“He didn’t get any letter this time from Jessie, and that I am afraid is making him feel quite blue. He heard from his Uncle Dunston, and that’s all.”
The two talked the matter over for several minutes more, and then reached the conclusion that it might be as well to remain silent on the subject for at least several days longer, trusting that during that period a letter might come from Jessie which would clear up the situation.
During the past few days the ammunition dump which Dave had discovered, and part of which had been blown up, had been subject to an investigation by those in authority. Several hundred shells were found unexploded, and these were taken to a safe place and stored away. It was learned that a mine had been placed on the old trail through the wood, and this had gone up, doing, however, no further damage than to uproot some trees and brushwood.
Dave received permission to visit the spot and did so in company with Phil and Ben, Roger remaining behind to favor his hurt ankle, which still pained him a little.
The young sergeant was, of course, anxious to find his lost wrist-watch, and a search was instituted which lasted the best part of half a day. But it was of no avail—the timepiece could not be located.
“I guess it’s of no use—we might as well give it up,” said Dave at last. “Come on, we’ll go back to camp.”
And this they did. The young sergeant felt decidedly blue, and he had two things to make him feel so: the loss of the watch and the fact that he had not heard from Jessie for some time.
CHAPTER VI
A BATTLE IN THE AIR
“Phew, but this is hot!”
“I guess we’re going to pay up for that wet weather we had.”