deep and wide.

Hepburn knew that here they both must take a path leading inland to a narrow foot-bridge about a quarter of a mile up the stream; indeed from this point, owing to the jutting out of the rocks, the land path was the shortest; and this way lay by the water-side at an angle right below the cliff to which Hepburn's steps were leading him.

He knew that on this long level field path he might easily be seen by any one following; nay, if he followed any one at a short distance, for it was full of turnings; and he resolved, late as he was, to sit down for a while till Kinraid was far enough in advance for him to escape being seen.
He came up to the last rock behind which he could be concealed; seven or eight feet above the stream he stood, and looked cautiously for the specksioneer.