More horrible still, it welcomed it with a dry, hollow laugh, which chilled the watcher to the immortal soul.
Then it turned its head, and at that moment, calling up all the courage which he possessed, the captain sprang, with a hoarse, gutteral shriek in his dry, hot throat, upon the figure.
He felt to his astonishment, even in his terror, his hands grasp something firm, and then he knew that the ghost's boney hands were round his neck.
But the reckless courage born from very despair filled him, and he exerted his tremendous strength as if he was using it against a human being.
He clasped the figure in his muscular arms and threw his whole weight upon it, forcing it gradually but surely.
Inch by inch, the figure gave way; the floor was reached, the captain with a cry of mad excitement forced it backward upon the stone, then raised his life-preserver and aimed a deadly blow at the skull face.
Then there arose a shout of warning and an oath from the white, skinless lips, and a man's voice came through them hoarsely and panting:
The captain staggered back with petrifying astonishment.
The next moment he had hurled the figure to the ground, had planted his knees upon its chest, and, leveling his revolver at its head, hissed out:
"Move an inch, speak a word, and I will shoot you like a dog."
Then with the other hand he tore off the skull mask, flung it aside and glared down with a smile of triumph and malice upon the weather-beaten face of Willie Sanderson!
The captain drew a long breath, shifted his knee a little on the chest of the prostrate man and smiled.
That smile was a study of malignant triumph and conscious power.
"Soh!" he said, between his teeth, and weighing the revolver in his hand with its barrel still pointed to the prostrate man, "soh, you are the ghost, my fine fellow? You are the White Nun who terrifies honest people out of their wits?"
Willie struggled for breath and grinned with daring audacity.
"I give in, captain. Give me a little more breathing room," and he groaned.
The captain smiled, released his prisoner, and, seating himself complacently, with the revolver still conveniently leveled, watched keenly the huge Willie rise, shake himself and draw a long breath of relief.