ng carefully
noted down by Colonel Demarion, who, by degrees, recovered his
self-possession, and pledged himself to use every endeavor to bring the
murderer to justice.

Then, with a portentous wave of the hand, "It is well," said the
apparition. "Not until the spirit of my murderer shall be separated from
the mortal clay can _my_ spirit rest in peace." And vanished.

Half-past six in the morning was the appointed time for the steamer to
leave Charleston; and the Colonel lost not a moment in preparing to
depart. As he hurried down the stairs he encountered the landlord,
who--his eyes rolling in terror--made an attempt to speak. Unheeding,
except to demand his carriage, the Colonel pushed past him, and effected
a quick escape toward the back premises, shouting lustily for "Jo" and
"Plato," and for his carriage to be got ready immediately. A few minutes
more, and the bewildered host was recalled to the terrible truth by the
noise of the carriage dashing through the yard and away down the road;
and it was some miles nearer Charleston before the unfortunate man
ceased to peer after it in the darkness--as if by so doing he could
recover damages--and bemoan to Jo the utter ruin of his house and
hopes.

Thirty miles of hard driving had to be accomplished in little more than
five hours. No great achievement under favorable circumstances; but the
horses were only half refreshed from their yesterday's journey, and
though the storm was over, the roads were in a worse condition than
ever.

Colonel Demarion resolved to be true to his promise; and fired by a
curiosity to investigate the extraordinary communication which had been
revealed to him, urged on his horses, and reached the wharf at
Charleston just as the steamer was being loosed from her moorings.

He hailed her. "Stop her! Business with the captain! STOP HER!"

Her machinery was already in motion; her iron lungs were puffing forth
dense clouds of smoke and steam; and as the Colonel shouted--the crowd
around, from sheer delight in shouting, echoing his "Stop her! stop
her!"--the voices on land were confounded with the voices of the
sailors, the rattling of chains, and the haulings of ropes.

Among the passengers standing to wave farewells to their friends on the
wharf were some who recognised Colonel Demarion, and drew the captain's
attention toward him; and as he continued vehemently to gesticulate,
that officer, from his post of observation, demanded the nature of