“What’s that noise?” interrupted Bates, holding up his hand with the greatest assurance. “Listen, sir! It sounds exactly as if the house-boat was putting off. Hello; those two chaps belonging to it have disappeared; that settles it—they are giving you the slip. Bet your ward is on the old pile of logs, after all, and you’re jolly well left again, sir.”
A distinct, though faint pulsation had suddenly started up.
“Come with us, sir,” yelled Bates, “and we’ll chase ’em.”
“After the rascals!” roared Colonel Ellison. “Very likely you are right.”
A group of shadowy figures were soon struggling pell-mell through the woods, the boys giving their school yells.
CHAPTER XVI
THE WAR-CALL
“Well, I don’t know that I like this,” murmured Fred Winter, glancing after the fast-departing automobile. “Awful nervy of those chaps to run off that way, eh, Somers?”
“I can’t blame George very much,” laughed Bob. “Pierre seems in need of a good lesson.”
“And what a perfect night for a joy-ride,” sighed Dave.