LOCH AWE 51 



Shamus knew him for it was him they had seen 

 by the fire on the march, as I told you at the 

 beginning. The Black Officer got down from his 

 carriage and joined the man, and they walked a 

 bit apart ; but Shamus he was so curious what- 

 ever happened he must see them. And he came 

 within hearing just as they were parting, and he 

 heard the stranger say, " This is the night." 



' " No," said the Black Officer, " this night next 

 year." 



' So he came back, and they drove home. A 

 year went by, and the Black Officer was seeking 

 through the country for the twelve best men he 

 could find to accompany him to some deer-hunt or 

 the like. And he asked Shamus, but he pretended 

 he was ill Oh, he was very unwell! and he could 

 not go, but stayed in bed at home. So the Black 

 Officer chose another man, and he and the twelve 

 set out the thirteen of them. But they were 

 never seen again.' 



' Never seen again ? Were they lost in the 

 snow ? ' 



' It did come on a heavy fall, sir.' 



K 2 



