Maguire.

"It's like the wail of a lost soul," whispered Alice.

"Sure, and it must be an Irish banshee!" murmured Mrs. Maguire. "I've
heard my mother tell of 'em!"

"It's a wild beast, that's all," said Paul, though his voice was not
steady as usual. For the cry, coming out of the darkness, perhaps from a
spot where some animal crouched, ready to spring down on them, was not
reassuring.

"That's it--some animal," added Russ. "Hand me that gun, Paul, I'll
try--"

"Oh, you're not going after it--in the dark, are you?" interrupted Ruth.

"Not much, little girl!" he exclaimed with a laugh, which showed that his
nerves were steadying. "I'm only going to try a shot to frighten it. I
don't want to be kept awake all night."

"As if one could close an eye with that horrid creature loose in the
woods," remarked Alice.

Again came the weird cry, seemingly nearer than before.

"We ought to have a fire," whispered Paul. "Wild animals are afraid of
fire."

"It's too damp to build one," remarked Russ. "The lantern will have to