Doubled over until his chin rested almost upon the sharp points of his knees, he gazed steadily at the beacon, and as he looked it shuddered and grew dark, like a firefly that suddenly closes its wings.
With a quick spring the councilor straightened himself and turned to the master of the _Typhoon_.
"You have a good nose, Nat," he said, "but your ears are not so good.
Sh-h-h-h!" He lifted a hand warningly and nodded sidewise toward the path.

Captain Plum listened.

He heard low voices and then footsteps--voices that were approaching rapidly, and were those of women, and footsteps that were almost running.

The old man caught him by the arm and as the sounds came nearer his grip tightened.
"Don't frighten them, Nat.

Get down!" He crouched until he was only a part of the shadows of the ground and following his example Nathaniel slipped between two of the knolls.