Dan Carter And The Haunted Castle Part 29

"Why didn't you sneak up from behind and nab him?" Brad demanded. "That was your chance, Ross."

"I got a little excited. I started after him all right, but I made too much noise."

"He heard you coming and ran?" Mr. Hatfield inquired.

"That's right, sir. See, he dropped his bow here by the window."

Ross picked up the bow which was made of lemonwood and gave it to Mr.

Hatfield. The Cub leader did not take time to examine it.

"Which way did the fellow go?" he asked.

"Into the woods."

"You didn't try to follow him, Ross?"

"No, but I saw him start down that winding road through the burned area."

"That's the way he always goes!" cried Dan. "He must live somewhere near here."

"Maybe we can trail him if we hurry," urged Brad. He gazed questioningly at the Cub leader, hopefully awaiting an order.

"Let's take after him," Mr. Hatfield proposed, hesitating only momentarily. "Our mysterious archer has many questions to answer! If we move fast, we may catch him this time."

CHAPTER 18 Billy Hides Out

Led by Ross and Mr. Hatfield, the Cubs rapidly combed the woods in the immediate vicinity of the Castle.

The boy had completely vanished.

"We're wasting time searching for him among the trees," Dan offered his opinion. "I have a hunch he went straight down the road, maybe to the Brekenridge estate."

"I think so too," Ross supported the opinion. "I heard him running as if he expected to be followed."

The Cubs set off at a fast pace through the burned area. Mr. Kain, in poor physical trim, found it difficult to keep pace.

"Incidentally, here is where the fire started," Dan pointed out to the banker as they pa.s.sed the remains of the small bonfire where the weiner had been roasted.

"Why, this isn't on bank property," Mr. Kain noted. "Possibly I have been unjust in blaming the Cubs."

The boys reached the end of the road without seeing anyone.

Disappointed, they halted at the edge of the Brekenridge estate.

"The boy may have taken off in any direction from here," Mr. Kain said doubtfully. "Who lives at that house with the pillars?"

"I believe the place is rented by a Colonel Brekenridge," Mr. Holloway supplied. "I've never met him."

"Any children?"

"I wouldn't know."

Through the trees the Cubs could see someone seated on the veranda.

"That may be Mr. Brekenridge," the bank man commented. "Let's ask him if he's seen anyone pa.s.s this way in the last ten or fifteen minutes."

"We may not get a chance to talk to the estate owner," Dan hinted. "The gardener there doesn't care for visitors."

Not to be deterred by this warning, the men pushed on, followed by the Cubs.

Scarcely had they started up the lane from the entrance gate than a dog began to bark.

"We'll be announced all right," Brad said. "This place is well guarded."

As the Cubs expected, the barking of the dog brought the gardener to see what was amiss.

Immediately he recognized Dan and Brad, who walked somewhat in advance of the others in the group.

"I thought I told you to stay away from here," he said angrily.

"It's important that we see Mr. Brekenridge," Brad insisted.

"Well, you can't talk to him and that's final," the man snapped.

By this time the others in the group had come up. Seeing such a large delegation, the gardener did not know what to make of it. Nevertheless, he was determined that his authority should not be questioned.

"We should like to see the master of this estate," requested Mr. Hatfield politely.

"Mr. Brekenridge's orders are to keep everyone off the estate."

"Why is that?"

"Because he likes privacy, the colonel does. Now move along and don't be making me any more trouble."

Some distance away an elderly man could be seen reclining on a porch chair. Mr. Hatfield was convinced that it must be Mr. Brekenridge himself.

"Will you please tell the colonel that visitors are here?" the Cub leader requested. "After all, we would not insist upon seeing him but the matter is important."

"If it's a business matter, you can tell me. I'll report to Mr.

Brekenridge."

"What we have to say is for the colonel's ears alone."

"Well, the colonel's ears ain't going to hear it!" the gardener retorted.