Still, as far as happiness of mind was concerned, they would not have gained much had they been of our party. For we descended the staircase in rather depressed spirits, starting at every creak, and—some of us—wishing twenty times we were safe back in the dormitory. But there was no drawing back now.
What a noise the bars of the big door made as we unfastened them, and what an ominous shriek the lock gave as we turned the key! Our one hope was that the ghost would have taken fright and vanished before we reached the quadrangle. But no! As we stepped out into the damp breezy night the first thing that met our eyes was the distant, restless figure of Bubbles!
By one consent we halted, and as we did so a gust of wind extinguished our leader’s candle! What was to be done? I glanced up, and saw the lights twinkling at the far distant dormitory window. Oh, whatever possessed me to come on this wild errand!
“Now then, you fellows!” It was Fraser’s voice, and more like himself too. “Now then, stick all together and—”
“Better get a light first,” suggested some one. “Will you run back to the dormitory and get the matches?” asked our leader.
Nothing more was said about the light.
We advanced a few yards, and then halted again.
“Better speak to him, I think,” said Lamb.
“All right,” said Fraser. “Now then, who are you? What’s your name there?”
His voice sounded loud and startling in the night air; but it was wasted breath. Never a word spoke Bubbles, but moaned as he struggled restlessly on the ground where he lay.