The air was still, and not a breath rustled among the leaves of the trees overhead.

A silence profound and impressive reigned over all.

From afar the rumbling of the train which they had left was borne upon the air.
Involuntarily the three men who had come to this place upon a far different errand stood in silent admiration of the natural beauty that was spread before them.
Fearing that Henry Waring might have remained away from home later than was his wont, they waited until they felt reasonably sure of a freedom from interruption in their labor, and then, having finally concluded that all was safe, they proceeded quietly to the barn, whose doors were wide open, and offered no bar to their entrance.
Lighting their lantern, they thoroughly searched the interior, in order to discover if any tramps had taken refuge under its roof.

All was quiet as the grave.

The moonbeams shone through the open door, lighting up the barn with its rays, and almost revealing the figures of the men who were within.