“That was a screech-owl,” Jack said. “Now, fellows, if you are worthy of the name of pirates, show your courage and let’s at the ghost before Rosie faints.”
“Yo-ho-ho!” the boys shouted as they ran toward the white apparition. Then such a merry laugh rang out!
“Oh, Rosie!” Jack called. “Come, quick, and see what your ghost is.”
No longer afraid, Rosamond went forward with the others. “What is it?” she asked.
“Why, it’s an old tree-trunk,” Bob explained, “and for some reason or other Mr. Wiggin had it whitewashed.”
“Well, it looked like a ghost, anyway,” Rosamond said faintly. How the boys laughed!
“Never mind our fun, Rosie,” Lawrence Collins called; “we’ve surely had an exciting adventure. Now, let’s hike back to the fudge, for I am convinced that it is cool.”
Then the seven boys locked arms and marched ahead of the girls, chanting in loud voices:
“Yo-ho-ho! Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest.”
“I do wish they wouldn’t sing that dreadful song,” Rosie said with a shudder.