he told them, "so
let's climb down out of this and get busy."

"I'll tell you what I think," ventured Billy as they were making for
outdoors once more. "Like as not that same family of owls has been
responsible for a lot of that silly talk about this place being haunted.
People imagine all sorts of things, you know, when they don't understand
queer sounds."

"Yes," retorted Alec, with a chuckle, "that's so, they do, Billy; and
I've known them to pull their heads under blankets. It's all very
well for you to talk so bravely when the sun's shining overhead; but
everybody knows how different things look and seem at midnight. We'll
forgive you this time, Billy, because the rest of us, all but Hugh
perhaps, were in something of the same boat, I'm afraid."

The photographic work went on apace, and as Alec had in times past
proven his abilities in this line, he was apparently justified in
believing that success was going to crown his present efforts.

"I tell you Aunt Susan will be tickled half to death when she gets
prints of these pictures," he remarked again and again as he worked,
never missing a single object that he considered would lend additional
enchantment to the views. "I ought to consider myself mighty lucky
to be presented with such a dandy camera as this. I've made sure
to fetch my daylight developing tank along with me, because if any
of the exposures turn out to be poor ones I'll have another chance
to duplicate the same tomorrow morning, even if it is Sunday."

"So far," observed Monkey Stallings, with a chuckle of satisfaction,
"there isn't any sign of those two hoboes turning up here again---which
pleases me a heap, let me tell you."

"Oh! no danger of them coming back again," Billy assured him. "They
got the scare of their lives when you tooted that goose-call. Long
before now that brace of tramps has struck the railroad ties, and are
making tracks for other regions where they don't have old castles
haunted by spooks."

The last picture was finally taken. Alec seemed satisfied with what he
had done.

"I've got two rolls of film left," he explained, "which I'm going to
hold for an emergency. You never know what may happen when you're
taking pictures. Something is apt to come along that you would give a
heap to get, and if you're out of films you feel like kicking yourself."

"You've got a long head on your shoulders, Alec," commented Arthur.
"I guess you must believe in the old saying th