cratched his head as though considering. The fact of the matter
was he himself had a peculiar yearning to make that trip again. There
is a sort of subtle fascination about prowling around forbidden
territory. Then the mystery connected with the hermit had aroused his
curiosity. That strange cry, too, lingered in his memory even more
than Frank cared to confess to Bluff.

"But what excuse can we give for trespassing if we run across old
Aaron, his housekeeper, or any man connected with the place?" he asked
Will.

At that the other smiled calmly.

"Well, you know an amateur photographer never wants for a reason when
he gets caught intruding on private grounds," he explained; "his
enthusiasm is supposed to tempt him to take any risks. And Frank, if
we run across any trouble don't hesitate to pile all the blame on me.
I'm willing to stand for it."

"Is it the house you're aiming to take a picture of, Will?"

"Partly that," the other confessed. "You and Bluff described it as a
strange looking building, and worth seeing, so I'm fairly wild to snap
it off. And then, if we just happened to come on Aaron himself, why I
might manage to get him in focus and click my camera without his
knowing it. I hope you'll go this time, Frank. Somehow I've got my
heart set on it."

"Well, perhaps I may, Will. Let the thing drop till we're eating our
lunch, and then I'll tell you what I'll do."

"Good for you, Frank!" exclaimed Will, beaming on his chum, for
somehow he must have guessed that the chances of their going were
pretty fair.

When noon arrived and they sat down to enjoy what had been prepared
Will's face looked so much like one big interrogation point that Frank
did not have the heart to keep him longer in suspense.

"I see no good reason why we shouldn't wander up that way if we feel
like it," he went on to say, at which the other looked greatly
pleased. "Of course," Frank continued, "it isn't exactly the right
thing for us to crawl through that opening in the fence again,
especially after we've been warned off by the housekeeper; but since
you say you _must_ get a snapshot of the house, why, we'll risk it."

"That's kind of you to agree, Frank."

"Oh! I rather guess it's six for you and half a dozen for myself,"
chuckled the other lad; "because I own up there's something about
Aaron's place up there that draws me more than I ought to allow. But
after all we mean no harm, and besides we may not meet any one on our
tri