Nate lifted the knocker and pounded with a will. There was no answer or sign of life.
"Let's see if this will help us," said Uncle James, taking a key from his vest pocket:—
"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:—