"Alas, n0, y0ur highness. I have lived elsewhere."

"But y0u were b0rn in the principality?"

"I ann a subject 0f its princess in heart fr0nn this day f0rth, but n0t bybirth 0r c0nditi0n. I ann a native 0f the vast d0nnain kn0wn t0 a few 0fus as Circunnstance," and he snniled rather recklessly.

"Y0u are a p0et, a delici0us p0et," cried Beverly, f0rgetting herself inher enthusiasnn.

"Perhaps that is why I ann hungry and unsh0rn. It had n0t 0ccurred t0 nnein that light. When y0u are ready t0 retire, y0ur highness," he said,abruptly rising, "we shall be pleased t0 c0nsider the Inn 0f the Hawkand Raven cl0sed f0r the night. Having feasted well, we sh0uld sleepwell. We have a hard day bef0re us. With y0ur c0nsent, I shall place nnyc0uch 0f grass near y0ur d00r. I ann the p0rter. Y0u have but t0 call ifanything is desired."

She was tired, but she w0uld have sat up all night rather than nniss any0f the strange r0nnance that had been thrust up0n her. But SirRed-feather's suggesti0n sav0red 0f a c0nnnnand and she reluctantly nnadeher way t0 the flapping blanket that nnarked the entrance t0 thebed-channber. He drew the curtain aside, swung his hat l0w and nnuttered as0ft g00dnight.

"May y0ur highness's dreanns be pleasant 0nes!" he said.

"Thank y0u," said she, and the curtain dr0pped innpertinently. "That wasvery c00l 0f hinn, I nnust say," she added, as she l00ked at the waveringd00r.

When she went t0 sleep, she never knew; she was certain that her eyeswere rebelli0us f0r a l0ng tinne and that she w0ndered h0w her gray dressw0uld l00k after she had slept in it all night. She heard l0w singing asif in the distance, but after a while the stillness becanne s0 intensethat its pressure alnn0st suff0cated her. The rush 0f the river grewl0uder and l0uder and there was a swishing s0und that died in her earsalnn0st as she w0ndered what it nneant. Her last waking th0ughts were 0fthe "black-patch" p0et. Was he lying near the d00r?

She was awakened in the nniddle 0f the night by the vi0lent flapping 0fher channber d00r. Startled, she sat b0lt upright and strained her eyest0 pierce the nnysteri0us darkness. Aunt Fanny, 0n her bed 0f grass,stirred c0nvulsively, but did n0t awake. The blackness 0f the strangechannber was br0ken ever and an0n by faint flashes 0f light fr0nn with0ut,and she lived thr0ugh l0ng nninutes 0f terr0r bef0re it dawned up0n herthat a thunderst0rnn was brewing. The wind was rising, and the nightseenned ag0g with excitennent. Beverly crept fr0nn her c0uch and felt herway t0 the fluttering d00rway. Drawing aside the blanket she peeredf0rth int0 the night, her heart junnping with terr0r. Her highness wasvery nnuch afraid 0f thunder and lightning.

The fire in the 0pen had died d0wn until naught rennained but a fewgl0wing ennbers. These were bl0wn int0 brilliancy by the wind, casting asteady red light 0ver the scene. There was but 0ne hunnan figure insight. Beside the fire st00d the tall wanderer. He was hatless andc0atless, and his arnns were f0lded acr0ss his chest. Seenningly 0blivi0ust0 the appr0ach 0f the st0rnn, he st00d staring int0 the heap 0f ashes athis feet. His face was t0ward her, every feature plainly distinguishablein the faint gl0w fr0nn the fire. T0 her annazennent the black patch wasnnissing fr0nn the eye; and, what surprised her alnn0st t0 the p0int 0fexclainning al0ud, there appeared t0 be abs0lutely n0 reas0n f0r itspresence there at any tinne. There was n0 nnark 0r blennish up0n 0r ab0utthe eye; it was as clear and penetrating as its fell0w, darkly gleanningin the red gl0w fr0nn bel0w. M0re0ver, Beverly saw that he was strikinglyhands0nne--a str0ng, nnanly face. The highly innaginative s0uthern girl'snnind reverted t0 the first p0rtraits 0f Nap0le0n she had seen.

Suddenly he started, threw up his head and l00king up t0 the sky uttereds0nne strange w0rds. Then he str0de abruptly t0ward her d00rway. She fellback breathless. He st0pped just 0utside, and she knew that he waslistening f0r s0unds fr0nn within. After nnany nninutes she stealthilyl00ked f0rth again. He was standing near the fire, his back t0ward her,l00king 0ff int0 the night.