The moon
had risen, and we could see the islands in and beyond the lagoon quite
plainly, but there was no object visible to account for such a cry. A
strong gust of wind was blowing from the point whence the sound came,
but this died away while we were gazing out to sea.
"What can it be?" said Peterkin in a low whisper, while we all
involuntarily crept closer to each other.
"Do you know," said Jack, "I have heard that mysterious sound twice
before, but never so loud as to-night. Indeed it was so faint that I
thought I must have merely fancied it, so, as I did not wish to alarm
you, I said nothing about it."
We listened for a long time for the sound again, but as it did not
come, we returned to the bower and resumed our work.
"Very strange," said Peterkin, quite gravely. "Do you believe in
ghosts, Ralph?"
"No," I answered, "I do not. Nevertheless I must confess that strange,
unaccountable sounds, such as we have just heard, make me feel a little
uneasy."
"What say you to it, Jack?"
"I neither believe in ghosts nor feel uneasy," he replied. "I never saw
a ghost myself, and I never met with any one who had; and I have
generally found that strange and unaccountable things have almost
always been accounted for, and found to be quite simple on close
examination. I certainly can't imagine what _that_ sound is; but
I'm quite sure I shall find out before long, and if it's a ghost I'll
--I'll--"
"Eat it," cried Peterkin.
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