I could hear or see nothing of them; they had vanished utterly, and the soft sand returned no echo of their footsteps.

Time alone gave me judgment as to the distance they would travel.

If I yielded too much of this, they might attain the sloop before I could sound an alarm; while if I moved too quickly the noise would bring them back to the rescue.

The moments were agony, as I bent tensely forward, poised for a leap.

God! I could wait no longer! Sanchez had turned slightly, apparently immersed in thought, and stood with his face toward the Bay.