Mollie was right:  Mrs. Irving did not wish to go, and the girls rushed upstairs to don bathing suits in preparation for the lark.

A few minutes later they were racing like slim young ghosts through the woods, laughing and calling to each other and entirely abandoned to the joy of the moment.

“Race you to the old swimming hole,” Mollie called out, as they neared the river; and away they all raced in response to the challenge.

Betty won, in spite of the fact that Mollie had had a short head start, and the girls, wild in their exuberance, would have lifted her to their shoulders had not Betty herself laughingly fought them off.

“I have another challenge,” she cried.  “My fresh box of candy to whoever swims to the other side of the swimming hole first.  Are you on?”

“We’re on!” yelled Grace enthusiastically, adding:  “I’d swim from here to Jericho for that box of candy, Betty.”

As a matter of fact, whether it was really the thought of the candy or whether it was because the other girls were tired from the last spurt, Grace really did get to the other side of the swimming pool first, and, pulling herself up on the other bank, dripping and triumphant, demanded the prize.

“You surely did win it, and you shall have that box of candy—­ much as I hoped to keep it in the family,” laughed Betty, shaking the water from her eyes and drawing herself up beside her chum.  “Goodness, isn’t that water delicious to-night?” she added, wriggling her toes luxuriously in the rippling wavelets.  “Just cool enough to be refreshing and not cold enough to chill you——­” She broke off suddenly and sat staring, her eyes widening and her body tense.

“Girls,” she said in a queer voice, for Mollie and Amy had also drawn themselves up on the bank, “have I gone crazy, or what is the matter with me?  Do you see—­ what—­ I see—­ up there?”

Alarmed, the girls followed the direction of her strained gaze, and suddenly they seemed to feel themselves congeal with momentary horror.

Far above them on the bank near the falls and on the other side of the river, stood the crouched-up, animal-like figure of—­ the “Thing!”

CHAPTER XXIV

 Recovered

The sight was almost too much for the girls.  What they felt was sheer animal panic and they wanted to run away—­ anywhere—­ just so they put distance enough between them and that figure on the bank.

“Sit still,” Betty commanded them, recovering her presence of mind.  “That is Professor Dempsey up there, and if we make any sudden sound we are sure of frightening him away.”

“But he was killed—­ we saw it,” moaned Amy.  “That must be his g-ghost.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” snapped Mollie, her thoughts working along with Betty’s “You know you don’t believe in ghosts.”

“But how—­” Amy was beginning when Betty interrupted sharply.