But still no success; for when, after several hours, he examined his lines, the crimson shred was still hanging intact as he had fixed it.

The man was quite discouraged at his failure.
"But there will be plenty of bait before long," he said to me in a solemn undertone.
"What do you mean ?" said I, struck by his significant manner.
"You'll know soon enough," he answered.
What did he insinuate?
The words, coming from a man usually so reserved, have haunted me all night..