Before
two miles I they gave it up and the fugitive coming to the river
drank a deep and cooling draught, the first he had had that day.
Five miles through is the dense forest that lies between La Colle
and the border. He struck a creek affluent of the Richelieu River and
followed to its forks, which was the place of rendezvous with Quonab.
It was evening as he drew near and after long, attentive
listening he gave the cry of the barred owl:
The answer came: a repetition of the last line, and a minute
later the two scouts were together.
As they stood, they were startled by a new, sudden answer, an
exact repetition of the first call. Rolf had recovered his rifle
from its hiding place and instantly both made ready for some
hostile prowler; then after a long silence he gave the final wail
line "hoooo-aw" and that in the woods means, "Who are you?"
Promptly the reply came:
"Wa wah wa wah Wa wah wa hoooo-aw."
But this was the wrong reply. It should have been only the last
half. The imitation was perfect, except, perhaps, on the last
note, which was a trifle too human. But the signal was well done;
it was an expert calling, either an Indian or some thoroughly
seasoned scout; yet Quonab was not deceived into thinking it an
owl.
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