He had walked off into that dark, still marsh somewhere.

I had not seen a single house anywhere near; there did not seem to be any human habitation for miles; and now as darkness fell denser over the land I couldn't see the glimmer of a single light.

However, I supposed that there must be some village or hamlet not very far away; or only one of these mysterious little inns one comes upon sometimes in most unexpected and lonely places.
"The stillness was oppressive.

I went back to my boat, made some coffee over a spirit-lamp, devoured a few biscuits, and stretched myself aft, to smoke and gaze at the stars.

The earth was a mere shadow, formless and silent, and empty, till a bullock turned up from somewhere, quite shadowy too.