No doubt they had orders to be ready for instant departure the moment the approaching boat was sighted, and the lookout for it would be keen.

It was, as I stood there, revolving these matters in my mind, with eyes endeavoring to pierce the surrounding darkness, and ears strained to detect the slightest sound, that there came to me the first real consciousness of the reckless nature of this adventure upon which I had so lightly embarked.

Surely it was but the dream of a crazed man, foredoomed to failure.

As I faced then the probabilities, there scarcely seemed one chance in a hundred that any such scheme as I proposed would succeed.

And yet I must admit there was the one chance; and in no other action could I perceive even that much encouragement.