"All right, that's one on me," said Tom. "My move next," he added, but under his breath.
"There's a rattlesnake now!" yelled Fred a moment later, and all gave a jump, Hans as lively as the rest. But it was only a small reptile, and harmless, and quickly disappeared from view.
In a clearing, the boys built a fire, and sat around this, telling stories and talking over the events of the day.
From one thing and another the conversation gradually drifted around to ghosts, and Fred told a ghost story that was thrilling in the extreme.
"Don't you believe in ghosts, Hans?" questioned Sam.
"Not much, I ton't," answered the German youth. "Da vos all humbugs alretty."
"Then you wouldn't run if you saw a ghost?" queried Songbird.
"Not von sthep," said Hans positively.
This talk set Tom to thinking, and on the way back to the houseboat he called Sam to his side.
"I've got an idea."