“Some one is in peril out there,” exclaimed Jerry. “It must be one of those strange men. The catamount has attacked him. We have got to rescue him, fellows.”
“And mighty quick, at that,” added Hamp. “Come on.”
The boys ran back to the cabin, where each grabbed a rifle. Then they sped down the ravine and out on the slippery ice. The strange, unearthly noise was twice repeated before they were twenty feet from land.
“It sounds like a college yell, only a good deal worse,” declared Brick.
“I’ll bet I know what it is,” replied Hamp. “The man has no rifle, and he’s trying to scare the catamount off by screeching at it. I’ve heard of old trappers doing that.”
“And it often succeeds, too,” said Jerry. “There, the fellow is calling for help again.”
“Hold on, we’re coming!” shouted Hamp, at the top of his voice.
An answering hail floated back on the wind, and was speedily drowned by an ear-splitting yowl from the catamount.
The boys ran on and on. As yet nothing was visible in the deep gloom ahead.