"We'll light a big fire on the mountain, if all is well," they told her.
"The water!" called Skinny. "Pedro, get them a big bottle."
In another minute they were off, while the others went home to wait, which is the hardest part.
I found out afterward what happened. They couldn't drive all the way up Greylock from our side. There was a road from North Adams and another from Cheshire but those were too far.
Pa planned to drive as far as they could and then to leave the horse tied and walk up the rest of the way. They went around the road by the Quaker Meeting House to Peck's Falls. From there a road goes part way up the mountain, steep and winding. It was hard pulling for the horse.
I don't believe Greylock ever was climbed so fast before, although it seemed slow enough to poor Bill waiting on top, thirsty and faint. He knew that his signal had been seen and that was something.
The first thing that he heard was a call of a crow, over to the south and far down the mountainside.
"Caw, caw, caw," came the sound, and it seemed to be Benny's voice.
Bill stood up on one foot and listened.
"Caw, caw, caw," it came again, this time nearer.