From the four coolies, some two or three hundred feet away, there came no sound. Whether they had heard the cry or not Nick did not know. Certainly, they made no sign.
Captain continued to whine in a low tone, as if frightened. Nick put his hands on the dog’s back and found it wet with the perspiration of fear.
“That settles it,” he thought, as he got a grip on himself. “When a dog is frightened—especially a dog as good as Captain—it is time to look into it.” Then, aloud, to Jai Singh: “Stay here with the dog, Jai Singh, and mind your four men don’t run away. We are going to see what made that racket in the woods.”
Nick Carter led the way into the black thicket. He was closely followed by Chick, Patsy, and Jefferson Arnold. Each man carried a rifle, as well as a revolver in his belt.
If the mysterious disturber in the forest turned out to be dangerous, they would find out whether bullets would not put an end to the noise.
On the other hand, if it really came from spirits, it would be well to find that out, too.
CHAPTER V.
THE SNAKE CHARMER.
Through the heavy foliage they forced their way, and had gone several hundred yards before Nick Carter suddenly stopped. As he did so, the others banged into him, just as the horrible cry broke forth once again.
“Look!” whispered Nick.
Some two hundred feet ahead, so far as they were able to calculate, a patch of greenish light, faint and elusive, darted about among the dank undergrowth.