ten o'clock
The shadowy figures ashore were more like a death-watch than a guard , and to dispel the gloom of it he lighted two of the lamps in the cabin , whistled , drummed a simple chord he knew on the piano , and finally settled down to smoking his pipe . He would have welcomed the company of Bateese , or Joe Clamart , or one of the guards , and as his loneliness grew upon him there was something of companionship even in the subdued voices he heard occasionally outside . He tried to read , but the printed words jumbled themselves and meant nothing . It was ten o'clock , and clouds had darkened the night , when through his open windows he heard a shout coming from the river . Twice it came before it was answered from the bateau , and the second time Carrigan recognized it as the voice of Roger Audemard . A brief interval passed between that and the scraping of a canoe alongside , and then there was a low conversation in which even Audemard 's great voice was subdued , and after that the grating of a key in the lock , and the opening of the door , and Black Roger came in , bearing an Indian reed basket under his arm . Carrigan did not rise to meet him .