“Hey, there!� he shouted, “don’t run! Stop!�
“Wow-ow!� yelled the fleeing man, and ran faster than ever.
“I want to speak to you!� bawled Raynor, beginning to lose his temper.
“He must be crazy,� he thought, “but I’ll catch him and find out what is the matter with him if I have to chase him all over this island.�
He picked up his bucket and set off after the man. It was hard work over the rocks and uneven ground. But Raynor, who had won several cups as a “miler� at school, soon saw that he was gaining on the other. At length only a few feet separated them.
Suddenly the man gave a yell of piercing quality and tripped over a stone. In a jiffy he was sprawling on the ground. Raynor grasped his club more tightly and rushed upon him.
“What do you mean by running away from me like this?� he demanded, “what’s the matter with you, anyhow.�
“Oh, oh, Mister Ghost, don’ hurt me. Ah didn’ mean no harm by coming on you-all’s island. No, indeed, sah, I didn’. Ah des——â€�
“Pompey, by all that’s wonderful!� cried Raynor with a glad laugh. “Get up, you idiot. I’m no ghost.�
Pompey, for it was the black cook of the Polly Ann, sat up with his eyes as big as saucers.