"'There's something moving over on that pile of old burlap sacks!' whispered Alec, the instant he saw a creeping movement there.
"Several of the boys then jumped and began beating up the sacks violently. But as suddenly, a pair of wings flapped up in their faces with a whirring sound, and a barn-owl began to screech madly as she rose and flew through a hole in the roof."
Hester laughed as she reached this part of the story, and all the scouts joined in. Julie, who had not heard it before, said:
"Thank goodness, we girls are not the only ones to be taken in, then!"
"Alec said there are lots of wild creatures that make sounds exactly like human beings. And that owl snored just like a man."
By this time they had regained the trail, and Mrs. Vernon tenderly adjusted the trembling rabbit. The hat so covered it that it could curl inside and not see a thing to cause it any fear, and thus it was carried along, to be cared for later on and then regain its freedom.
The scouts found many interesting subjects for discussion along the trail, until they reached a wide shallow stream that came down the steep mountainside and emptied into the river.
"It's not on the map, and it sure cuts off further progress," said the Captain.
"It's shallow—we can wade it," suggested Julie.
"Let us go upstream and find a narrow ford, or some rocks that we can cross on," added Mrs. Vernon.