I hear it now, just as
plain as ever."
"Where could a stovepipe go to from here?" mused the captain. "Not into
the kitchen; the kitchen chimney's way over t'other side. Maybe there
was a chimney here afore the house was moved."
"But the snoring?" faltered Emily. "Don't you hear it?"
Captain Obed put his ear against the covered stovepipe hole. He listened
and as he listened his face took on a new expression, an expression of
sudden suspicion, then of growing certainty, and, a moment later, of
huge amusement.
He stepped down from the chair.
"Stay right where you are," he ordered. "Don't move and don't make any
noise. I'll be right back."
He hurried out. They waited. The snoring kept on and on. Suddenly it
ceased. Then, in that very room, or so it seemed, sounded a grunt and a
frightened squeal. And then a voice, a hollow voice which cried:
"Ahoy, all hands! I'm the ghost of Nebuchadnezzar's first wife and I
want to know what you folks mean by wakin' me up."
The three in the back bedroom looked at each other.
"It's Captain Bangs!" cried Emily.
"It's Obed!" exclaimed Thankful.
"He's found it," shouted Kendrick. "Come on."
The captain was not in the kitchen when they got there. He had gone out
of doors, so Imogene said. Unmindful of the rain they rushed out and
around the corner, behind and below the washshed. Patrick Henry was
running about his pen, apparently much disturbed, but Captain Obed was
not in sight.
"Where is he?" demanded Thankful.
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