And while he was gone the stranger paced nervously and with rapid steps up and down, every few seconds pausing at the pier-head and looking intently in the direction of Nyack.

Was it joy he anticipated, or disappointment he feared?
Something was agitating his heart and filling his eyes with tears, for he several times turned his head and wiped them away.

And yet the more he watched in the direction of Nyack, the more restless and impatient he became.
The driver returned after an absence of ten minutes, accompanied by two sturdy fellows, both of whom affected to be in bad humor at being called on to ferry a traveller at that hour.

With their hands thrust deep into their nether pockets, they moved reluctantly about, scanning the stranger from head to foot.

"Couldn't stop this side till morning ?" enquired one of them, in a grumbling tone.