"Oars!" At the last order the men levelled their oars, feathering the blades, and remained like eight statues in their seats.

Vincent listened with all his ears in the dead silence which prevailed.
"I hear the voices again," he reported to the lieutenant in the stern sheets, in a voice just loud enough to reach him; "they are more to the southward." "Stand by!" added Mr.Pennant, who had been duly trained in boat service at an oar.

"Give way together! No noise!" The boat went ahead again, though only at a moderate speed consistent with the least possible noise.

The quartermaster in the bow continued to gaze into the fog bank, though by this time there was a little lighting up in the east, indicating that the day was breaking.

For half an hour longer the cutter continued on its course.