Cautiously, the girls inched closer. Now they could see that the building really was a house. It had been built though, to resemble an old ship.
The windows were round like portholes. Just inside a picket fence stood a huge anchor, painted white. An old ship’s lantern dangled by the cottage door. Just above it was a battered sign.
Moving in close, the children were able to read the lettering on the carved piece of board. It said: “WELCOME.”
“Friendly people must live here,” declared Vevi, feeling less afraid.
Connie looked carefully about the yard. Weeds had grown very high and flower beds were untended.
“This old ship house looks deserted to me,” she said in awe. “Another thing—I’m sure we never came this way before, Vevi.”
“That’s so. We must have turned the wrong direction when we left the dirt road. What’ll we do?”
“Let’s knock,” Connie suggested. “Someone might live here, but I don’t think so.”
The front door was made of heavy wood and appeared to have been removed bodily from an old sea vessel. Door knob and hinges were of iron.
Raising her hand to knock, Connie made a startling discovery.