ough the air,
and now and then joggled and danced a little. It rose and fell, but
still came nearer and nearer to the attacking party of dough-faces, who
for their part could not guess that Bob Holliday had put a lighted
candle into an Indian's skull, and then tied this ghost's lantern to a
wire attached to the end of a fishing-rod, which he operated from behind
the house.

Pewee's party drew close together, and Riley whispered hoarsely:

"The house is ha'nted."

Just then the hideous and fiery death's-head made a circuit, and swung,
grinning, into Riley's face, who could stand no more, but broke into a
full run toward the river. At the same instant Jack tooted a
dinner-horn, Judge Kane's big dog ran barking out of the log-house, and
the enemy were routed like the Midianites before Gideon. Their
consternation was greatly increased at finding their boats gone, for
Allen Mackay had towed them into a little creek out of sight, and hidden
the oars in an elder thicket. Riley and one of the others were so much
afraid of the ghosts that "ha'nted" the old house, that they set out
straightway for Greenbank, on foot. Pewee and the others searched
everywhere for the boats, and at last sat down and waited for daylight.
Just as day was breaking, Bob Holliday came down to the river with a
towel, as though for a morning bath. Very accidentally, of course, he
came upon Pewee and his party, all tired out, sitting on the bank in
hope that day might throw some light on the fate of their boats.

"Hello, Pewee! You here? What's the matter?" said Bob, with feigned
surprise.

"Some thief took our skiffs. We've been looking for them all night, and
can't find them."

"That's curious," said Bob, sitting down and leaning his head on his
hand. "Where did you get supper last night?"

"Oh! we brought some with us."

"Look here, Pewee, I'll bet I can find your boats."

"How?"

"You give me money enough among you to pay for the eggs and the chicken
you had for supper, and I'll find out who hid your boats and where the
oars are, and it'll all be square."

Pewee was now sure that the boat had been taken as indemnity for the
chicken and the eggs. He made every one of the party contribute
something until he had collected what Bob thought sufficient to pay for
the stolen things, and Bob took it and went up and found Judge Kane,
who had just risen, and left the money with him. Then he made a circuit
to Allen Mackay's, waked him up, and got th