"But what is that funny noise?" asked Freddie. "It ain't no cow, nor
no dog."

The queer "Whoo-oo-oo" came louder each time. It went up and down
like a scale, and "left a hole in the air," Bert declared.

"It's an owl!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey, and she was right, for up in
the abandoned hay loft the queer old birds had found a quiet place,
and had not been disturbed before by visitors.

"Let's get after them," proposed Bert, with lantern in hand.

"You would have a queer hunt," his father told him; "I guess you had
better not think of it. Hark! there's a wagon! I guess Hank is
coming back to us," and the welcome sound of wheels on the road
brought the party to their feet again.

"Hello there!" called Hank. "Here you are. Come along now, we'll
make it this time."

It did not take the Bobbseys long to reach the roadside and there they
found Hank with a big farm wagon. The seats were made of boards, and
there was nothing to hold on to but the edge of the boards.

But the prospect of getting to Aunt Emily's at last made up for all
their inconveniences, and when finally Hank pulled the reins again,
our friends gave a sigh of relief.