CHAPTER X
UNEXPECTED VISITORS
Came a low, rumbling sound from overhead and a shower of dirt poureddown on Hal as he crouched in his corner. Chester still swung to and frofrom above. The lad felt something give, and believing that the massabove was about to fall, he dropped quickly alongside Hal and buried hisface in his arms.
But nothing happened.
Directly Chester rose to his feet.
"I thought it was coming," he said to Hal. "Guess I didn't hang on longenough. I'll have another try. Lend me your shoulders again."
Hal also stood up and took his position. Chester clambered up and againexplored the covering with his fingers. At the first touch there wasanother shower of earth.
"Won't take a whole lot to move it, I guess," he said.
"Hurry, then," enjoined Hal. "The air is stifling down here."
Chester himself felt that he was suffocating and realized the needfor haste.
"All right," he said. "Here's hoping we're not crushed to death. Downwhen I give the word."
Again his fingers found a hold and he braced himself for the shock.
"Down!" he cried suddenly.
Hal dropped.
A second time came the dull rumbling from above as Chester swayed to andfro in his precarious position. Then the lad felt the covering give. Oneinstant longer he hung on, for he felt that he would have no strength fora third attempt should this fail.
And then, with a roar, the mass of debris above came tumbling down.
Chester swung himself close to the side of the pit even as he felt thecovering give and came down a short distance from Hal. He covered hishead as well as he could and waited for he knew not what.
It was not long coming.
Something struck the lad a sharp blow upon the shoulder, numbing it.Behind him the lad heard rocks and other debris crashing to the bottom.Holding his breath, he waited for the blow he felt sure must come fromabove and unconsciously his right hand stretched out toward where he knewHal to be.
But nothing struck him. After five seconds of the terrible roaring, therewas silence. Chester looked up. There was light above. Chester uttered ashort prayer of thankfulness and rose to his feet.
"All right, Hal," he said, still looking above, while he rubbed hisinjured shoulder.
There was no reply.
Chester looked quickly about him. There was no sign of Hal.
"Great Scott! What can have happened to him?" he asked himself anxiously.
Quickly he fell to hands and knees and explored the bottom of the pit.There, where he knew Hal should be, he felt a mound of earth.
"Great Scott! He's buried!" cried Chester.
Frantically he set to work with his bare hands to uncover Hal.
In a few moments his efforts were rewarded. He exposed Hal's arm. Fromthe position the arm was in Chester was able to locate his chum's head.This he uncovered quickly, for he feared that his friend might suffocate.Then he bent over Hal and listened.
Hal was breathing faintly.
Chester uttered a cry of relief and proceeded to uncover the rest of hisfriend's body. This done, he set about reviving Hal, who was unconscious.
Chester rubbed Hal's hands vigorously, and was at last rewarded byhearing Hal sigh. A moment later Hal spoke.
"What's happened?" he asked.
"Well, it looks like the world caved in on you," returned Chester."Fortunately, appearances are deceitful. I yanked the log loose fromabove and you were buried in the dirt. Fortunately, I got you out intime. How do you feel?"
"I don't feel very chipper," was the faint reply; "but I guess I'mall right."
"Can you get up?"
"Don't know; I'll try."
He made the effort, and with Chester's assistance, soon stood leaningagainst one side of the pit. He looked up.
"Quite a ways up there," he said. "How are we going to make it?"
"Think you can climb up on my shoulders, pull yourself out and then lendme a hand?"
"I don't believe so. Guess I can brace myself while you climb up,though."
"Good, we'll try it."
Once more Chester climbed to Hal's shoulder while the latter bracedhimself against one wall of the pit. He took a firm hold on the edgeabove and drew himself up with little difficulty. He was about to reachdown and lend Hal a hand when he happened to look toward the east.
"Good night!" he exclaimed and disappeared into the pit in a hurry.
"What's the matter?" demanded Hal, who had not overheard his friend'sejaculation.
"Matter!" echoed Chester. "There are about ten millions coming this wayon the dead run. The French have retreated!"
"Hm-m-m," said Hal; "and what are we going to do?"
"Bide here for a spell, I expect," was Chester's answer.
"Guess you're right. They may not notice us down here. We'll play we're acouple of mice and see how still we can keep."
"Good! Listen! I hear 'em coming!"
Above them, to one side, they could hear the trampling of many feet asthe Germans passed the pit.
"Guess we're safe enough so long as we stay down here," said Chester.
"But we're going to have trouble reaching the French lines if the Germansare permitted to camp out hereabouts," declared Hal.
"Well, maybe the French will chase them back again," said Chester,hopefully.
"Maybe," Hal repeated, "and then maybe not. Now, if we--hello!"
He broke off suddenly. From above there had come muttered exclamations ofalarm, two bodies came hurtling through space and struck the bottom ofthe pit with loud thumps.
"Grab 'em, Hal!" shouted Chester, and leaped across the pit.
Hal followed suit, for the two bodies that had tumbled through spacewere nothing less than German soldiers who had failed to see theopening above.
They were taken by surprise when two forms leaped on them below, but theyput up a fight.
"Tap 'em over the head with your gun!" shouted Chester.
He had drawn his revolver as he leaped forward and now suited the actionto the word. The German toppled over with a groan.
Hal, however, had not drawn his weapon, and was now locked in the arms ofthe second German, as they rolled over and over in the bottom of the pit.Weakened by his recent experience he was getting the worst of it.
Chester took in the situation at a glance and leaped forward. At themoment Hal was on top and the German stared up at Chester. Seeing asecond foe he raised a loud cry for help.
This was what Chester had been afraid of. He didn't want any more Germansdown there if he could help it.
"Turn him over, Hal!" he cried. "Let me get a whack at him with my gun."
By a desperate effort Hal obeyed and the German rolled on top of him. Onemore loud cry he gave and then Chester silenced him with a sharp blow ofhis revolver butt.
Chester stepped back with an exclamation of relief and Hal draggedhimself from beneath his now unconscious adversary.
"A tough customer, that fellow," he remarked.
"You'd have done for him if you hadn't been so weak," Chester replied. "Ididn't think we might have callers down here."
"Neither did I," returned Hal, "but I'm glad they came."
"Why?" demanded Chester in surprise.
"We can borrow their uniforms if it's necessary," Hal explained.
"By Jove! I hadn't thought of that," exclaimed Chester. "A good plan."
"Of course it may not be necessary," said Hal. "If the Germansshould be driven back it would be unnecessary. We'll wait untilafter dark and see."
"In the meantime we had better tie these fellows up," said Chester. "Oneof them is coming to now. He may not know when he's properly licked andwant to continue the fight."
"Better gag 'em, too," said Hal. "I noticed that one fellow had prettygood lungs."
The lads removed their belts and with these bound the hands of theircaptives. They had nothing to tie their legs, but they didn't feel therewas much danger of the men crawling out
of the pit with their arms bound.They gagged them with their handkerchiefs.
A few moments later one of the Germans staggered to his feet and gazed atthe two lads in astonishment. The second also soon regained consciousnessand apparently was no less surprised. Both lads kept their revolvershandy, for they weren't sure whether the Germans might not attack them,bound and gagged as they were.
Hal addressed them.
"We expect to keep you company for some time," he said, "and we don'twant any foolishness. The first false move will be your last. Get overthere in the corner."
The men obeyed, growling to themselves.
Hal and Chester listened for sounds above that would indicate the retreatof the Germans and the advance of the French. No such sounds came; andwith the fall of darkness Hal said:
"Well, I guess we had better change clothes with these fellows and make abreak for it."
"Good!" agreed Chester. "We'll have to unbind them while they disrobe.We'll strip one at a time. You hold the gun while I do the work."
"Well, I guess everything is all ready," said Chester, when they were atlast garbed in the German uniforms and the men were safely tied up again."We may as well be moving."
"All right," said Hal, "climb up on my shoulders. I'll keep my gun onthese two fellows in the meantime. Can't trust 'em."
Chester followed Hal's instructions and a moment later gazed out ofthe pit. Ahead he could see moving forms, but there was no one closeto the pit.
"Coast clear," he called to Hal. "Here I go. Be ready when I reachdown for you."
He pulled himself up.