“Oh, I’m so glad!” sighed Rose.  “I was getting hungry again.”

“So was I,” admitted Russ.

“Now I’m going to finish my riddle,” declared Laddie, as he untangled himself from the robes.

“And we can begin to hunt for the ghost,” whispered Rose to Russ.

“Yes,” he whispered back.

Mun Bun and Margy were awakened and carried in the house.  Oh, how nice and warm it was after the storm!

“Have you really got bread and jam?” asked Vi.

“Yes, indeed, my dear, I have!” laughed Grandma Ford, hugging and kissing her, and then hugging and kissing, in turn, the other five little Bunkers.

“Wait till you hear my riddle,” began Laddie.  “What kind of a tree would you like——­”

And just then a loud noise sounded through the house.  It was as if a giant had uttered a deep groan.

“O-u-g-h-m!”

Grandpa and Grandma Ford looked at each other.  So did Daddy and Mother Bunker.  And Rose leaned over and whispered to Russ: 

“That’s the ghost!”

CHAPTER XI

THE NIGHT NOISE

Outside of Great Hedge the wind howled and the snow whirled about in white flakes.  Inside it was warm, light and cosy.  But the queer noise which had sounded, and which had seemed so to startle the grown folk, came from inside, and not outside.  At least that is what Rose and Russ thought.

“It’s the ghost!” said Rose again.

“Nonsense!” laughed Daddy Bunker.  “What do you children know about ghosts?  There aren’t such things.  There never has been a ghost and never will be one.  That was the wind.”

“Maybe it was,” agreed Russ, who was not quite as ready as his sister was to think of ghosts.

“Of course it was!” exclaimed Grandma Ford.  “The wind often howls that way in winter.  And now come over where it’s warmer, and I’ll get you all some bread and jam.  You must be hungry, aren’t you?”

“I am,” said Mun Bun.  “I went to get some cakes in the depot, and I——­”

“Yes, and he pulled over the whole bowl full and it broke,” said Margy, interrupting Mun Bun’s story.  “And the man was awful mad!”

“But we ate the cakes, anyhow,” added Mun Bun.  “They fell on a paper and most of ’em were clean.  Have you got cakes, Grandma?”

“Bless your heart!  Lots of ’em.  But I don’t believe cake will be good for you at night; especially after you’ve had some, as you did at the depot.  But bread and jam and a glass of milk won’t hurt you, and you shall have that.  Do any of the rest of you want anything to eat?”

“I do!” cried Vi.  “Where do you keep your things to eat, Grandma?  Have you got a big pantry?”

“I guess Vi is afraid you won’t have enough,” laughed Mrs. Bunker.

“Oh, I laid in a big stock of food when I heard the six little Bunkers were coming,” said Grandpa Ford.