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"SHE'S GONE!" he yelled, in harsh, shaken accents

Than the torch burned out, leaving only a red glow He whirled it about, but the blaze did not rekindle His coht of his tall form and the end of the red-ended stick Darkness like pitch sed hiain thehollow roar, do, perhaps of air, like the soft swishing of spruce branches swinging aside Dull, thudding footsteps followed it Anson ca back to the fire His aspect ild, his face pale, his eyes were fierce and starting froun

"Did--ye--see er hear--anythin'?" he panted, peering back, then all around, and at last at his man

"No An' I shore was lookin' an' listenin'," replied Wilson

"Boss, there wasn't nothin'," declared Moze

"I ain't so sartin," said Shady Jones, with doubtful, staring eyes "I believe I heerd a rustlin'"

"She wasn't there!" ejaculated Anson, in wondering awe "She's gone! My torch went out I couldn't see An' jest then I felt somethin' was passin' Fast! I jerked 'round All was black, an' yet if I didn't see a big gray streak I'url But I couldn't swear to anythin' but a rushin' of wind I felt thet"

"Gone!" exclaireat alarm "Fellars, if thet's so, then mebbe she wasn't daid an' she wandered offBut she was daid! Her heart hed quit beatin' I'll swear to thet"

"I ruffly, and he stood up Moze seconded that e

"Jione--what 'n hell's come off?" huskily asked Anson "It, only seems thet way We're all worked up Let's talk sense"

"Anson, shore there's a heap you an' me don't know," replied Wilson "The world come to an end once Wal, it can come to another end I tell you I ain't surprised--"

"THAR!" cried Anson, whirling, with his gun leaping out

Soainst the black rushed behind theit came a perceptible acceleration of the air

"Shore, Snake, there wasn't nothin'," said Wilson, "presently"

"I heerd," whispered Shady Jones

"It was only a breeze blowin' thet smoke," rejoined Moze