162 ADVENT UEES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



and spectre glided. At one moment entering into 

 the shadow of some dark pine or hemlock which 

 overhung the stream, her white form with the whiter 

 face looking back at ns would show an outline as 

 clearly marked as though of flesh and blood ; the 

 next, as it passed out of the gloom, it w^ould melt 

 away into the moonlight, until it seemed only as an 

 airy formation, making no obstruction to the eye, — 

 a thing of mist and air. Once, as we leaped a fall, I 

 thought our race was over ; for even as we hung in 

 air, I reached to seize the phantom. I closed my 

 hand, but grasped the atmosphere. I felt it was in 

 vain. No mortal hand might ever touch it, or if it 

 might, the human senses were too gross to feel the 

 contact. At that moment the white figure arose, 

 and, standing erect, pointed with one hand down- 

 ward, and with the open palm of the other waved 

 us as in warning back. The moon shone full upon 

 her face. The look was sad, almost plaintive. An 

 indescribable expression of patience possessed it. 

 "Living or dead, form or spirit, the years have 

 brought no hope to you, poor girl!" said I to 

 myseE In a moment her posture changed. Her 

 hands dropped to her side. Her head was bent, as 

 though in the attitude of listening, down the stream. 

 Then, suddenly starting, she stood erect, and, fling- 

 ing her arms over her head with a gesture which 

 had in it both warning and supplication, she waved 

 us back. That instant I heard the roar of Phantom 



