rocky roads.

Of course, we were intensely eager to approach the Creek and see if
the "Terror" was still there. But prudence restrained us. A little
patience, and the night-would enable us to reach a commanding
position unsuspected. Wells urged this strongly; and despite my
eagerness, I felt that he was right.

The horses were unharnessed, and left to browse under the care of the
coachman who had driven us. The provisions were unpacked, and John
Hart and Nab Walker spread out a meal on the grass at the foot of a
superb cypress which recalled to me the forest odors of Morganton and
Pleasant Garden. We were hungry and thirsty; and food and drink were
not lacking. Then our pipes were lighted to calm the anxious moments
of waiting that remained.

Silence reigned within the wood. The last song of the birds had
ceased. With the coming of night the breeze fell little by little,
and the leaves scarcely quivered even at the tops of the highest
branches. The sky darkened rapidly after sundown and twilight
deepened into obscurity.

I looked at my watch, it was half-past eight. "It is time, Wells."

"When you will, Mr. Strock."

"Then let us start."

We cautioned the coachman not to let the horses stray beyond the
clearing. Then we started. Wells went in advance, I followed him, and
John Hart and Nab Walker came behind. In the darkness, we three would
have been helpless without the guidance of Wells. Soon we reached the
farther border of the woods; and before us stretched the banks of
Black Rock Creek.

All was silent; all seemed deserted. We could advance without risk.
If the "Terror" was there, she had cast anchor behind the rocks. But
was she there? That was the momentous question! As we approached the
denouement of this exciting affair, my heart was in my throat.

Wells motioned to us to advance. The sand of the shore crunched
beneath our steps. The two hundred feet between us and the mouth of
the Creek were crossed softly, and a few minutes sufficed to bring us
to the rocks at the edge of the lake.

There was nothing! Nothing!

The spot where Wells had left the "Terror" twenty-four hours before
was empty. The "Master of the World" was no longer at Black Rock
Creek.

Chapter 12

BLACK ROCK CREEK

Human nature is prone to illusions. Of course, there had been all
along a probability that the "Terror" had deserted the locality, even
admitting that it was she Wells had seen the previous day. If some
da