They listened, but the cry, or whatever it was, was not repeated.
Soon they were back to the side of the houseboat once more.
"Do you think that call came from Fred or Songbird?" asked Sam.
"It might be, Sam," answered Dick. "Maybe we had better get back to the launch."
"Yes, yes, let us go back by all means!" exclaimed Harold Bird. "If your friends are in trouble we ought to aid them."
As rapidly as they could do so, they started back for the spot where the gasoline launch had been left. Once they lost their way, and got into a swamp from which it was next to impossible to get out.
"We'll have to go back!" cried Sam, after he had moved in several directions, only to find himself worse off than before.
"Be careful," warned Harold Bird. "If you aren't careful—Stop!"
All of the boys halted, for the command was out of the ordinary. The young Southerner was looking straight ahead of him.
"What is it?" questioned Tom, in a low tone, thinking some of the enemy might be near.
"Am I right, and is that a snake ahead?" asked Harold Bird. "It looks like a snake and still it may be nothing but the dead limb of a tree."