Lil Artha asked this in good faith. He had come to believe, with most of
his comrades, that Elmer Chenowith was next door to a wizard. Of course
they realized that his knowledge was at all times founded on facts and
common sense; yet this did not detract from the wonder of his
accomplishments.

"I think there are three at least, perhaps four or five in the lot,"
Elmer replied.

"Whew! that's a healthy crowd of toughs, now, to run up against!"
remarked Lil Artha.

"And what do you propose doing, suh, if I may make so bold as to ask?"

Chatz was usually a very dignified fellow, especially when coming in
contact with one who, according to recognized scout law, must be
considered his superior officer, and as such entitled to respect.

"First of all, perhaps we'd better go outside," the other replied.

"And tell the rest of the boys what we've found--or rather what we
didn't find," remarked Lil Artha.

"Yes. There doesn't seem to be anything more to poke into here; for I'm
dead certain those men, whoever they are, don't make their headquarters
in either the mill or the cottage."

"You mean they don't sleep here; is that it, suh?" inquired Chatz.

"That covers the ground," Elmer answered.

"But they _do_ come in here sometimes, while the sun is shining,"
persisted Chatz.

"I have seen the marks of many heavy hobnailed shoes in the dust of this
place; and some of the prints were very fresh," came the answer.

"Then if they're wanting in the nerve to sleep under this roof, when it
would be so handy, in a thunderstorm like we had the other day, for
instance, that looks as if they believed some in the ghost story, don't
it, Elmer?"

"Why, I suppose it does, Chatz."

"All right. I'm not saying anything more," remarked the Southern boy,
with a look of conviction on his dark face, "but I only hope we run
across one or more of these mysterious unknowns while we're up at
Munsey's mill."

"Listen to that, would you, Elmer! I declare if he don't mean to
interview these fellows, and find out what they've gone and seen here in
the night time!" and Lil Artha chuckled as he said this.

"All right," remarked Chatz. "There are a lot of things I've always
wanted to know, and I'd be a silly to let the chance slip past me."

"Hey, how about this bally old trapdoor, Elmer?" demanded Lil Artha.

"We'd better put it back where it belongs," replied the scout leader.

"I reckon you're right, suh," observed Chatz. "If some one c