I ventured an opinion: "While you are attempting to show that Susan is a werewolf, you are forgetting that something else was prowling around our fire, just out of sight."
"Ach, just out of sight!" echoed Zoberg. "That means you aren't sure what it was."
"Or even that there was anything," added Susan, so suddenly and strongly that I, at least, jumped.
"There was something, all right," I insisted. "I heard it."
"You thought you heard a sound behind the tree," Susan reminded me. "You looked, and there was nothing."
Everyone gazed at me, rather like staid adults at a naughty child. I said, ungraciously, that my imagination was no better than theirs, and that I was no easier to frighten. Judge Pursuivant suggested that we make a search of the surrounding woods, for possible clues.
"A good idea," approved Constable O'Bryant. "The ground's damp. We might find some sort of footprints."
"Then you stay here with Miss Susan," the judge said to him. "We others will circle around."
The gaunt constable shook his head. "Not much, mister. I'm in on whatever searching is done. I've got something to settle with whatever killed my kid brother."
"But there are only three lanterns," pointed out Judge Pursuivant. "We have to carry them—light's our best weapon."