“I saw somebody’s arm, and that arm was dressed in khaki,” said Dave quickly. “I believe that stuff was thrown down by some of our soldiers. I am going up there to investigate. Come along.”
To get up on the bridgeway was not difficult. They had to pass into what was left of one of the houses and then make their way up a rather rickety pair of stairs. Then they passed over a shaky floor and through a doorway leading to the bridge.
As they did this, Dave, who was well in advance, caught sight of two figures in khaki—those of a private and an officer. The two had been laughing boisterously, but now, as Dave and his chums came up on the bridge the others started away from them. But the far end of the bridge was blocked by the ruins of the building beyond, and the fleeing ones had to come to a halt.
“It’s Nat Poole, just as I thought,” said Dave to his chums.
“Who is that fellow with him?” questioned Roger.
“I’m not quite sure, Roger, but he looks like Gebauer.”
There came down on their heads a perfect shower of dirt.—Page [161].
“So it is! I recognize him now. Well, what do you know about this!”
In another moment the two parties were confronting each other. Nat looked rather sullen, while Lieutenant Gebauer put on a front as if the affair did not concern him in the least. Of course the engineers saluted, and Gebauer did likewise.