his flight from the house. 

 “That doesn’t make any difference,” he asserted strongly. “I’m still one of the Go Ahead boys and I haven’t given up the plan I spoke about.” 

 “What’s your plan, Freddie?” laughed John. 

 “I’m going to look into the old house by daylight.” 

 “I wouldn’t do that yet,” suggested George soberly. “It seems to me the best plan will be for us to go down there again to-night and find out whether or not there really is anything in what we thought we heard and saw last night.” 

 “We might take a gun,” suggested Grant. 

 “What would you shoot?” said Fred scornfully. “Suppose you did find a spook and shot it, what good would it do? I suppose they aren’t like other people.” 

 After a long consultation it finally was agreed that another visit to the mysterious house should be made that evening and then if anything strange occurred the boys would make further investigation the following day. 

[1] See “The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers’ Island.” 

[1]

    

CHAPTER V—A SURPRISE

  

 Meanwhile Fred had decided that he would make some investigations of his own. His apparent lack of courage had reacted now and he was determined to do something which would enable him to redeem himself in the eyes of his companions. 

 Accordingly when his friends decided early in the afternoon that they would take the automobile and go to the country club for a game of tennis he excused himself on the plea that there were some other and very important matters to which he must attend. 

 It was a matter of self-denial for Fred to decline to join his companions in a visit to the country club. This place throughout the summer afternoons was one that was marked in the region. Crowds of young people assembled there and the tennis courts and golf links were occupied by people who were finding their vacation days passing all too rapidly in the beautiful region. 

 To the protests of his friends Fred refused to listen. Even the fact that his absence might prevent a game of tennis from being played did not appeal to him. He quietly and steadfastly adhered to his purpose. 

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