such he
took Captain Mayberry to be.

"And don't you remember me?" he kept asking, satisfied that a gleam of
recognition did pass over the wrinkled face that now peered out into the
glare of the lamp from the Fire Bird. "Come! We are hungry, and you are
too, I'll wager. Let's have mess. Rations are plenty to-night."

Crawling like some animal, the old man was finally persuaded to come out
from behind the stove.

Major Dale laid his hand on the arm of Captain Mayberry.

[Illustration: "GO AWAY--I'M CRAZY, CRAZY!"--_Page_ 220.]

"Just out here," directed the major, leading the trembling one. "You see,
we have taken possession of your house. Tell me how you feel? How you
are?"

Major Dale wanted him to talk, both to quiet the girls' fears and to
determine his actual state of mind. But Captain Mayberry's speech was very
slow, and decidedly confused.

"I--guess--I'm all right--now," he managed to utter. "Where's--Jane?"

"Jane? Oh, yes, Jane," repeated the major. "That's your sister, Miss
Pumfret?"

"Was--not now. She locks me up--leaves me to die!"

"Oh, now, come. Isn't it Jane who brings you things to eat?" asked the
major, venturing a guess. "Why, didn't she send--the coal--and the bread?"

"Yes, yes," answered the old man, "but she will not let me go. She drove
me crazy. Yes, and I'm crazy now."

"Not a bit of it. Here, sit down on this seat," and Major Dale motioned to
Tom. "This young man will stay by you to keep you company while we prepare
the mess. Perhaps you will show us how to get water? And have you any way
of lighting up?"

A look of intelligence crossed Captain Mayberry's face. He shuffled over
to a corner, and actually pressed a button.

The chandeliers poured out a flood of electric light.

"Jane did that," he muttered. "She likes light."

"Well, I'll be hanged!" exclaimed Tom.

"And I'll be jiggered!" added Nat.

"The poor old man!" whispered Dorothy, venturing to take a step toward
him. "And to think we were afraid of him!"

"Were!" remarked Tavia significantly. "I'm just scared to death this very
minute. Suppose he screams again?"

"What if he does?" Dorothy whispered back. "Surely he has more cause to
fear us than we have to fear him. I'm going to--help--with things."

Abe stood with wide-open mouth surveying "the ghost."

Tom and Nat had brought the relief supplies from the wagon--old Abe's
strongest carry-all--which had successfully weathered the snowdrifts
between Tanglewo