burned all the wood which had been brought in.

"Go, Tristam, and bring more wood from the great pile in the
courtyard," said Hubert.

Tristam, a grizzled man-at-arms, went out.

All at once a cry of horror was heard. All started to their feet,
but before they could run to Tristam's aid the door was dashed
open, and he ran in, his hair erect with horror, and his eyes
starting from their sockets.

"It is after me!" he shrieked, as he slammed the door behind him.

"What was it?" said Hubert, while the sight of the man's infectious
terror sent a thrill through all of them.

But he couldn't tell; he only stood and gibbered and shuddered, as
if he had lost his senses, then crept to the innermost corner of
the large fireplace, where they made room for him, and moaned like
some wounded animal.

"The wood must be brought," said Hubert. "We are not going to let
the fire go out, nor to be frightened at shadows.

"Almeric, you will come with me and fetch it."

"Yes, master," said Almeric, not without a shudder, which did not
promise well.

"Say a Pater and an Ave, Almeric. Sign thyself with the Cross.
Now!"

And they went forth.

The night was, as we have said, intensely dark, and they each
carried a fat, resinous pine torch, which diffused a lurid light
around. The stones of the courtyard were slimy from long neglect;
and the light, drizzly rain which was falling churned the dust and
slime into thin mud. As they drew near the wood pile, Hubert going
boldly first, they both fancied a presence--a presence which caused
a sickening dread--between them and the pile.

"Look, master," said Almeric, in tones half choked with horror.

Hubert followed the direction of Almeric's glance, and saw that a
footmark impressed itself in the slime before their own advancing
tread, just as if some invisible being were walking before them. So
sickening a dread, yet quite an inexplicable one, a dread of the
vague unknown, came upon them that, brave men as they were, they
could not proceed to the wood pile, and, like Tristam, returned
empty handed.

"Where is the wood?" was the general cry.

"Let no one go out for wood tonight," said Hubert. "We must break
up the forms, the floors, nay, our dining board, to sustain the
fire--for fire we must have. Now, remember we are warriors of the
Cross, pledged to a holy cause, and that no demon can hurt us if we
are true to ourselves. Join me in the holy psalms of the night
watch, then sprea