They could hear through the darkness the creaking of the sails being hoisted aboard of the pirate vessel; nor did Barnaby True ever set eyes upon it or the crew again, nor, so far as the writer is informed, did anybody else.

For now he caught a faint and regular creaking of the stairs.

But when the queer, mysterious night sounds began to comethose creakings of loose planks, strainings of unseen timbers and untraceable snappings in the walls, that are common in old houseshe frequently thought of the automatic revolver; and the chill of the polished metal always felt comforting enough.

Newbern, he kept thinking, would lie four miles beyond that longest ridge, and down that yellow road Sharon Whipple might soon be driving his creaking, weathered buggy and the gaunt roan.

The water slapped vigorously against its side, for the tide was running, and above, a wraith-like gull occasionally dropped one creaking, querulous cry.

The fir trees quivered; they gave out slight creaking, crackling noises as the rain came down.

For a time little was to be heard save the creaking of the babiche lacing of the snowshoes, for the dogs were running silently, and Miles, saving his breath for the work of getting along, was controlling them merely by dumb show, flourishing the whip to hold them back when they took on a spurt, or beckoning them along when they showed signs of lagging.

All the while the rushing of water accompanied the creaking of Thatcher's progress.

Crickets were taking up their minor creaking, and there was no other sound.