Joe and Roger secured some fine branches of the spruces that Dorothy had
wished for, Ned got quite a supply of pine branches, which he declared,
"could go up just as they were," while the other boys devoted themselves
to the laurel hunt. Finally a large hedge of this all-winter green shrub
was discovered, and in a short time the Fire Bird was loaded up with a
splendid supply of Christmas evergreens.
"I guess that will do," announced Nat, as the little boys piled in their
armfuls. "We have to sit some place, you know."
"What's that?" asked Ned as something rustled along the path.
"A lady!" almost whispered Roland, as if fearful that they might be blamed
for their pillaging.
At that instant a small woman hurried down the other branch of the path,
and called lightly to some one on the roadway.
She evidently did not see the Fire Bird party, for she was on an opposite
path, with a deep hedge between them and her.
"The ghost!" whispered Roger, all eager for some new excitement.
[Illustration: "SHE CALLED LIGHTLY TO SOME ONE ON THE ROADWAY."--_Page_
108.]
"Sure as you live!" answered Nat. "That's not human--it's too flimsy
and--flighty."
It did seem that the person flitted about in a strange sort of way, first
calling, then whistling.
But there was some one waiting.
"There's a carriage," said Joe, crawling under a bush to get a better view
of the other path.
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