Part 4 (1/2)

”No, you won't, you'll stay right here and defend these fellows who are a good deal more scared than they are willing to own,” retorted George.

The trio remained in silence before the front door, waiting for some word from their friend, who at once had carried out his suggested plan and had gone to the rear of the house.

Suddenly and without any word being spoken the heavy door in front of the waiting boys slowly opened. It creaked noisily but there was no question that George succeeded and the door was being opened from within.

Grant was the first to enter, but instantly he stepped back and in a voice that trembled said quickly, ”What's that? What's that?”

There was a noise of flying wings in the room before them, but not one of the boys was able to see any of the winged creatures. Back and forth they flew, the unseen birds, their wings noisily flapping and their cries steadily increasing in volume.

Startled as all the boys were by the unexpected sound they withdrew to the porch in front of the door and in whispers talked over the best plan for them to follow.

”I say we go ahead,” said Grant at last. ”We don't want to be scared out by a little thing like this.”

”That's all right,” agreed Fred. ”You're so bold, I'll let you go ahead.

I shall be satisfied to-night to be one of the go behind boys. I'm not afraid,” he hastily added when Grant laughed derisively. ”I'll follow you wherever you dare lead. Now then start if you want to.”

No more was said and slowly and silently the boys once more entered the room into which the door directly opened.

This time again when only a few steps had been taken, by a common impulse they stopped and Fred whispered, ”Where is George?”

”He's somewhere around here,” whispered Grant in reply.

”But I don't see him or hear him,” declared Fred. ”We ought to find out what has happened.”

”Oh, he's all right,” said John confidently. ”Come on, let's go ahead.”

”We haven't any light,” suggested Fred.

”We'll have one pretty soon. That's probably what George has gone for,”

whispered John. ”He'll be back in a minute.”

”I don't believe we had better try to go any farther. A good many of these old houses have steps from one room to another. I don't want Fred to fall and break his neck.”

”Don't you worry about my--” began Fred, but he stopped abruptly when suddenly the shutters in the room directly over their head banged noisily against the side of the house. At the same time the sound of the flying creatures in the room was heard again and as if to make matters worse a sound very like a groan came from the stairway. The weird interruption was followed by a wild laugh that came from the same stairway and a moment later the confusion was increased by a sound more unexpected than any which as yet had been heard by the Go Ahead boys in the old Meeker House.

CHAPTER IV-FLIGHT

There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing. This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, ”F-r-e-d! Fred b.u.t.ton!” The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear. His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.

Nor had Fred been long out of the house before he was joined by his companions. George, who previously had gone around to the rear door, came as quickly as John and Grant.

For a brief time the boys a.s.sembled under the branches of a huge cherry tree that was growing in one corner of the yard.

”What do you make of that?” demanded George. ”I told you you might hear something about f.a.gan and the Cowboys if you went into that old Meeker House.”

”It wasn't what I heard about them that troubled me,” retorted Fred. ”It was when I heard my own name called.”

”Honest?” demanded George.