“The steps that lead up to it are not dreamy either,” said Mrs. Dunlee.  “Real granite; and there’s a large flag up there floating from the evergreen tree.”

The “boyoes” had already climbed the steps, and Nate called down to Mrs. Dunlee, “It’s the Mexican flag!” But she had known that at a glance.  The colors were red, white, and green, and the device was an eagle on a prickly pear with a snake in his mouth.

“I wonder if there’s anybody at home,” said Nate, and would have lifted the knocker if Jimmy had not said, “Wait for Uncle James.”

Jimmy thought as Uncle James was the leader of the expedition he should be the one to do the knocking, or at any rate to tell them when to knock.  Nate himself had not thought of this.  He was not so refined as Jimmy, either by nature or by training.

Everybody had climbed the steps now.  The older people were enjoying the magnificent view; but Bab and Lucy were looking for the two toads who had been seen going up to the castle together, the well toad taking the lame toad’s foot in his mouth.

“I wish they were both here,” said Uncle James, “for you would like to see them take that little journey.”

“And the Mexican who built this air-castle,” said Aunt Vi, “is he here this summer?”

“No, he died last spring.”

“Died?” echoed little Eddo, who had heard that dying means “going up in the sky.”  “What made him die, mamma?  Didn’t he like it down here?”

Then without waiting for a reply he added most tenderly and unexpectedly, “Isn’t it nice that you’re not dead, mamma?”

“Why do you think that, my son?” she asked, wondering what he would say.

“Oh, be-cause I am so glad about it.”  And at this sweet little speech his mother caught him up in her arms and kissed him.  How could she help it?

“Now,” said Uncle James, “let us see if we can enter the castle.  ’Open locks whoever knocks.’  Try it, boys.”

Nate lifted the knocker and pounded with a will.  There was no answer or sign of life.

“Let’s see if this will help us,” said Uncle James, taking a key from his vest pocket:—­

    “For I’m the keeper of the keys,
    And I do whatever I please.”

The key actually fitted the lock, the door opened at once, and they all entered the castle.

“Mr. Templeton lent me the key,” explained Mr. Sanford.  “He said the castle was as empty as a last year’s bird’s nest, but I thought we might like to take a look at it.”

“We do, oh, we do,” said Lucy.  “Isn’t it queer?  Just two rooms and nothing in ’em at all!  Oh, Bab, let’s you and I bring some dishes up here and keep house!  Here’s a cupboard right in the wall.”

“I guess it’s Mother Hubbard’s cupboard, it looks bare enough.  Just a table in the room and one old chair,” exclaimed Edith.

“I’m glad we came in, though,” said Kyzie.  “Isn’t it beautiful to stand in the door and look down, down, and see Castle Cliff right at your feet?  And off there a city—­Why, what’s that noise?”