“In the tree?” he asked. “In this tree?”
He kicked on it and hammered on it with his knuckles.
“Yes!” the voice now screamed, seeming to be right before him. “I’m—fast—in—this—consarned—tree! Help! H-e-l-p! H-e-l-p!”
“Yes!” said the scout again, shouting the word. “How did you get in? And how can I reach you?”
“I—fell—in! Help! H-e-l-p! H-e-l-p!”
“Fell in? How? When——”
“Fell in at the top, you fool! Help! H-e-l-p! H-e-l-p!”
The voice had a strange, quavering sound, high-keyed and singular.
“Fell in from the top!” The scout looked at the thick top of the tree. “Well, this must be investigated!”
He began to climb the tree, using his lariat to aid him, looping it around the tree and around his body, thus assisting himself materially in making the ascent. He climbed rapidly in this way, and was soon in the lower branches.