It seemed to be the voice of some one in distress.
Again it rang faintly on the night air.
“Those men!” exclaimed Jerry.
“I’ll bet anything they are out on the lake looking for us. They can’t see the tunnel in the dark.”
“Mebbe they are half-starved and need help more than we do,” suggested Hamp. “We’ve got to go out and see, fellows.”
“That’s right,” cried Jerry. “Come on.”
He snatched the lantern and dived into the tunnel, followed by his companions. They had not the slightest doubt that Raikes and Bogle were outside.
In their confidence and hurry, they committed the grave error of leaving their rifles behind. It never occurred to them that the strange cries might have another and totally different origin.
So, with empty hands, the lads crawled hastily forward on hands and knees down the long, straight passage that led to the open lake.
Suddenly a sharp, blood-curdling cry vibrated on the pent-in air, and that instant a long, tawny beast, with glaring eyeballs, took shape in the gloom, just beyond the lantern’s flashing rays.