named Joe Bright, hanging around.

"Well, Joe, what's doing?" he questioned.

"Nuthin'," answered Joe. "Say, are you fellows going on a trip to
Lake Narsac?"

Yes."

"Ain't you afraid of the hobgoblins up there?"

"Not particularly."

"My uncle was up there once and the hobgoblins took his things away
from him."

"What did they take?" asked Whopper.

"Took his coat, which he had hung on a tree while he was fishing,
and took his basket of fish, too. Say, he was scared when he saw
that thing, I can tell you. He wouldn't go there again!"

"Did he see the ghost?" asked Shep.

"No, he didn't see anything, but he heard it moan and groan, and
heard it say something about being cold and hungry."

"We are not afraid," said Snap, as bravely as he could. "We are
going to keep our eyes peeled for that ghost, and if it shows itself
there will be some shooting done. By the way, Joe, how long have