“Wa-al, I’d like to look at it,” drawled Joe. “I never seen a ghost. Want to take a squint at it, Sam?”
“Naw,” replied Sam. “I wouldn’t climb them bluffs for ten thousand ghosts!”
Joe, lantern in hand, strode to the foot of the bluff.
“If it’s the genu-ine article, throw it down, an’ I’ll pass jedgment on it,” called Sam, after him. “A hundred foot drop won’t hurt a real ghost any, I reckon.”
With Hal and Ned close at his heels Joe ascended the steep slope, and at the top, warned by the two boys, paused to listen.
“There,” whispered his companions, breathlessly, as upon the thick air floated the mysterious sounds.
“By gorry, the noises are genu-ine, all right,” muttered Joe, astonished, and making in the direction whence they seemed to come.
“Perhaps the lantern will put it out, so he won’t see it,” whispered Hal to Ned, vaguely suspicious that ghosts cannot stand the light.
“Sh!” bade Ned.
However, the white thing was in the same position as when they last had seen it. Joe never paused, but walked right ahead, and boldly swung his lantern forward, reckless of consequences.