oodwork.

"That's it!" declared the major, examining the crack carefully. "But where
might it open?"

All, even old Abe, felt the wall, up and down, covering every inch within
reach.

"There!" exclaimed the major finally. "I've covered a square. It opens
from the other side. Tom, here with your ax!"

Dorothy and Tavia had heard every word. Now they stopped their ears. It
was too dreadful.

Blow after blow fell on the heavy woodwork.

Chop! Chop! Chop!

But not a word was spoken.

Then the sound of splintered wood.

The panel was falling in.

"Careful!" cautioned Major Dale.

"There she goes!"

Another scream!

"Here, now!" cried the major, seizing the lamp and dashing through the
opening with the agility of a schoolboy. "Just surrender, and stop that!"

But he almost fell back--Tom's arm saved him.

"I never!" he exclaimed. "It's old Captain Mayberry!"

CHAPTER XXIV

THE RESCUE

The sight that had so suddenly shocked Major Dale and his helpers was
indeed appalling.

Within the secret room they had found a man, not a ghost nor a demon, but
a sick, almost helpless old man--the once popular Captain Mayberry.

At a glance it was plain he was in hiding in the wretched place, and the
surroundings showed he had food and some of life's necessities within
reach, although the very rats, whose presence were painfully evident, must
have enjoyed a keener advantage in the mansion, once proud of the name
"Mayberry."

Frightened almost into convulsions, the decrepit old man fell back into a
corner, his eyes glaring with the unmistakable gleam of insanity, and his
teeth chattering terribly.

A stove, barely alive with heat, served to shelter him from the intruders,
for he managed to get behind the old piece of iron, and there crouched and
shuddered.

"Come, come!" said Major Dale as quickly as he could command his voice.
"Don't you know me? Look! I'm Dale--of the Guards--come to save you, Cap.
We have no wish to frighten you!"

"Save me!" hissed the old man. "Go away! I'm crazy--crazy!"

"Not a bit of it," answered the major, stepping nearer to the stove. "Come
along. We are snowbound, and had to come in uninvited."

Assured that the specter was a man and nothing more nor less, Tom had
hurried back to reassure the girls. Nat turned his attention to old Abe,
and, between scolding and explaining, finally succeeded in quieting the
colored man's fears. But the major kept close to the lunatic--for