George, as usual, having recovered from his own fright wanted to make it appear that he considered any one foolish who would actually allow himself to be alarmed by such a silly thing as a white object.
"Anybody might have known it was only a white cur," he affirmed; "why, if you looked right sharp you could see the shine 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 passing in review instead.