“Ha!” cried Nan. “After being through what we have this afternoon, Bess, I shouldn’t think you’d be afraid of the dark.”
“It is dark,” murmured Bess, as they approached the boathouse.
“Bah!” repeated Nan, gently scornful.
“Maybe you won’t ‘bah’ so much before we get out,” whispered Bess, as they entered the open door and approached the girls’ dressing room and lockers.
They had to cross the big room where the boats were hauled up the sloping plank floor from the cove. It was dark and mysterious.
Suddenly Bess clutched her chum by the arm. “Oh-o-o!” she moaned faintly.
Her shaking hand indicated the direction of a window across the room. It was lighter outside the boathouse than it was within. Against the gray background of the window-pane moved a figure! A black figure! A human figure!
The two girls halted and clung together. Even Nan’s heart beat faster.
The figure moved slowly across the window opening. It made no sound. It disappeared for a moment and then reappeared before a second window. It was all in black and not very tall. It was soon gone entirely.
The girls heard no door open and close. It was just as though the black figure had evaporated—melted into the air!