SOME QUEER TRACKS.
The hour, the surroundings, and the utter mystery of the whole affair combined to make the sudden appearance and vanishment of the great shadowy shapes the more inexplicable, not to say alarming. Small wonder was it that the inquiring faces that turned toward each other were a trifle whiter than usual.
"What do you make of it, Pete?" asked Jack.
"Stumped, by the big horn spoon!" was the expressive response.
"No doubt, some natural phenomena, with a simple explanation," came from the professor. It was noted, though, that his angular form seemed to be somewhat shivery as he spoke, and that his teeth chattered like dice rattling in a box.
"Natural phe-nothings!" burst out Pete. "The things, whatever they was, were as solid as you or me."
"How was it they didn't make any noise, then?" inquired Ralph, practically.
"Waal, son, you jes' take a run on the bunchgrass, and you'll see that you won't make no racket, nuther."
Ralph did as he was directed, and it was really wonderful how silently he sped over the springy vegetation.
"Maybe it was somebody putting up a scare on us," suggested Walt, rather lamely.