Ned was unable to form any idea as to the cause of such a doleful sound.
He knew, or thought he did, that there was no one on the key when they lay down, and yet there could be no mistaking the fact that something unusual was going on.
The most natural course appeared to be the awakening of Roy, but this was not accomplished without considerable difficulty, for the cook was a very sound sleeper, and on this particular night it seemed as if his eyelids were glued together.
It might have been really impossible to arouse him if, just at the moment when he was more nearly awake than at any time since Ned began operations, the groan had not been heard.
This time it was of a most doleful kind, and so loud that one might have heard it half a mile away.
Roy was wide awake in an instant, asking wildly as he scrambled to his feet:
“What was that?”
“We’ve been trying to find out,” Ned replied. “I can’t think of anything around here that could make such a noise. It’s horrible!”
“Light one of the lanterns.”
“What good will that do?”