n some story of excitement.

"Of course," continued Hugh, immediately, "we've got to take a look
around that same old quarry, and see what's going on. Somebody's
holding the fort there, even if it is said to be deserted. Who
and what he can be, of course, remains to be seen; but I'm not taking
a bit of stock in those old wives' yarns about a ghost, remember,
Horatio."

"Then we'll have to leave the car on the road, won't we, Hugh, when
we tackle this big job?" questioned Owen.

"Of course; and since I marked the best spot where anyone could make
their way along to the face of the quarry, we must start up again, and
keep moving till we strike that place."

"But, Hugh, do you think the---er---party making those signals with
a light could have noticed our illumination, and that message was
meant for us?" Horatio went on to ask, solicitously.

"I'm not prepared to say," he was told, "though I don't see how
anybody with eyes could miss discovering us coming along. And,
besides, the old car makes plenty of noise in the bargain, to attract
attention. So it looks as if he did know, and was trying to talk
to us."

All this only added to the thrill that was forever passing through
each and every member of the night expedition. It would be manifestly
impossible to describe their mixed feelings as they advanced slowly
along the rough road so long abandoned to nature. A dozen times
Horatio believed he heard cries; why, it seemed as though the air
must be filled with uncanny sounds, for his lively imagination was
working at race-horse speed just then.

The car stopped short.

"Wow! what's happened now, Hugh?" whisened Horatio.

"We've arrived at the getting-out place, that's all," came the steady
reply, as the chauffeur caused the engine to cease working and then
proceeded to leave his seat, after his companion had jumped out.

The lanterns were now lighted and the electric torch made ready for
use. If hands trembled considerably during this operation, causing
several matches to be used before the desired results were obtained,
could anyone blame Owen and the other possessor of a lantern? It was
a most remarkable thing that no one evinced the slightest disposition
to stay by the car, and guard it against thieves. It was a case of
"follow the leader," and where Hugh went they were all bound to go
also. To be honest, the chances were that Horatio, for one, could
not have been coaxed to separate himself from the c