nearly noon
The younger portion stood in hushed awe at the sight of grief in the older , and at the thought of what might the next hour befall . And the men , though visibly exercised by strong emotions , and occasionally revealing a trembling lip or starting tear , as they glanced at the face of the chief sufferer , yet offered scarce a remark to relieve the pervading gloom of the sad and anxious hour . The whole group , indeed , might have been taken for a funeral cortege , awaiting on the shore the expected remains of some deceased friend . After standing in this manner till nearly noon , the company caught sight of a scarcely-perceptible object on the water , in the direction of the great inlet . And , although for some time it appeared like a speck , as seen against the low , green fringe of the opposite and far-distant shore , yet it at length so enlarged on the vision that the form of a canoe and the gleam of flashing oars became distinctly discernible . Soon a little variation in the line of approach brought not only the canoe and the rowers , but another canoe in tow , plainly in view ; and then all knew that their painful suspense was about to be ended . Another half-hour had to be passed by the company , who still stood there in trembling expectation , awaiting the approach of the canoes ; when , as the latter now came within hailing distance , the impatient hunter stepped down to the water 's edge , and called out : `` What news do you bring ? ''