He bent in the direction and waited. No; he was not mistaken; there was the noise again.
Feeling around, Bob found a billet of wood. It was two feet long, and more than an inch thick, and would answer very well as a club.
With the stick in his hand, he made his way cautiously to the spot whence the sound had proceeded.
Suddenly something brushed past him, and a second later he found himself confronted by Barker, who caught him by the arm.
“What are you following me for?” demanded the man.
Instead of replying Bob raised the stick and struck the fellow on the head.
“Stand where you are, Barker!” he cried.
“What, Bob Pe——” began Barker, and stopped short.
“You know me, I reckon,” returned the youth. “Stand where you are, unless you want another taste of this stick.”
“Was it you in the hall-way of that building?” demanded Barker, in astonishment.