With a groan John slowly arose from the chair in which he was seated and followed Fred as he led the way around the corner of the house.
“What I want of you,” said Fred when he and his companion could not be seen by the other boys, “is to go with me over to the Meeker House. I think I have found something.”
“Is it the same thing you found last night?” inquired John.
“Not at all. I don’t mind telling you that I have fixed a trap over there.”
“What do you mean, a steel trap?”
“No, no,” said Fred. “I sprinkled some bran last night all around the floor. I filled my pockets with it before we started and while we were in the old house I scattered it on the floors. Now, I want to go over there to find out if—”
“If what?” interrupted John. “Are you trying to feed those spooks on bran?”
“As usual, my friend,” retorted Fred, “you begin at the wrong end. I am not trying to get an impression of their heads, but of their feet. Only, spooks don’t make a deep impression when they step on the floor, and I’m more than suspicious that I’ll find some tracks.”
“I’ll go with you,” said John eagerly. “Wait until I tell the other fellows that we are going away for a while. Are you going to walk, Fred?”
“Yes, I am. I have been riding all day and I want to stretch my muscles.”