At that Billy lost his grip on Larry’s arm.  Goheen made no apologies, but made a straight, swift dash for camp.

The other boys hesitated for a few brief seconds; then they, too, headed for camp.  They were not exactly running.  They were leaping like as many frightened rabbits, fleeing from a rabbit hound.  In their haste they lost their way and were proceeding directly toward the spot where Jane McCarthy was standing.

Jane finally heard them coming.  She was filled with glee.  She had feared that she was not to have an opportunity to play an important part in this ghost party.  Making a noise like a ghost did not wholly satisfy Crazy Jane McCarthy.  What she wanted was something more exciting.  Her opportunity came very quickly.  The boys were nearly up to her, ere she realized that they were so close.

A wild wail halted them.

“Come on, you fellows!” yelled George to his faltering companions.

“There it is!” howled Sam.

He had espied another figure that looked exactly like the first ghost.  George discovered it at about the same time.  George made a brave rush toward the figure, yelling to frighten it.  But Crazy Jane was not easily frightened.  She advanced slowly, waving the long, draped arms, and moaning.  All at once something came down on the head of George Baker, just as he had raised his club to hurl it at the ghost.  The something was a long tough stick in the hand of Jane McCarthy.

George uttered a howl and sprang back.  The ghost advanced on him.  Billy got a light tap, then Sam yelled as something damp brushed his cheek.  He did not know that it was the leaf of a bush.  He thought it the cold, clammy hand of the ghost.

The boys having gotten more than they had looked for, began to retreat.  Sam was the first after Larry to run.  He did so with all speed, followed closely by George and Billy.  They were confused.  They did not know just where the camp was located.  Glancing over their shoulders they saw that the ghost was pursuing them.  The boys began to shout anew, and to run even at greater speed.

“There’s some more of them,” howled Sam.

“Yeow!” yelled George.  He sprang to the left, in which direction he believed the camp lay, then he halted.  Another ghost was confronting him.  George hesitated.  The ghost uttered a moan.  The brave George Baker, captain of the Tramp Club, took to his heels.  The others did the same, except that each took a different direction.  Wherever they ran they were followed by moans and screams, principally from the lips of Crazy Jane McCarthy.

It seemed to their excited imaginations that the woods were full of ghosts of giant stature, with voices capable of making one’s hair stand on end.  The worst of it was that the ghosts persisted in pursuing them.  They chased the brave Tramp Club right into camp, where the lads arrived one by one.  Instead of stopping the boys bolted for the launch, in which the frightened Larry Goheen already had sought safety.