"Then they are underground," whispered Porky in his turn.
Slowly, ever so slowly they crept up to the little hill and lay in the darkness, listening. Certainly through the grass and stones of the mound came the muffled sound of cautious voices. If they had been speaking English, it is probable that even Beany's wizard ears would not have caught the sound. But the harsh guttural German, even when whispered, seemed to carry far.
"I don't see how you heard 'em," breathed Porky. "It's hard enough to believe now. What do you suppose it all means!"
"Search me!" Beany breathed in return.
"What they doing over on our side?" wondered Porky.
"It's a good place all right," said Beany against his brother's ear as they lay close to the grass.
They were silent for a while, when the unbelievable happened. It was so amazing, so stunning, that both boys at first could not believe that they heard aright. They heard a sound like a windlass or crank turning, a few clods tumbled down on them, and a voice once more whispered hoarsely three words:
"Gee, it's hot!"
"Gee, it's hot!" said the German voice and the simple words seemed to the astounded boys to ring across the valley! On the contrary, they were spoken in a low whisper.
Another voice replied. "He won't like it if you speak English, you know."