The balance seemed to be waiting for the dust to settle, or their companion to get possession of his war-club again, before advancing into the mill.
"Let me head the crowd, Fred, because I know every inch of the place," Sid insisted, as he pushed through the now open door.
"Wait, and let's give a call," suggested Felix. "If Colon's in here he might be up in the loft, or down in the pit, goodness knows where. Tune up, fellows, and see what's what!"
They all shouted together, and the result was such a medley of sounds that it was doubtful if even their chum could have recognized familiar voices among the lot making up the chorus.
"I heard something like a cry!" declared Sid, immediately after the echo of their shout had died away in the empty mill.
"You're right," added Wagner, "for I caught the same thing. And, Sid, I reckon it came from off yonder in the machinery room, where we used to play, long ago, you remember."
"It's mighty dingy in here," complained Bristles, finding his voice again.
Indeed, the interior of the deserted mill did look as though it might harbor all sorts of strange things, such as bats and owls, that could find a way in and out through broken window panes, or holes in the siding. And Bristles, to tell the truth, although he would never have admitted the fact to one of his chums, did secretly feel just a little belief in supernatural things. A graveyard was a place nothing could tempt him to visit after dark, at least alone.
Fred waited no longer. He had managed to get his bearings now, and believed he could find his way about, though after coming from the brightness of the sunshine outside, one's eyes had to get accustomed to the half-gloom of the cob-web-festooned mill interior.
"Come on!" he simply said, as he started quickly for the door leading out of the office into the main part of the mill.