And Adam Craig was a vulture preying upon the unrest in his heart that he had hoped to stifle.
He went downstairs with a shudder, craving stars and darkness, unbolted the front door and went out upon the porch.
The valley was black.

Its lonely points of light vanished early.

Up here on the ridge there was wind and quiet.

He peopled the gulf of blackness ahead with things sinister and evil in spirit like Adam Craig and turned his back upon it with a shiver.

There would be peace in the voice of the river.
The starlight, dim and soft, had a sense of silver in its indistinctness.