"And I know they did," said Tad emphatically.
"Hello, boy!"
This time all sprang up, startled.
"Who's playing tricks?" shouted Ned.
"Heard it that time, did you?" asked Walter. "It wasn't I."
"Nor I," chorused Tad.
"Then it must have been Ned or myself," said Phipps. "I'm sure that I am no ventriloquist."
For the moment Phipps wondered if they were all losing their senses. He had heard of men, imprisoned under similar circumstances, imagining they heard voices.
Tad Butler, however, knew that imagination had played no part in this voice. He had heard the voice before. He informed his companions of this fact.
"Heard it before? Where?" exclaimed Ned.