ing moved.
Perhaps, in the days when Judge Randall lived in his romantic castle,
this massive hall had been decorated after the usual custom of feudal
times. Hugh could easily imagine shining suits of armor standing
grimly in, the corners, like sentries on guard. He had detected marks
on the walls betraying the fact that at some time they had borne all
manner of relics of long-past age of chivalry, so that the illusion
might be complete. But now they stood there bare and cold, and a
chilly draught came down from the empty regions above that made the
boy shiver.

Then he heard the strange sounds again. They were clearer now than
before.

"One thing certain," muttered Hugh, between his set teeth, "whatever
makes that noise it comes from up above. And the thing for me to do
is to climb the stairs; so here goes."

If he felt any hesitation he did not show it as he made his way to
the foot of the broad stairway and commenced mounting, step after step.
Always the sounds seemed to grow a little clearer, and this fact told
Hugh his scout instinct must be truly leading him directly toward the
place from which they issued.

He had reached the second floor, and was pushing steadily onward.
Several times he stopped short to listen, nor would he make a move
at such intervals unless he had received his clue again. Not once
did he manifest any weakness in the line of shrugging his shoulders,
and saying that it was none of his business if the night air played
pranks by forcing its way through some hole in the wall, with a whine
and a gurgle.

When Hugh once set himself a task it was his nature to carry the thing
through to the end. He would despise himself if he allowed any weak
fear to triumph over his common-sense.

A brief time later he found himself standing near where he knew one
of the several turrets stood. He remembered now that while they had
investigated more or less of the big building, they were forced to
skip several portions, leaving them for the next morning's survey;
and doubtless this turret chamber must have been in the list of those
unexplored places.

"Whatever it may be," Hugh was telling himself, "the thing making all
that noise is in there! I'll listen once more, and then take a peek."

When he again heard the gurgling, the fluttering, and the strange
whimpering Hugh had his hand on the door knob. He quickly threw the
barrier open and flashed his light into the chamber.

Instantly there was