ck,
George, Herb and Josh poked their heads out, in order to see what was
going on.

"Gee! I hope you fellows don't think of butting into such a howler as
this?" remarked George, a bit anxiously.

"I should say not," laughed Josh. "Though I reckon our comfy old tub
could stand up, and take her knocks without squealing. But we'd have
to wait over at Lewes just the same, so what's the use?"

"I'd refuse to move a foot, and that's flat!" declared George, as he
teetered at the stern of the narrow speed boat; for it happened just
then that the clumsy Nick was moving around, and whenever this came
about, the balance of the craft was visibly disturbed.

"No danger," declared Jack. "We're going to make the best of a bad
bargain, and roost here in Murderkill Creek for another day."

"Whoo! once when I woke in the night," remarked Josh, "and as the wind
slackened up a bit, I heard the awfullest noise ever. Sounded just
like somebody was hollerin' for help. And when I remembered all they
told us about this pesky place, I was a long time getting to sleep
again, I give you my word."

"Sure, I was after havin' the same thing myself," declared Jimmy,
eagerly. "And if any banshee in the ould country ever made a more
horrible noise, I'll eat me hat; and that's no lie. Whatever d'ye
suppose it was, Jack, old top?"

Jack laughed.

"Oh! owls!" he remarked, carelessly.

"But looky here," Josh flashed up, "don't you reckon I've heard owls
hoot before now? I tell you this was different, and much more ghastly;
just like somebody was being half choked, and gurgling as he tried to
call for help. It made the cold chills creep up and down my spinal
column, that's right, now."

"Perhaps they've got a special brand of owl down along here, that
outdoes all its species in whooping things up," laughed Jack. "And on
account of some one hearing those same fierce noises long ago, the
creek got its terrible name."

"Oh! forget it," broke in Herb; "especially since we've got to pass
another night right here, and don't want to be bothered with bad
dreams."

Breakfast was prepared in much the same fashion as their supper was
cooked on the preceding evening. George and Nick had much the worst of
it, with that flapping tent sheltering them, while the others found
solid comfort in their hunting cabins.

Every little while George could be heard warning his stout and rather
unwieldy mate to be more careful. Either he was rocking the