pe.

The hammock swung on the side porch, but when it was not in use it hung
by one hook, rather high up, and by twisting it together it could be
made into a sort of rope. Russ and Rose, as I have told you, had been
listening under the porch window to what Grandpa Ford had been telling
about the queer happenings at Great Hedge Estate.

Just as he reached the point where he was going to tell about the
strange noise at midnight, Russ decided he could hear better if he were
higher up, and nearer the window.

The hammock had been left hanging by one hook, after Laddie and Vi had
finished swinging in it a little while before, and up this Russ climbed.

But his hands slipped, and down he fell, making a good deal of noise. Of
course if Rose had put the mat under him, as he had told her to do,
there would not have been such a racket.

"And now we sha'n't ever know about the ghost," said Russ, just before
his sister hurried off to tell the others that Grandpa Ford had a treat
for them.

"Yes, we shall," said the little girl.

"How?"

"We'll wait till we get there. We're all going, 'cause Grandpa Ford said
so. When we get to Great Hedge we can find the ghost for ourselves."

"Yes, maybe we can," agreed Russ. "Anyhow, I'm not going to climb up any
more hammocks. It hurts too much when you fall." And he walked from the
porch, limping.

Then, after Russ and Rose had gone away, Grandpa Ford told Mr. and Mrs.
Bunker more about the strange doings at his house, which was surrounded
by the great hedge. And the old gentleman ended with:

"And now I want you all to come out there with me and help solve the
mystery. I want you, Son," and he turned with a kindly look to Mr.
Bunker, "and I want your wife and the six little Bunkers."

"Maybe the children will be afraid of the ghost," said their mother.

"We won't tell them anything about it," said Grandpa Ford with a laugh.
"They'll never know a thing about it."

If he had only seen Russ and Rose listening on the porch under the
window!

"Well, as long as they don't know about it, I don't see that they can be
frightened," said Mr. Bunker. "As you say, it is queer, but maybe Mr.
Ripley can explain the queer noises and other things."

"Maybe he can," agreed Grandpa Ford. "That's what I came on to see
about, and I'll take you all back with me."

"But it will soon be cold weather," objected Mother Bunker.

"All the better!" laughed Grandpa Ford. "There is no nicer place in th