ound again. With the
two boys close at his heels, he scrambled about, here and there,
pushing through the cedars, clambering over rotten tree-trunks, and
leaping pools of black water. They were soon deeper in the yielding
swamp than was quite safe, and the leader was forced to suggest
returning without their prize. He climbed upon a mossy stump, and
swung his lantern in a circle for a last survey. The light flashed far
into the wild, tangled wilderness, and revealed a white object hanging
over a low cedar. Tim gave a whoop of joy and pounced upon it.

"It's him! It's Mr. Ghost!" he shouted jubilantly. The rustle of silk
proclaimed that the specter still contained the wedding gown. The
doctor glanced over it in the light of the lantern; it was apparently
undamaged, except for a few spots of mud. To the boys' surprise, he
rolled it up with great care and bundled it under his arm.

"Come, now, let's get back," he said, with a look of pleased relief.
"And look out where you jump. If either of you young Turks tumbles in,
I'll leave you for the banshee, and serve you right!"

They were standing for a moment, looking for the best way to retrace
their steps, when out of the black silence behind them there came a
faint, far-off cry.

Tim clutched the doctor's coat. Davy turned white.

"Wha'--what's that?" they whispered together.

The three stood motionless, listening, and again the sound arose. It
came from the far-off edge of the Drowned Lands, faint, and full of
agony, like a human voice calling for help.

"The _banshee_!" whispered Tim in terror.

"Oh, Lord save us!" groaned Davy.

In spite of his concern, Gilbert laughed. "It's somebody caught in the
mud, you young idiots!" he cried. "Listen!"

Once more the cry came floating out, terrible in its appeal. "Help,
h-e-l-p!" it called faintly.

Davy gave a leap. "That's her! That's the banshee!" he gasped. "Come
on! _Run_! It always calls folks like that--into the Drowned
Lands--an' they never come back! _Run_!"

"Shut up, you fool!" cried Gilbert sharply. "Listen to me. You two
get back to the road as quickly as you can. Come! I'll show you out
with the light."

"Are--are you goin' after her?" whispered Davy, horror-stricken.

"Of course! Look here! I thought you two fellows had a little more
snap in you than to get scared at a man calling for help."

"I'll go with you an' pull him out," cried Tim, stung into valor by
this crushing