With a throbbing head I awaited the result of our plan.

I knew the exact locality where the musket was placed, for Bill had described it to me, and I kept my straining eyes fixed upon the spot.
But no sound came, and I began to fear that either they had gone in another direction or that Bill had not fixed the string properly.
Suddenly I heard a faint click, and observed one or two bright sparks among the bushes.

My heart immediately sank within me, for I knew at once that the trigger had indeed been pulled but that the priming had not caught.

The plan, therefore, had utterly failed.

A feeling of dread now began to creep over me as I stood in the boat, in that dark, silent spot, awaiting the issue of this murderous expedition.