Alfred, meanwhile, had reached the track near the switch, and not far from the rear end of the burning train. As he was about to cross the track his foot struck an object, and he fell across the track. He was surprised to see several men appear and gaze at him, and it must be admitted that he was decidedly nervous over the situation. However, he did not venture to say anything, but quickly started at the fire, for he now stood with others, in the full glare of the flames. As no one paid any attention to him, it occurred to him that he had as much right there as the villagers.
All about him he heard criticisms of the calamity, and some one suggested that the fire and explosion was caused by a French airship, and, in fact, this seemed to be the general opinion.
Alfred wandered about listlessly, now feeling assured that the people knew nothing of the lieutenant, for he was certain that the news of the capture of a Frenchman would cause great excitement. Waiting the first opportunity, he slipped over the fence, and crawled along in the shadow of some brush for several hundred feet, when, to his consternation, a tall man arose in his path.
He turned, and was about to leap the fence, when he heard a familiar voice: "Alfred."
He immediately recognized the lieutenant, and it is questionable which of the two felt happier at the meeting. They quickly ascended the hill, where they met a gloomy pair in Ralph and Felix, and the lieutenant told his story. He had allowed the petrol to run from one of the tanks after he took away the last receptacle, and when he returned he tapped three of the other tanks, expecting to wait five or ten minutes before firing it.
While thus waiting two of the guards approached, and he hid behind a box car on the opposite siding. He feared that his plans had miscarried, for he felt sure the guards would discover the petrol. They did not, however, go into the sheds, but remained outside, engaged in conversation for more than ten minutes. When they left he lost no time in again crossing the track.
He reasoned that the whole of the interior of the first set of sheds must have been flooded by that time, and the problem now was to ignite it, and get away safely, so he struck a match and lighted a small saturated cloth, which was thrown into the nearest opening. It caught instantly, and as the entire shed was now filled with the vapor, the explosion followed before he could get across the track. It was so great in violence that he was hoisted from his feet, so it seemed to him, and completely stunned. How long he remained in that condition of half stupor he did not know, but he soon heard a babel of voices, and saw everything about him as bright as day. Then, to his surprise, a train came up the switch, and rushed through the fire. It was this which probably saved him from being detected.
"You may be sure," he said, "that as soon as my senses returned I knew what had happened, and that train started my sluggish brain into activity. I ran away from the train, and so did several others. No one cared to follow me, thinking, of course, that I belonged to the crew. That explains my long absence."
"Now, how are we to get the petrol over to the machine?" asked Ralph.
"We must ask Felix about it," said the lieutenant. "Probably you can help us out in that direction?"