I shuddered as I glanced at the water that glided past like a dark reptile.

I looked back at the schooner, but her hull was just barely visible, while her tapering masts were lost among the trees which overshadowed her.

Her lower sails were set, but so thick was the gloom that they were quite invisible.
Suddenly I heard a shot.

In a moment a thousand voices raised a yell in the village; again the cry rose on the night air, and was followed by broken shouts as of scattered parties of men bounding into the woods.
Then I heard another shout loud and close at hand.

It was the voice of the captain cursing the man who had fired the premature shot.