CHAPTER III
NEW FRIENDS
Hal's last conscious moment was filled with the roar that followed hisshot aimed at the hand grenades in the far corner of his undergroundtomb. When again he was able to realize that he still lived his firstthought was of Chester, who had been near when he pressed the trigger ofhis automatic in his desperate attempt to escape.
The lad was very dizzy as he staggered to his feet. First he felthimself over carefully. He found he uninjured except from shock.
"Chester," he called.
There was no answer.
Again and again Hal called to his friend, meanwhile moving through thedebris that littered the ground, until at last he came upon theunconscious form of Chester fully a hundred yards from the spot where hehimself had come to life.
Quickly Hal bent over and raised Chester's head to his knee. He stillbreathed and as the lad glanced around he noted a pool of stagnantwater.
Laying Chester down on the ground carefully, Hal hurried to the pool.There he soaked his handkerchief and hurried back to his friend.
After some effort on Hal's part Chester showed signs of returningconsciousness as the cold water began to have its effect. Then Chestersat up.
"Where am I?" he asked, moving his head feebly in a vain attempt topierce the darkness with his eyes.
Hal was forced to smile at this remark.
"I guess you are not in such bad shape after all," he said. "Anybodythat can wake up and start off with a question like that is not going todie for some time to come."
Chester struggled from Hal's arms and got to his feet. He surveyed theruins of the erstwhile dugout in the darkness and then said:
"You're getting to be a pretty fair shot with that gun of yours, Hal."
"Thanks," said Hal dryly. "You were so still and quiet when I found you,though, that I had begun to think I had done a pretty bad job."
"Well," said Chester, "we're on the outside again, at all events. Idon't feel as well as I might, either, and I vote that we get away fromhere. I'd like to lay my hands on the Boche who is responsible forinterrupting my sleep like this. I'd show him a thing or two."
"Not in your present condition, I guess," was Hal's rejoinder.
"Oh, I'm still alive and kicking," returned Chester. "But listen to theguns."
Indeed, it seemed that the roar of heavy artillery from both the Alliedand German lines exceeded in ferocity anything that either lad had heardin their fours years of fighting.
"You can bet there is something of importance going on," was Hal'scomment. "But I agree with you, Chester, we've time enough later tolearn what it's all about. It's time now to find a place where we canbunk for the rest of the night. Let's be moving."
Together the lads walked away in the darkness toward the section of theAmerican encampment where a glimmer of light showed in the distantdugout.
"We'll wake these fellows up and see if they'll let us spend the nightwith them," said Hal, as they approached the dugout.
"Suits me," Chester agreed; "and if they have any objections to ourcompany, I'm in favor of dispossessing them."
"That might be rather a large order, in our present shape," said Hal."However, we'll see what they have to say."
They approached the dugout and tapped lightly on the door. There was noanswer to their knock. Hal tried again, but with the same result.
"If there is anybody there, they are good sleepers," declared Hal. "If Idon't get an answer this time, we'll go in regardless."
"Suits me," was Chester's response.
Again Hal knocked on the door and waited a moment. There was no responsefrom within.
"Well, here goes," the lad declared.
With that he threw open the door.
Inside the lads surveyed the dugout. There was no one there.
"We're in luck," said Hal. "We'll just make ourselves at home, and ifthe owner objects we'll get out again, or put up an argument. That'sall."
"In that event," said Chester, "me for the first bunk."
He turned in at once. Hal followed suit, making himself as comfortableas possible in a bunk across the little room.
Outside the heavy cannonading continued without cessation.
Two hours later--it may have been 4 o'clock in the morning--Hal wasawakened by a rough hand on his shoulder and the sound of a rough voice.
"Come up out of there," said the voice. "This war has reached a prettypass when a man can't go out for a few minutes without somebody stealinghis bunk."
Hal, still half asleep, sat up.
"What's the row?" he wanted to know.
"What's the row?" repeated the man who stood above him. "I like that. Icome back to my own little bunk, find it occupied and the occupant wantsto know what's the row. Why shouldn't there be a row, I'd like to know?"
Hal got slowly to his feet and gazed at the man who had thus rudelydisturbed his slumber.
"A marine, eh?" he said.
"Right," was the reply. "Lieutenant Ulysses Smith, of the --th division.I'm obliged to you for keeping my bed warm, but if it's all the same toyou, I'm ready to climb in myself."
"Well, Smith," said Hal, "it's your bed. Hop in."
The marine eyed the lad closely.
"First tell me who you are and what you are doing here," he said.
In a few words Hal recounted the adventure he and Chester had gonethrough.
"Well," said the marine, "I guess I don't want that bed after all. Youneed it worse than I do. Help yourself. I'll bunk on the floor here."
"Oh, no," was Hal's reply. "The floor is plenty good enough for me. It'syour bed, you know."
"True enough," said Smith, "but at the same time, I've been out on alittle frolic and don't need it half as bad as you do. So you're alieutenant in the regulars, eh?"
"Right," said Hal.
"Haven't much to do yet, eh?"
"Oh, yes," was Hal's rejoinder. "You see, I put in almost three years inthis war before Uncle Sam decided to get in."
The marine officer looked his astonishment.
"Yes," Hal continued, "my friend and I"--he indicated Chester, whocontinued to sleep through the conversation--"have seen active servicewith most of the Allied forces."
Smith held out a hand.
"I'm a veteran myself," he said. "I've campaigned in the Philippines andin some of the South American troubles. Of course, I've never been mixedup in a scrap like this and I've a lot to learn. I'll appreciateanything you can tell me."
"It's a little early in the morning for a talkfest," said Hal with asmile, "but I've no doubt that when the sun comes up and we've had sleepa plenty and some good grub that I can entertain you a bit."
"I'll be all ears, as my friend Jenkins would say," replied Smith."Jenkins," he explained, "is my bunkie--Lieutenant Jenkins, by the way."
"Guess he'll be back hunting his bed before long," said Hal.
"Shouldn't be surprised. Guess that's him now," he added, as footstepsapproached without.
A moment later a second officer in Uncle Sam's marine corps uniformentered the dugout.
"Meet my friend Lieutenant Paine, Jenkins," said Smith. "He dropped inrather suddenly, Fritz having put his own bunk house out of business.I've invited him and his friend to spend the night with us. It won't bethe first time we have slept two in a bunk."
"Guess it won't be the last, either," was Jenkins' reply; "at least, notif this war lasts as long as I figure it will. You're a lieutenant inthe regulars, I see," he added. "I'm afraid you'll get a chance soonerthan we will."
"Oh, you'll be in it, too," said Hal, smiling. "Uncle Sam is going toneed every man he has over here, and all he can send, to finish thisjob."
"Well, we'll finish it, all right," declared Jenkins. "I'd be willing tocut ten years off my life to get a chance at these Huns."
"You'll get it, never fear," replied Hal.
"If I don't," said Jenkins, "I'll start a little war of my own."
/> "Don't pay any attention to him, Paine," laughed Smith. "He's not halfas bloodthirsty as he would have you believe. But come, let's turn in.Tomorrow is another day."
"Right," said Jenkins. "I'm with you."
Ten minutes later the dugout was in darkness and only the heavybreathing of the four sleepers proclaimed that it was inhabited.