"Why?" exclaimed the man. "Only to find out who's there. Hallo!" he yelled.
Somebody answered with a loud "hallo!" and again a light gleamed in the darkness.
"Who's there?" shouted the stranger.
"It's us," came the answer. "Blurry well lost in this blurry 'ole. 'Oo are yer?"
"Spudhole!" Fitzgerald shouted in a glad voice for he recognised the voice of his mate. "Is Bowdy and the sergeant with you?"
"Oh! It's old Fitz," Spudhole exclaimed. "We're lost, the three o' us, and we don't know where we are. D'you know the way to the farm?"
"We'll soon get there," Fitzgerald replied. "I've somebody with me who knows the way."
"Bring 'im along 'ere then," said Bubb.
Fitzgerald turned to his companion who had just moved to one side, but now he could not see him. On his right a dark form became one with the night and lost itself.
"Hi!" Fitzgerald shouted. But there was no reply.