“Nothing serious, so far,” he was told, for Elmer did not believe in “conjuring up ghosts” as he termed Wee Willie’s habit of anticipating calamities that might never come to pass. “Plenty of time still for Perk to come in before we start getting supper; and besides the storm hasn’t shown a sign so far.”
“But we know how easy it always has been for Perk to lose his bearings in the woods,” persisted the other camper. “Many a time before now we’ve had to go out and locate him. Seems as if Perk never will learn how to take care of himself.”
“He’s just waking up,” remarked Elmer; “and may surprise some of us yet, once he gets started. Still, it wouldn’t do any harm to give an occasional shout. If he hasn’t got beyond earshot it might help him locate the camp again.”
“I second the motion; and here goes for a starter.”
With that Wee Willie lifted up his strong voice, and gave a shrill yell that could doubtless have carried a mile away. Amos came hurrying out of the cabin as if wondering what was going on. He seemed relieved to find his two chums standing there.
“Why, you did give me such a start!” he declared. “I even thought that lunatic might have hopped in, and tackled Wee Willie. What’s all the shouting for?”
“Perk’s wandered off again, and we thought he might stray away, so we’re meaning to take turns in letting out a bazoo whoop to guide him this way,” explained Wee Willie, with a grin. “If he was within a mile I reckon he heard that clarion call of mine, eh, Amos?”
“Yes, and it ought to tell him which way the cabin lies,” returned the other, confidently. “But we must keep it up, for Perk, even if he started right, would be apt to swing to the left, like most fellows do in the woods when they haven’t learned the trick of keeping a direct line.”
“Every three minutes by the watch one of us must shout,” decided Elmer.
This program was kept up for half an hour. Several times they would fancy there was a more or less feeble response, so that the shouting was quickly resumed; but after straining their hearing to the utmost they finally felt compelled to admit that this must have been only a vivid imagination.