you, man. Yet after
all it was very provoking to be made such a fool of before that insolent
fellow. Poor Teddy--I wish I hadn't hit you such a slap. But, after
all, you deserved it, you superstitious blockhead. Well, well, it's of
no use regretting. Glad I didn't hit Ladoc, though, it's too soon for
_that_. Humph! the time has come for action, however. Things are
drawing to a point. They shall culminate _to-morrow_. Let me see."

Here Jack's tones became inaudible, and he began to complete his
toilette. His thoughts were busy--to judge from his knitted brows and
compressed lips. The decision of his motions at last showed that he had
made up his mind to a course of action.

It was with a cleared brow and a self-possessed expression of
countenance that he descended, a few minutes later, to the hall, and
summoned O'Donel.

That worthy, on making his appearance, looked confused, and began to
stammer out--

"I beg parding, sur, but--but raally, you know--it, it was all owin' to
them abominable ghosts."

Jack smiled, or rather, tried to smile, but owing to conflicting
emotions the attempt resulted in a grin.

"Let bygones be bygones," he said, "and send Ladoc here."

Ladoc entered with a defiant expression, which was evidently somewhat
forced.

Jack was seated at a table, turning over some papers. Without raising
his head, he said--

"Be prepared to start for the fishery with me in half-an-hour, Ladoc."

"Monsieur?" exclaimed the man, with a look of surprise.

Jack raised his head and _looked_ at him. It was one of his peculiar
looks.

"Did you not understand me?" he said, jumping up suddenly.

Ladoc vanished with an abrupt, "Oui, monsieur," and Jack proceeded, with
a _real_ smile on his good-humoured face, to equip himself for the road.

In half an hour the two were walking silently side by side at a smart
pace towards the fishery, while poor Teddy O'Donel was left, as he
afterwards said, "all be his lone wid the ghost and the newly buried
ooman," in a state of mental agony, which may, perhaps, be conceived by
those who possess strong imaginations, but which cannot by any
possibility be adequately described.

CHAPTER TEN.

STRANGERS AND STRANGE EVENTS.

The monotony of the night march to the fishery was enlivened by the
unexpected apparition of a boat. There was just enough of moonlight to
render it dimly visible a few hundred yards from the shore.

"Indians!" exclaimed Ladoc, brea