se strange unearthly sunsets. Ann's mind was
made up. Inactivity she could endure no longer. There was one
explanation that appeared to her more reasonable than any other; that
was, that Bart had wavered in his resolution to relieve Markham, that
the latter had died upon the tree where he was hiding, and that Bart
would not show himself for the present where Ann could see him. Ann did
not believe in this explanation; but because of the apparition which she
thought she had seen, because of the horrible nature of the fear it
entailed, she determined that, come what would, she would go to that
secret place which she alone knew and find out if her father had been
taken from it or if any trace remained there to show what had really
happened. It was when the sisters were again alone for the night that
she first broke the silence of her fears.

"Christa, father came to the window last night, but went away again
before I could catch him."

"Sure he would never show his face in this place, Ann. You must have
been dreaming!"

"Well, I must try to find him. I tell you what I'm going to do. I've
been along all the boats, and there's not one of them I could take
without being heard except David Brown's canoe that is tied at the foot
of his father's field. I could get that, and I expect to be back here
long before it's light. If any one should come to the door asking for
me, you say, like the other night, that I'm ill and can't see them."

"Yes," said Christa, without exhibiting much interest. Ann had been the
_deus ex machina_ of the house since Christa's babyhood. It never
occurred to her that any power needed to interfere on behalf of Ann.

"But if I shouldn't get back by daylight, you'll have to manage to say a
word to David Brown. Tell him that I borrowed his canoe for a very
special purpose. If you just say that, he'll have sense not to make a
fuss."

"Yes," said Christa sleepily.

CHAPTER XIII.

The canoe did not answer to Ann's one slim Indian paddle so lightly as
the boat she had taken before had answered to the oars. Kneeling upright
in the stern, she was obliged to keep her body in perfect balance.

The moon did not rise now until late, but the smoke that had for two
days hung so still and dim had been lifted on a light breeze that came
with the darkness. The stars were clear above, and Ann's eyes were well
accustomed to the wood and stream.

Ah! how long it seemed before she came round the bend of the