The alternations continued for several minutes, then finally ceased. Pratt got up, left the ruins, and made his way with some difficulty back to camp.
"Not yet," replied Warrender. "Time he was. This is the darkest evening we’ve had. See any one?"
"Thanks. Glad you missed me. Will the sweet, melodious strains of my gentle banjo disturb your serenity?"
"Not a bit. Strum away. But hadn’t you better turn in? It’s past nine. Old Jack won’t get much sleep before second watch if he isn’t here soon; no reason why you shouldn’t have your full whack, especially after last night’s affair."
Pratt softly thrummed his strings, musing on his discoveries. Half-past nine came; ten o’clock.
"I say, what’s happened to Armstrong?" said Warrender. "Surely he hasn’t been carried out to sea? Come and help me shove off; I’ll run down and see if I can find him. You won’t turn in, so you won’t mind taking part of my watch."
"Righto! But I dare say Jack’s enjoying himself."
They were just about to launch the motor-boat when they caught the dull sound of oars in the distance. They waited. The rising moon struggled through the rack, and cast a faint light on the stream. Presently the dinghy appeared from among the overarching foliage. Armstrong was sculling very quietly.
"Thought you were lost," said Warrender. "It’s past ten; your watch starts at eleven-forty."
"All right. Pratt, tie up, will you? Come with me, Warrender."
Armstrong led the way at a long, rapid stride across the clearing and into the thicket. He said nothing, and did not pause until he came to the shore of the western channel.
"Keep well behind this tree," he said, in a whisper, placing himself in shadow.
In a few minutes they heard the splash of oars. A boat emerged from the shades down stream, lit up fitfully by the transient moonbeams. It passed close beneath their hiding-place. It held a single oarsman, whose thickset frame would have been unmistakable even if the moonlight had not touched his face. He pulled out of sight.
"Let’s get back," replied Armstrong. "I wanted a second witness. Pratt will wish to start a new career now, I expect."
When Armstrong had started in the dinghy for a pull down the river his intention was to scull easily on the current to the mouth, then to turn westward, and exercise his muscles more strenuously in a contest with the wind. On reaching the coastline, however, he found that there was much more force in the breeze than had appeared inland, and a considerable swell on the sea, and he contented himself with hugging the shore, protected in some measure by the cliffs that swept round to a promontory in the distance.