"Look there! Look there! My _God_, it is the ghost! Don't you all see
him? There he stands all in grey; see how his eyes are glaring at me and
he laughs when he says I must leave the house to-night or he will start
a fire in the loft under the roof and burn us all to death. Oh, what
shall I do, where shall I go; the ground is covered with snow--and yet I
cannot remain here, for he will do what he threatens; he always does."

"Oh, I wish I were dead." After this exclamation, she fell to the floor
and burst into an agony of grief. "Well," said Dan, after lifting her
up, "Something will have to be done, and quickly, too. The wind is
blowing hard to-night, and if the ghost does as he threatens, the house
will burn down sure, and perhaps the whole village. You must go, Esther.
Remember, I don't turn you out; it is this devil of a ghost who drives
you from your home."

They all knew none of the neighbors would shelter Esther, because they
all feared the ghost. What was to be done? Heaven only knew. It suddenly
occurred to Dan that John White would perhaps give her shelter, for he
had always taken a deep interest in the manifestations, and had often
expressed pity for the unhappy girl. So Dan, after putting on his heavy
coat--for it was snowing fast, and the night was intensely cold--went to
White's house. After knocking for some time, the door was opened by John
White himself. He looked at Dan a moment in amazement, and then
exclaimed in an inquiring tone:

"What's the matter, Teed? Has the house burned to the ground or has the
girl burst all to pieces?"

Dan explained his mission in a few words. When he had finished, White
thought a moment, and then said: