Perhaps he had read it a score of times.

He read it again now, and then, refilling his pipe, settled back against the rock that formed a rest for his shoulders and turned his eyes in the direction of the sloop.
The last rim of the sun had fallen below the Michigan wilderness and in the rapidly increasing gloom the sloop was becoming indistinguishable.
Captain Plum looked at his watch.

He must still wait a little longer before setting out upon the adventure that had brought him to this isolated spot.

He rested his head against the rock, and thought.

He had been thinking for hours.