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Show 35 Chapter Five Just before eleven o'clock, the owl hooted. Josh lay in his bed, fully dressed. He had been lying awake, waiting, listening to the wind stir the trees outside the window. In his closet was his pack with the few belongings he was taking with him-a hatchet, knife, fishing line and hooks, an extra pair of levis. and spare underwear, his scout book so they'd know how to survive, and a ball of string and other odds and ends he'd thought of. He'd already rolled his sleeping bag and tied it across the pack. So when Cap Mullins gave the hoot owl call, Josh was ready, already His mother had/come in and kissed him good night. He'd given her an extra hug. That night he'd even given Cindy a hug as she went to bed. When he did that, his mother had looked at him funny-like and smiled. On the floor at the side of his bed, Chinook picked up his ears and rose sniffing when Cap gave the call. In the other bed Josh could hear Cindy's deep breathing. Only desperation was making Josh O'Tosh leave home. More than anything else, he wished he didn't have to go. But he had wracked his brain and saw no other way to save Chinook. With a deep sigh he rolled from bed, pulled on his shoes, and set the note on the pillow. His mother would find it next morning. It explained that he had to go away for a time, but that he would return. And in the note |