supernatural phenomena, and any one, as I said before, crossing the place
near them at night disappears clean off the face of the earth. Then a
new flame appears, the soul of the johnny who has 'gone out'."

"Any proof?" inquired Doctor Bartholomew suddenly, stroking his beard,
and arching his bushy eyebrows, as if trying to sympathize with his
host's obvious half belief in the story.

Nigel wheeled and faced him in the dim light. The pupils of his eyes were
a trifle dilated.

"Yes, so I understand. Short time back a chap went out--fellow called
Myers--Will Myers. He was a bit drunk, I think, and thought he'd have
a shot at makin' the village busybodies sit up and give 'em something to
talk about. Anyhow, he went."

"And he came back?" Unconsciously a little note of anxiety had crept into
Tony West's voice.

"No, on the contrary, he did _not_ come back. They searched for his body
all over the marshes next day, but it had disappeared absolutely, and the
chap who told me said he saw another light come out the next night, and
join the rest of 'em.... There, there's your story, Lester, make what you
like of it. I've done my bit and told it anyway."

For a moment there was silence. Then Stark shook himself.

"Gad, what an uncanny story! Turn up the lights someone, and dispel this
gloom that seems to have settled on everyone! What do you make of it?"