Out of this darkness, rising like a deeper shadow, Alan could make out faintly the huge mass of Kupreanof Island.

And he wondered, knowing the perils of the Narrows in places scarcely wider than the length of the ship, why Captain Rifle had chosen this course instead of going around by Cape Decision.

He could feel that the land was more distant now, but the _Nome_ was still pushing ahead under slow bell, and he could smell the fresh odor of kelp, and breathe deeply of the scent of forests that came from both east and west.
Suddenly his ears became attentive to slowly approaching footsteps.
They seemed to hesitate and then advanced; he heard a subdued voice, a man's voice--and in answer to it a woman's.

Instinctively he drew a step back and stood unseen in the gloom.

There was no longer a sound of voices.