But while he was thus trying to pierce the gloom around him, he heard a sound that thrilled him through and through—the sound of a human voice calling.
"Help, oh! help!" it came wailing through the night.
CHAPTER XVI
HEAPING COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD
"What's that?" exclaimed Jerry, startled by the cry.
It came again.
"Help! Oh! help, somebody!"
The boy was now convinced that he had not heard the hoot of an owl, and that some one was certainly in need of succor.
He remembered the crash of the trees that had gone down in the tempest. Could it be possible that the unfortunate one had been caught under one of these falling forest monarchs, and pinned to the ground?
If so, no wonder that he cried at the top of his voice for assistance. Unable to escape he must starve to death, or become the prey of wild beasts unless help came.