"Why," said I, "it is little more than three o'clock in the afternoon
yet, dark as it is; let us sally out, Mr Bang, for I verify believe that
the hollo we have heard is my Captain's voice, and, if I conjecture
rightly, he must have arrived at the other side of the river, probably
with the Doctor."
"Why, Tom," quoth Aaron, "it is only three in the afternoon, as you say,
although by the sky I could almost vouch for its being midnight,--but I
don't like that shouting--Did you ever read of a water--kelpie, Don
Richy?"
"Poo, poo, nonsense," said the Don; "Mr Cringle is, I fear, right
enough." At this moment the wind thundered at the door and window
shutters, and howled amongst the neighbouring trees and round the roof,
as if it would have blown the house down upon our devoted heads. The
cry was again heard, during a momentary pause.
"Zounds!" said Bang, "it is the skipper's voice, as sure as fate--he
must be in danger--let us go and see, Tom."
"Take me with you," said Campana,--the foremost always when any good
deed was to be done----and, in place of clapping on his great--coat to
meet the storm, to our unutterable surprise, he began to disrobe
himself, all to his trowsers and large straw hat. He then called one of
the servants, "Trae me un lasso." The lasso, a long thong of plaited
hide, was forthwith brought; he coiled it up in his left hand. "Now,
Pedro," said he to the negro servant who had fetched it, (a tall
strapping fellow,) "you and Caspar follow me.
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