AN APPARITION. BARN OWL. 43 



CHAPTER VIII. 



An Eerie Night. A Ghostly Apparition. The Barn Owl. A Will-o'-the 

 Wisp. The Ruff and Keeve. Snaring Ruffs. A Nest. \Vroxham 

 Broad. Mud-boards and Leaping-pole. Wild Duck's Nest in a Tree. 



As the night fell the wind rose and moaned dismally over the 

 marsh, and black clouds covered the sky, so that the night 

 promised to be dirtier than usual at this time of the year. 

 Lonely marshes stretched far and wide, with nothing to break 

 their wild monotony save the ghostlike ruins of the Abbey in 

 the foreground. It was not a pleasant night for the boys to 

 spend out for the first time alone, and an eerie sort of feeling 

 crept over them in spite of their efforts to appear at ease. 



At length Dick said 



" I feel as if wild beasts were prowling about on the watch 

 for us, and that if we went to sleep we should be eaten up 

 alive." 



" So do I," admitted Frank ; " but I suppose it will wear 

 away in time. But what is that ? " he exclaimed, in a startled 

 tone, as an unearthly cry sounded among the ruins of the 

 Abbey, and a white shape was dimly seen gliding between the 

 broken windows. 



The boys gazed in breathless silence at this apparition. 

 The cause of their alarm, however, was made plain to 

 them, as a white o\vl came forth on noiseless wings, and 

 fluttered stealthily over the marsh. They laughed heartily at 

 their fright, but their laugh sounded forced and unnatural. It 

 was so weird and lonely outside, that they went into the 

 cabin and lit the lamp, and strove to make a cheerful supper. 

 Then they undressed and tried to make themselves comfortable 

 for the night. Frank .took the hammock, and Dick and Jimmy 

 the berths at each side. They left the lamp burning dimly 

 for company's sake, but they could not go to sleep. The 

 water lapping against the planks of the yacht and amid the 

 stems of the reeds, the wind sighing over the waste fen, and 



