That makes a heap of
difference. I never did have the eyes of a cat so's to see in the dark."

"It's getting on toward the first peep of dawn," Rob told him; "and I
expect there'll be some light for us when we reach the bridge."

"We can wait till she comes along, then," Tubby continued, as though
even that assurance gave him more or less satisfaction.

From the formation of the country Rob judged they must soon arrive at
the place of the bridge. He had already made the discovery that there
was a stream on one side of them, which the road would have to cross
before long.

"I think I see where it lies," Merritt announced a few minutes after
they had stopped talking.

"Yes," admitted the leader, when he had followed the course of Merritt's
outstretched finger as well as was possible in the semi-darkness, "that
must be the anchorage of the bridge. We'll soon know what we're going
to be up against."

"Well, all I hope is we don't have to swim, that's what!" Tubby
muttered.

Rob, as they continued to advance, kept a careful lookout. He wondered
whether any sort of patrol could have been stationed at the ruined
bridge by one or the other of the hostile armies. It might make
considerable difference with them in their intended crossing; and would
turn out very awkward if, when they were in the middle of the span, they
discovered they were being made targets by some reckless marksmen on the
further shore.

Presently they drew up alongside the spot. As Rob had hinted the night
was really at an end, and in the east the first peep of coming dawn
could be seen in the brightening sky.

"It's a wreck, all right!" said Merritt, as they stood there, straining
their eyes to try and follow the outlines of the torn steel girders that
seemed to have been twisted into all manner of queer shapes by the force
of the explosion.

"Gingersnaps and popguns!" ejaculated Tubby helplessly, "and do you
really expect to crawl over that swinging thing? I've read about some
awful hanging bridges in the mountains of South America and Africa, but
I bet you they couldn't hold a candle alongside this mussed-up affair.
Whee! you'd have to blindfold me, I'm afraid, boys, if you expected me
to creep out there on that dizzy girder."

"We'll wait a bit till the light gets stronger," Rob counseled, knowing
full well that when it came to it Tubby would summon the necessary
resolution to cross over, especially if his comrades showed the way.

A quart