Dan Carter And The Haunted Castle Part 17

"Perfectly."

"The same person who shot at the target today must have hidden out in the woods at that other estate."

"The place isn't far from here," Brad remarked, gazing thoughtfully toward the woods. "I wish we could find out who is spying on us."

"We know a couple of things about him," Dan said with a laugh. "He's a dandy shot with the longbow, and besides, he's something of a show-off!"

Presently the two boys rejoined the other Cubs. Ross, they learned, had complained that he was tired, and had caught a ride into Webster City.

"Tired, my right eye!" Dan snorted. "He was afraid we would nail him on that job, and wasn't taking any chances."

Since the day of their encounter with the unfriendly gardener, Brad had sought without success to learn who owned the estate. Reminded of his lack of information, the boy made inquiry of Mr. Holloway.

"I did hear who is living there," the Den Dad said, trying to recollect.

"The place is rented, I believe, to a retired army colonel. Someone told me he is seriously ill."

"You don't recall his name?"

"Can't think of it now, Brad. It may come to me later."

"I wonder if the owner has any children?"

"Not that I heard of, Brad. But then, I never had any particular interest. Anything on your mind, Brad?"

"No, I was merely curious about our neighbors. I've been wondering too, who that mysterious archer may be."

"Whoever he is, he's an expert with the bow," Mr. Holloway declared. "I wish we could catch him though. Accurate as he is, he shouldn't be shooting whenever the urge strikes him. He might hit someone."

Presently the Cubs brought their day's rehearsal to a close. Mr. Holloway told the boys he would develop the films and have them ready for a showing by the following night.

"We're getting along well," he praised the Cubs. "I hear though, that some of the organizations competing for the prize are spending considerable on scenery and costumes. So we'll have to work hard if we hope to win."

The next morning Dan and Brad spent several hours working with Mr.

Hatfield to improve the script for their play. That job completed, they went to their separate homes for lunch and then met again at Brad's home.

By this hour the weather had turned very sultry, but with no indication of rain.

"It's going to be a hot, dusty walk out to the Castle," Brad remarked as he and Dan set off down the highway. "I thought maybe Dad would drive us out, but he had some other work to do."

"The worst will be if we get out there and discover Ross hasn't cleaned up the brush," Dan added.

Fearing the worst, both boys had equipped themselves with large rakes and cutting tools. The articles were c.u.mbersome to carry. Before they had covered three-quarters of the distance, both Brad and Dan were covered with perspiration.

"This day is a scorcher," Dan declared, mopping his forehead. "The paper this morning warned householders to go easy on using water. The shortage is acute."

Brad had spied a roadside stand a short distance ahead.

"I'll treat you to a bottle of pop," he invited. "That will revive us so we can get to the Castle without wilting."

"I can sure use a little moisture," Dan accepted readily. "Lead me to it."

A woman in blue gingham operated the stand, selling vegetables and a few soft drinks.

The boys bought and paid for their pop, sipping the cool liquid slowly. A friendly individual, the woman asked them about the Cub Scout organization, its aims and purpose.

Brad politely explained that Den 1 and Den 2 were included in a larger cla.s.sification known as the Pack. Cub advancement, he pointed out, was based upon the completion of a set of achievements.

"When a boy finishes Wolf requirements, he is awarded the Wolf Cub rank and badge," Dan carried on the explanation. "As soon as a Wolf Cub is ten years old, he works to complete the Bear Cub achievements. Upon reaching his eleventh birthday and after being a Bear, he may become a Lion Cub."

"You're a Lion?" inquired the operator of the stand.

"A Bear," Dan corrected. "Brad, though, is a Boy Scout as well as Den Chief. He keeps the younger boys in line for Mr. Hatfield."

"I try, you mean," laughed Brad. "As far as one Cub is concerned, I've not been very successful."

"Meaning Ross," grinned Dan. "Well, keep trying. You may soften him up in the end."

"If he hasn't done his work out at the Castle, I'm going to adopt drastic methods," Brad threatened. "Finished your drink, Dan? Let's move along before it gets any hotter."

The cool drinks scarcely quenched the thirst of the two boys. Before they had walked another quarter of a mile, they were as miserable as before.

"No drinking water at the Castle either," Dan remarked. "We should have brought our canteens."

The boys pa.s.sed a farmhouse and rounded a hill. From the summit, they were afforded a clear view of the wooded castle area.

The stone building with its many odd-shaped towers and turrets appeared as a dark blot against the sky. Behind it, the horizon seemed misty.

"Say, is that haze or smoke?" Brad demanded, halting on the brow of the hill.

"It's smoke!" exclaimed Dan. "And it seems to be coming from the woods directly behind the Castle! Maybe Ross is out there burning up the trash."

"If he is, the fire has gone out of control!" Brad cried in alarm. "Come on, Dan! We've got to get there quick!"

CHAPTER 11 Fire

The two boys dashed down the hill, climbed a fence, and raced across a cleared field toward the castle property.

As they ran, they were increasingly alarmed to observe that the column of smoke rapidly was growing blacker.

"It's coming from directly behind the Castle!" Brad cried.

"That's the area where Ross was supposed to clean up the brush," Dan panted, hard at his heels. "You don't think he was crazy enough to try to burn the stuff?"

"Don't know," Brad returned, leaping over a small ditch. "Everything is so dry, it will be hard to stop a fire once it gets any sort of start."