THE PRISONERS TAKE A PRISONER
The work of digging the tunnel progressed rapidly. At first Phil feared
that the job would prove exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, of
performance in the seven or eight hours they had before them for labor
before the next daybreak. He based this fear on the proximity of the
supposed stonequarry just south of the house.
The earth was not even solidly packed at every place where they struck
with spade, shovel and pick. In fact, much of it was so loose that to
use the pick would have been a waste of time. Generally the spade served
the purpose best in the tunnel, the one who wielded that tool pitching
the diggings back as far as he could, while others threw or dragged them
still farther back against the opposite wall with the shovel and hoe.
Before long it became evident to all the workers why the earth was so
easy to spade. There was considerable sand mixed with the clay and the
loam constituting the earth’s crust at this point. They concluded,
therefore, that the stonequarry must be of the sand variety, and that
the rocky substratum in this section of the country was covered with a
sandy admixture of supersoil.
But they struck so much of this loosening element that it presently
began to appear as a menace rather than an advantage. If a vein of sand
should be struck overhead or in the upper part of the excavation, a
cave-in might result in the suffocation of the tunneler before he could
be rescued. Phil then suggested that thereafter the continuation of the
tunnel be elevated a foot or two in order to lessen the possibility of
such disaster. However, they were careful also not to cut too close to
the surface of the ground for fear lest a guard, passing that way, might
step through and be precipitated into the passage.
But that is the very thing that happened, and it came near bringing the
enterprise of the energetic Marines to an unhappy conclusion.
Nevertheless, perhaps, it was fortunate that things turned out as they
did, for the guard who stepped through into the subterranean avenue was
so overwhelmed by the mass of sand and earth which closed in upon him,
that his wits, his voice and his power of self-help deserted him.
Phil was taking his turn with the spade in the tunnel when this thing
occurred. Fortunately, he had stepped back several feet in order to
bring the candle forward to a new niche he had just cut in the wall and
was not covered by the avalanche of earth. As it was, he started back
several feet, fearing that the whole roof of the tunnel was about to
fall in, but was presently reassured by an appearance of the cause of
the sudden interruption of his work.
A pair of coarse-broganned feet protruded from the heap of earth in the
wrecked passageway and apprised him of the fact that someone—certainly
not an American Marine—had been caught in a very effective trap, which
had been intended for anything but a trap. Moreover, it was likely to
prove a death trap in short order unless steps were taken to release the
victim with all possible speed.
Phil took hold of the protruding brogans and pulled, but with no
favorable result. He pulled again—the buried form moved slightly, and
more earth slid down into the trench. The boy now realized that the
situation was desperate—for the victim was no doubt a boche soldier; but
the young Marine felt it a human duty to rescue him, nevertheless.
Just then he felt the presence of someone behind him, and as he turned
to see who it was, Dan Fentress took hold of one of the protruding legs
and whispered:
“Here, we’ll pull together. It’ll be tough on him, but not so tough as
leaving him there until we can shovel ’im out. He has some chance this
way.”
It was close quarters for two to work in side by side, but one strong
pull together was effectual. A badly scared boche, hatless and with his
face considerably the worse for rough dragging through a mass of earth
and sharp stones, emerged, puffing with exhaustion and certainly not in
condition to exclaim, “Thank you for saving my life!”
“Here’s his gun,” said Dan, reaching forward and pulling forth a Mauser
from the loose earth that had almost buried it.
“And here’s his pistol,” said Phil, drawing a murderous looking weapon
from the fellow’s holster. “He must be a general handy man for all kinds
of service.”
The prisoners’ prisoner, who was rapidly recovering from the effects of
his mishap and violent handling, sat up presently and looked about him
with astonishment. Evidently he did not know what to make of the
situation.
“See here, my good enemy friend,” Dan warned, pointing the Mauser at his
head; “no noise out o’ you, or I’ll send you to the place where Kultur
gets all the reward comin’ to it. We’re Marines, not submarines; and we
hit _above_ water.”
“Every word of that is lost on him,” said Phil, noting the blank
expression on the boche’s countenance. “He’s not a very intelligent
fellow—the better for us right now. He’s one of those old fellows
they’ve dragged into the army to perform duties of secondary importance.
We’d better get him back in the cellar and let some o’ the other boys
take care of ’im.”
The unfortunate guard proved to be able to get on his feet and walk back
to where the other Marines were waiting anxiously for an explanation of
the disturbances that had reached their ears. Phil told the story in a
few words and then said:
“You fellows stay here and take care of this prisoner, and I’ll go out
and reconnoiter. I want to see the lay o’ the land. Maybe we’ve done all
the digging necessary. With this guard out of the way, the coast may be
clear to the south. We want to know where we’re going before we start.”
“Let me go along,” Dan requested. “I’ve got a notion that two spies
working together can do better than one.”
“Come on, then,” Phil responded. “Is that satisfactory to you fellows?”
The speaker by this time was acknowledged by all as their leader. Half a
dozen were now in the basement giving their assistance in shifts in the
preparations for escape. They nodded assent to this latest suggestion.
A minute later Phil and Dan had crawled up over the pile of earth at the
end of the tunnel and were creeping over the ground toward the supposed
stonequarry.