ne, and still they were some distance away from the mill pond.

"Listen," said William, suddenly; with a thrill in his voice; "whatever
do you suppose that is?"

CHAPTER XXVII

TED FINDS SOMETHING

"Sure it wasn't an owl?" asked Paul, when a full minute had passed away,
without their hearing a repetition of the sound that had reached the ears
of his comrade.

"Didn't sound like it. I kind of thought it was somebody calling for
help!" said Bobolink, quivering with the suspense caused by the
situation.

They stood in a group, listening eagerly. The night wind stirred the tops
of the tall forest trees softly, and even this gentle sound boomed on
their strained nerves like the strokes of a bass drum.

"Oh! there! Didn't you hear it that time?" whispered Bobolink.

"I guess we did," replied Paul; "and you're right in saying it is
somebody shouting. But all the same I don't feel sure it was a call for
help. Let's remember, fellows, that Ted and his crowd must be somewhere
about up here. And you know from past experiences what dodges he's up to
when he wants to play a trick on anybody."

"Do you mean he'd like to draw us off by shouting that way, while some
of his fellows went along to the farmhouse, and got the lost boy?" asked
William.

"That would be just like Ted. He's as full of tricks as an egg is of
meat," Jack took it upon himself to say at this juncture.

"Well, what are we going to do about it, boys?" asked Wallace.

"I leave it to Paul; whatever he says ought to be good enough for me,"
replied Wallace.

"And me," came from the others without hesitation.

"Thanks, fellows. I hope that my plan will prove the best after all. But
don't blame me if I should make a mistake. Let's head for the road, which
I take it ought to be somewhere over yonder," remarked Paul, pointing
through the darkness.

"The road, eh? I see, you mean that once we get on that we'll have it
easy all the way to the pond. That suits me all right. Count William in."

"Yes, seeing that our lanterns are out, and not a match in the crowd, I
guess the sooner we get our feet planted on the highway, the better for
our noses. I've barked mine already against a tree, and another dose will
spoil my classic beauty," grunted Bobolink, rubbing tenderly at the spot
in question.

"Then come along, the rest of you," said Paul, starting off.

"Seems to me it's getting lighter," announced Wallace, presently.

"Mebbe our eyes are used to