Everything was in its accustomed place; nothing stirred.

But for all that McTeague got up and lit his miner's candlestick and went carefully about the room, throwing the light into the dark corners, peering under all the beds, including his own.

Then he went to the door and stepped outside.

The night was warm and still; the moon, very low, and canted on her side like a galleon foundering.

The camp was very quiet; nobody was in sight.