Max Pemberton

“ Yet no man showed himself upon the beach, and the men lived in a wild and unspeakable solitude, which almost magnified their fears.
Upon the fourth evening, and again upon the fifth, after Kenner's going, the wind blew savagely from the north-west, sending long white-topped breakers into the bay; and, the air being deliciously fresh at the window of watching, Messenger and the lad sat there long, not a little surprised at the sights they saw upon the shore when dark had come—and the gale rose with a thunder of noise and a dismal riot of wind at the flow of the tide. ”

“ Seven days after the departure of Kenner from the haven the camp of the four who remained behind him with the treasure presented a sorry spectacle. Much of the food had already been consumed, and there remained little but biscuit and potatoes, and the spirit taken from the yacht and the locker of the life-boat; but the more part of the men's suffering was the result of the ceaseless watching and the nervous unrest which were the outcome of the situation. From the beginning Messenger had forbidden all prospecting; and had even sunk the boat in the pool for their greater security. ”

“ It's true we should look for Kenner now, but who can say whether he's afloat or ashore, alive or dead? and, as there may be days to wait, I want to know where the path which runs through the cliff here leads to. Did you notice that all the boats shot out from the shore not a mile below us? Well, if there's a camp there, the road, which we know nothing about, may lead to it; and in that case we might have a visit before morning. I dare not even think what they would do if they learned about the wreck."
"Is there time to get away with the gold now?" said Fisher. ”