CHAPTER I

The haunted make-believe “Castle.”

It was about the middle of a fall afternoon, and Friday at that, when five well-grown lads, clad in faded khaki suits that proclaimed them to be Boy Scouts, dropped down upon a moss covered log near a cold spring at which they had just quenched their thirst.

The one who acted as leader, and to whom the others often deferred, answered to the name of Hugh.  He was, indeed, Hugh Hardin, assistant scout master; and the others were also full-fledged members of the Oakvale Boy Scout Troop of which so much has been written and told.

Those fortunate readers who are familiar with previous volumes in this series need no introduction to these lively lads.

For the benefit of others who have not up to this time made their acquaintance, it may be said that the boy next to Hugh was Alec Sands; the stout, rosy-cheeked fellow with the beaming face, Billy Worth; the slender one, Arthur Cameron; and the uneasy chap “Monkey” Stallings, so nicknamed on account of his pet hobby for hanging by his toes from the cross-pieces of telegraph poles, or the lofty limbs of forest trees.

It might also be noted further that Hugh was known as a fine all-round scout; Arthur’s leading specialty lay in the line of amateur surgery, at which he was wonderfully proficient; Alec gave the leader a pretty good race in nearly every line of scout activity, while Billy,—–­well, to be frank, Billy’s strong points might be set down as an everlasting fund of cheery good-nature, and a remarkable capacity for stowing away “grub.”

Apparently the boys were out on some sort of fall hike.  Each had burdened himself not only with a pack but a blanket as well, the latter secured, after the usual military habit, across one shoulder.

Each fellow also depended on a stout staff that, in a way, answered for an Alpine stock, should they have to climb any hills.  Besides, it was handy as a weapon of defense in case they were attacked by a vicious dog.

“Well, the time limit you set has come, Alec,” Hugh was saying after they had stretched themselves along the convenient log.

“Yes,” burst out Billy, eagerly, “you promised to tell us all what you confided to Hugh before he agreed to get up this little weekend hike.  I’m burning with curiosity to know what’s in the wind.”

“We’ve taken a leap in the dark, you see,” added Arthur, “because when Hugh said it would be well worth our while we just trusted him.  Now, open up, Alec, and relieve our suspense.  You said the next time we stopped you’d begin to explain all this dark mystery.”

“Me, too,” exclaimed the Stallings boy, who was always turning his restless eyes upward, as though seeking some enticing branch where he could exercise his favorite antics.

Alec Sands laughed softly.