Both of the officers of the expedition, in the uselessness of their eyes, made the best use they could of their ears.

Christy listened to ascertain if there was more than one steamer present.

In a whisper he asked Flint to consider this question.

There was no doubling of the sounds to indicate more than one steamer.
For ten minutes more Christy listened and was silent; but he was doing some very heavy thinking, for by this time the boat was very near the scene of operations, if it could be a scene in that dense darkness.
Every sound, even to the speech of the men, could be distinctly heard.
Still nothing could be seen, and Christy knew that there was a point of nearness where something could be discerned even in any gloom of night.
He permitted the boat to continue on its course, till he could very dimly make out an object ahead.
"Way enough," he whispered to Beeks.
The coxswain raised both hands, and made a gesture with them, which was the signal for the men to cease rowing.

The sounds were now more tangible.