"We shall be expelled if it comes out!" groaned Dell.
"Yes; we may as well tell him at once," said Morgan.

"He may not be there, you know; perhaps we'd better wait and see, in case." So they went on in the doctor's wake, nearer and nearer to the fatal cross roads at every step.
Suddenly, as they came within a hundred yards of the signpost, the doctor stood still and uttered an exclamation, the meaning of which they were able to guess only too readily.

Straining their eyes in the direction indicated, they could discern a white shadowy form hovering in the road before them.

"What's that ?" exclaimed the doctor in a whisper.
Dell was conscious of a secret nudge as Morgan gasped--"Oh, it looks like a ghost! Oh, doctor!" and the two boys clung wildly to the doctor's arm, trembling and gasping with well-feigned terror.
Dr Prudhom trembled too, but his agitation was unfeigned.

The three stood still breathless, and watched the dim figure as it hovered across their path, and then vanished into the darkness.
"What can it be ?" said the doctor, bracing himself up with an effort, and preparing to walk on.
"Oh, please, sir," cried the boys, "don't go on! do let us turn back! Oh dear! oh dear!" "Foolish boys!" said the doctor; "haven't you sense enough to know that no such thing as--ah! there it is again!" Yes, there it was again.