The die was cast, and whatever the result, I was going ahead to accomplish all that was humanly possible.

From now on there was to be no doubting, no turning back.

A voice, high-pitched, echoed to me across the water, reaching my ears a mere thread of sound, the words indistinguishable.

It must have been an order, for, a moment later, I distinguished the clank of capstan bars, as though men of the crew were engaged in warping the vessel off shore for greater safety.

The movement was too deliberate and noiseless to mean the lifting of the anchor, nor was it accompanied by any flapping of sail, or shifting of yards to denote departure.