"Then pick out your new roost, and be ready to migrate as soon as you hear the whistle. Pass the word along, too, Red."
Presently it was understood that when the scout master gave the signal every fellow was expected to crawl or dart away, seeking through one way or another to get out of the fire zone.
"I hope George has succeeded in explaining everything to the woman by now," remarked Red.
"I'm sure he has, and that the whole of them are even now on the way here to wind up this business," Elmer declared most confidently.
When ten minutes had gone by, and he felt sure that all of the scouts knew what they were expected to do, Elmer took out his whistle.
Then the shrill notes sounded, cutting the air as though charged with irresistible force.
Immediately everybody got busy. Khaki-clad figures could be seen darting this way and that, but none of them made any attempt to advance. This sort of move might be expected to anger the Italians, without doing any good, and the scouts had been warned against it.
There came no second discharge of firearms, and from this fact it seemed evident that the unseen enemy understood that there was nothing hostile connected with this action on the part of the scouts.
Again did Red and Elmer find themselves good neighbors as they arrived at a pile of rocks, behind which they sought shelter.
"All safe?" asked the former.