CHAPTER V BERT'S GHOST

 Bert felt relieved to learn that Mr. Ringley did not know who had broken the store window, but he was still fearful that the offense¹ might be laid at his door. He was afraid to trust Danny Rugg, and did not know what the big boy might do.

 

"He may say I did it, just to clear himself," thought Bert. "And if Mr. Ringley comes after me, he'll remember me sure."

 

But his anxiety was forgotten that evening, when some of the neighbors dropped in for a call. There was music on the piano and some singing, and almost before Bert and Nan knew it, it was time to go to bed. Freddie and Flossie had already retired², worn out by their play.

 

But after Bert had said his prayers and found himself alone in the small bed chamber³ he occupied, he could not sleep. The talk of the folks below kept him awake at first, and even after they had gone to bed he could not forget the happening of the day, and he could still hear the crash of that glass as the chunk⁴ of ice went sailing through it.

 

At last he fell into a troubled doze⁵, with the bright light of the moon shining across the rug at the foot of the bed. But the doze did not last long, and soon some kind of a noise awoke him with a start.

 

He opened his eyes and his gaze wandered across the moon-lit room. Was he dreaming, or was that really a figure in white standing⁶ at the foot of his bed? With a shiver he ducked down and covered his head with the blankets.

 

For two or three minutes he lay quiet, expecting every instant to have something unusual happen. Then, with great caution, he pushed the blankets back and took another look.

 

There was nothing there!

 

"But I saw something," he told himself. "I am sure I saw something. What could it have been?"

 

Ah, that was the question. For over an hour he continued to lie awake, watching and listening. Nan was in the next little chamber and he was half of a mind to call her, but he was afraid she would call him a "'fraid-cat!" something he despised.

 

Bert had heard of ghosts and now he thought of all the ghost stories he could remember. Had the thing in white been a ghost? If so, where had it come from?

 

After a while he tried to dismiss the thing from his mind, but it was almost morning before he fell asleep again. This time he slept so soundly, however, that he did not rouse up until his mother came and shook him.

 

"Why, Bert, what makes you sleep so soundly this morning?" said Mrs. Bobbsey.

 

"I—I didn't get to sleep until late," he stammered⁷. And then he added: "Mamma, do you believe in ghosts?"

 

"Why, of course not, Bert. What put that into your head?"

 

"I—I thought I saw a ghost last night."

 

"You must have been mistaken. There are no ghosts."

 

"But I saw something," insisted the boy.

 

"Where?"

 

"Right at the foot of the bed. It was all white."

 

"When was this?"

 

"Right in the middle of the night."

 

"Did you see it come in, or go out?"

 

"No, mamma. When I woke up it was standing there, and when I took a second look at it, it was gone."

 

"You must have been suffering from a nightmare, Bert," said Mrs. Bobbsey kindly⁸. "You should not have eaten those nuts before going to bed."

 

"No, it wasn't a nightmare," said the boy.

 

He had but little to say while eating breakfast, but on the way to school he told Nan, while Freddie and Flossie listened also.

 

"Oh, Bert, supposing it was a real ghost?" cried Nan, taking a deep breath. "Why, I'd be scared out of my wits,—I know I'd be!"

 

"Mamma says there are no ghosts. But I saw something—I am sure of that."

 

"I don't want to see any ghostses," came from Flossie.

 

"Nor I," added Freddie. "Sam told about a ghost once that was as high as a tree an' had six heads, to eat bad boys and girls up. Did this have six heads, Bert?"

 

"No."

 

"How many heads did it have?"

 

"I don't know—one, I guess."

 

"And was it as high as a tree?" went on the inquisitive⁹ little fellow.

 

"Oh, it couldn't stand up in the room if it was as high as a tree," burst out Flossie.

 

"Could if it was a tiny baby tree," expostulated Freddie.

 

"It was about as high as that," said Bert, putting out his hand on a level with his shoulder. "I can't say how it looked, only it was white."

 

"Perhaps it was moonshine," suggested Nan, but at this Bert shook his head. He felt certain it had been more substantial than moonshine.

 

That day Danny Rugg came to school as usual. When questioned about his absence he said he had had a toothache. When Bert looked at him the big boy merely scowled¹⁰, and no words passed between the pair.

 

Directly back of Lakeport was a long hill, used during the winter by all the boys and girls for coasting. After school Nan and Bert were allowed to go to this hill, in company with a number of their friends. They were admonished¹¹ to come back before dark and promised faithfully to do so.

 

Among the boys there was a great rivalry¹² as to who could go down the hill the fastest, and who could make his sled go the farthest after the bottom was reached.

 

"I'll try my sled against yours!" cried Charley Mason to Bert.

 

"Done!" returned Bert. "Are you going down alone, or are you going to carry somebody?"

 

"You must carry me down," insisted Nan.

 

"Then I'll take Nellie Parks," went on Charley.

 

Nellie was close at hand and soon the two sleds were side by side, with a girl on each. Bert and Charley stood behind.

 

"Are you ready?" asked Charley.

 

"Yes."

 

"Then go!"

 

Away went both lads, giving each sled a lively shove down the hill. Then each hopped¹³ aboard, and took hold of the rope with which to steer¹⁴.

 

"A race! A race!" shouted those standing near.

 

"I think Charley will win!" said some.

 

"I think Bert will win!" said others.

 

"Oh, let us win if we can!" whispered Nan to her twin brother.

 

"I'll do my best, Nan," was the answer.

 

Down the long hill swept the two sleds, almost side by side. Each was rushing along at a lively rate of speed, and those aboard had to hold on tightly for fear of being jounced off.

 

"Whoop¹⁵!" roared Charley. "Clear the track, for I am coming!"

 

"Make room for me!" sang out Bert. "We are bound to win!"

 

The bottom of the hill was almost reached when Charley's sled began to crawl a bit ahead.

 

"Oh, Bert, they are going to beat us after all," cried Nan disappointedly.

 

"I knew we'd beat you," cried Nellie Parks. "Charley's is the best sled on the hill."

 

"The race isn't over yet," said Bert.

 

His sled had been running in rather soft snow. Now he turned to where the coasting was better, and in a twinkling his sled shot forward until he was once more beside Charley and Nellie.

 

"Here we come!" shouted Bert. "Make room, I say! Make room."

 

On and on they went, and now the bottom of the hill was reached and they ran along a level stretch. Charley's sled began to slow up, but Bert's kept on and on until he had covered a hundred feet beyond where Charley had come to a stop.

 

"We've won!" cried Nan excitedly. "Oh, Bert, your sled is a wonder."

 

"So it is," he answered, with pride. "But it was a close race, wasn't it?"

 

When they came back to where Charley and Nellie stood they found Charley rather sulky.

 

"Nellie is heavier than Nan," said he. "It wasn't a fair race. Let us try it alone next time."

 

"I'm willing," answered Bert.

1 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

4 chunk   

n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量）

参考例句：

• They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
• The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。

5 doze   

v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐

参考例句：

• He likes to have a doze after lunch.他喜欢午饭后打个盹。
• While the adults doze,the young play.大人们在打瞌睡，而孩子们在玩耍。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

8 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

9 inquisitive   

adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的

参考例句：

• Children are usually inquisitive.小孩通常很好问。
• A pat answer is not going to satisfy an inquisitive audience.陈腔烂调的答案不能满足好奇的听众。

10 scowled   

怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He scowled his displeasure. 他满脸嗔色。
• The teacher scowled at his noisy class. 老师对他那喧闹的课堂板着脸。

11 admonished   

v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责

参考例句：

• She was admonished for chewing gum in class. 她在课堂上嚼口香糖，受到了告诫。
• The teacher admonished the child for coming late to school. 那个孩子迟到，老师批评了他。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

13 hopped   

跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花

参考例句：

• He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
• He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车，向市区开去。

14 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

15 whoop   

n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息

参考例句：

• He gave a whoop of joy when he saw his new bicycle.他看到自己的新自行车时，高兴得叫了起来。
• Everybody is planning to whoop it up this weekend.大家都打算在这个周末好好欢闹一番。