change in its surroundings. It
was still moored against the bank, so close that any one could step
aboard, but no sign of living person was visible on or about it. There
was something so uncanny in it all that but for their mutual knowledge
they would have doubted the evidence of their senses.

"I don't understand it," whispered Jack. "Suppose you stay here while
I steal nigh enough to learn something that will help clear up the
horrible mystery."

"You are running frightful risk," said the doctor; "I cannot advise you
to try it."

"All the same, I shall do it."

Thus, it will be observed that the three persons composing the little
party became separated from one another for greater or less distances.
The daughter was waiting, two or three hundred yards away, for the
return of her father and lover, while they had just parted company,
though they expected to remain in sight of each other.

Dr. Marlowe stood in the path, partly sheltering himself behind a
couple of tree trunks, but with his eyes fixed upon his young friend,
who walked cautiously but unhesitatingly forward. Jack held his rifle
in a trailing position at his side, his shoulders bent slightly
forward, while he stepped lightly, his senses alert, like those of a
scout entering the camp of an enemy. That he was running into great
danger was self-evident, but he was determined not to turn back until
he learned something of the strange occurrences.

Watching his young friend, the doctor saw him stop when at the side of
the motionless boat. His profile showed first on one side and then, on
the other, while he listened for the slightest sound that could give an
atom of knowledge. Apparently the effort was useless, for the next
moment he placed his left hand on the gunwale and vaulted lightly upon
deck. He stood a few moments as if transfixed, then turning abruptly
about leaped to the ground, and, breaking into a run, hurried back to
his friend, who noticed that his face was more ghastly than before,
while his eyes stared as if they still looked upon unutterable things.

"What is it?" asked the elder in a ghostly whisper.

"My God! don't ask me to tell!"

"You forget that we are both physicians."

"But not that we are human beings; thank Heaven forever that you did
not look upon the sight my eyes saw a moment ago. Let it suffice,
doctor, to say that of the three men and women to whom we bade good-bye
within the past twenty minutes not one is ali