CHAPTER XXVI WHEREIN I LEARN MORE CONCERNING THE GHOST OF THE RUINED HUT
And after the Ancient and Simon and I had, very creditably, emptied the jug between us, I rose to depart.
"Peter," said the Ancient, "wheer be goin'?"
"Home!" said I.
"And wheer be that?"
"The cottage in the Hollow," said I.
"What—th' 'aunted cottage?" he cried, staring.
"Yes," I nodded; "from what I saw of it, I think, with a little repairing, it might suit me very well."
"But the ghost?" cried the old man; "have ye forgot the ghost?"
"Why, I never heard of a ghost really harming any one yet," I answered.
"Peter," said Simon, quietly, "I wouldn't be too sure o' that. I wouldn't go a-nigh the place, myself; once is enough for me."
"Simon," said I, "what do you mean by 'once'?"
Now when I asked him this,
