“We’ve got to go up there,” said Natalie firmly, as they came to a pause at the foot of the second flight of stairs.
“Hark!” cautioned Marie.
As they listened they heard again the sound of the crying voice.
“Who is there?” called Mrs. Bonnell sharply.
There was no answer.
Natalie said afterward that she did not know how she got the courage to do it, but she started up the stairs, and the others, after a moment of hesitation, followed. Natalie hurried on. She saw a small window, through which the light streamed, filtering in between cracks in the ancient shutter.
With the stick she carried, she shoved this back, letting in a beam of sunlight. There was a flutter of wings, and something flew around the heads of the Camp Fire Girls.
“Oh!” screamed Mabel and Alice.
“They are only bats!” called Mrs. Bonnell.
“Oh, but if they get in our hair!” murmured Mabel, crouching down.