"Well, maybe there's a secret passage leading over to their new lines and trenches from here. Maybe that's how those two civilians got in here."
"Nothing like that!" declared Jimmy. "The German lines are too far away from here now. Besides, why would two lone Germans venture back in the enemy's camp? It isn't reasonable."
"Well, there's something queer," declared Roger, "and we'd better report it."
"I guess so," agreed the young sergeant. "But now what shall we do—go ahead or wait here?"
"Let's show a light and go on," decided Roger, for they had darkened their flash torches on seeing the burning candle. They had stood in the darkness while looking into the dugout containing the four men.
Jimmy hesitated a moment. He did not at all like the situation. It was "extremely ticklish," he said afterward. To show a light now, when the four men were in darkness, would mean that Jimmy and Roger would be targets for any hostile act. They would be in plain view while the others were not. Roger guessed something of what was passing in Jimmy's mind for he said:
"There can't be any danger. Those were two of our own doughboys there."
"Yes," was the answer. "I guess we can take a chance. But have your automatic ready while I show the glim. No telling what may happen."
Roger let a faint gleam escape from between two fingers which he pressed over the small bulb of his pocket flash lamp. He directed this gleam into the dugout, and then he and his chum received another surprise.
For the place was empty. The four men—two soldiers and two civilians—had disappeared!