THE WOLF OF MUSKOKA 167 



and I was about to draw it impulsively aside, 

 when a noise suddenly arrested the act. Why 

 was it I started and turned pale ? Is there a 

 power within that can speak ? I drew rapidly 

 from the hateful screen, and went to the door 

 for fresh air. A faintness and loathing made 

 me sick and giddy. While standing here a 

 few minutes I heard a sound, and, turning round, 

 perceived that Jack had his eyes wide open, and 

 was yawning vigorously. My nerves were at 

 such a tension that when he spoke I neither 

 heard him nor replied, and it was not until his 

 question had been several times repeated that 

 I became conscious he was talking to me. 



" Raising himself upon his elbows, and looking 

 at me searchingly, he said : c What is the matter 

 with that screen ? I have been looking at it 

 for the last five minutes. I can't make it out ; 

 it seemed to wake me up.' 



" Having now fairly recovered my self-pos- 

 session, I answered Jack's remarks with a laugh, 

 and told him it concealed a ghost. ' A ghost ! ' 

 said Jack, springing to his feet. ' I have heard 

 of ghost stories and bad smells, but this is so 

 thick I believe one could cut slices out of the 

 air with a knife/ 



