Noon
Beatrice curled down in her tiger-skin at the stern , took one of the paddles , and made ready to steer . He settled himself beside her , the thongs of his sail in his hand . Thus happy in comradeship , they sailed away to southward , down the blue wonder of the river , flanked by headlands , wooded heights , crags , cliffs and Palisades , now all alike deserted . Noon found them opposite the fluted columns of gray granite that once had borne aloft the suburbs of Englewood . Stern recognized the conformation of the place ; but though he looked hard , could find no trace of the Interstate Park road that once had led from top to bottom of the Palisades , nor any remnant of the millionaires ' palaces along the heights there . `` Stone and brick have long since vanished as structures , '' he commented . `` Only steel and concrete have stood the gaff of uncounted years !