[25]

“No!” I cried, in a panic of fear, “No!” 

“What’s the matter, Jerry?” 

“It’s a ghost,” I cried, crazy. “I saw it in my dream. I heard it. It’s a whispering ghost. Don’t let it in.” 

“Ghost? You’re batty.” 

With these grunted words my companion lifted the hatch, which had been unlatched by the unseen whisperer. And unwilling to be left alone, I followed him through the hole. 

The moon was shining. We could see every part of the boat. A plank was laid from the dock to the scow. Here was the course that the invaders had taken in their tumbling, panicky flight. 

But the Strickers were nowhere in sight. No one was in sight. 

“Well, I’ll be jiggered!” gasped Peg, dumfounded. [26]

[26]

[Contents]

CHAPTER IV

THE MERRY-GO-ROUND ORGAN

Scoop was on hand the following morning at five o’clock. Peg and I were glad to see him. For our stomachs were empty and we wanted to go home to breakfast. 

But before we left for home we told the industrious early-riser about our weird experience. At first he refused to take our story seriously. It was a crazy dream, he ridiculed. 

Peg soberly shook his head. 

“No, it wasn’t a dream. For we both were wide awake. Jerry declares it was a whispering ghost that visited us. And maybe he’s right. I can’t say that it wasn’t a ghost. Certainly it acted queer enough to be one.” 

“I don’t believe in ghosts,” boasted Scoop. 

“Neither did I,” I shot back at him, looking him straight in the eye, “until last night.” 

“A ghost! You’re funny, Jerry.” 

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