Tom and Billy slipped away as soon as they could obtain leave
after they reached the city, and there was not any doubt in any
one's mind as to their destination. Nor on their return to the
barracks that night, bubbling over with glee and high spirits, was
there any question but that their visit had been a thoroughly
satisfactory one. If traces of his captivity were still visible in
Tom's rather hollow cheeks and shrunken waistband, they had
entirely disappeared from his manner.
His comrades had of course told him of their adventure in
connection with the trap door, and he was all agog with interest
in their recital of their battle with the rats, scars of whose
bites were still visible as evidence if any had been necessary.
"It must have been some fight!" he remarked, with a touch of envy.
"Gee! I'd like to have been with you. Too bad, though, that you
didn't find out what you went after. Of course you're not going to
give it up?"
"You bet your life we're not!" answered Frank emphatically. "Give
it up isn't in our dictionary. We're going to search that place
again, rats or no rats, only the next time we'll have clubs and be
ready for them.
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