“Put out those lights!” shouted Frank, realizing that in the white glare the group outside presented fine targets for the hidden marksman on the hill, whoever he might be.
The boys instantly shoved their glaring torch tips into the ground. Even as they did so they could hear rapidly retreating footsteps.
“Don’t let them get away,” shouted Harry wildly.
Frank, who by this time had switched off the current, and was outside, seized him with a detaining grasp.
“No good, Harry,” he exclaimed. “It would be taking needless chances. Now, let’s look to Ben.”
“Only a hen-peck,” hailed that redoubtable ex-mariner, coming up, “just nicked my starboard ear, but I thought for a minute they had done me.”
“That was no fault of theirs,” answered Billy, “they——”
He was interrupted by a series of guttural shouts and piercing shrieks.
“Ach Himmel—donnerblitzen vass iss——!”
“Sacre nom de nom! Qu’est-ce que cela! To the aid. Monsieur Chest-e-erre!”