“Dan, you made a bull’s-eye!” “Dan Carter and the Haunted Castle” (See Page 44)

Contents

1 A Prize Contest 1

2 The Chimney Niche 13

3 Robin Hood’s Strong Box 25

4 Laughter From the Woods 35

5 Competition 47

6 Ghost of the Castle 56

7 A Mysterious Arrow 65

8 Expert Shooting 73

9 A Neglected Duty 84

10 Checking Up On Ross 94

11 Fire 102

12 A Debt To Pay 114

13 Kill-Joy Kain 123

14 Clues 135

15 A Message 142

16 Treasure 149

17 A Valuable Collection 156

18 Billy Hides Out 165

19 A New Cub 178

20 Epilogue 191

Dan Carter and the Haunted Castle

CHAPTER 1
A Prize Contest

A stir of excitement swept the room, causing the Cub Scouts to shift restlessly in their seats.

The monthly meeting of the Pack was nearing its end. Not a Cub from either Den 1 or Den 2 had failed to attend, for Sam Hatfield, their leader, had promised the boys “a real surprise.”

Now, as a break came in the regular program, the Cubs sensed that the moment for the long awaited announcement had arrived.

“Something worth while is in the wind, that’s sure,” whispered Brad Wilber. The Den Chief spoke to a sandy-haired boy whose nose was buried in a book. “Mr. Hatfield has kept his secret from everyone. What do you think is up, Dan?”

“Huh?” demanded Dan Carter, coming suddenly to life. Reluctantly he closed “The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood,” a volume obtained a few minutes earlier from the Webster City Public Library.

“Oh, don’t bother that book worm,” laughed Midge Holloway, another Cub in Den 2. “He never hears anything that goes on at a meeting, even if he is the official Denner.”

“I resent that slur,” retorted Dan goodnaturedly. “I hear every word.”

“Sure he does,” declared Chips Davis, coming to the defense of his friend. “Dan’s just smart enough never to waste any of his time.”

A loud, offensive snicker greeted this remark. Looking quickly across the cave, the Cubs of Den 2 saw that the offender was Ross Langdon, a tall, gangling boy in Den 1.

Now Dan and Ross always had been athletic rivals. In a recent swimming contest the Den 2 boy had soundly defeated the older lad. Ross hadn’t taken it too well. Whenever an opportunity afforded, he made belittling remarks.

The Cubs of Den 2, Brad, Red Suell, Chips, Midge and Fred Hatfield, the son of their leader, were in no mood to “take” anything from Ross. So they pinned him with hard glares, and Midge muttered: “Quiet, you!”

“I didn’t say a word,” retorted Ross, pretending innocence. “You were the one who remarked that Dan never hears anything.”

Midge would have uttered a sharp retort had not Dan given him a nudge in the ribs. He was willing to overlook the snicker, because he’d made up his mind to have no trouble with Ross.

Fortunately, the Pack meetings came only once a month unless Mr. Hatfield called the gang together for something special.

At the regular weekly gatherings of Den 2, everything went smooth as silk because Ross never attended. However, the Cubs of Den 1 reported that their sessions sometimes were a bit rough as a result of the older boy’s desire to boss everyone.

Before Ross could pass another remark, Mr. Hatfield took the floor. Signaling for silence, he said:

“Fellows, I have an interesting announcement to make. I don’t know how this will strike you, but a sporting goods firm—Fielding & Jones Corp.—has offered a substantial prize to the organization putting on the best play.”

“What sort of prize?” demanded Dan quickly.