The young are more susceptible to superstitious fears, as a rule, than
older people; they are not skeptical.

Desmond listened a long time, and as he did not hear the noise again,
and feeling an intense desire to find the hidden treasure, he again went
to the rock pocket and plunged in, but immediately there came again the
groan, clear, distinct, and unmistakable, and also a voice commanding:

"Go away, go away; do not disturb my gold."

The lad leaped out into the main cave again, and he trembled from head
to foot. He had never received such a shock in all his life; he had
never really believed in ghosts--never thought much about them
indeed--but here he had at least evidence that the dead did watch their
treasures. Still, the desire to secure the wealth was strong upon him;
naturally he was, as our readers know, very nervy, and he determined to
argue with the ghost. He reasoned that the hidden wealth could be of no
benefit to the spirit where he was, and he thought he might talk him
into keeping quiet.

It was in a trembling voice that Desmond asked:

"Is the spirit here?"

The answer came:

"I am here."

A more experienced person than Desmond would have gotten on to the fact