'Who is that?' he cried, standing upright instantly; but only an
echo answered him. Then his eyes grew fascinated with the dark
waters of the pool close to his feet, and he looked at it as if
he could never look away.

He gazed steadily into the depths for some minutes, when he
became aware that down in the darkness was a bright spark, which
got rapidly bigger and brighter. Again that feeling of awful
fear took possession of him, and he tried to turn his eyes from
the pool. But it was no use; something stronger than himself
compelled him to keep them there.

At last the waters parted softly, and floating on the surface he
saw the beautiful woman whom he had fled from only a few nights
before. He turned to run, but his feet were glued to the spot.

She smiled at him and held out her arms, but as she did so there
came over him the remembrance of Julia, as he had seen her a few
hours earlier, and her warnings and fears for the very danger in
which he now found himself.

Meanwhile the figure was always drawing nearer, nearer; but, with
a violent effort, Alonzo shook off his stupor, and taking aim at
her shoulder he pulled the trigger. The report awoke the
sleeping echoes, and was repeated all through the forest, but the
figure smiled still, and went on advancing. Again Alonzo fired,
and a second time the bullet whistled through the air, and the
figure advanced nearer. A moment more, and she would be at his
side.