Part 22 (2/2)

Upon attempting to enlarge the hole the ma.s.s began to slide; the overhead slab of brickwork rumbled.

”Steady on!” cautioned Rollo in alarm. ”The whole show's caving in.”

”It won't any more,” declared Kenneth after a brief investigation.

”See that wedge-shaped brick? It's acting as a keystone of an arch.

All we have to do is to remove the rubbish from the lower part of the hole and squeeze out sideways.”

In another half-hour the gap through the mound of rubble was enlarged to roughly eighteen inches wide and two feet in height. To all appearances the danger of further subsidence was past.

”I'll go first, old man,” said Kenneth. ”Then, if I get through all right, I can give you a hand. Think you'll manage it with that leg of yours?”

”I hardly feel it,” replied Rollo, which was indeed no exaggeration.

Keeping fairly still in that confined s.p.a.ce, he had not tried the injured ankle. But, almost as soon as he made the declaration, he became aware of a throbbing pain from his hip downwards. In spite of Kenneth's attention to the sprained ankle on the previous night, the limb had swollen to an alarming extent.

Rollo made no mention of this to his comrade. He shut his jaw tightly and endured the pain.

With the utmost caution Kenneth began to wriggle through the narrow tunnel, using one outstretched arm to pull himself over the rough brickwork. The other arm he had to keep close to his side, and even thus it was a tight squeeze. Before his head emerged from the opening he stuck--and stuck fast. He felt as if he were suffocating; he was a.s.sailed by the horrible dread that the rubble was slowly yet surely subsiding. He wanted to struggle madly and desperately; to shout for aid. He was momentarily panic-stricken.

Controlling himself by a strong effort, Kenneth ceased to waste his strength in a useless attempt to drag himself from that horrible pa.s.sage. With the sweat pouring from him he kept quiet, filling his lungs with the cool morning air from without.

”What have you stopped for?” asked Rollo anxiously.

”Can't help it,” was the m.u.f.fled reply. ”Give my legs a shove, old man.”

This Rollo did effectively by applying his back to the soles of his companion's feet. Keeping absolutely rigid, Kenneth found himself being pushed slowly yet gradually towards freedom. His head emerged--then his shoulders. He could now draw up his left arm and a.s.sist in the nerve-racking operation. Wellnigh breathless, bruised and sc.r.a.ped, covered with dirt and dust, and with his clothing rent in several places, he gained the open air.

Kenneth had already had sufficient military experience to learn the value of concealment. Without attempting to stand he made a careful survey of his surroundings. He was in a bowl-like depression enclosed on all sides by irregular hummocks of pulverized brickwork, tiles, and charred timbers.

With a sigh of relief the lad realized that there were no Germans in sight. The attacking party had not thought fit to leave a picket in charge of the ruins of the farm-house. To all appearances the two comrades were the only living persons for miles around.

”I'll get the rope from the well and give you a pull out,” announced Kenneth upon returning to the mouth of the tunnel. ”It will be a fairly easy job.”

”Don't be long, then,” said Rollo anxiously.

”I won't,” replied the lad encouragingly, and without further delay he hastened towards the well. It was no longer there. Only a deep cavity partly filled with rubbish marked its site. A sh.e.l.l had exploded close to it, causing the walls to cave in, and throwing out enough earth to leave a pit three yards in diameter. The windla.s.s and the rope had vanished utterly.

”That's done it!” exclaimed Kenneth; then a brilliant idea flas.h.i.+ng across his mind, he bent his back and ran across to the partly-demolished outhouse where he had hidden his motor-cycle.

With a shout of satisfaction he found the machine exactly as he had left it. The Germans had visited the adjoining shed, for several bundles of fresh straw had been removed. Wisps of straw were scattered on the ground, but the rotten material which Kenneth had thrown over his mount had been considered unworthy of the spoilers' attention.

Deftly Kenneth removed the belt from the cycle and doubled back to the tunnel.

”You've been a time!” exclaimed Rollo with evident relief. ”I thought you'd tumbled into the well or had been collared by the enemy.”

”Neither, thanks, old man. The well's gone to blazes and the rope as well, but this belt will answer our purpose. Hang on with both hands, turn over on your side, sprained foot uppermost, and say when you're ready.”

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