Then Burd leaned over and shook her hand warmly.
“We come, brother,” he said gravely. “That idea is worthy1 even of my gigantic brain. When do we begin and where?”
“To-morrow at the forest ranger2 station,” replied Jessie, her eyes dancing. “We can broadcast the description of the criminals and the location of the hut—or rather, the rangers3 can.”
“By George, that is one great idea!” broke in Darry, admiringly. “Funny I never thought of radio in that connection.”
“You certainly do take the cake, Jess darling,” said Amy, generously, if slangily. “I would do a lot for a mind like that!”
The party broke up soon after that, for aching muscles required their due and the monotonous4 dripping of the rain made them all very sleepy.
In the morning they woke refreshed to find the sun shining gloriously on leaves and branches that still dripped moisture. Fatigue5 had miraculously6 disappeared and there remained only the pathetically blackened trunks of trees to remind them of the tragic7 happenings of the day before.
They breakfasted early, eager to enlist8 the help of the forest rangers as soon as possible in the matter of the mysterious hut in the swamp.
It was impossible for Burd to go, as his ankle was still swollen9 and very painful, so Amy volunteered to stay behind and read to the invalid10. This suggestion was not wholly disinterested11 on her part, for Amy was still more lame12 than she cared to admit from the exertions13 of the day before.
The four young folks started off briskly, spurred on by a recognized need of haste but vaguely14 saddened by the signs of ruin and destruction that had followed in the wake of the fire.
Nearing the ranger station, Jessie and Darry found that they had gone too fast for Nell and Fol, and lingered to allow the other two to catch up to them.
It was while they were seated on a huge boulder15 idly talking over the events of the day before that Jessie voiced the thought uppermost in her mind.
“Darry, I have been wondering what you did about that poor girl, Link Mullen’s sister,” she said, a little hesitantly. “You never told us, you know.”
“Probably that is because I have not been able to do anything,” returned Darry. “Eileen Mullen is stubborn and she has enormous pride. She positively16 refuses to return to Link. She declares that when she left home after their quarrel she intended never to go back.”
“I do wish we could help her,” said Jessie, longingly17, but as Nell and Fol reappeared at that moment, no more was said upon the subject.
“We have nearly come to the house in the woods where they hung out the wash in the living room,” Nell called, and Darry nodded.
“I intend to keep my eyes open,” he assured her.
But when they came to it the house appeared as dreary18 and deserted19 as though no one had lived there for years and the room in which the sheets had been hung was protected from critical inspection20 by tightly-drawn shades.
At the ranger station Mr. Halsey met them and listened with keen interest to their story of Darry’s misadventure in the swamp and of the people who inhabited the hut. They told him also of the ghostlike noises from the swamp and of the white figures they had seen flitting among the trees.
When Jessie explained their idea of soliciting21 the aid of the police by radio, he agreed to have the message sent out over the airways22 immediately.
“I wish we might have known of this before,” he said, gravely, as he accompanied them to the broadcasting room. “We have suspected for a long time that something illicit23 and mysterious was being carried on in this vicinity, but there has never been anything definite upon which to base our suspicions. We will investigate this matter thoroughly24 now, I can assure you.”
Messages were sent out for miles in all directions and, satisfied that they had done all in their power to further the ends of justice, the girls and boys said good-bye to Mr. Halsey, after thanking him, and started back toward the lodge25.
Once more they passed the house in the woods, and this time Darry saw, or thought he saw, a face at one of the upper windows.
“That is what I call exasperating26!” he exclaimed, as they continued on through the woods. “Another moment, and I could have sworn to that fellow’s identity.”
“If we knew what you were talking about we might follow you more intelligently,” suggested Fol, and Darry explained.
“That fellow at the window looked a lot like one of the men at the hut,” he said. “I am pretty positive now that my guess as to where Phrosy’s ghosts came from is correct.”
Upon reaching the lodge they found the three stay-at-homes looking the pictures of peace and contentment, and immediately set about trying to spoil things for them, as Amy languidly complained.
Having packed all their belongings27 the day before, it was necessary to reverse the process now that the safety of the lodge was assured. This occupied much of the afternoon, and as the shadows became longer they were oppressed by a strange uneasiness. In every rustle28 of a leaf, in every cracking of a twig29 outside the lodge, it seemed they could detect the furtive30 approach of some of the motley crowd who made their home in the swamp. The air seemed to be murmurous31 with whispers, the sighing of the wind through the trees took on a weird32 and wailing33 sound as though uneasy spirits roamed the woods.
“If radio doesn’t get in some fine work pretty soon,” grumbled34 Amy, “I can see where our last few days here are going to be spoiled. I can see a ghost in every shadow.”
As though to bear out her assertion there came from the direction of the swamp a faint wailing, growing steadily35 louder in volume—rising to a shriek36 and dying off into a frantic37 sobbing38 sound.
Again and again it came, and the girls crowded into the living room as though for mutual39 protection and stared at each other in growing perturbation.
At that moment Darry and Fol burst into the room with Burd limping manfully after them. Behind them came three men, who, despite the fact that they wore no uniform, bore the unmistakable stamp of police officers.
“We are just in time for the entertainment, I see,” said the tallest of the three, with a grimness of tone that fell reassuringly40 upon the electric tension in the room. “These hut dwellers41 have decided42 to give a special demonstration43 for our benefit, evidently.”
The three men, led by Aunt Emma, marched into the room recently occupied by Phrosy, and the boys lingered behind for a word with the surprised and excited girls.
“We bumped into these officers just as we were coming in,” said Burd. “They received the radio message and have men planted down by the swamp ready to close in on the hut when they give the signal. Come along, if you want to be in on the big show.”
“But, Burd, your foot! How can you go?” protested Amy, and Burd looked down at the injured member contemptuously.
“You don’t suppose I would let a little thing like that keep me at home, do you?” he queried44. “Just watch me.”
At that moment the three officers stalked out again, Aunt Emma, flushed and excited, at their heels. They seemed in a great hurry. They rushed out of the lodge, the girls and boys after them.
Down toward the swamp they ran, the continued wailings of the “ghosts” drowning the sound of their footsteps. Only a few feet from the swamp now, and those absurd white figures still flitting eerily45 among the trees.
The shrill46 note of a whistle sounded, followed by the answering shout of men, who came dashing from the shadows.
The shrouded47 white figures stood still for a moment as though frozen into immobility. Then shrieks48 and shouts rent the air. The ghosts turned to fly—and were surrounded.
Several of them, dropping the sheets that swathed them, ran for cover, away from the police. But the boys were too quick for them. Darting49 from their hidden vantage point among the trees, they waylaid50 the rascals51 and engaged them in lusty warfare52. Back and forth53 they lunged, fighting desperately54, while the girls watched with fascinated interest.
Suddenly Jessie clutched Amy’s arm and pointed55 through the trees.
“Over there!” she cried. “Do you see what I see?”
“Those are women—trying to get away! Come on!” cried Amy.
Without stopping to think, the girls started in pursuit of the two creatures slinking off through the trees. The women, hampered56 by their clinging skirts, could not run swiftly, and it was comparatively easy for the three athletic57 girls to overtake them.
Jessie and Amy blocked the path in front while Nell encircled them to the right, cutting off escape in that direction.
The women took a step or two backward, showing their teeth like cornered rats. Then, turning to the one avenue of escape left to them, they crouched58 low and started to run.
“Stop them! Stop them!” cried Jessie, and at that moment a shadow detached itself from the deeper shadows of the forest and grasped the two women roughly.
“Thought you would get away, eh?” growled59 a voice which the girls recognized as belonging to the tallest of the three officers who had come to the lodge. “You would, too, if it had not been for these brave young ladies here. You think you’re a slick pair, but you didn’t get away with it. Come along now. I guess we’ve got the whole works.”
The girls returned in triumph, bearing their prisoners in tow, the grinning officer close at hand. When the boys saw them, they were greeted with loud shouts of delighted surprise.
“We got our men, too,” Burd told them boisterously60, after the officer had taken the women away. “No more ghosts for ours, girls! We have laid ’em for good!”
“And in more senses than one,” added Darry, with a grin.
“Come on over and see this bunch of lowbrows,” said Fol, pointing to the group of captors and captives. The latter were still filling the air with shrieks and giving the officers a most unpleasant time of it.
Curiously61, the girls and lads approached—but not too closely. An officer detached himself from the group and came toward them. It was the tall man whom they had already met twice that night. He smiled jubilantly upon them.
“One of those prisoners is Pietro Pebbo,” he informed them. “He is one of the slickest counterfeiters and law breakers the police have known for many a year, and he has gathered about him a choice set of scoundrels. I would like to ask one question,” he added, adjusting his pocket torch so that it illumined their faces. “Who is responsible for that radio message?”
Darry took Jessie by the hand and drew her forward.
“The idea was the property of this young lady,” he said gravely. “Allow me to introduce Miss Jessie Norwood!”
“The service thanks you, Miss Norwood,” he said, bowing gallantly62 in acknowledgment of the introduction. “We all thank you.”
“Except Pietro Pebbo!” murmured Amy, the irrepressible.
It was the day after the sensational63 capture of the “ghosts” down by the swamp, and the girls and boys were enjoying a period of well-earned leisure. Besides, having scarcely slept the night before, they really needed rest.
It was Aunt Emma who broke into their peaceful content by rising suddenly and starting toward the house.
“What troubles you, my dear aunt?” inquired Burd, lazily. “I can see by the look in your eye that there is something on your mind.”
“I am going to write to Phrosy,” returned Aunt Emma, briskly. “Now that the ghosts have departed, it is high time she came back to the kitchen.”
“Oh, won’t we have a lovely time with Phrosy and no ghosts?” sighed Nell, looking out toward the placid64 waters of Lake Towako. “Lucky the fire spared our wonderful view. Where are you going, Jess?”
Jessie, on the way to the lodge, looked over her shoulder with a smile.
“I just happened to think that we haven’t set up our radio yet. I am going to hear a radio concert before I am very much older or know the reason why.”
Amy rose protestingly from the grassy65 couch that seemed just made for laziness.
“That child will be the death of me, yet. She is a very glutton66 for work.”
“Just the same,” said Nell, as she prepared to join them, “it will be mighty67 good to ‘listen in’ again.”
THE END
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1
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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ranger
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| n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员 | |
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rangers
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| 护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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miraculously
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| ad.奇迹般地 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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13
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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14
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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15
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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20
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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soliciting
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| v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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22
AIRWAYS
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| 航空公司 | |
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illicit
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| adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的 | |
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24
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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25
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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28
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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29
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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30
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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31
murmurous
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| adj.低声的 | |
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32
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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33
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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34
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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35
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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36
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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37
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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38
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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39
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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40
reassuringly
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| ad.安心，可靠 | |
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41
dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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42
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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43
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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44
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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45
eerily
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| adv.引起神秘感或害怕地 | |
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46
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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47
shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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48
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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50
waylaid
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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52
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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53
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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54
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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55
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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56
hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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58
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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60
boisterously
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| adv.喧闹地，吵闹地 | |
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61
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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62
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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63
sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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64
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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65
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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66
glutton
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| n.贪食者，好食者 | |
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67
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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