Beyond the circle all was black
darkness, except at the bows, where the water breaking on board flung a
white sheet of spray. It could be seen like a sprinkle of snow driven by
the wind, it could be heard striking the deck like the lash of a whip.
"He has been moved," said the German. "No doubt he has been moved. There
is no one in the bows."
Calder bent his head downwards and stared into the darkness for a little
while without speaking.
"I believe the angareb is there," he said at length. "I believe it is."
Followed by the German, he hurried down the stairway to the lower deck
of the steamer and went to the side. He could make certain now. The
angareb stood in a wash of water on the very spot to which at Calder's
order it had been moved that morning. And on the angareb the figure
beneath the black covering lay as motionless as ever, as inexpressive of
life and feeling, though the cold spray broke continually upon its face.
"I thought it would be so," said Calder. He got a lantern and with the
German student climbed across the bulwarks on to the barge. He summoned
the two Arabs.
"Move the angareb from the bows," he said; and when they had obeyed,
"Now take that covering off.
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