"Oi dunno about thot, Frankie. Oi'm incloined to belave th' Ould B'y's around, so Oi am."
"Oh, this is tiresome! Go back to bed, and keep still."
"Nivver a bit will Oi troy to slape on thot couch again th' noight, me b'y. Oi'll shtay roight here on th' flure."
"Sleep where you like, but keep still. That's all."
Frank was somewhat nettled by these frequent interruptions of his rest, and he was more than tempted to give Barney cause to believe the hut was really haunted, for he was an expert ventriloquist, and he could have indulged in a great deal of sport with the Irish boy.
But other things were soon to take up their attention. While they were talking a strange humming arose on every side and seemed to fill the entire hut. At first, it was like a swarm of bees, but it grew louder and louder till it threatened to swell into a roar.
Professor Scotch was nearly frightened out of his wits.
"It is the end of everything!" he shrieked, making a wild dash for the door, which he flung wide open.
But the professor did not rush out of the cabin. Instead, he flung up his hands, staggered backward, and nearly fell to the floor.
"The white canoe!" he faintly gasped, clutching at empty air for support.