"For I'm the keeper of the keys,
And I do whatever I please."

The key actually fitted the lock, the door opened at once, and they all
entered the castle.

"Mr. Templeton lent me the key," explained Mr. Sanford. "He said the
castle was as empty as a last year's bird's nest, but I thought we might
like to take a look at it."

"We do, oh, we do," said Lucy. "Isn't it queer? Just two rooms and
nothing in 'em at all! Oh, Bab, let's you and I bring some dishes up
here and keep house! Here's a cupboard right in the wall."

"I guess it's Mother Hubbard's cupboard, it looks bare enough. Just a
table in the room and one old chair," exclaimed Edith.

"I'm glad we came in, though," said Kyzie. "Isn't it beautiful to stand
in the door and look down, down, and see Castle Cliff right at your
feet? And off there a city--Why, what's that noise?"

No one answered. The older people knew the sound: it was that of an
angry rattlesnake out of doors shaking his rattle.

Mr. Dunlee said:--

"Stay in the house, please, you ladies, and keep the children here.
James and I will go out and attend to this."