“We’ll have to chop him loose,” said Phil, after a hasty survey of the situation. They saw that it would be practically impossible for them to raise up that mass of fallen timber.
With the roar of battle raging all around them, the young engineers set to work with the axes, and in less than ten minutes had chopped away two of the tree limbs. Then another was pried to one side by Ben and Phil, and while this was done Roger dragged the money lender’s son to a safe position.
Nat was so weak he could scarcely stand, and Roger and Ben supported him as they led the way out of the tangle. Then they fell in with several soldiers belonging to Nat’s company.
“You had better take charge of this fellow,” said Roger to one of the men. “I don’t know how badly he has been hurt. A couple of trees came down on top of him.”
“My stomach is smashed!” groaned Nat dolefully. “I know I’ll never be able to walk straight again! I am done for!” And then, as a sudden twinge of pain seized him, he went on with a sob: “I knew it! I knew I would have to suffer! I had no right to do what I did! Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?” And then, suddenly throwing up both hands, Nat Poole fell in a dead faint.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE GERMAN HEADQUARTERS
Scarcely daring to breathe, Dave kept himself near the top of the tree, doing what he could to hide from the observation of the five German soldiers below. He knew that they most likely had discovered the raincoat, the package of food, and the rifle he had left at the foot of the tree; and that being so, they would take it for granted that he could not be far away.
He heard the five soldiers talking earnestly, and also heard them tear open the package of food he had been carrying.
“Ha! he lives pretty high,” was the comment of one of the soldiers. “Smoked bologna and potato salad! Very good! I think, comrades, we can dispose of this in short order.”
“We certainly can,” returned another soldier, and the whole five, who were evidently hungry, lost no time in disposing of what remained of the food.