The professor was astonished.
"Shimminy Gristmas! I don'd toldt you dot!" came from Hans Dunnerwust.
"Yes, gone," repeated Frank, throwing the light about the room and finally bringing it back to the bed of grass.
"But—but it's impossible."
"Impossible or not, it is true, as you may see."
"But the man was dead—as dead as he could be!"
"Yah!" snorted Hans. "Py shingoes! dot peen der trute. Dot man vos teader as a goffin nail, und don'd you vorget him!"
The trio were silent, staring in stupefied amazement at the bed of grass.
An uncanny feeling began to creep over Frank, and it seemed that a chill hand touched his face and played about his temples.
Hans' teeth began to chatter.