Nay, more than both; for as the panting pair flung themselves into shelter, a third figure, short and stout, in an ill-fitting kilt, tumbled heavily through the doorway after them. Simultaneously a stream of machine-gun bullets went storming past.
"Just in time!" observed Angus, well pleased. "Bogle, what are you doing here?"
"I was given tae unnerstand, sirr," replied Mr. Bogle calmly, "when I jined the regiment, that in action an officer's servant stands by his officer."
"That is true," conceded Angus; "but you had no right to follow me against orders. Did you not hear me say that no one but Corporal M'Snape was to come?"
"No, sirr. I doubt I was away at the 'phone."
"Well, now you are here, wait inside this doorway, where you can see Sergeant Mucklewame's party, and look out for signals. M'Snape, let us find that machine-gun."
The pair made their way to the hitherto blind side of the building, and cautiously peeped through a much-perforated shutter in the living-room.
"Do you see it, sirr?" inquired M'Snape eagerly.
Angus chuckled.
"See it? Fine! It is right in the open, in the middle of the street.
Look!"