From across the camp, and on the other side of Bear Creek, came the groaning sound again. The boys stirred and looked anxiously at Ted.
The hot blood surged into his face and he would have liked nothing better than to have come to instant physical encounter with the groaner. While he waited to control his hot anger the groans came in long drawn out wails that, under the circumstances, chilled their blood. Besides being angry Ted was also puzzled.
“Buck and his squad chased that fellow up the mountain,” he said aloud. “I wonder if he could have slipped around them and come back? Maybe he just wanted to lead them off on a chase.” Abruptly he turned to the boys. “Come on back to the camp.”
They followed him in silence back to the camp and as soon as they entered the circle of light cast by the fires the groaning ceased. A weighty silence succeeded.
“Fellows,” Ted addressed them, in a low tone. “There isn’t any use of us running all around trying to find out who this practical joker is. He’ll just run us ragged, so let’s retire into the center tent and stay there until Buck and his squad gets back. We can watch everything that goes on from the flap of the tent and by keeping under cover we’ll make the chap who is so fond of tricks either show himself or shut up!”
They all crowded under the canvas of the second tent, glad for the shelter, frail as it was. From their position some of the boys could look out and watch the other tents and all of them could watch the fire. Ted did not go into the tent at once, but took a lantern and made sure that his flashlight was at his side.
“You fellows stay here and keep a sharp lookout,” he directed. “I’m going down to see if there is any way for anyone to cross the creek.”
“Going all by yourself?” a boy asked, his eyes staring in awe.
“Yes, but I’ll be right back,” nodded Ted. “See you later.”
He walked off, leaving them to chatter in a hushed way among themselves, and going at once to the creek, took his course along it and away from the camp. He knew that there was a shaky old wood bridge down the creek at some yards from the camp, and while he had told the boys that he was going only that far, Ted secretly determined to cross and have a look at the rather marshy ground on the other side of the curving stream. He was almost certain that he would find nothing, but he wanted to look nevertheless.