“Now cut that out!” snapped Piper sharply. “Can it! If there are no fish to be caught, how is anyone going to catch them?” “There must be plenty of fish in the lake,” said Grant. “Oh, yes, likely there is,” returned the disgruntled angler; “but they weren’t swarming around us. It was after sunset when Crane hooked that one, and it was pretty near pitch dark before we dipped him. No time to fish after that.” “Alas! it’s true,” sighed Springer—“it’s true that the finny denizens of the water take to dry land when they learn that Pipe is after them.” “Think up something original and new,” advised Sleuth. “You’ve worn that gag out.” “Anyway,” said Ben pacifyingly, “if we don’t get any more, this big fellow should provide a bite for us all. You didn’t return skunked, fellows; you had some excitement.” “Excitement!” said Crane, eager to tell of their remarkable experience. “I should say we did! Didn’t yeou fellers hear a dog howlin’ in the direction of Spirit Island a while ago?” “In the direction of Spirit Island?” said Grant quickly. “Yes, we heard it, but we reckoned the creature was over on the opposite shore.” “Well, it wasn’t,” asserted Sile; “it was right aout there on that island. Guess we know, for we was nigh enough to jump ashore.” “On the island!” cried the boys who had remained at the camp, looking at one another questioningly. “Are you sus-sure, Sile?” asked Springer. “Yeou bet I be. Sleuth knows. Ask him.” Piper nodded. “There’s no doubt about it,” he declared solemnly. “That wasn’t all, either,” added Crane. “We saw something.” While they listened in wonderment, he told of the two white figures resembling a dog and a man. “Oh, say, what do you tut-take us for?” snapped Phil. “You and Sleuth have been fuf-faking up a fine story, haven’t you?” “I told you, Crane,” said Piper, with a shake of his head—“I told you they wouldn’t believe it.” “Don’t care whether they do or not. It’s the straight goods, by jinks! We was goin’ to land on that island for a minute when we fust heard that critter howl, but afterwards Sleuthy didn’t have no stomach for landin’. Scat! Say, his teeth rattled jest like dice in a box.” “Now,” flung back Piper in hot resentment, “I knew you’d say that, and you were the one that was scared in the first place.” “If your story is true,” said Grant, “I opine you were both some disturbed; and this adds interest to the yarn of the fanciful Mr. Granger. What do you think about that now, Sleuth?” “Piffle,” pronounced Piper. “Anyone knows there are no such things as spooks.” “Then what did you see on the island?” “We saw two white things that resembled a dog and a man. What they were I’m not ready to assert at this time.” “Whatever they were,” said Rodney, “I’m for visiting Spirit Island tomorrow.” The boys had plenty to talk about all through supper, at which Piper and Crane demonstrated that their unusual experience had not dulled the edge of their appetites.