Part 5 (1/2)
”That's because you don't listen. Now!” said Josh, sharply.
Will uttered a cry.
”Yes,” he said, excitedly.
”You heard it?”
”Yes, yes!”
There was a groan.
”There!” cried Will. ”It's Mr Manners, and something's happened to him.--Manners!--Ahoy!”
No answer came.
”Wouldn't be having a game with us, would he?”
”No,” said Josh. ”I don't think he'd do that.”
”Then let's go on a bit farther.”
The late afternoon sun lit up the valley away to the left, which the Tor had hitherto concealed from their view. They scrambled on in the heat over the rough stone escarpments and amidst the gorse.
”Now, let's listen again,” said Will.
They halted, and Josh wiped his streaming face.
”Shout again,” he said huskily.
”Shall I?”
”Yes.”
”Manners!--Ahoy!” shouted Will.
There was no response.
”Perhaps it wasn't he,” said Josh.
”Perhaps he's so busy painting something or another that he hasn't been able to hear.”
”Oh, perhaps anything,” said Will. ”Come on, I am certain now. It's that big cleft where we found the stonechats. He will have fallen down there, paint and all.”
”Help!” came faintly now. ”Help--help!”
”Hear that?” panted Josh, looking scared, and then radiant.
”Yes,” said Will; ”I hear. He's in danger.” And the two lads tore on as fast as they could up the steep slippery incline.
CHAPTER FIVE.