“Well, they are, I’m not joking,” protested Jack.
“Oh, I used the word rats in its real meaning—not as slang,” explained Blake. “I meant that rats had carried off the sandwiches.”
“Well, they didn’t carry off a lantern,” declared Phil. “That’s sure. And my knife is gone. I left it on the checker-board.”
“And my match-box!” cried Blake. “The one——”
“Never mind her name—we know who gave it to you!” mocked Jack. “But, fellows, this is queer.”
The three chums looked at each other. Then Blake said:
“The ghost was here while we all slept last night. Fellows, as ghost-layers we’re miserable failures, but I know one thing.”
“What?” demanded Phil.
“That it’s a pretty healthy ghost who can eat sandwiches, and who wants a lantern, matches and a knife. Let’s have a look around.”