about."

Accordingly the five scouts hastened to clamber across the gap, a feat
requiring little dexterity; though clumsy Billy had to catch his toe
among the stones, and come near pitching headlong down, were it not
for Hugh quickly throwing out his ready arm.

It required little effort to find the tracks beyond the mass of fallen
stones; a mere tyro of a scout could have succeeded in following such
a plain trail, and at that hardly half test his ability along that line.

Bending partly over, the boys kept diligently at work pursuing the
zigzag line of footprints. Evidently the men had picked out the easiest
way to advance. They must have either known where they were going, or
else followed a former path that was not overgrown, and partly
concealed with rank vegetation.

"Look! there's a glimpse of the castle!" whispered Alec, suddenly.

Through the openings in the copse beyond they could see the gray walls
rising up ahead. It was an impressive spectacle. The westering sun
shone on the tower that had been made to look like some old-time type
English masonry, famous in history, with its portcullis, drawbridge,
and surrounding watery ditch known as a "moat."

After silently inspecting the side of the old building thus presented
to their gaze for a minute or so, the boys began to show their former
restlessness.

"The trail keeps right on, Hugh!" whispered Alec, which was as much as