Here slink the Cat-People under a moon which is hidden forever by this matted forest roof. This is the Dark Empire, O Loskiel! Behold!”

A slight shudder chilled me, but I said calmly enough:

“Where lies Catharines-town, O Sagamore?”

“This thick, dark stream runs through it.”

“Through Catharines-town?”

“Aye.”

“And then?”

“Along the vast chain of inland seas — first into the Lake of the Senecas, then to that of the Cayugas, fed by Owasco, by Onondaga, by Oneida, until it is called Oswego, and flows north by the great fort into the sea Ontario.”