But men preoccupied with their own concerns do not keep anxious watch, and our precautions were needless.

Presently we had come to the far side of the shelf abreast of the boulder on which he sat who seemed to be the chief figure.

Now I could raise my head, and what I saw made my eyes dazzle.
Red Ringan sat on a stone with a naked cutlass across his knees.

In front stood a man, the most evil-looking figure that I had ever beheld.
He was short but very sturdily built, and wore a fine laced coat not made for him, which hung to his knees, and was stretched tight at the armpits.

He had a heavy pale face, without hair on it.