Time passed on.
Rob was in the midst of a delightful dream of the far-away home across the sea when he felt some one gently shake him. As he instantly opened his eyes it all came back to him again in a flash, and he knew where he was; also that it must be Josh who was again trying to draw his attention.
“Hello! what’s up, Josh?” asked Rod quietly and without a trace of excitement, whereas a good many boys, upon being so suddenly aroused from a sound sleep would have sat up, trembling with alarm, and demanding to know in quivering tones what had happened.
“Something’s going on outside here that we ought to look into,” whispered Josh.
By this time Hanky Panky had been awakened, and heard the last words.
“Gee whiz! then the Germans have come after all!” he was heard to mutter, as he started to feel around for his shoes.
They hurried to the windows and looked out. Just how Josh had happened to awaken he did not take the trouble to inform the others; but they could see that something out of the common was occurring outside. A couple of lights that might be lanterns seemed to be moving this way and that, as though those who held the same were looking around the outhouses belonging to the farm.
“Get dressed, and in a hurry, too,” said Rob, after he had watched these moving lights for a minute or so.
“Then you think they must be the Germans come after us, do you, Rob?” asked Hanky Panky tremulously, as he started to dress as fast as he could in the semidarkness.
“I don’t know, but I mean to find out,” he was told in low but incisive tones.