Part 20 (2/2)

”I wonder whatever became of the people who lived here?” remarked Josh, presently, as he shi+fted his position for some reason or other, and sat with his face close to the curb of the well

”Oh! theybefore the Germans arrived,” Hanky said, confidently; ”I hope now you don't believe they were actually killed, and buried somewhere around here, do you, Josh? You are the worst hand to is I ever knew”

”I didn't say anything like that, did I?” demanded Josh; ”but it must have been on your ,” said Hanky Panky, looking worried all the sa, Josh held his hand up to indicate that if the other stopped talking he too ht catch the sound And as they listened what seeroan came up from the depths of the well fro!

CHAPTER XXII

AT THE FORD OF THE RIVER MARNE

”Oh! did you hear that?” exclaih moan Rod, Josh, there's been some poor fellon there all this while; and we never dreamed of it e pulled that bucket of water up!”

Saying this Hanky Panky leaned far over the edge of the well curb, and attempted to see into the murky depths Rod cast a quick look in the direction of Josh, who gave hiht face

”I can't see anything, for a fact,” coroan, I'ain, and worse than before Oh! Rod, do you believe some poor chap tried to hide in the hen he saw all those awful Gerain since?”

”Why, that h just how he could stay down there this long is more than I can understand”

”What do you say, Josh?” demanded the sy of his shoulders, and not even offering to change his position; ”if you asked ht be only the wind sighing through the trees, or so like that Don't stand to reason that anybody could be down there in that well”

When Hanky Panky met with opposition he always became more positive; possibly the sly Josh knew this full well, and allowed the fact to govern his actions

”But we all heard the groans, didn't we?” deuess I know one when it hits my ears There certainly is some one down there Listen to that, will you; isn't it just fierce the way he keeps going on, though?”

Indeed, the sounds had once more coonizing fashi+on too Even Rod felt a thrill, although he could give a pretty good guess concerning the nature of the poor unfortunate as the contributing cause for those dis, fellows!” declared Hanky Panky presently, after they had listened again to the suggestive sounds that seeer Soood notion to slip down the rope oing a whole lot, just to satisfy your curiosity, wouldn't it?” asked Josh, cunningly, for he knew that he was taking just the course to further aggravate the other's intention to act

”Well, you don't seem to care much what happens to a poor chap who's ht down in a well; but I do,”

asserted Hanky Panky, proudly ”I don't think I could ever sleep decent again if I had the nerve to ride away froet him out”

He deliberately started to re that his mind was lance, as though the other begged to be let alone, and turn his trick The chance to ”get one” on Hanky Panky was too good to be lost, Josh evidently believed

So those aroans continued to well up out of the depths, increasing in pathos if anything as they proceeded

”Take care not to slip, Hanky,” advised Rod, ”or we'll have the job of drying a chuo on our way”

”And say, that ater's awful cold in the bargain,” reht hold on the rope We'll look after this end, and when you say the word pull you out”

Accordingly the determined one started to lower hi a ht It was really too bad to allow the joking Josh to play this trick on so gallant a fellow; but possibly there would be no harm done in the end, and at least it served to break the terrible h the devastated country

Presently the shaking of the rope ceased, and the voice of the explorer came up froetting,” he said, coly