"When?"
"Day before yesterday."
"Then they didn't remain at Lake Cameron!" cried Snap.
"They was a-going to, but they got into some sort o' a quarrel an' that broke the party up," explained the old hunter. "Ham an' Carl Dudder said the ghost came after 'em something terribul. Wall, I believe it—-after what I see myself," and jed shook his head slowly. "You ain't had no trouble?"
"We've heard strange voices, that's all," answered Whopper. "We haven't seen the ghost."
The old hunter soon told his story in detail. It seemed that Ham Spink and his cronies had told a terrible tale of being pursued by the ghost, and of hearing awful groans and cries, and this had alarmed Mrs. Caslette very much and also Mrs. Dodge, and both ladies had requested the old hunter to visit the lake and make sure the young hunters were in no trouble.
"This lake is gittin' an awful repertation," said Jed Sanborn.
"If it keeps on, afore long nobody will come here no more."
"We'd like to settle this ghost business," said Snap. "We feel sure it can be explained in some way or another."
"Well, maybe, but—-" Jed Sanborn drew a deep breath. "Don't you go for to run no unnecessary risks, that's all."
"Oh, we'll certainly try to keep out of danger," answered the doctor's son.