The three boys complied hastily. When they returned, the sergeant spoke again:
“Corporal Rand and I are going forward to investigate. We’ll leave the prisoner here with you. Under no circumstances are any of you to follow us. Remain here. We’ll be back as soon as possible.”
Another long wait. The boys stared out fearfully through the darkness. Their pulses pounded with excitement. Impatiently, they paced back and forth, scarcely able to endure the suspense. When finally they heard footsteps approaching, they breathed relievedly.
It was Corporal Rand. He too was excited. When he spoke, his voice was husky with some deep emotion.
“Richardson’s gone!” he panted.
It was a verbal thunderbolt. The boys jumped.
“What’s that?” Dick and Sandy gasped out in unison.
“Gone, I tell you!” Rand whispered hoarsely. “Gone as completely as if the earth had swallowed him up. I think they’ve got him. We were walking along—the sergeant about thirty feet in advance of me—when the thing happened.”
It seemed incredible. A feeling of horror swept over Dick, while Sandy stood, shaking like a leaf. A poignant, miserable silence ensued.
“But—but di—did you look for him?” stammered Dick.