In a short time another drink was brought. It was strange to note the effect of the stuff on those youths. Ditson and Lynch became flushed and excited, talking with a sort of reckless and fictitious hilarity. Du Boise, calm, placid, smiling, lay back in his chair and watched them as if studying them sympathetically, graciously, almost pityingly.
“Now, here,” said Duncan, shaking an uplifted finger, “we’ve got to stick together on this business. Of course it was an accident, for we didn’t think either of those fellows would be drowned when we ran them down. There’s only one way to protect ourselves, and that is to swear that neither one of us saw the boat until there was no chance to avoid hitting it. I feel like the devil about this business. To tell you the truth, I feel like what Buckhart called me—a murderer.”
“Don’t talk that way!” growled Lynch, shrugging his thick shoulders. “I don’t like it. Even if I didn’t have any love for Merriwell, I wouldn’t want to kill him, would I? We’re going to have lots of trouble over this.”
Again Du Boise smiled.
“Don’t worry, my friends,” he said. “Nothing really matters, anyhow. This life is of no consequence. Perhaps Merriwell is better off this minute than he would be if he were living. Perhaps he’s thankful for what happened. I’m sure the dead are better off than the living. Why should he haunt us? We were foolish to fancy we could feel him following us through the streets to-night. And even if he were following us, he could do us no harm. The spirits of the departed cannot harm the living. Why, I wouldn’t be afraid this minute to stand face to face with Merriwell’s ghost. If such a thing happened, I would greet the spirit pleasantly and without the least emotion of terror or dread.”
“The blazes you would!” growled Lynch.
“You’d be scared to death,” asserted Ditson.
“I wish I had power to summon the spirit of Merriwell,” said Du Boise. “I would show you how mistaken you are. If by a mere incantation I could bring his wraith before us, I’d joyfully do so.”
Barely were these words spoken when suddenly the electric lights in the room went out, plunging the place into deep darkness. This was rather startling and caused the trio to utter exclamations of surprise. Apparently the electric current had been suddenly turned off.
Lynch made a move to rise from the table. Ere he could do this the lights began to glow dimly, illuminating the room with a faint radiance that gradually grew stronger.