rry
solemnly.

"Nonsense. I guess we will elect you to watch the houseboat to-night.
How about it?" demanded George.

"I don't care."

"But don't you dare go to sleep."

"What if I do?"

"You will get a ducking," interjected Sam. "You will get your
distinguished head held under water until you're wide awake."

The plan, however, was put into operation soon after their arrival at
the camp. They watched the "Red Rover" together until all the lights
except the anchor light, had been put out. They knew, by this sign, that
the Meadow-Brook Girls had retired for the night. The Tramp Club then
went to bed, leaving Larry on guard. All he could see of the "Red Rover"
was the anchor light, the night being very dark and a little hazy. But
he never lost sight of this anchor light for more than a few moments at
a time. Were the girls to get away without his discovering it he knew
what to expect at the hands of his companions. Then again, Larry Goheen
prided himself on his keenness. It would be very humiliating to be
outwitted by the girls. He, with the rest of the boys fully believed
that the girls were planning some trick for that night.

Larry watched that anchor light until just before the break of day, when
he called Sam to come out and take the watch until breakfast time. The
daylight had not yet become pronounced enough to make out objects
distinctly, but shortly after Sam took the watch the day broke bright
and clear. The anchor light seemed to fade away and merge into thin air
before his very eyes. He did not stop to reason that this was because
the morning light had become stronger than that of the lantern.

Sam blinked and rubbed his eyes. He could hardly believe what they told
him. He uttered a yell that brought his companions out on the run.

"What's up?" shouted Billy.

"Everything. They've tricked us! They've gone!" cried Sam.

"They have, I do declare," added George in a hushed tone. "When did they
go?"

"Just now. I saw them."

"You were asleep," rebuked Billy.

"I wasn't! They disappeared! They went up in thin air."

Just then they were interrupted by a long, piercing wail that seemed to
come from the air above and around them. The boys gazed into each others
faces.

"It's a banshee's wail," whispered Larry. "Somebody's going to die."

CHAPTER XVIII

A FRUITLESS SEARCH

"Don't be an idiot, Larry," rebuked If Billy Gordon. "Don't you know
what that was?"

"Yes. I told you," whisper