“I can’t stand this,� gasped Raynor, “light the lantern.�
“I-I-fergit where I put de matches,� chattered Noddy.
Luckily, Raynor had some in his pockets. In a moment he had the lantern lighted, and the place flooded with radiance. Then it was that both boys looked rather shamefaced. What had alarmed them so was nothing more than a big white arctic owl that had blundered into the hut through the unglazed window. As the light flared up, it uttered another wild shriek, and dashed out the same way it had entered.
“Well, what d’ye know about that?� exclaimed Noddy. “I thought sure that fer once we had a real sure-enuff ghost on our hands. Get up there, Pompey, your ghost was only an owl.�
Pompey, his black face still twitching with alarm, drew his head out of the blankets.
“It weren’t no hant?� he asked tremulously.
“No, only an old owl. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?� said Raynor.
“Well, sir, it peared, to me from what I could obfustacate dat I wasn’ de onlyest one in dis hut dat was scared inter an ager chill, no, sir.�
“I guess he’s got it on us dere,� laughed Noddy. “You looked as white as a sheet of paper when you lighted that lamp, Raynor.�
“I’ll admit I couldn’t account for those fiery eyes or that terrible scream,� rejoined Raynor with a grin.