as if the spot had been wasted by fire.

A ray of dazzling light darted from the ashes at his feet. In some
surprise he stooped to ascertain the cause, and picked up a ring;
examined it curiously; found it to be set with a diamond of rare beauty
and great value. Then in sudden amazement he turned to the reverse side
of the golden cup that clasped the gem and saw a monogram.

"I thought so," he muttered to himself; "I thought that there was not
another such a peculiar setting to any gem in the world but that; and
now the monogram proves it beyond the shadow of a doubt to be the same.
But how in the name of wonder should the lost talisman be found here--in
the ashes of some charcoal burner's hut?"

With these words he took out and opened his pocket-book and carefully
placed the ring in its safest fold, closed and returned the book to his
pocket, and arose and left the spot. The duke turned to descend the
mountain.

At length, however, he reached the foot, and then, under the shadow of
the ridge that threw the whole narrow valley into premature twilight, he
hurried to the ferry.

The boat was not there. Indeed, he had not expected to find it after
what old Lebanon had told him. It was too obscure in the valley to
permit him to see across the river, so he shouted:

"Boat!"

"All wight, young marster, but needn't split your t'roat nor my brain
pan, nider! I can hear you! I's coming!" came the voice from mid-stream,
for the old ferryman was already half across the river with a chance
passenger.

In a few minutes more the boat grated upon the shore and the passenger
jumped out, tipped his hat to the duke, and hurried up the river road
toward North End.

"Dat pusson were Mr. Thomas Rylan', fust foreman ober all de founderies.
Dere's a many foremen, but he be de fust. Come down long ob de ole mars
dis arternoon arter some 'counts, I reckon, an' now gone back wid a big
bundle ob papers an' doc'ments. Yes, sah. Get in. I's ready to start,"
said the ferryman, as he cleared a seat in the stern of the boat for the
accommodation of the passenger.

"Who used to live in that hut on the mountain before it was burned
down?" inquired the duke as he took his seat.

"Ole Injun 'oman named Siffier."

"Where did she come from?"

"Dunno dat nudder. Nobody dunno."

"Can't you tell me something about such a strange person who lived right
here in your neighborhood?"

"Look yere, marster, leas' said soones' mended where she's '