And now Chester stretched himself out on the ground to ward off any further attack. He was brought suddenly to a sitting posture again by the sound of a shot from Hal’s end of the cave.
Several times he called out but received no answer. He was just on the point of leaving his post and following after his friend when Hal’s voice came to him.
“Thank God,” he exclaimed softly, “Hal is still alive.”
He resumed his former position and lay calmly awaiting the next move of the enemy, with a human shield in front of him, even as Hal had at his end of the cave.
For hours, it seemed to both boys, they lay there silently, save for an occasional shout to the other, when the darkness of the cave began to give way to a faint glow of light. The sun had arisen, and each boy, at his own end of the cave, breathed more freely.
“It’s getting light here, Hal,” called Chester.
“And here, too,” Hal shouted back.
And both lads were struck with the same thought.
“At least, we can see what we are doing now.”