62 DOGGED JA CK.

 "I'm not sure that we ought to do this," said he,
 as he handed the things to Adolphus.
 "Fiddlesticks! I'll take all the blame, and I'll be
 the ghost. Shall I show you first what a splendid
 ghost it makes?" asked Adolphus.
 Do, there's no harm in my seeing it; Polly mustn't,
though," said Jack thoughtfully. "She is so nervous
that she would not sleep all night afterwards."
 "And I don't care to see it, either," said Florinda;
" suppose you boys go into another room and leave
Polly and me by the nursery fire ? You can come
and tell us how the fun has gone off afterwards."
 Accordingly this arrangement was agreed on, and
the two boys adjourned to Jack's room.
 "Jacko," whispered Polly, holding her brother by
the jacket as he was leaving the room, I hope if you
do it, that it won't make a practical joke; you know
father is vexed sometimes when you do funny
things."
 "All right, little-woman," said Jack, kissing her
hurriedly, and running off to Adolphus.
 When the latter had shut the door, he poured some
whisky into the saucer which he first half filled with
salt, and then, folding himself up in the sheet, he set
fire to the spirit and held the saucer before his face.
 Even our plucky Jack was surprised and partly
horrified at the result! Seen through the flames of