The Boy Scouts with the Motion Picture Players | Page 5

on our
guard. If it throws a scare into those tramps it might work just as bad
with some other fellows I know, unless they were warned beforehand.
Show your hand, Monkey, please."
"Oh! shucks! it's only a sort of wild-goose call I tried to make from
directions I read in a little book," confessed the ingenious one. "It don't
seem to imitate a wild honker much, but say, I c'n make the most
unearthly sounds come out of this hollow bone you ever listened to.
Why, it nigh about freezes my own blood when I try the call in the
pitch dark. Now watch and see what happens."
"Be careful, Monkey," warned Hugh, as the other prepared to creep
away. "Don't let them glimpse you at any time, or there may be serious
trouble. They look like an ugly couple of customers. I suppose you
mean to try and get around on the other side of them?"
"Sure thing," replied the originator of the scheme, "and if I were you,
Hugh, I'd make out to hide your bunch, because, believe me, that pair

will come whooping along this way like mad pretty soon."
"Which is what we'll do right away, Monkey, never fear," Hugh told
him.
Accordingly the four scouts disposed themselves in such fashion that
while they would be hidden from view they could at the same time
watch whatever took place, and enjoy the fun, if, by good luck, the
scheme arranged for the entertainment of the bold hoboes, turned out
successful.
The two ragged wanderers were sitting on the stones bordering the
ditch or "moat" that surrounded the make-believe ancient castle. They
evidently debated as to the advisability of forcing an entrance to the
wonderful mansion, and taking up temporary or permanent quarters
there. Perhaps the idea of spending the coming winter under so
magnificent a roof, with frequent excursions around the countryside in
search of necessary supplies, engrossed their attention.
Some little time passed away. The four boys began to show signs of
impatience, believing that Monkey Stallings must surely by now have
gained the place he had in mind when he left them.
"There, I saw him wave his hand to us from that slit in the stone wall of
the tower!" hissed Alec, presently. "He's managed to find a way to get
inside after all, and now the fun's going to begin."
"It's time, too," added Arthur, "because the hoboes have made up their
minds to try and break into the house. See, that big chump has picked
up a heavy rock, and he acts as if he meant to hurl the same against
those stout oaken doors."
Indeed, that was just what happened. The collision, however, only
resulted in a loud bang, for it would take many hundreds of like blows
to do those stout doors any serious damage. The smaller tramp shook
his head dubiously.
"Now they are talking it over again," whispered Alec. "The short one is

pointing as if he believes they can find a much easier way to get inside
than trying to smash the door down. Hey! Monkey, better get busy or
you'll find the pair treading close on your heels."
Hardly had Alec spoken that last low word than a thrilling sound came
floating to the ears of the four listening scouts. None of them could
ever describe what it was like; indeed, it seemed to possess a character
all its own, and somehow caused the "goose-flesh" to creep over their
bodies, even though they knew the origin of the uncanny cry.
The two tramps had jumped back at the first outburst. They seemed to
be staring wildly toward the "donjon tower," as Alec persisted in
calling the round structure at one end of the imitation castle. Louder
and louder grew the racket. Billy laid a trembling hand on Hugh's arm
as though seeking comfort from personal contact with the scout master.
Presently the pair of hoboes appeared to have reached the limit of their
endurance. One snatched the dead fowl that had possibly been stolen
from some farmyard on their way up from the railroad; while the other
hastily gathered the rest of their primitive possessions in his trembling
hands.
Then, as another fearful burst of strange cries 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