am, and once we were below the bluff the broad expanse of river
appeared at our left, a dim, flowing mystery, the opposite shore
invisible. To our strained eyes it seemed an endless flood of surging
water. Immediately about us, all remained dark and silent, the few
trees lining the summit of the overhanging bluff assuming grotesque
shapes, and occasionally startling us by their strange resemblance to
human beings. Not even the moaning of wind through the branches broke
the intense midnight stillness. I could feel her hand, grasping my
sleeve, tremble from nervous tension.

"Saunder's Creek is just beyond that ridge--see," she whispered,
causing me to pause. "I mean the darker line in front. This road we
are on goes straight ahead, but we must turn off here in order to reach
the mouth where the boat lies."

I stooped low, close to the earth, so as to better perceive any outline
against the sky, and, with one hand shadowing my eyes, stared earnestly
in the direction indicated.

"It will be over there, then. Kneel down here beside me a moment.
There is a whisp of smoke yonder, curling up over the bank. I suppose
it will be safe enough for us to venture that far?"

"Yes, unless the engineer has come ashore."

"Is there any path?"

"Not that I remember, but there are plenty of dead rushes along the
side of the bank. It will be safe enough to go where we can look over."

We moved forward slowly, but this time I took the lead myself, bending
low, and feeling carefully for footing in the wiry grass. The bank was
not high, and once safely at its edge, we could peer out through the
thick growth of rushes with little fear of being observed from below.
The darkness, however, so shrouded everything, blending objects into
shapeless shadows, that it required several moments before I could
clearly determine the exact details. The mouth of the creek, a
good-sized stream, was only a few yards away, and the boat, rather a
larger craft than I had anticipated seeing, lay just off shore, with
stern to the bank, as though prepared for instant departure. It was
securely held in position by a rope, probably looped about a convenient
stump, and my eyes were finally able to trace the outlines of the wheel
by which it was propelled. Except for straggling rushes extending to
the edge of the water, the space between was vacant, yet sufficiently
mantled in darkness to enable one to creep forward unseen.

At first glance I could