They had been pursuing their way along for some little time without much attempt at conversation; but it is pretty hard for a parcel of boys to remain long silent, no matter what the provocation.  And Horatio, for one, felt urged to free his mind of certain fancies that had taken lodging there.

“I say, fellows, doesn’t this beat everything you ever saw all hollow?” he went on to say, for there was really no need of their keeping quiet, since they had not started out to steal a march upon any enemy,—­only to find poor lost K. K.  “Just listen to that awful groaning sound, will you?  If I didn’t know it was caused by the limbs of trees sawing across each other in the wind I’d think somebody was almost dying.”

“At another time I guess we wouldn’t bother our heads about such a silly thing,” observed Julius Hobson; “but, of course, our minds are full up with what may have happened to our comrade, and all that noise makes us shiver a heap; it’s so suggestive, so to speak.”

“Oh! what did you think you saw then, Owen?” gasped Horatio, as, chancing to fix his gaze on the other, he noticed him suddenly elevate his gun, as though tempted to shoot the same.

Owen chuckled.

“It was only a frisky rabbit, after all,” he announced calmly enough.  “I was just covering him to find out how easy I could nail the rascal, if only I was out hunting game instead of a lost boy.  And we’d have had rabbit stew at the Dugdale home to-morrow, let me tell you, Horatio, if I’d cared to let fly, for I had him covered handsomely.”

“Well, please don’t do it in a hurry again, Owen,” asked Horatio, settling back once more, and hoping his throbbing heart might not beat so loudly that any of his comrades could hear it pounding against his ribs.  “Remember this is no ordinary patch of woods we’re in right now.  All sorts of stories have been told concerning the country up here; and in passing through after nightfall we’re doing what a big bribe couldn’t tempt any farmer’s help to try.  But, Hugh, don’t you think we must be getting pretty near that place by this time?”

“Just about two-thirds of the way, Horatio,” he was informed.  “That leaning tree we passed is exactly three hundred and thirty-seven paces from the place we left the road.”

“Well, what do you think of that for looking ahead, fellows!” ejaculated Horatio.  “Hugh here took all the trouble to count the steps while passing through, the day he came up to examine the ground.  That’s what I call preparedness, and I guess it counts in a race, just as much as in getting ready for war.”

Hugh laughed as though momentarily amused.

“Well, they’re both in the same category, Horatio, if you look at things from the right point of view; rival armies and rival athletes contending for the prize which in both cases would mean victory.  Looking ahead is a useful hobby, and it’s served me handsomely on many an occasion.  I consider no time wasted that is employed to insure success; even if you never need the information you’ve picked up it adds to your stock of knowledge; and no fellow can have too big a fund of that.”