"'Tain't no use," he declared. "They ain't no livin' use o' trackin' these woods any longer. We mought strike them girls in a minute and then again we moughtn't run across 'em in a thousand years. Lord knows I'm willin' to keep on, but I'm jest about tuckered out. And I put it to you Mr. Rose, wouldn't it be better to rest a bit, and then push on?"
"Perhaps it would, Sam," and Mr. Rose's fingers worked nervously; "but I couldn't stay still, I'd go crazy. I think I'll push on and take my chances."
"Yes, and get yourself lost," grumbled Sam; "so's we'd have three to hunt 'stidden o' two!"
"You are done up, Sam," said Bert Fayre, kindly. "You stay here, and we three will drive ahead a little."
"Wal, I'll jest give one more howl, and see if that ketches anythin'."
Long Sam stood up on a log and gave a high pitched, long drawn out shout, that seemed as if it must penetrate the farthest depths of the forest.
"Now one, all together, like that," he said, and the four voices, joined in a mighty shout and then waited in breathless silence.
"I heard 'em!" Sam cried out; "I heard 'em! Now all you keep quiet!" And then Sam's voice rang out once more in a sharp short shriek. He listened and then exclaimed; "Yep! I heard 'em! Come on!" And with long strides he started anew into the blackness of the woods.
The others eagerly followed. They had heard no sound, but their ears had not the marvellous acuteness of the Adirondack guide, and without a word they hastened to keep up with Long Sam's pace.
"Sing out again!" Sam cried, several times, and at last the others could hear the faint high shrieks of Dotty and Dolly.