Part 8 (1/2)
”Perhaps we can manage to make it if the Germans have not taken it away,” suggested David. ”I can't say for sure, but we can try.”
”Let's be on our way, then,” urged Harry, eager to start.
”Suppose we look about and look for something to eat,” suggested Ned.
”I'm beginning to appreciate Jimmie's feelings.”
”I hope you're not hungry already?” laughed Jack, ”Why,” he added, ”you had something to eat no longer ago than--”
”Yes, no longer ago than the last time we ate,” interrupted Harry.
”You may not believe it, but I'm getting so hungry I could eat anything.”
”All right; call the waiter, then, and we'll all eat.”
”Perhaps I can find something,” volunteered David. ”I know where the Russians kept most of their stores. They had a place over here at one side of this big s.p.a.ce filled with things to eat and shoot and so on.
They had a lot of stuff in there.”
”Where do you suppose they have all gone?” asked Ned, glancing about.
”I rather imagine they have gotten away as fast as they could after the Germans began blowing down the tottering walls. Those fellows we saw back there in the tunnel were possibly trying to get away by that route,” replied David. ”I intended bringing you here when we left the cellar where the rats were. I thought the way was clear.”
”How did you happen to be there?” asked Ned.
”I got tired of being a prisoner,” answered David. ”Naturally, when the chance offered, I just slipped into the pa.s.sage and started. I counted my steps to the end and found I must go the other way. When I had reached the cellar where you were I was exploring it when I heard the noise overhead. I just stayed in the dark until you made a light.”
”Then you thought you'd help us out?” asked Harry.
”Yes,” was the reply. ”I felt that you needed a guide, and I had to do one good turn a day, you know. I thought that would be one.”
”Sure, we know,” Harry stated in a low voice. ”I guess that was pretty nearly three good turns, wasn't it, Ned?”
”We'll count it as three, anyhow,” responded Ned heartily.
”Now, you're hungry,” interrupted David, rather loath to hear his own praises. ”Come over this way and we'll see what we can find.”
As David had predicted, the boys found a smaller room opening off the large one in which they were gathered. There was a miscellaneous collection of articles comprising food, ammunition, arms and many other things. They at once attacked the food supply.
Harry gleefully announced the discovery of a can of beef from Chicago, while Jack went into ecstacies over a can of beans.
Without the loss of a moment the boys fell to and soon satisfied their hunger. Directly Jack began searching amongst the goods.
”Where did they store their water?” he asked David.
”I don't know that,” replied the boy. ”What is in that barrel?”
”Nothing but gasoline, judging by the smell,” replied Jack.
”Hurrah!” shouted Ned, springing to his feet. ”Just the thing!”