Hieyas waked a second time; and rising all breathless from the sudden start, drew aside the hangings which shut in the tent. A flash of lightning dazzled him; then he saw nothing but intense darkness. But soon, by the light of a fresh flash, longer and more brilliant than the first, he saw, with awful horror, the man whom he supposed dead, whose lifeless head he had held in his hands but a short time since, the Prince of Nagato, sword in hand, pass by on a horse which seemed to Hieyas to make no sound. His enfeebled nerves, his mind overwrought by fever, prevented him from reacting against this superstitious terror; his strength of mind forsook him; he uttered a frightful cry. "A ghost! a ghost!" he yelled, spreading fear throughout the entire camp. Then he fell heavily to the ground, unconscious. He was thought to be dead. Some of his officers also recognized the Prince of Nagato, and no less alarmed than Hieyas, put the climax to the confusion in the ranks. The cry, "A ghost!" ran from mouth to mouth. The soldiers, who had come out at the shout of alarm, fled precipitately back to their tents. Some one, of more heroic mould, proposed examining the bag, to see if the head was still there. When he found that it had vanished, this unbeliever set up a frightful howl. Confusion was at its height; all the men fell on their faces, loudly invoking the Kamis, or Buddha, according to their special form of faith. The Prince of Nagato and his men were much surprised at the greeting they received; but they took advantage of it, and traversed the wood undisturbed. When they were on the other side of the grove, they waited for one another; then counted their numbers. Not one was missing; all were on horseback. "Truly, the Kamis protect us," said the sailors; "who would have thought the expedition would turn out so well!" "And that we should be taken for ghosts!" They were about to resume their journey, when Raiden suddenly exclaimed: "But where is Loo?" "That's true," said the Prince; "he's the only one who has not returned." "And yet he started first," said Raiden. They waited a few moments. "Unfortunately," said the Prince, "the duty which calls me suffers no delay. We must go; but it is with pain that I abandon that faithful boy." Abandon Loo, the delight of all,--he who reminded the fathers of their children,--the scornful little hero, somewhat cruel, but fearless, and always gay! They set out with aching hearts; all sighed. "What can have happened to him? Perhaps he has lost his way in the darkness," said Raiden, looking constantly back. They had gone on for perhaps ten minutes, when those who were behind thought they heard a hurried gallop. They stopped and listened. A horse was indeed coming; shouts of laughter were soon mingled with the hoof-beats. It was Loo. "Raiden!" he shouted, "come and catch me; I shall fall. I can't stand it any longer; I've laughed too hard?" Raiden hastened back to meet the boy.