m ridge to ridge became a sea of
ghostly light. It was a weird scene, almost supernatural in its
beauty.

Then from down at the spring a young girl's laugh rose clearly,
and the big mountaineer said in a low tone, "Mr. Howitt, you've
got education; it's easy to see that; I've always wanted to ask
somebody like you, do you believe in hants? Do you reckon folks
ever come back once they're dead and gone?"

The man from the city saw that his big host was terribly in
earnest, and answered quietly, "No, I do not believe in such
things, Mr. Matthews; but if it should be true, I do not see why
we should fear the dead."

The other shook his head; "I don't know--I don't know, sir; I
always said I didn't believe, but some things is mighty queer." He
seemed to be shaping his thought for further speech, when again
the girl's laugh rang clear along the mountain side. The young
people were returning from the spring.

The mountaineer relighted his pipe, while Young Matt and Sammy
seated themselves on the step, and Mrs. Matthews coming from the
house joined the group.

"We've just naturally got to find somebody to stay with them
sheep, Dad," said the son; "there ain't nobody there to-night, and
as near as I can make out there's three ewes and their lambs
missing. There ain't a bit of use in us trying to depend on Pete."

"I'll ride over on Bear Creek to-morrow, and see if I can get that
fellow Buck told us about," returned the father.

"You find it hard to get help on the ranch?" inquired the
stranger.

"Yes, sir, we do," answered Old Matt. "We had a good 'nough man
'till about a month ago; since then we've been gettin' along the
best we could. But with some a stayin' out on the range, an' not
comin' in, an' the wolves a gettin' into the corral at night,
we'll lose mighty nigh all the profits this year. The worst of it
is, there ain't much show to get a man; unless that one over on
Bear Creek will come. I reckon, though, he'll be like the rest."
He sat staring gloomily into the night.

"Is the work so difficult?" Mr. Howitt asked.

"Difficult, no; there ain't nothing to do but tendin' to the
sheep. The man has to stay at the ranch of nights, though."

Mr. Howitt was wondering what staying at the ranch nights could
have to do with the difficulty, when, up from the valley below,
from out the darkness and the mists, came a strange sound; a sound
as if someone were singing a song without words. So wild and weird
was the mel