The Phantom Yacht

  CHAPTER XVI. OUT IN THE DARK

  All the next day the girls waited and watched, but Gibralter Straitappeared neither on land nor on sea to explain his queer actions. Theirhostess asked Dories to read to her and so the morning was passed in thatway. Nann, busy at a piece of fancy work she was making for a Christmaspresent, sat listening. In the afternoon the girls were told to amusethemselves. This they did by climbing to the "tip-top rock," sittingthere in the balmy sun and speculating about the old ruin; about thereason for Gib's sudden departure for his home the day before, and aboutthe boy and girl who had sailed away on the Phantom Yacht. It was notuntil a fog, filmy at first, but rapidly increasing in density, began tohide the sun that they thought of returning homewards. As they passed thecabin nearest the rocks, Dories said, "This is the Burton cottage, Isuppose. I wonder if Dick is our kind of boy?"

  "Meaning what?" Nann wondered.

  "O, you know as well as I do. I like Gib, of course. He's a splendid boy,but he hasn't had a chance. I merely meant a boy from families like ourown."

  "I rather think so," Nann replied, as she gazed at the boarded-up cabin.Then suddenly she stopped and stared at one of the upper windows. Theblind had opened ever so slightly and then had closed again, but of thisNann said nothing. She was afraid that she was becoming almost asimaginative as Dories. Then suddenly she recalled something. Gib had saidthat his father had seen a light in the old ruin the night before. Andwhat was more, she and Dories _knew_ there had been someone carrying alantern on the beach near the rocks at least twice since they had beenthere. What if the lantern-carrier hid in the Burton cottage during theday? He couldn't live in the old ruin, since it had only one wallstanding.

  Luckily, Dories had been interested in watching the waves breaking at herfeet. Turning, she called, "O, but it's getting cold and damp. Let's runthe rest of the way."

  When they reached their home cabin, Nann went at once to inquire if MissMoore wished her supper. The girl was sure that she heard a scurryingnoise in the old woman's room. The door was closed and there was silencefor a brief moment before she was told to enter. Puzzled, Nann glancedquickly at the bed and noted that the old woman's cap was awry. She alsosaw something else that puzzled her, but she merely said, "What would youlike tonight with your tea, Miss Moore?"

  "Nothing at all but toast, and tell Dories to be sure it doesn't burn. Idon't relish it when it has been scraped." The tone in which this wassaid was impatient and fretful. It was evident that the old woman was notin as pleasant a mood as she had seemed to be in the morning.

  Returning to the kitchen, where the kettle was already boiling, Nann madethe tea and toasted the bread as well as she could over the blaze; thenDories arranged her aunt's tray attractively and took it in to her. Whileshe was gone, Nann stood staring out of the window at the gathering dusk.She believed she had a clue to one of the mysteries surrounding them, butdecided not to tell her friend until she was a little more certain aboutit herself.

  When Dories returned to the kitchen she said, "Day-dreaming, Nann?"

  "No, dusk-dreaming," was the smiling reply; then, "Now let's get ourevening repast. What shall it be?"

  Together they looked in the closet, each selecting a canned vegetable andsomething for desert. "This is a lazy way to live," Nann began, whenDories exclaimed: "Do you realize that we haven't had one of those notestoday? I believe my bell scared away the ghost after all."

  Nann laughed merrily. "Nary a bit of it, my friend. Didn't his spookyhighness tie his last note to the bell clapper? I suppose that is why wedidn't hear it tinkle again."

  "But we haven't found a note today--O dear!" Dories broke off to exclaim:"The fire must be going out, Nann," she called; "you're the magician whenit comes to stirring up a blaze. What do you suppose is the matter?"

  A quick glance within brought the amused answer: "Wood needed, my dear,that's all! Which reminds me of Dad's wondering why the car won't go whenit's out of gas." As she spoke she turned toward the wood box and foundit empty. "Hmm!" she ejaculated, "that means one of us will have to hieout to the shed after more wood if we want a hot supper."

  Dories, after a swift glance at the black fog-hung window, suggested,"Let's change our menu and have a cold spread."

  "Nixy, my dear," Nann said brightly. "I'll be wood-carrier. I'll sallyforth with a lighted lantern, like that mysterious midnight prowler. Iwon't be able to bring in much wood, but I believe a piece or two willprovide all the heat we'll need to warm up canned things." She waslighting the lantern as she talked. The lamp was burning on the kitchentable, and, while her friend was gone, Dories laid out the dishes andsilver.

  Nann, having reached the shed, groped about for the leather thong. To hersurprise the door was not fastened, and, as she stood peering into thedense blackness, she was sure that she heard a scrambling noise inside.Then all was still. Nann scratched one of the matches that she hadbrought with her. In the far corner stood an empty barrel and in front ofit was piled the wood that she and Dories had gathered on the beach. Notanother thing was to be seen, and although she stood listening intentlyfor several seconds, not another sound was heard.

  "A rat probably," the girl thought as she placed her lantern on the floorand picked up several pieces of wood.

  Returning to the kitchen, Nann threw her armful of wood into the box nearthe stove, when Dories suddenly leaped forward, exclaiming excitedly,"There it is. There's the note we have been wondering about."

  "Why--why, so it is!" Nann stared as though she could hardly believe hereyes. Then, springing up, she cried joyfully: "Dories Moore, we've caughtthe ghost. He was leaving this paper when I went out. He must still be inthe woodshed somewhere, for I bolted the door on the outside. He musthave been hiding in that old empty barrel when I looked in. Light thelantern again and let's go out this minute and see who is there."

  Although Dories was not enthusiastic over the prospect of capturing aghost in a woodshed on so dark a fog-damp night, yet, since her companionwas ready to start, she couldn't refuse to accompany her, and so, afterclosing the kitchen door, they stole along the path leading from theporch to the shed that was nearer the swamp. Suddenly Dories clutched herfriend's arm, whispering, "Hark. What's that?"

  "It's the ghost. He's still in there." This triumphantly from Nann, thefearless. "That's the same scrambling noise that I heard before. Come on.Don't be afraid. I'll throw open the door and at least we'll see who itis."

  Leaping forward, Nann unbolted the door and held up the lantern. The shedwas as empty as it had been before, and there was nothing at all in thebarrel.

  Dories' sigh was one of relief, and she fairly darted back to the warmkitchen, nor did she breathe naturally until the outer door was bolted.Then Nann inquired, "What did the note say. We forgot to read it?"Stooping, she took it from under a splinter of wood and, opening it,read: "In ten days you will know all."