"I thought I heard Ned shout."
Jack gave a loud, long call, and then the two listened again. A shout in reply was this time distinctly heard.
"That's Ned," said Charley.
"Yes," answered Jack. "He's making all the trouble he can, I suppose, to delay their march and give us time to catch up. Come, Charley, we must rescue him."
Again the boys sallied out, this time through the western gate. They ran along the shore, stopping occasionally to halloo and to listen for Ned's replies, which came promptly now.
"They aren't getting on very fast with him," said Jack; "we're gaining on them at any rate."
Again the boys ran. When they made their next pause to shout, they were astonished to hear Ned cry out, in his natural voice, from no great distance:
"Is every thing burnt up?"
Strangely enough the voice seemed to come from the water on the right, and both Jack and Charley were bewildered by the fact.
"Where on earth are you?" called Jack.