"Santa Maria!" he faltered, "what is yonder?
It is a spirit!" Freeman had his wits about him, and perhaps entertained a not too high opinion of Mexican fair play.

So, before turning round, he advanced till he was alongside his companion.

Then he looked, and saw something which was certainly enigmatic.
Among the wild-mustard plants there appeared a moving luminosity, having an irregular, dancing motion, as of a will-o'-the-wisp singularly agitated.

Sometimes it uplifted itself on high, then plunged downwards, and again jerked itself from side to side; occasionally it would quite vanish for an instant.

Accompanying this manifestation there was a clawing and reaching of shadowy arms: altogether, it was as if some titanic spectral grasshopper, with a heart of fire, were writhing and kicking in convulsions of phantom agony.