That evening our two little Finns strapped on their skates, and set out for an hour's exercise and recreation on the lake. It was a glorious night; there was no wind, the moon rode high and clear in a cloudless sky, and the stars, like ten thousand luminous eyes, peered down upon the little skaters, as with long, easy sweeps they glided, hand in hand, across the beautiful sheet of ice that reflected the moonlight like a mirror.
As the children neared the island they slackened their pace.
"I wonder," said Tonie, "if there is any truth in the old tradition about this place! Think, Blonda, what it would be if thou and I could but light upon the treasure hidden so long! How rich we should be, and how happy! And—"
"Hush, hush, Tonie; speak not so," cried Blonda. "If gold lies buried in that island, there let it lie for me! After all, it was all ill-gotten booty, if the story of the robber band be true, and such treasure will bring a curse, and not a blessing. No, Tonie, father is right when he tells us not to suffer our minds to dwell on such matters, lest the longing after filthy lucre come between us and God. For thou knowest what our Lord saith in His word:
"'For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'"
Tonie did not reply, but suddenly digging the heel of his skate into the ice, he stopped short, and his sister, rather startled, did the same. Then he whispered eagerly, as he pointed towards the island, which was now close to them, "Hush, Blonda; didst thou see that?"
Blonda followed the direction in which her brother's finger was pointing.
"I see nothing," she said softly. "What should I see?"
"Didst thou not see that light? It flashed an instant and was gone. Up there it was, just between those two peaks. There, there it is again! Oh, Blonda, can it be the ghost after all?"
"Nonsense, Tonie!" replied the little girl stoutly. "Thou knowest that there are no ghosts; has not our father told us so again and again?"