It was a long, weird wail, well calculated to freeze the marrow in one's bones.
"Come on, fellows!" cried George, with a fine showing of resolution. "We'll lay that ghost!"
George was the only one of the boys who thought to snatch up a club as he ran. But now the unearthly sounds came from the rear, instead of ahead of them. The boys wheeled abruptly, only to hear right in front of them a dismaying chorus of ghostly noises.
"Let's go!" urged Larry. "It's surely a lot of banshees!"
"Great Scott! Look!" quivered Sam, pointing with trembling finger.
In the faint light the boys made out a white figure that might have been anywhere from seven to ten feet in height. The boys were too scared to judge of length. The awful thing raised its draped arms, a frightful scream sounding on the air.
At that Billy lost his grip on Larry's arm. Goheen made no apologies, but made a straight, swift dash for camp.
The other boys hesitated for a few brief seconds; then they, too, headed for camp. They were not exactly running. They were leaping like as many frightened rabbits, fleeing from a rabbit hound. In their haste they lost their way and were proceeding directly toward the spot where Jane McCarthy was standing.
Jane finally heard them coming. She was filled with glee. She had feared that she was not to have an opportunity to play an important part in this ghost party. Making a noise like a ghost did not wholly satisfy Crazy Jane McCarthy. What she wanted was something more exciting. Her opportunity came very quickly. The boys were nearly up to her, ere she realized that they were so close.
A wild wail halted them.