I sent out a flying thought to Dirk and his vow of vengeance. Could it be possible that Jenny's father was the King's Man? "Jenny," I said, "I tell you it's a ghost. I've heard it before. I've seen it." And to take her mind from her father I told her a jumbled-up story, part true, part imaginary, of how once I thought I had heard my friend calling to me in the night, and had risen, and had been led I knew not where, and had found a skeleton in the darkness; and it was the ghost of the skeleton that had been calling me all the time. I ended: "They call as though it's somebody you know. Then you want to get up and go to them, and then they catch you." Jenny lay quiet for a minute, then said, "Tommy, that's a lovely story. Tell me another." I was immensely relieved to realize that she didn't believe me, for as I finished the tale it came to me with a flash of fear that she might want to know how it was I had ever lived in the house. "To-morrow," I answered her, for I was weary. I expected her to insist in her imperious way on another recital then and there, but she said, "I'm tired, Tommy. Good night." "Good night," I returned, and was soon asleep. I awoke early, and crept out of my cover. Jenny was still sleeping. I threw her a look; then crossed to the window, and climbed down. When I arrived on the scene for breakfast the Captain was somewhat surprised to see me. "Back again?" he cried. I looked at Jenny and answered, "I'm not going to school any more." The Captain laughed uproariously; but Jenny said, "You'll stay at school with me. Daddy'll teach us." I thought then that school had prospects of interest for a boy. CHAPTER XVI ABOU For a few days I was so happy that I believe I had even forgotten my father. The Captain was immensely amused at the decided way in which I had established myself as one of the household, and when I told him I had no intention of returning to Rancey Bridge he chuckled delightedly to himself as though at some secret joke, and then in a whisper confided to me that he too had run away from school, nodding his head at me and winking shrewdly.