As they sat there by the campfire a long, faltering call came from darkness to the east. The mountains come close to the valley there, and Gold creek runs fast. The voice they heard seemed to come from the creek itself.
Captain Joe gave over playing with the bear and darted away. The boys called to him to come back, but he paid no attention to them. His conduct was so unusual that all started up to ascertain the cause of his disobedience. But before they were fairly on their feet he was hidden in the darkness. The astonished boys looked at each other in silence.
Then Clay hastened back to the fire and threw on more lightwood, sending the flames high up above the bushes. He also hastened to switch on the electrics on board the Rambler.
“There is some one in distress up there,” he concluded, “and we’ll give them all the light possible. Strange thing about Captain Joe.”
“He never did a thing like that before,” Case commented.
“I’m afraid he’ll get into a mix-up with a bear,” Alex observed.
“But that wasn’t a bear that called!” laughed Clay. “That was a human voice, and it sounded as if the one who called was about all in.”
“That’s the way it sounded to me,” Case agreed.
“It may be the man who stole the boat and took Gran off in it,” Alex suggested. “He may have started across the mountains and become lost.”
“He wouldn’t be calling to us,” Case said, with a superior smile. “He will be apt to stay away from us! At least, I should think he would.”