"Ho! Who's getting cold feet now?" jeered Big.
"Well, you never know what can happen," grumbled Small. "It's a nasty night. Those fellows may get help and trace us here. I'm not afraid of the two, but if they get a gang of police——"
"Forget it! They'll never find us. Besides, where could they get any police on a night like this to come to Dismal Mountain?"
"Well, maybe they couldn't. Anyhow, don't be any longer than you can help."
"I won't," promised Big. "Soon as I let the boss know we've pulled off the trick I'll come back. You can wait inside and be cooking your own grub. I'll eat when I come in."
"All right. Hop to it."
The sound of one man striding away in the darkness through the brush could be heard. The two had evidently gone on ahead after temporarily abandoning the House and had come back to hold their talk in front of the halted machine. Now one was going away and the other remaining.
"What are we going to do now?" asked Ned.
"Let me think a minute," suggested his chum. "Did you hear that remark about the castle?"
"Yes."