I'll explore it all myself and maybe I'll find out something."
The lad was coiling his rope, preparing to descend when a low chuckle
caused him to pause in sudden surprise. Startled, the boy looked
about him. He was alone as he had been before.
"That's strange. I was sure I heard some one. Sounded as if it were
right here beside me. I must have been wrong of course. Believe I'm
losing my grit. After all the shaking up my nerves have had on this
trip--"
"Hello!"
This time there could be no doubt. It was a human voice beyond all
question.
"Hello," answered Tad, when, an instant later, he had in a measure
mastered his surprise. "Where are you?"
"Guess."
"I can't. I am not a good hand at guessing."
Getting to his feet the lad began searching about, peering into
crevices, looking over the edge of the cliff, becoming more and more
perplexed and mystified as the moments passed.
"No, I can't find you. Come out and show yourself, whoever you are,"
he commanded, with some impatience.
A low, mocking laugh answered Tad's irritated command, yet the owner
of the voice still remained hidden.
"Who are you, anyway? I know you are a girl, but--"
"But what?" tantalized the voice.
"That's all I know about it, and all I shall at the present rate.
Come on, it's not fair to expect me to talk with you when I can't see
you--"
"Aren't you afraid of ghosts, boy--"
"Ghosts!"
Tad uttered the word in a startled voice.
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