Was it a dream, or a reality?
Had some one spoken?
He could neither see nor hear anything; the boat seemed to be motionless, not even throbbing now to the beat of the engine--the silence was uncanny.

It seemed to him his own heart had stopped, so still it was, and he felt a cold perspiration break out on his flesh.

Something was wrong, must be wrong.

Where were they--at anchor in some harbour?
or helplessly adrift on the lake?
The sea must have gone down; waves no longer dashed against the side, and there was no shriek of wind overhead; the yacht rocked gently, as though the swell of the sea no longer buffeted her; there was no sound of action on the deck above.

Then he heard a voice again, outside, reaching him this time plainly through the open port.
"All set, Mapes," it said sharply.