"Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!" and the shout was answered.
"There he is!" cried Rob, joyfully. "Hurrah!"
Shaddy was silent.
"Didn't you hear, Shaddy? Mr Brazier answered. You are right: he did
get back, after all."
Still Shaddy remained silent, only increasing his pace in the darkness,
lightened now by the stars which overarched them, so as to keep up with
Rob's eager strides.
"Why don't you speak, man? Let's shout again: Mr Brazier! Ahoy!"
"Mr Brazier! Ahoy!" came back faintly.
"I don't like to damp you, Mr Rob, sir," said Shaddy, sadly, "but you
don't see as we're out in the clearing again. That's only the echo from
the trees across the river. He isn't here."
"No," said Rob, with a groan; "he isn't here."
Just then there was a rustling sound behind them, and a low growl,
followed by a strange sound which Rob understood at once.