The hollow was lit with the glow of a dozen fires, round which men clustered.

Some were busy boucanning meat for ship's food, some were cooking supper, some sprawled in idleness, and smoked or diced.

The night had now grown very black around us, and we were well protected, for the men in the glow had their eyes dazed, and could not spy into the darkness.

We came very close above them, so that I could hear their talk.

The smell of roasting meat pricked my hunger, and I realized that the salt air had given me a noble thirst.