human
Never saw anything like it in my life! snorted Tom.
gpt
It's as though we were all bewitched. Somebody's wished a jinx on us. Some ghosts are putting up a job on us.
human
There was nothing ghostly about that bullet that knocked the flashlight out of my hand or those other bullets that came singing over our heads while we were hugging the ground, said Frank grimly.
gpt
If I don't get to the bottom of this, you can call me a Chinaman.
human
It gets my goat to think of those Heinies chuckling to themselves because they put one over on us,
gpt
They laugh best who laugh last, growled Bart.
human
They'll laugh on the other side of their mouth when we lay hands on them.
gpt
If we ever do, muttered pessimistic Tom.
human
But here comes our relief, he continued, as the light of a lantern hanging on the arm of the foremost man revealed a group coming toward them.
gpt
High time, too! I got drenched to the skin while I was lying on the ground in that alley.
human
Of course we'll have to report the whole thing to the corporal, shan't we?
gpt
I suppose we shall, Frank acquiesced, though reluctantly.
human
Personally, I'd like to keep the whole thing up my sleeve until we've solved the mystery. But there's danger abroad to-night, and it wouldn't be fair to the boys who are going to take our places not to put them on their guard.
gpt
You fellows are all here, I see, said the corporal, who was the boys' old friend, Wilson.
human
What was that shooting going on here? None of you hurt, I hope.
gpt
Dripping wet but right as a trivet,
human
It's certainly strange, he commented when Frank had finished.
gpt
It's one of many queer things that are happening lately. I'll report the facts at headquarters and you may be called upon to tell your story there. But now you are off duty, and you can light out for the barracks.
human
I've got an idea!
gpt
Frank's got an idea, chaffed Billy.
human
Hold on to it, old man, for dear life.
gpt
I've been figuring the thing out, went on Frank,
human
Come again, said Billy.
gpt
I don't get you.
human
Why should they want us to see them? queried Bart.
gpt
They might have known that we'd go in after them.
human
Sure they did! answered Frank.
gpt
That's just what they wanted. They figured that they'd get us all in there in a bunch. They guessed too that, not finding them, we'd flash a light. That would make us a good target to their confederates who had come to the mouth of the alley, and they thought they could mow us down with one volley. In other words the alley was a trap.
human
By ginger, I believe you're right! exclaimed Bart
gpt
The shots came just after the light was flashed. It was a slick trick. You have to hand it to them.
human
But that doesn't explain where the men disappeared to who went into the alley first,
gpt
No, admitted Frank.
human
And it doesn't explain either where the men who fired the shots vanished to. But there's an answer to everything, and I'm going to try to find the answer to this. I'm not going to drop it. Of course, I suppose the secret service men will take the thing up, but I'm going to do a little investigating on my own account. I have a hunch that when I take a look at that alley by daylight, I'll tumble to something.