Part 15 (1/2)

”Anybody might have known it was only a white cur,” he affirmed; ”why, if you looked right sharp you could see the s.h.i.+ne of his eyes out there in the shadows.”

”Did you look sharp, George; and if so why didn't you put us wise?”

demanded Toby. ”But I bet you were just as badly rattled as the rest of us, only you won't own up to it.”

”What, me? Huh, guess again, Toby, and don't measure everybody by your own standard, please,” George told him; meanwhile congratulating himself over the fact that he had been standing in the shadow, so that none of his mates could possibly have seen how pale he must have been.

”That dog couldn't belong around here, Elmer!” suggested Chatz.

”No, it was most likely some farmer's dog that had been running rabbits through the forest, and chanced to wander over this way. But even he considered it a queer place, and was glad to shake the dust of it off his paws after he gave that one volley of barks. No danger of him coming back.”

”He scented us up here, don't you think?” continued Chatz.

”As like as not; but don't say anything more now, please. It must be close on twelve o'clock!”

They knew what Elmer meant when he said that. If the ghost walked at all it must be around the middle of the night. So they would have to take up their weary vigil again, and await developments. Even whispering must cease, and their attention be wholly given to watching, inside and out of the house.

The seconds crept into minutes, though to some of the scouts these latter had never moved with such leaden wings, and they could almost believe hours were pa.s.sing in review instead.

Had it been summer-time when they made this pilgrimage to the woods near the old Cartaret house they would have expected to hear the chirping of crickets in the lush gra.s.s; the shrill call of the katydid answering his mate, and prophesying an early frost; and perhaps other sounds as well--the croak of the bull-frog, the loud cry of the whippoorwill, or the hooting of owls perched on some dead tree.

At the tail end of November, with most of the dead leaves strewn on the ground, and the trees standing there bare of foliage, these familiar sounds were hushed; and only a somber silence lay upon the land, which was ten times more apt to produce nervousness on the part of the listening boys than any combination of well known night cries.

Now and then some one would sigh, or move slightly; but beyond that they maintained the utmost silence; which showed how well drilled they were as scouts, and obedient to orders.

Their senses were under such a tremendous strain that it actually seemed to Toby and perhaps Lil Artha, that they would have given a great deal for the privilege of shouting at the top of their voices a few times; but they did not attempt such a foolish remedy.

Lil Artha did make a slight movement after a long time, and as the others fastened their anxious eyes upon him they saw that he had gently taken out the little nickel dollar watch he carried. Bending forward so that a ray of moonlight might fall on the face of the time-piece, Lil Artha consulted it to learn if his suspicions were correct.

When he glanced around and saw that he was the center of observation, he just nodded his head up and down several times. In that fas.h.i.+on he informed the others that it was fully midnight; which was what they were so anxious to know.

So far there had been no sign of a walking specter. George was getting over his fears. He even commenced to shrug his shoulders every time he saw one of the others looking his way. That was George's mute protest against all this foolishness; of course he had known that it would end this way right from the start, and had only agreed to come along to please Elmer, as well as show them that ghosts had no terrors for any sensible scout.

”'s.h.!.+”

A thrill pa.s.sed over every fellow as Elmer gave vent to this warning hiss. They looked at him instinctively in order to learn the reason for it, and found that the scout master did not seem to be staring out of the open window as before. On the contrary he was intently focussing his gaze down the wide hall toward the group of shadows that cl.u.s.tered at the further end.

And as their eyes also roved in this direction once again did that cold hand seem to grip every heart. Something white was moving there, beyond the shadow of a doubt! They watched it advance, and then retreat methodically, systematically, as though it might be a part of a well-oiled machine.

Toby rubbed his eyes very hard, as though under the impression that they were playing him false; while George shoved up closer to the next in line, which happened to be Chatz, who bent over to stare into his face, as though eager to learn the condition of George's bold heart.

What could it be? Certainly no dog had anything to do with this new source of alarm, for it was tall, after the fas.h.i.+on of a man, and seemed to be dressed in white from head to foot.

Though they listened with all their might none of them could catch the sound of footfalls. If the mysterious object were a human being he must be barefooted to be able to move along without making a sound; while if it were a spirit, as doubtless most of them were ready to admit by now, of course there was not anything remarkable about the silent tread, because all spirits are able to project themselves through s.p.a.ce without even a s.h.i.+vering sound--so those who deem themselves competent to judge tell us.

Elmer was perhaps also mystified more or less. Though he might know more about the secrets of the old house than any of his companions, still this particular manifestation was something he would like to have explained.

There was no use asking any of the other boys, because they were naturally much more shaken up than he could be, and hardly able to give any information. The only way to do was to go to headquarters for his knowledge of facts; in other words creep along the hall, keeping in the shadows, until he found himself close enough to learn the true nature of the ”ghost.”