Part 24 (1/2)
”There's folks been put in that place never saw the light o' day again.
Do you believe it's haunted?”
Carl made no reply for a few moments, then said:
”It may be; I shouldn't be surprised. I'm more inclined to believe you since I've been inside.”
”I thought as how you would. Seeing's believing,” said Tom.
”But I tell you I did not see anything. I heard sounds.”
”Ah!” exclaimed Tom. ”What like were they?”
”Groans!”
”It's them ye heard, the spirits of the dead; the poor devils never rest in peace,” said Tom.
They were going across the moat. There was a splash and both started; Tom almost dropped the oar.
”What's that?” he said. ”Look!” and he pointed to the ripples in the dark water circling.
”A fish rising,” said Carl with a queer little laugh.
”There's no fish in here, don't believe there's even a carp in.”
”Why not?”
”What 'ud fish be doing in this beastly hole?”
”Feeding.”
”Nothing to feed on.”
”You don't know what's at the bottom of that,” said Carl, pointing downward.
”And I don't want to. If it's fish, I'd not eat them,” said Tom.
They walked back to the keeper's cottage. Jane met them at the door, surprised to see the state of Carl's clothes. She asked where he had been.
”Exploring the moat and the keep,” he replied, thinking her pretty face was a great help to banish phantoms.
Jane laughed as she said:
”You've had a fright. Keep away from the place, it's haunted; there's danger when you meddle with 'em.”
”I saw nothing in the keep. I told your father so.”
Jane shook her head as she replied:
”Best say nothing about it; keep those things to yourself.”