Everything was very still--very still indeed.

He wondered why he could not hear the others away there round the corner of the house.

The shadow in the cart-shed was now an abysmal black.
* * * * * _Bang ...

Bang ...

Bang_.
A sequence of echoes and a shout.
A long silence.
_Bang_ and a _diminuendo_ of echoes.
Stillness.
Then, thank goodness! Redwood and Cossar were coming out of the inaudible darknesses, and Redwood was calling "Bensington!" "Bensington! We've bagged another of the rats!" "Cossar's bagged another of the rats!" VI.
When the Expedition had finished refreshment, the night had fully come.
The stars were at their brightest, and a growing pallor towards Hankey heralded the moon.