“Or struck by the lightning,” added Dave. “And either of those things might have happened had we been where I think I dropped the watch.”
All three had by this time scrambled to their feet out of the brushwood, and now they lost no time in hurrying from the scene, Roger resting an arm over the shoulder of each of his chums and hopping along on his good foot. And it was well that they did this, for presently came another loud explosion, followed by several others.
“We got out just in time,” observed Phil, with a grave shake of his head.
“I don’t understand what made those last shells go off,” remarked Dave. “Certainly that lightning couldn’t have done it.”
“Maybe the dumps are connected with some mine,” put in Roger quickly. “I wouldn’t put it past the Germans to play some trick like that. It’s been done before.”
He referred to an incident which had come to light just about the time the American Expeditionary Force had arrived in that neighborhood. Some German shells had been found located in a spot near a roadway. When the newly-arrived soldiers had started to pick some of the shells up they had disturbed some wires connected with a mine and there had been a loud explosion in the roadway. Fortunately, at that time no artillery or motor-lorries were passing that particular spot, so that comparatively small damage had been done.
“Maybe the mine was located on that old wood trail we saw,” said Phil. “They might have figured out that the Americans would use that trail in coming this way.”
“I guess it’s good-bye to that watch,” remarked Dave. “If it was anywhere near the ammunition dump those explosions must have smashed it completely.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” answered Phil. “It may have fallen down in some hole or between some rocks and been well protected. Just the same, I don’t think I would go near the place yet. There may be more explosions to come.”
“I don’t intend to go near it,” answered Dave. “We’ll get back to the cliff and see what the other fellows are doing. If they are still there, these explosions will make them wonder what is happening.”