“I don’t know. Until it holds up a bit, I suppose. Listen to it now, will you?”
The rain was pouring down on the roof like a hundred waterspouts.
“We could sleep here if we had to,” said Nelson.
“I suppose so,” Bob answered dubiously, “but I guess I’m a little bit like Tommy; I have a weakness for mattresses and bedding. If——”
He broke off suddenly and together they turned toward the door which was squeaking back on its rusty hinges. In the opening there appeared a dark form which, while they stared blankly upon it, shuffled into the shed and closed the door behind it.
CHAPTER XX—WHEREIN TOM APPEARS AND THE LAUNCH DISAPPEARS
It was a strange, uncanny form which stood for a moment in the heavy shadows beside the door ere, with slow and shuffling footsteps, it advanced toward them. Some dark covering fell straight from head to feet, and of the face nothing was visible save the eyes which seemed to gleam balefully from the depths of a hood. At the throat the dancing light fell upon the fingers of one hand which clasped the edges of the garment together.
Nelson and Bob found themselves on their feet behind the anvil, although they afterwards had no recollection of having risen. Nelson edged slowly toward the forge, one hand unconsciously reaching backward for a section of the soap box. Bob held his ground and tried to find his voice, but his mouth opened twice before any words issued. And all the while the mysterious, fearsome figure in the dark drapery moved slowly, inexorably toward them across the floor, its shadow gigantically grotesque and horrible, dancing behind it against the farther wall.
“Wh-wh-who—wh-wh-what—?” stammered Bob nervously.
The figure paused, the eyes glittering menacingly in the light from the leaping flames.