Bart needed no second request, for he was quite as hungry as his mates. But when he picked up the canvas wrapper in which the food had been stored he dropped it with a startled exclamation.
"What's the matter?" cried Frank.
"Matter enough," replied Bart. "The bag's empty. There isn't a blessed thing in it."
The others rushed him under the light that came from above and examined the wrapper with sinking hearts. What Bart had said was true. Not a crumb was left.
There was no mystery about it. The gnawed and tattered holes in the bag told their own story. It was summed up in the one word that came from their lips simultaneously. "Rats!"
Their four-footed enemies had perhaps brought them nearer capture than their human enemies had been able to do.
CHAPTER XVI
CHASED BY CAVALRY
The four Army boys looked at each other in dismay.
Nothing much worse than this could have befallen them. It brought them close to the edge of tragedy. They would have to change their plans. Instead of being free to choose their own time for their attempt to escape, they were forced to act quickly no matter how much greater the risk might be. For if they waited until they were weak from hunger they would be in no condition to make a dash or put up a fight.