es broke forth from the
haunted castle, the two men started wildly on the run. Faster and
faster grew their pace as Monkey blew more furiously on his home-made
"goose-call" with telling effect. As they passed the spot where Hugh
and the other three scouts were lying in concealment, the alarmed
pair could be heard giving vent to excited remarks, and some strong
language as well, though neither of them seemed to possess the nerve
to turn his head and look back so as to find out if they were being
pursued.

So they went out of sight along the crooked trail they had made in
approaching the deserted mansion; though for several minutes afterwards
the sound of frequent collisions with trees, and stumbles over hidden
vines proclaimed that their panic showed no signs of abating.

CHAPTER III

TAKING POSSESSION

"Don't all laugh at once," cautioned the scout master, knowing that an
outburst was imminent.

Understanding what was meant, the boys threw themselves down upon the
ground and gave way to merriment that was none the less overpowering
because it had to be indulged in "with the soft pedal on," as Arthur
artfully expressed it.

While they, were still enjoying themselves in this fashion, Monkey
Stallings joined them. He had a huge grin on his rather odd-looking,
face, showing that he felt fully satisfied with his recent fine work.

"Say, did I do the thing up in good style, boys?" he demanded.

"I should say you did, Monkey!" burst out Billy. "Makes me think of
one of Aesop's fables I used to read ever so long ago, about the lion
and the donkey out hunting together."

"Suppose you tell us about it then," suggested Arthur, a little wickedly,
for he had, in truth, a pretty fair idea concerning its nature.

"Why," proceeded Billy, hastily, "it seems they discovered a flock of
goats in a cave, and the donkey suggested that he disguise himself
with an old lion skin they found, and go in to scare the goats out,
when the lion standing by the exit could kill the game. When he had
hee-hawed and kicked up such a rumpus that the poor goats dashed out,
to meet their fate at the exit, the donkey finally came along and
proudly asked the lion what he thought of his antics. 'Splendid,'
said the lion, or something like that, and I guess you'd have frightened
me, too, if I hadn't known you were only a donkey!"

Monkey Stallings hardly knew whether that, was intended for a compliment
or not, but he laughed because th