Page:Young Hunters of the Lake.djvu/167

Rh. "I can't go and I don't want to be left behind."

"Giant, will you stay with Whopper?" asked the leader of the club.

"Yes, but I hope you won't be gone long," answered the small youth, in a voice he tried in vain to steady.

"If anything happens, whistle or fire a shot," added Snap, and walked slowly to the rear of the camping place, with Shep by his side.

The two young investigators soon found themselves beside the spring, and here both stopped for a drink, for their throats seemed to be suddenly parched. They looked on all sides with extreme care, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Once a bird flew up directly in front of them, causing them to jump and raise their guns. But they were not after game just then, so the bird got away.

"We certainly heard that voice, just as plain as day," said Shep. "What do you make of this. Snap?"

"I am sure I don't know."

"Can somebody be fooling us?"

"I don't know. It's very queer proceedings, that's all I have to say."

"Listen! I thought I heard it again!"