But there was no answer; and though as far as was possible Dick walked in the direction of the sound, the guidance was of the most unsatisfactory nature, and at the end of a minute or two they listened again.
“It must be that Thorpeley regularly bogged,” said Dick at last, and a curious shiver ran through him. “I hope he hasn’t sunk in.”
“He couldn’t,” said Tom. “I know this part. It’s all firm ground between the water and the track to the sea.”
“I can’t quite make out where we are,” said Dick, staring about him.
“I can. There’s the big alder clump, and beyond it there’s the river wall.” (Mud embankment.)
“So it is. Yes, I know now. Why, it is all firm about here, and nobody could be bogged unless he got into a hole. Ahoy!”
He shouted once more, but there was no answer; and when he raised his voice again it was only for the sound to seem to come back, just as if they were shut up in some large room.
“He must be hereabout,” said Dick.
“Shall we find our way back to the boat?” said Tom in a doubting tone.
“I don’t know, but if we don’t we could walk home in half an hour. Come along. Ahoy!”