1^8 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



growl from one of his canine companions caused him 

 to look around. Then he saw, creeping stealthily 

 through the low trees on his left, a figure which to 

 his excited imagination seemed clothed in shining 

 white. He was so terribly frightened, that, notwith- 

 standing his heavy load, he darted forward over the 

 rocks at a rapid pace. The rattling of the stones set 

 adrift by his feet, as they bounded down the steep 

 mountain-side, impressed him the more that the spirit 

 was pursuing him, and he ran with all his might. 

 The flambeau that Meyong had prepared to guide 

 him was now but a flickering brand, and he did not 

 see it until close upon it. By its presence, however, 

 he was enabled more easily to find the cave, in the 

 mouth of which he stood as before described. 



He had barely finished this recital when a loud ex- 

 clamation from Meyong caused me to look up, and I 

 saw in the place so lately occupied by Coryet another 

 apparition. This time it was surely the ghost. He 

 was not clad in white, however, but in tattered gar- 

 ments of skin, and his long hands grasped the top of 

 a staff such as no spirit could wield, assuredly. As 

 soon as we had recovered from our surprise I sprang 

 forward and aided this tottering figure to the fire. It 

 was an old man, a very old Indian, who, if he could 

 speak, I thought, might be able to tell us of the cap- 

 ture of that fair lady who was imprisoned here so 

 many years ago. He uttered no word, made no .sign ; 

 but we did not need either to inform us that he was 

 starving and perishing. Again the rum was brought 

 into requisition, again did my faithful Meyong bring 

 forth from the ashes the tender crabs for our unex- 

 pected guest. 



