The sudden appearance of the cable cars that passed each other on the hill at twelve served as a signal for another outbreak of raillery on the part of Nelson, but Joyce, in no mood for further banter, kept his eyes upon the progress of the cars, searching the steep incline for the unearthly object which he hoped, yet dreaded, to behold. The downward car had not yet passed the cross-walk three blocks below, when, with a feeling of awe which he could not have described, mingled with a sort of lively satisfaction, he saw again the animated skeleton flash before his eyes. Emerging, apparently, from the very earth, in the rear and a little to the left of the departing car, it rose until its full length stood suspended in the air. Then, after a slight, wavering pause, it came gliding up the hill.
His experience of the previous night thus confirmed, he was able to control his voice and nerves as he said, coolly, to his companion, while dreading what the reply might be:
"Nelson, here's a friend of yours coming up street; better step out and speak to him."
To his immense relief, the trembling voice of his friend exclaimed at his ear:
"Great God! A ghost for sure!"
Nelson's horrified tone and perceptible shudder left no doubt of his state of mind, and it was with much satisfaction that Joyce seized the opportunity to turn several of the lawyer's gibes against him.
Ignoring these sarcasms, Nelson exclaimed again, emphatically:
"That was a ghost, as sure as I live—and I should like to see more of him."
"He'll very likely be back in ten or fifteen minutes, same as last night."
"Well, then, let's tackle him, on his way down."