“Wh—what’s that?” he faltered.
For reply Pepper uttered another groan, and Andy followed with a sound like that of a dying calf.
“I say, what’s that?” repeated the sneak. All was so dark and strange around him that he felt anything but comfortable.
“Murdered!” moaned Pepper. “Murdered!”
“Murdered!” put in Andy, in a solemn tone. “Oh, to be avenged!”
Then when Mumps’ back was turned Pepper allowed the white figure to drop to within a foot of the ground. As it was light in weight, the breeze made it sway slowly from side to side.
“Ha! ha! ha!” came from Andy and Pepper together.
At this blood-curdling laugh the sneak of the school turned around once again. When he saw the swaying figure in white his teeth began to chatter.
“Oh! Ple—please go—go a—away!” he groaned. “G—go away!”
“Ha! ha! ha!” went on Pepper and Andy. “Down on thy knees, if thou wouldst live!”