human
There! said Jack, at last.
gpt
See? You were right, Dick. There's the place--and the wire was cut, too! It wasn't an accident. But I was sure of that as soon as I found the line wasn't working.
human
There's the break, Bill, said the first voice.
gpt
Bli'me, if she ain't cut, too! Now who did that? Bringing us out of our beds at this hour to look for trouble!
human
I'd like to lay my hands on them, that's all! said the second voice.
gpt
A good job they didn't carry the wire away--'twon't take us long to repair, and that's one precious good thing!
human
Linemen, said Jack.
gpt
But I wonder why they're here? They must have come a long way. I shouldn't be surprised if they'd ridden on bicycles. And I never heard of their sending to repair a wire at night before.
human
Listen, said Dick.
gpt
Perhaps we will find out.
human
Well, now that we've found it, we might as well repair it, said the first lineman, grumblingly.
gpt
All comes of someone trying to get a message through to Bray and making the manager believe it was a life and death matter!
human
Harry must have tried to telephone--that's why they've come, said Jack.
gpt
I was wondering how they found out about the break. You see, as a rule, no one would try to ring up anyone in Bray after seven o'clock or so. And of course, they couldn't tell we were trying to ring, with the wire cut like that.
human
Oh, Jack! said Dick, suddenly.
gpt
If they're linemen, I believe they have an instrument with them. Probably we could call to London from here. Do you think they will let us do that?
human
That's a good idea. We'll try it, anyway, said Jack.
gpt
Come on--it must be safe enough now. These chaps won't hurt us.
human
You're the ones that cut that wire, said the first, a dark, young fellow.
gpt
I've a mind to give you a good hiding!
human
It's the vicar's son from Bray, Tom, he said.
gpt
Let him alone.
human
Hands oop!