"Somebody is in trouble," said Jack. "Where is it, straight ahead?"
"It sounds like it, and that sounds like the voice of Billy Manners."
"Maybe he is joking," said young Smith. "He always is."
Just now came a lusty cry for help in so serious and agonized a tone that Jack said with a smile:
"Billy is not joking now, that is certain. He is in real trouble. Come on and let us see what it is."
They pushed on rapidly, the call being presently repeated, and at the same time they heard a bellowing sound, which they could not make out.
"Come on!" cried Percival. "Billy is in trouble, and that sounds like the bellow of a wild beast."
"I should say it was a calf," remarked Jesse W., "if you were to ask me about it, but what a calf is doing here——"
He hurried on to keep up with Jack and Dick, Buck and Ben following quickly, having evidently heard the noises.
Coming in a short time into an open space the boys paused and then began to laugh heartily, something they would certainly not have done if Billy had been in danger.