"I don't like it so close, that's all. I bet you I dream of the thing tonight, and every time I look up it seems like my eyes always went straight there." He pointed up the bank. Maurice followed his extended forefinger to a point just a little further along, where some trees stood. He could see some object that seemed to move to and fro like the exhausted pendulum of a clock. Apparently it was suspended from a limb, and as Maurice caught the true significance of what his chum meant, he felt a cold chill pass through his frame. "Say, do you mean to tell me that is a man hanging there?" he asked; and if his voice took on a sudden hoarseness, it was not to be wondered at under the circumstances. "I just reckon it must be," returned Thad, pleased to note that his comrade seemed just as filled with horror as he himself had been. "But do you KNOW it is--did any of those coons tell you so?" persisted the other. "N-no, because, you see, Maurice, I never noticed it when they were around. The moon, managed to climb up while you were gone; and then I just happened to see it. Ugh! I've done mighty little else but stare at it ever since." "But perhaps you may be mistaken, Thad." "Sure; but don't forget that we're away down in Dixie, now; where they hang a darky without bothering trying him, if so be he's shot a white man. And don't it LOOK like it--tell me that, Maurice?" went on the late guardian of the shanty boat. "Oh! I admit that it does, all right. But if you think I'm going to let the whole night go by without investigating this thing, you're away off." Maurice turned resolutely around as he spoke. "Where are you going?" demanded his chum, nervously. "Ashore again to see. If that is a man, I rather think Mr. Stalling would have said something to me about it; though now that I think of it he did hint that it wasn't altogether safe for a stranger to go wandering off into the woods and swamps right now. Perhaps it's just as you say, and this is some black thief they caught. But I hope you're mistaken, Thad." "I do, too, because you see I want some sleep tonight. But hold on." "What's the matter now?" asked the other, as Thad caught his arm. "I'm going with you, that's all," and accordingly he stepped ashore, carrying the gun along with him. They approached the suspicious object with more or less display of valor; though doubtless the hearts of both lads beat like trip- hammers from the unwonted excitement. The moon, which had been partly hidden by some fleecy, low-lying clouds, now took a sudden notion to sail into a clear patch of blue sky; and in consequence objects could be much more readily seen. Both lads strained their eyes to discover how much truth there might be in the grim suspicions of Thad. Not until they were close up to the strangely swaying object could they fully decide as to its character. Then Thad gave a grunt, while Maurice laughed.