human
Thank heaven, old man, that we have you with us again safe and sound!
gpt
I felt as though my heart were going to come out of my body while I watched you,
human
It seemed ages while we stood waiting for the lieutenant to give the word,
gpt
I don't know yet whether I'm awake or dreaming, said Tom, with a laugh that was a little shaky.
human
You boys surely did come just in time. I never expected to see you again. And yet I might have known that you'd find me if I was on top of the earth.
gpt
You made a game fight for it, old boy,
human
Gee, what a clip you gave those fellows with that spade, chuckled Billy.
gpt
They went down like cattle hit with an axe.
human
You might have won out even without us, said Bart
gpt
If you had once got into those woods they'd have had to do some traveling to catch you.
human
They'd probably have caught me with a bullet, laughed Tom.
gpt
Can you imagine, boys, how I felt when I saw you fellows fairly seem to come up out of the ground? I hadn't really thought that I had a chance to escape. But I made up my mind that if I had to go I'd take some of those Huns along with me. That spade that they wanted me to dig my grave with was a good friend of mine.
human
Where they made a mistake was not digging the grave themselves and letting your hands stay tied, said Billy.
gpt
But here comes the lieutenant.
human
Good work you did with that spade, Bradford, he said with a twinkle in his eye.
gpt
It simply shows that in fighting it's the man more than the weapon that counts. Well, you're safe with us again, and I'm glad on my own account and for the sake of the regiment. We couldn't afford to lose a good two-fisted fighter like you. As soon as you've been to mess I'll want to see you again and question you on what you've learned while you've been a prisoner.