nd at noon, two miles from the plantation. Carl was awake now, but
weak and wandering. Deal lifted him on shore, built a fire, heated some
meat, toasted corn-bread, and made him eat. Then, leaning upon his
brother's arm, walking slowly, and often pausing to rest, the blue-eyed
ghost reached home at sunset--two miles in five hours.

Ten days now passed; the mind of the young violin player did not regain
its poise. He rose and dressed himself each morning, and slept in the
sunshine as before. He went to the place of tombs, carrying his violin,
but forgot to play. Instead, he sat looking dreamily at the swamp. He
said little, and that little was disconnected. The only sentence which
seemed to have meaning, and to be spoken earnestly, was, "It's all
right, old fellow. Just you wait fifteen days--fifteen days!" But, when
Mark questioned him, he could get no definite reply, only a repetition
of the exhortation to "wait fifteen days."

Deal went over to one of the mongrel's haunts, and, by good luck, found
him at home. The mongrel had a number of camps, which he occupied
according to convenience. The old man acknowledged that he had lent his
canoe, and that he had accompanied Carl and Scip part of the way through
South Devil. But only part of the way; then he left them, and struck
across to the west. Where were they going? Why, straight to San Miguel;
the Branch brought them to the King's Road crossing, and the rest of the
way they went on foot. What were they going to do in San Miguel? The
mongrel had no idea; he had not many ideas. Scip was to stay up there;
Brenner was to return alone in the canoe, they having made a trail all
the way.

Deal returned to the plantation. He still thought that Carl's idea had
been merely to explore the swamp.

Twelve days had passed, and had grown to fourteen; Carl was no stronger.
He was very gentle now, like a sick child. Deal was seized with a fear
that this soft quiet was the peace that often comes before the last to
the poor racked frame of the consumptive. He gave up all but the
necessary work, and stayed with Carl all day. The blue-eyed ghost
smiled, but said little; into its clouded mind penetrated but one
ray--"Wait fifteen days." Mark had decided that the sentence meant
nothing but some wandering fancy. Spring in all her superb luxuriance
was now wreathing Florida with flowers; the spring flowers met the old
flowers, the spring leaves met the old leaves. The yellow jessamine
clim