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.' 



