Goin' t' rain sartin.' I was nodding a little about then, I remember; but I was wide awake when he took me out of the basket The old house stood on a high hill, and we could see the stars of heaven through the ruined door and one of the back windows.

Uncle Eb lifted the leaning door a little and shoved it aside.

We heard then a quick stir in the old house--a loud and ghostly rattle it seems now as I think of it--like that made by linen shaking on the line.

Uncle Eb took a step backward as if it had startled him.
'Guess it's nuthin' to be 'fraid of;' he said, feeling in the pet of his coat He had struck a match in a moment.

By its flickering light I could see only a bit of rubbish on the floor.
'Full o' white owls,' said he, stepping inside, where the rustling was now continuous.