“What’s that?” whispered Syd.
“Only a howl. Why, you’ve heard ’em lots of times.”
“But it never sounded like that before.”
“You never heard it out in the woods before. There she goes again.”
The shout rang out again, but more distant. “Hoi, hoi, hoi, hoi!” sounding now more like a hail.
“Oh, yes, it is an owl,” said Sydney, breathing more freely. “Come along.”
Pan did not move, but stood with his hands in his pockets, and his shoulders up to his ears.
“Do you hear? Come along, and let’s get it over.”
No answer—no movement.
“Don’t be stupid, Pan. I know you’re tired, but you are no more tired than I am.”