The fire was entirely extinguished; the four men lay with their feet to the embers, and not one of them showed any signs of life.

Carefully raising himself to his feet, so as not to disturb the sleeper nearest to him, he crept away to the spot where his associate awaited him.

Christy led the way in the direction of the fort, but both of them were silent till they reached the summit of the knoll which concealed the inner bay from their vision, or would have done so if the fog had not effectually veiled it from their sight.
"I suppose you heard all that was said, Mr.Passford, after you ceased to lead the conversation," said Graines, as he glanced back at the foot of the hollow where the revel had taken place.
"Every word of it; and I could insert a good deal of what might have been read between the lines if the talk had been written out," replied the lieutenant.

"As you were the cousin of the mate, he seemed to be more communicative to you than to me, and I thought it best to leave you to conduct the conversation.

You did it extremely well, Charley, and there was no occasion for me to interfere.