"I ain't going!"
"Neither'm I!"
"Come on, boys!" cried the stentorian voice of Mr. Howard. "Come on! Let us be off to bed."
"John's afraid of ghosts!" said one of the boys.
"I am going to stay with you all night, boys, and leave the lantern burning," answered Mr. Howard.
This seemed to allay John's fears, for no ghosts, thought he, would ever venture where there was the least ray of light.
The barn was reached without accident, and the boys scrambled up the rickety ladder into their novel abode.
"Tom's in my bed."
"No, I ain't."
"I know you are. I know that's the bed I made!"