“Confound it, what’s that?” angrily hissed his companion.
“A wire fence,” replied the other.
“Well, it will take more than that to stop us,” was the angry answer, “come on, grab the top wire and over we go.”
“Now!” shouted Frank, as he threw in the switch and 500 volts coursed through the copper wire both men were grasping.
At the same instant Billy and Harry outside pressed the electric buttons that ignited the Coston navy signal lights they both carried and the whole scene was illuminated in a white glare as light as noonday. And what a scene it was!
On the ground by the fence sprawled the marauders yelling till the air rang with their cries of mingled pain and amazement at the surprise of the powerful shock that had knocked them off their feet.
Above them stood the stout figure of Ben Stubbs belaboring them impartially with the heavy club he had cut for that special purpose.
“Take that, you lubbers, you longshore loafers!” he shouted as his blows fell with the rapidity of a drumstick on the two prostrate carcasses.
The two men, however, had laid their plans better than the boys knew. They were prepared for a surprise, but not one of the kind they had run into.
Without a second’s warning there was a sudden flash from the hill behind them, followed by a sharp report. Ben Stubbs threw up his hands and rolled over with a yell more of surprise than of anything else.