Tad half dragged the fat boy down to the creek where the blood was quickly washed from his cheek. It was then seen that a bullet had grazed Stacy's cheek, leaving a raw streak across it.
Professor Zepplin, now mindful of his duty, had hurried up to them, and down on his knees was examining the wound critically.
"Hm—-m—-m!" he muttered. "Bad business, bad business!"
"But—-what does it mean?" urged Walter.
"What does it mean? It means that the Germans have got us," wailed Stacy Brown. "Oh, I knew we should be in this war sooner or later, but I didn't think I should be the first man to get shotted up."
"It means some one has been trying to shoot us up," answered Rector.
"Trying!" exploded Chunky. "They did more than try. They succeeded.
Don't you see this wound on my countenance? Wait till I get sight of
the man who put that mark on my face. I'll bear the scar for life.
I——-"
"It is my opinion that we are in a dangerous position," declared the professor, getting up and glancing about him apprehensively.
"We were. We are all right here for a little while," replied Tad. "But we shall have to seek other quarters, I am afraid, and that without delay."
"Surely, it must be a mistake," protested the professor. "Some one must have been shooting at us under a misapprehension that we were another party."