Hodge leaped from the bed and grappled with Frank as Merry came round the foot in pursuit of the mysterious visitor. Before he could realize his mistake Hans had clutched them both round the legs, chattering: “Safe me from der ghost! Safe me! safe me!” Frank broke away, but the visitor was gone. Merry rushed out of the room, but he was too late. This racket had aroused the others, and they came flocking from their rooms, demanding the cause of the trouble. “Hans had a bad case of nightmare, I think,” said Merry. They found the Dutchman with his head under the couch, whither he had attempted to crawl. Bart struck a light and Merry pulled Dunnerwurst out. “Vos der ghost gone alretty yet?” asked Hans, his teeth chattering. “There was no ghost,” assured Frank. “Don’d you toldt me so!” palpitated the frightened fellow. “Der ghost seen me mit my own eyes! Yah!” “Nonsense,” said Merriwell. “I tell you there was no ghost.” “Vot vos id dot seen me all in vite?” demanded Hans. “That was either Bart or myself. If you’re going to kick up such a disturbance you’ll have to sleep somewhere else.” It proved no simple matter to convince the Dutchman that he had not seen a ghost. The boys ridiculed him until he relapsed into sulky silence, and finally all went back to bed. “What was it, Merry?” asked Bart, when they were once more in bed. “Wasn’t there some person in this room?” “Sh!” cautioned Frank. “Don’t let Hans hear you. Some one was here.” “I thought so. What happened?” Merriwell told of hearing the singing and again falling asleep, to be finally aroused by the touch of an ice-cold hand and to hear the voice of a woman who seemed to fancy she was speaking to a sleeping babe. “I take no stock in spooks,” said Hodge; “but I’ll be rather pleased when we get out of this ranch.” “On the contrary,” averred Merry, “if it were not a breach of hospitality I’d like to remain here for the purpose of solving the mystery.” Ten minutes later he was sound asleep, and he slept soundly until morning. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XV CAMERON’S CHALLENGE. The boys were finishing their breakfast when John, the Chinaman, appeared and stated that there was a gentleman at the door who wished to speak with Frank. Frank left the table and went to the door, Hodge following him, in case there should be trouble. Carey Cameron was waiting on the step. “That heathen is decidedly inhospitable,” laughed Cameron pleasantly, removing a cigarette from his lips and holding it between a discolored thumb and forefinger. “He left me standing out here, like a huckster. But I understand that visitors—with the exception of yourselves—are not welcome in this house.” Merriwell waited for the man to announce why he had called.