It readily spat its answer this time, an instantaneous duplicate of shots.
"I'm here.

What do you want ?" In the lightning glare the man ahead made off wildly across the fields.
Running, Johnny cocked his ears for the familiar assurance of one shot.
"All right," it would mean; "I only wanted to know where you are," but it did not come.
Instead--two shots again in rapid succession--an interval--and then another.
"I am in serious trouble," barked the signal in the forest.

"Come as fast as you can." With a groan Johnny abandoned the chase and retraced his steps.

Thus a perverse Fate ever snipped the thread of an embryo adventure.
A light flickered dully among the trees to the east.

Johnny cupped his hands and yodeled.