It was now almost dark, too, and all the traces of the road were obliterated,--though Jonas knew, by the land and fences, how to go.
Just at this time, when the wind seemed to lull for an instant, Jonas thought he heard a cry.

He stopped his oxen to listen.
"No," said Josey, "I don't believe it is any thing; let us go on." In fact, Josey was afraid, and wanted to get home as soon as he could.
"Wait a minute," said Jonas.

He listened again, and in a moment he heard the cry again.

It seemed to be a cry of distress, but he could not distinguish any words.
"It is somebody off upon the pond," said Jonas.
"Is the pond out that way ?" asked Josey.
"Yes," said Jonas, "and I verily believe somebody is out on it, and has lost his way." "Well," said Josey, "let us go home as fast as we can, and tell uncle." "No," said Jonas, "that won't do." Jonas turned in the direction from which the sound appeared to come, and, putting his hands up to his mouth in the shape of a speaking-trumpet, he called out, as loud as he could call,-- "Hal--loo!" He listened after he had thus called, but there was no answer.

In a few minutes, the cry which he had heard first was repeated, in the same tone as before.
"They don't hear me," said Jonas.
"Hal--loo!" cried out Josey, as loud as he could call.
There was no answer; but, in a few seconds afterwards, the cry was repeated, as at first.
"You see," said Jonas, "that the wind blows this way, and they can't hear us.