The Bobbsey Twins | Page 9

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 stammered. 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 kindly. "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 inquisitive 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 scowled, 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
admonished to come back before dark and promised faithfully to do so.
Among the boys there was a great rivalry 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 hopped aboard, and took hold of the rope with which to

steer.
"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.
"Whoop!" 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