hardly be missed, and the Indians are
friendly. There were a number in town overnight, and they went with the
searchers, volunteering to act as their guides. We cannot but think that
of this load, our hearts will soon be eased."

"God grant it!" groaned Rolfe. "I will drink but a cup of wine, sir, and
then will be gone upon this new quest."

There was a movement in the room. "You are worn and spent with your
fruitless travel, sir," said the Governor kindly. "I give you my word
that all that can be done is doing. Wait at least for the morning, and
the good news it may bring."

The other shook his head. "I will go now. I could not look my friend in
the face else--God in heaven!"

The Governor sprang to his feet; through the Treasurer's lips came a
long, sighing breath; West's dark face was ashen. I came forward to the
table, and leaned my weight upon it; for all the waves of the sea were
roaring in my ears, and the lights were going up and down.

"Are you man or spirit?" cried Rolfe through white lips. "Are you Ralph
Percy?"

"Yes, I am Percy," I said. "I have not well understood what quest you
would go upon, Rolfe, but you cannot go to-night. And those parties that
your Honor talked of, that have gone with Indians to guide them to look
for some lost person,--I think that you will never see them again."

With an effort I drew myself erect, and standing so told my tidings,
quietly and with circumstance, so as to leave no room for doubt as
to their verity, or as to the sanity of him who brought them. They
listened, as the warder had listened, with shaking limbs and gasping
breath; for this was the fall and wiping out of a people of which I
brought warning.

When all was told, and they stood there before me, white and shaken,
seeking in their minds the thing to say or do first, I thought to ask a
question myself; but before my tongue could frame it, the roaring of the
sea became so loud that I could hear naught else, and the lights all ran
together into a wheel of fire. Then in a moment all sounds ceased, and
to the lights succeeded the blackness of outer darkness.

CHAPTER XXXVI IN WHICH I HEAR ILL NEWS

WHEN I awoke from the sleep or stupor into which I must have passed from
that swoon, it was to find myself lying upon a bed in a room flooded
with sunshine. I was alone. For a moment I lay still, staring at the
blue sky without the window, and wondering where I was and how I
came there. A drum beat, a dog