"
"I don't know, but there he be, and they don't call this here place
'Dead Man's Mount' for nawthing."
"Well," said the Colonel argumentatively, "a skeleton is a perfectly
harmless thing."
"Yes, if he's dead maybe, sir, but this one's alive, I saw him nod his
head at me."
"Look here, George," answered Harold, feeling that if this went on
much longer he should lose his nerve altogether. "I'm not going to be
scared. Great heavens, what a gust! I'm going down to see for myself."
"Very good, Colonel," answered George, "and I'll wait here till you
come up again--that is if you iver du."
Thrice did Harold look at the hole in the masonry and thrice did he
shrink back.
"Come," he shouted angrily, "don't be a fool; get down here and hand
me the lantern."
George obeyed with evident trepidation. Then Harold scrambled through
the opening and with many an inward tremor, for there is scarcely a
man on the earth who is really free from supernatural fears, descended
hand over hand. But in so doing he managed to let the lantern fall and
it went out. Now as any one will admit this was exceedingly trying. It
is not pleasant to be left alone in the dark and underground in the
company of an unknown "spook." He had some matches, but what between
fear and cold it was some time before he could get a light.
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