Dave: "Go out and see if he's in the barn!"

Dave fidgetted. He did n't like the idea. Joe giggled.

"Surely you're not FRIGHTENED?" Dad shouted.

Dave coloured up.

"No--don't think so," he said; and, after a pause, "YOU go and see."

It was Dad's turn to feel uneasy. He pretended to straighten the fire,
and coughed several times. "Perhaps it's just as well," he said, "to let
him be to-night."

Of course, Dad was n't afraid; he SAID he was n't, but he drove the pegs
in the doors and windows before going to bed that night.

Next morning, Dad said to Dave and Joe, "Come 'long, and we'll see where
he's got to."

In a gully at the back of the grass-paddock they found him. He was
ploughing--sitting astride the highest limb of a fallen tree, and, in a
hoarse voice and strange, calling out--"Gee, Captain!--come here,
Tidy!--WA-AY!"

"Blowed if I know," Dad muttered, coming to a standstill. "Wonder if he
is clean mad?"

Dave was speechless, and Joe began to tremble.