"Did you hear that?"
"Av course we hearrud it!" returned Barney, excitedly.
"It sounded very much like the voice of a woman or girl," said Professor Scotch, who was so amazed that he forgot for the moment that he was scared.
"That's what it was," declared Frank; "and it means that our aid is needed in that quarter at once."
"Be careful! be cautious!" warned the professor. "There's no telling what kind of a gang we may run into."
"To thunder with thot!" grated Barney Mulloy, quivering with eagerness. "There's a female in nade av hilp."
"Go ahead!" directed Frank, giving utterance to his old maxim.
The professor was too agitated to handle a paddle, so the task of propelling the canoe fell to the boys, who sent it skimming over the water, Frank watching out for snags.
In a moment the water course swept round to the left, and they soon saw the light of a fire gleaming through the rushes.
The sounds of a conflict continued, telling them that the quarrel was still on, and aiding them in forming their course.