footsteps was heard in the passage, with the clank of spurs and swords.

The terrible stranger cast down the nearly senseless body of the General with a crash to the ground, and stood up.

A moment later, several general officers came up the passage, and paused with horror at the sight which met them.

The murdered sentry lay across the threshold; Burgoyne,[Pg 44] apparently dead, lay on the floor by the table, while over him towered a gigantic figure, extending black, shadowy wings, his pale face and burning eyes glaring from between upright black horns, while fire and smoke came from his mouth!

[Pg 44]

A moment later there was an unearthly laugh. The demon flapped his wings over the table, and out went the lights in intense darkness! Through the gloom came the hoarse shout:

“Ha! ha! ha! ha!!! I gather them in! I gather them in!”

Ha! ha! ha! ha!!! I gather them in! I gather them in!

Then came a thundering report, as of the closing of a door and all was still. The apparition had vanished.

CHAPTER IX.

THE FIEND OF THE OUTPOSTS.

The scene of confusion in the room was, for some minutes, quite animated. Burgoyne’s subordinates rushed in, with drawn swords, calling for lights, and feeling around in the darkness with their weapons. Then came the tramp of feet and clash of arms in the passage, as a number of the headquarter dragoons came running in, some carrying torches, and all with drawn pistols.

The room was thoroughly explored, and the mystery deepened, for not a trace of the intruder was found. There lay the murdered soldier, and there was the commander, in the arms of Baron Reidesel, slowly recovering from the rough handling he had undergone, but nothing remained of the demoniac visitor, save the overturned candlesticks. General Fraser—the quartermaster-general—General Philips, Sir Francis Clark, and most of Burgoyne’s staff, searched the room, trying to discover some means of exit, but found none. Every panel was sounded, but none seemed hollow, and the General himself put an end to the search by saying:

“Let it pass, gentlemen. 

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