"I couldn't tell you," was the answer, with a dubious shake of the head. "I've seen men go up that mountain and never come down. There were queer noises and queer lights. Nobody that had a valuable horse near Dismal Mountain ever left him in a field over night. If they did he wasn't there in the morning."
"This sounds interesting," said Tom.
"Interesting, young man!" exclaimed the speaker. "It's dangerous! That's what it is! Dangerous!"
There was so much interest in the recent hold-up that the departure of Tom and Ned was little noticed. They went back to the House on Wheels where they found the two boys had been faithful to their trust, and, having paid and dismissed them, the two travelers turned in for the night.
"Well, what about it?" asked Tom of his chum when they arose the next morning and found it raining and blowing. "Shall we lay over?"
"Not on my account," declared Ned. "This storm doesn't seem to be going to amount to much."
"Oh, it wasn't of the storm I was speaking."
"What then?"
"The warnings we had last night against proceeding to Dismal Mountain. If you——"
"Nothing doing!" interrupted Ned. "I'll go with you to the end of the trail!"