Neil upon the scene. They were to bring the boat with them. The girls
were to wade through the surf to get into it, and Biddy was stooping
down to take off her shoes and stockings for the purpose.

"Dear, dear!" she cried. "Do you see that ugly bank of clouds just
behind the moon? I hope my lady moon is not going to hide herself;
we can do nothing in the cave if we have not light."

"But the cave is dark, surely?"

"Yes. But don't you know there is a break in the cliffs above, just
in the center? And it is down there the moon sends its shafts when
it is at the full; it is there the Banshee will meet us, if we are
to see her at all. The shafts from the moon will only enter the cave
at midnight. I have counted the times, and I know everything."

"I want to see the Banshee so badly," said Nora.

"You won't be frightened, then, Nora?"

"Frightened? No. Not of our own Banshee."

"They say," began Biddy, "that if you see a spirit, and come face to
face with it, you are good for--"

"What?" said Nora.

"If you hold out during the year you have seen the spirit, you are
good to live for another ten; but during that first year you are in
extreme danger of dying. If you escape that fate, however, and are