CHAPTER XXIII THE GHOST THAT REALLY WALKED

 It did seem absurd, in spite of the fact that they were snowbound in a "haunted house." The big automobile¹ lamps glared brilliantly from the mantel, and Tom, with Nat, found another place to rest—on the long, low bench that formed a really artistic² seat at the foot of the broad stairway.

 

"Many a gay fellow has rested here, between the dances, don't you think?" asked Nat. "I fancy I hear the other fellow and his girl coming down the stairs at this moment." He threw himself back in a mocking attitude, while Tom bowed to the "girl coming down the stairs."

 

But the boys were tired; conversation broke into uneven³ sentences, then words fell into syllables⁴ and finally there remained only the punctuation—a full stop.

 

Dorothy was dreaming that the men in the boats on the Italian marble mantel were coming to rescue her. Tavia had a weakness for brilliant nightmares, and she dreamed that the crystal chandeliers were coming—coming down, to strike her directly in the face.

 

She screamed, and every one started up.

 

"What was it?" cried Dorothy, on her feet in an instant.

 

Tom and Nat jumped up as quickly, Nat with revolver in hand, and Tom grasping the hatchet⁵.

 

"I certainly saw a light at the end of the hall," whispered Nat to Tom. "Don't alarm the girls—just watch."

 

"What was it?" asked Dorothy again.

 

"Oh, I was dreaming," replied Tavia drowsily⁶, "and that heavy old chandelier came right down and hit me in the face."

 

"Keep your dreams quiet next time," said Nat, attempting to laugh. "You gave us all a start."

 

"What time is it?" Dorothy inquired.

 

Tom glanced at his watch.

 

"Midnight!" he exclaimed. "Would you believe it? We must have all been asleep."

 

"And you promised not to shut an eye?" accused Tavia. "How do we know but that we are all kidnapped?"

 

Just then Nat grasped Tom's arm.

 

"The light!" he whispered.

 

"Oh!"

 

Dorothy and Tavia had both seen it.

 

Too frightened to speak, they clung to each other and stood terrified. Tom and Nat stepped farther out into the hallway.

 

For an instant no one uttered a sound. The next a noise—distinct and welcome—fell upon their ears—the sound of Major Dale's voice.

 

"It's father!" called Dorothy, breaking away from Tavia. "Oh, they've found us! Let them in! Quick!"

 

No need to tell the boys that, for the front door was unbolted, and Major Dale rushed in before any of them could actually realize that he had come.

 

"Oh, father!" gasped⁷ Dorothy, falling into his arms. "If you had not come—I should have died!"

 

"You poor foolish—babies!" he said. "But let the man in. He's frozen, if I am not."

 

Tavia had her arms around the major's neck—he was patting both girls affectionately.

 

"There! there!" he soothed⁸. "Now you are all right. Dad's here, and we will be all right presently. Norah sent out the relief stuff—you be starved and perished."

 

"He won't come in," called Nat, referring to the man outside, "Says he's afraid."

 

"Oh, the foolish fellow," replied the major. "I had the greatest time to get him here, once he found out I was coming to the castle. He vowed⁹ he saw lights, and heard screams. He's the fellow who drove the woman out here—Abe, you know."

 

"Oh, yes," said Nat. "That's it. Well, if he won't come in he'll freeze."

 

"Perhaps if he sees girls—— I'll go and ask him," volunteered Dorothy, now somewhat composed.

 

Although they had passed from the rear hall to the front, Tom kept his eye on the end of the long passageway. He had seen a light flash back there—he could have sworn to it.

 

"Here he is!" called Dorothy. "I knew old Abe would come in when I asked him. Right over here, Abe. See, we have plenty of light——"

 

As if by magic, or some uncanny power, no sooner had she uttered the word "light" than a brilliant flash was plainly seen at the rear of the hall.

 

The next moment a piercing scream rang out—the same they had heard once before—only so much more terrible to them now—so hideous—so fiendish!

 

The old colored man tried to move, but he stood as if transfixed.

 

Major Dale was major again, there ready to order, to command—erect, brave, bold, defiant¹⁰.

 

Nat never seemed to move.

 

Tom stood waiting for his orders.

 

Dorothy and Tavia fell back terrified.

 

"That scream came from a human being," spoke¹¹ the major finally. "We must investigate at once. Here, Abe, you take this lamp." Trembling as if he had the ague, the old colored man took the lamp from the mantel. "Tom, you have an ax. Nat, your gun may be handy. Now, girls, don't be alarmed. We are too many for any one here. Just sit there in that corner while we look about."

 

To all, save Abe and the girls, there was a fascination¹² about this weird¹³ hunt. Something or some one screamed. This was surely a vigorous type of ghost.

 

"Easy, now!" whispered the major as they turned the end of the hall "There!" he exclaimed. "I saw a light flash back of that double door!"

 

"So did I," agreed Tom, "Let's look in the room."

 

"Come on, Abe," urged the major, for Abe quickly fell behind.

 

The heavy folding-doors were pushed aside with some effort. This opened the way into a small room like a butler's pantry.

 

"What was that?" asked Nat as a noise sounded.

 

"The shutting of a heavy door—and the light went with it," declared Major Dale. "Now to find the door."

 

Nat took the light from Abe, and flashed it up and down the heavily paneled walls.

 

"It's some secret passage, likely," said the major. "Every old house has one, I believe."

 

"What's—this?"

 

Nat had come upon a joining in the woodwork.

 

"That's it!" declared the major, examining the crack carefully. "But where might it open?"

 

All, even old Abe, felt the wall, up and down, covering every inch within reach.

 

"There!" exclaimed the major finally. "I've covered a square. It opens from the other side. Tom, here with your ax!"

 

Dorothy and Tavia had heard every word. Now they stopped their ears. It was too dreadful.

 

Blow after blow fell on the heavy woodwork.

 

Chop! Chop! Chop!

 

But not a word was spoken.

 

Then the sound of splintered wood.

 

The panel was falling in.

 

"Careful!" cautioned Major Dale.

 

"There she goes!"

 

Another scream!

 

"Here, now!" cried the major, seizing the lamp and dashing through the opening with the agility¹⁴ of a schoolboy. "Just surrender, and stop that!"

 

But he almost fell back—Tom's arm saved him.

 

"I never!" he exclaimed. "It's old Captain Mayberry!"

1 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

2 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

3 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

4 syllables   

n.音节( syllable的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a word with two syllables 双音节单词
• 'No. But I'll swear it was a name of two syllables.' “想不起。不过我可以发誓，它有两个音节。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

5 hatchet   

n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀

参考例句：

• I shall have to take a hatchet to that stump.我得用一把短柄斧来劈这树桩。
• Do not remove a fly from your friend's forehead with a hatchet.别用斧头拍打朋友额头上的苍蝇。

6 drowsily   

adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地

参考例句：

• She turned drowsily on her side, a slow creeping blackness enveloping her mind. 她半睡半醒地翻了个身，一片缓缓蠕动的黑暗渐渐将她的心包围起来。 来自飘（部分）
• I felt asleep drowsily before I knew it. 不知过了多久，我曚扙地睡着了。 来自互联网

7 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 soothed   

v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦

参考例句：

• The music soothed her for a while. 音乐让她稍微安静了一会儿。
• The soft modulation of her voice soothed the infant. 她柔和的声调使婴儿安静了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

10 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

11 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

12 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

13 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

14 agility   

n.敏捷，活泼

参考例句：

• The boy came upstairs with agility.那男孩敏捷地走上楼来。
• His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.他的才智和机敏从未受到怀疑。