sed,
even these disappeared. But, when evening was come, they saw, to their
great joy, that the sails were hoisted again; and presently, borne to
them over the brooding stillness, they heard the cries of the rowers
and the thud of the heavy oars in the wooden rowlocks. Those sounds
meant freedom to them; they trembled in their excitement.

Peering out from between the bushes, they watched the approach of the
two black galleys, each with its eight oarsmen and cargo of piled-up
bales, like pirate craft returning with their spoils. The flashing of
the gawdy scarves of the men, the motion of their bodies as they stood
up for the stroke, flung their weight upon the enormous oars, and sat
down at the finish, only to rise up again with monotonous shouts of
encouragement, the banging of the sail against the mast, the rippling
of the water as the prow pressed forward--all these spoke of life to
the watchers, of endeavour, and bravery, and travel, causing their
blood to redouble its pace and their hope to arise. There was still
one doubt which troubled them, lest, in spite of the need of his
presence at the fort, the enmity of Robert Pilgrim should have
persuaded him to stay. But that was soon laid to rest, when in the
bows of the leading York boat they saw his canoe, and later, as the
sail swung round, caught a glimpse of the red-bearded man himself,
seated in the stern. Antoine was by his side. As the boat passed by,
they strained their ears to catch any scrap of conversation which
might be of use to them in making their escape. But the noise of the
voyageurs and of the wind in the sail was deafening, moreover the boat
was making good headway, so that they only overheard one phrase:

"You've brought me on a fool's errand. You say the man is dead, and
you've shown me his grave, and yet. . . ." It was Pilgrim who was
speaking; but before he had finished his sentence, his voice was
drowned in the shouting of the men and the splashing of the blades.

Granger, having watched them out of sight, turned to Spurling with a
sigh of relief. "Thank God, they've gone," he said.

Then he noticed that his companion was deadly pale. "What's the matter
now," he asked; "are you so badly cut up at parting with such dear
friends?"

"Did you hear what he said?" gasped Spurling, pushing his face nearer,
and staring Granger squarely between the eyes. "Did you hear what he
said? 'You say the man is dead, and you've shown me his grave, and
yet. .