m beneath the robes. However, they
were soon glad to pull their heads in again, for it was very cold.

The drive, too, was longer than Grandpa Ford thought it would be, as one
of the roads was so blocked with a drift that the sled could not get
through, and they had to drive around it.

"But we'll get through!" said Grandpa Ford.

On and on they went. It was a long, cold ride, but it came to an end at
last. Russ, peering up over a blanket, saw, down the road, a large,
black patch, and from it a light seemed to glow.

"Is that another railroad station?" he asked.

"No, that's Great Hedge," answered Grandpa Ford. "The black part you see
is the hedge around the house, and the light comes from a lantern I
have outside. Here we are at Great Hedge at last!"

The sled turned into a driveway and stopped beneath a sort of covered
porch.

"Whoa!" called Dick to the horses.

A door opened, letting out a glow of warm, cheerful light.

"Are the six little Bunkers there?" asked a voice.

"Yes, every one, and the two big Bunkers, too!" answered Grandpa Ford.
"Come on, children! Here's Grandma Ford all ready with that bread and
jam for you!"

"Oh, I'm so glad!" sighed Rose. "I was getting hungry again."

"So was I," admitted Russ.

"Now I'm going to finish my riddle," declared Laddie, as he untangled
himself from the robes.

"And we can begin to hunt for the ghost," whispered Rose to Russ.

"Yes," he whispered back.

Mun Bun and Margy were awakened and carried in the house. Oh, how nice
and warm it was after the storm!

"Have you really got bread and jam?" asked Vi.

"Yes, indeed, my dear, I have!" laughed Grandma Ford, hugging and
kissing her, and then hugging and kissing, in turn, the other five
little Bunkers.

"Wait till you hear my riddle," began Laddie. "What kind of a tree would
you like----"

And just then a loud noise sounded through the house. It was as if a
giant had uttered a deep groan.

"O-u-g-h-m!"

Grandpa and Grandma Ford looked at each other. So did Daddy and Mother
Bunker. And Rose leaned over and whispered to Russ:

"That's the ghost!"

CHAPTER XI

THE NIGHT NOISE

Outside of Great Hedge the wind howled and the snow whirled about in
white flakes. Inside it was warm, light and cosy. But the queer noise
which had sounded, and which had seemed so to startle the grown folk,
came from inside, and not outside. At least that is what Rose and Russ
thought.

"It's the ghost!" sai