About ten o'clock
Stonor gathered from their talk that the river was new , too , to Imbrie and the woman , but that they had received information as to its course from Kakisa sources . For many miles after that the current ran smooth and slow , and they paddled the dug-out ; Stonor in the bow , Imbrie guarding him with the gun , Clare behind Imbrie , and the breed woman with the stern-paddle . All with their backs to each other and all silent . About ten o'clock they came to the mouth of a little creek coming in at the left , and here Imbrie indicated they would spell . `` So this is the spot designed for my murder , '' thought Stonor , looking over the ground with a natural interest . The little brook was deep and sluggish ; its surface was powdered with tiny lilies and , at its edges , long grass trailed in the water . A clean , grassy bank sloped up gradually .