and she went to ride with Lieutenant Chickering,
possibly to learn if the information she had been favoured with the
night before had been correct.

Lieutenant Chickering cantered back from the sentry's post. Finding
his companion dismounted, he jumped down from his own pony and came
to join her. The native woman had gone her way toward the city before
he returned, smiling a good-bye to Miss Allenthorne when she found
that her words were not understood, and hiding the photograph in her
bosom as she turned to go.

"I've found out all about it, Miss Allenthorne," the Lieutenant
exclaimed.

"There is a story which it seems the natives believe, that years ago
there was once, where we now stand, a river which ran down past the
fort and emptied into the sea. To give access to this river there
was then a gate in the wall of the fort, directly opposite where we
are now. Over the gate was a marble statue of a saint, who was called
'Our Lady of Pilar.'

"One night a soldier who was on sentry duty at the gate saw a white
figure pass out before him. He challenged it, and when he got no answer
challenged again and again. When the third summons brought no response,
he aimed his gun at the figure and fired.

"In the morning this sentry was found at his post, stone dead, and the
statue of the saint was gone. What was still more strange, the river
which had always flowed past the gate had dried up in the night, and
has never been seen since. After a time they built up the gate into
a solid part of the wall, as you see it now; because as there was
then no river here, there was no need of the gate. This had hardly
been done when the tablet which we see there now made its appearance
miraculously. All these strange manifestations attracted so much
attention to the place that this shrine was set up here, and now for
years it has been a favourite place for devout worshippers--especially
women--to come to pray and to give thanks for blessings which they
have received.

"It's interesting, isn't it?"

"Very," assented Miss Allenthorne, when the officer had finished;
and then she added, almost immediately, "Don't you think it's getting
very warm? Wouldn't we better ride back now?"

"Just as you say," the officer answered. Then he helped her to mount,
mounted his own horse, and they rode home.

That evening Miss Allenthorne was invisible. When Lieutenant Day
called, her mother explained that the young woman had a headache,
possib