He must be somewhere near just such a course.

Or, maybe she was a colonial schooner, one of those bold craft from Boston.

There was a certain luxury in speculating on it, and in prolonging a doubt which would certainly be solved by midnight, and to his satisfaction.

It was not often that in real life one looked at a play bound to develop within a given time to a dramatic and satisfying finish.
He remained on the crest until late in the afternoon, watching the ship as she tacked with the varying winds, but, in the end, always bearing toward the island.

He was quite sure now that her arrival would be after dark.