After this the two kept silence. The rest of the house had long
since gone to rest, and the sound of muffled snoring alone marked the
time as it passed, except when Captain Jemmy, catching up another oak
log, drove it into the fire with his heel; or out in the street the
watch went by, chanting the hour; or a tipsy shouting broke out in
some distant street, or the noise of dogs challenging each other from
their kennels across the sleeping town.
A shudder of light ran across the heavens, and over against the
window Captain Barker saw the east grow pale. For some while the
stars had been blotted out and light showers had fallen at intervals.
Heavy clouds were banked across the river, behind Shotley; and the
roofs began to glisten as they took the dawn.
Footsteps sounded on the roadway outside. He pushed open the window
and looked out. Doctor Beckerleg was coming up the street, his hat
pushed back and his neckcloth loosened as he respired the morning
air.
The footsteps paused underneath, by the inn door; but the little
Captain leant back in the window-seat without making a sign. He had
seen the Doctor's face. Before the fire Captain Jemmy brooded, with
chin on breast, hands grasping the chair-rail and long legs stretched
out, one on each side of the hearth.
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