ream of the dead."

"It is not so!" he protested, his voice faltering pitifully; "I saw
her, Monsieur,--nor was she once this day in my thought until that
moment."

"Well, I shall soon know if there is a ghost within," I answered
shortly, determined to make quick end of it. "Remain here, while I go
into the house and see what I can find."

For a moment he clung to me like a frightened child; but I shook off
his hands a bit roughly, and stepped boldly across the threshold. That
was an age when faith in ghostly visitations yet lingered to harass the
souls of men. I confess my heart beat more rapidly than usual, as I
paused an instant to peer through the shadowy gloom within. It was a
small, low room, with a litter of broken furniture strewing the earthen
floor; but the log walls were quite bare. The flicker of the still
blazing Fort illuminated the interior sufficiently to enable me to make
out these simple details, and to see that the place was without living
occupant.

There was only one other apartment in the building, and I walked back
until I came upon the door which separated the two, and flung it open.
As I did so I thought I saw a shadow, the dim flitting of a woman's
form between me and the farther wall; but as I sprang hastily forward,
grasping after the spectral vision, I touched nothing save the rough
logs. Twice I made the circuit of that restricted space, so confident
was I of my own eye-witness; but I found nothing, and could only pause
perplexed, staring about in wonder.

It occurred to me that my own overtaxed nerves were at fault, and that
if I was to accomplish anything before daylight I must say nothing
likely to alarm De Croix further.

"Come, Monsieur!" I said, as I came out and shook him into attention,
"there is naught within more dangerous than shadows, or perchance a
rat. Nor have I any time longer to dally over such boyishness. I had
supposed you a soldier and a brave man, not a nerveless girl to be
frightened in the dark. Come, there is ample hiding-space behind the
walls, and I purpose leaving you here to regain some measure of your
lost courage while I try a new venture of my own."

"Where go you?"

"To learn if I may gain entrance to the Indian camp unobserved. There
can be no better time than while they are occupied yonder."

He looked uneasily about him into the dark corners, shuddering.

"I would rather go with you," he protested, weakly. "I have not the
heart to r