Thirlwell wondered whether he himself had gone to sleep again and dreamed, but half-consciously fixed his eyes on the opening that commanded a view of the lake.

He could see it indistinctly; a smooth white plain running back into the dark.

The snow caught a faint reflection although the moon was hidden, but nothing broke the even surface.
Then Thirlwell got up abruptly, for he heard a shout.

It sounded as if somebody had given an order, and he felt disturbed.

There was, he knew, no ground for this.