Chapter 35

We dashed to the window and looked out--looked out into a thick mist that drifted slowly past, blotting out everything. No water could be seen, no star--just dense, clammy vapour. The fog had come down on Corn Reef, and the bell which had deafened us only that afternoon was silent. Once again the siren wailed mournfully, and then, as we listened, we heard a steady creaking such as the bell had made as it had gradually come to rest the day before. And every now and then a strange, dull thudding noise--creak, thud! c…