Frank made a kick at it, but as he did so, his foot slipped on the
damp stone and the flashlight flew out of his hand, leaving them
in utter darkness. He stooped to try to find it, but his hand
touched a furry coat and he drew back just in time to escape a
savage snap.
Then as if by magic those red pin points, that they now knew were
eyes, seemed to spring up from every direction. There were rats
everywhere, an army of them, rats ahead of them and rats behind
them, gathering to oust these human intruders from their domain.
Singly they were contemptible opponents, but now they had the
strength that came from numbers, and they knew it.
And the Army Boys knew it too. For an instant panic gripped at
their hearts. The next moment they had pulled themselves together.
"Back to the trap door, fellows!" said Frank tensely. "Fast, but
not too fast. Don't run. And don't shoot, or we may hit each
other. Draw your revolvers and club them off with the butts."
They retraced their steps as well as they could in the darkness.
The rats knew that they were retreating, and they grew bolder.
Again and again they fastened themselves on their arms and legs,
and had to be beaten off with the revolver butts.
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