o be a bit
more nervous than usual.

Monkey Stallings led them around to one side of the rambling building.
As they went, they were loud in their expressions of amazement and
even delight, for really, it was an impressive sight to the eyes of
American lads not accustomed to crumbling ruins of old-time castles,
where doughty knights of the Middle Ages may have fought in tournament
with lance and sword.

"Wait up a bit, please, fellows!" suddenly exclaimed Alec. "I couldn't
find a better view of the castle than right here, with that sun blazing
along the walls, the turrets and that magnificent donjon tower. I
want every one of you to be in the picture at that, so place yourselves
as I tell you."

Alec was something of a photographer, and had many good views in a
book at home. He fully expected to do wonderful things with this
expensive outfit, since the lens alone cost three times as much as
his other camera complete.

When he had snapped off several views he declared himself satisfied.

"In the morning, if the weather holds good," he remarked as he gave
them the "high sign" that he was through, and that they need not pose
any longer, "I mean to pick up a couple of views from the other side.
The morning sun will allow me to do that, you understand. And now,
Monkey, where did you climb inside?"

They were soon able to gain the interior after the same manner in
which the pilot of the exploring expedition had accomplished it.
Monkey's sharp eyes had discovered a small opening that might be called
a slit in the solid wall, after the fashion of those to be seen in
the dwellings of Moors and Arabs and Turks. It was easy enough for
each boy in turn to squeeze himself through that slender gap, though
once there arose a serious doubt in Billy's mind as to whether he
would not stick fast, and have to be pushed through with a rammer,
much to his bodily discomfort.

Two fellows behind assisted his progress, while the others in advance
gave him a helping hand, so that finally Billy gained his end, though
he could long afterwards be seen ruefully rubbing his elbows and hips
as though they had been scraped in the passage.

After that they left their packs in one of the lower apartments, while
they roamed all through the wonderful interior. Apparently money
had not been spared in the erection of an imitation castle, though
Hugh found, in some places where what was supposed to be solid rock,
proved to be only wood, skillf