Farther out some other kind of bird screamed. The whole situation was a
weird one, but Harry was no coward, though a less courageous youth would
have found the situation hard on his nerves.
Still another night bird screamed, of some species with which Hazelton was
wholly unacquainted. The cry was answered by some sort of strange call
from the shore.
"It's a fine thing that I'm not superstitious," laughed the young engineer
to himself, "or I'd surely feel cold chills chasing each other up and down
my spine."
As it was, Harry shivered slightly, though not from fear. With the
increasing wind it was growing chilly out there for one who could not warm
himself with exercise.
"It's a long time, or it seems so," muttered the young engineer presently.
"Yet I'll wager that Tom is hustling himself and others on the very jump."
Again the call of a night bird, and once more a sound from shore seemed
to answer it.
"Real birds?" wondered Hazelton, with a start of sudden curiosity. "Or
have I been listening to human signals? If so, the signals can't cover
any good or honest purpose."
That train of thought set him to listening more acutely than before. Yet,
as no more calls reached his ears the attention of the young engineer soon
began to flag.
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