d, while what was more encouraging to them to proceed was
the fact that as they reduced the distance the cries gradually seemed to
be more human, and were evidently those of some person in peril or great
distress.

It was a weird strange journey over the water now, the excitement lent
by their mission seeming to change the aspect of all around. The reeds
whispered, the patches of growth looked black, and every now and then
they disturbed some water-fowl, whose hurried flight seemed suddenly to
have become mysterious and awe-inspiring, as if it were a creature of
the darkness which had been watching their coming and had risen to hover
round.

But there was the cry again and again, sometimes faint and distant,
sometimes sounding as if close at hand, and, as is often the case,
apparently varying in position to right or left as it was borne by the
soft night wind.

"We cannot go any farther," cried Dick at last as he drove the boat in
amongst the broad belt of reeds which fringed the edge of the mere.

"Yes, we can. There's a way here," cried Tom excitedly, pointing
through the gloom to his left where there was an opening. "Coming!" he
yelled as the cry rose once more.

Dick backed the boat out, with the reeds whistling and rustling
strangely, and the next minute he had it right in the gloomy opening,
which proved to be quite a little bay, where, at the end of a few good
thrusts of the pole, the prow of the punt bumped up against the
quivering moss.

The two boys got out cautiously; the pole was driven down into the peat,
and the boat made fast; and then they paused and listened for the next
cry.

Everything now was perfectly silent, not so much as the whisper of a
reed or the whir of the wing of a nightbird fell upon their ears; and at
last, in an awe-stricken whisper, Tom said:

"Hicky is right. It was something strange from out of the marsh. Let's
get away."

Dick was stouter-hearted than his companion, and lifting his voice he
shouted, and then stood silent.

"Help! help!" came faintly in reply.

"There!" cried Dick turning sharply. "It's a man."

"Think so?"

"Why, of course! Come along! Here, I can see where we are now."

"Yes, I think I know where we are," whispered Tom. "But is it safe to
go after it?"

"You mean after _him_," said Dick. "Yes, it's pretty firm here--yes,
it's all right. We're amongst heath and bilberry as soon as we get by
this bit of bog. Hoy! shout again," he cried