Perhaps the peons were not so far wrong! The ghosts did come back to their old abodes.

Ned was glad that he was not alone.

Even without Obed the company of brigands would have been a help.

He lay still a long time.
The coals of the fire went out, one by one, and where they had glowed only black ashes lay.

The wind among the ruins played all kinds of strange variations, and Ned was never more awake in his life.