c possibilities of criminal greed
when crooks fall out!... '_Where are the others_?' my Gallipoli hero
demanded.... I heard no answer.... 'DO YOU HEAR ME?'... still no
audible answer.... '_Crack!'_.... the report of a revolver, then a
scuffling and '_stand back!_ Another move and I'll blow you ALL to
HELL,--_line up there!_.... Now I order you to explain the whereabouts
of the PRISONERS.'

"... We could hear a voice boasting: 'Did you see that BLOOD
in yonder? Well, that is our answer. We were suspicious of that
Lieutenant of yours so we took the matter into our own hands.'...
'WHO DID THE KILLING?'... 'The Sergeant.'... 'And what did he DO
with the bodies?'... 'Threw them into the well!'... 'The devil!
you'll have to fish them out again!'... Then there was a long
silence.... Finally we heard: 'Here, Sergeant!' from HE of Gallipoli;
'when will my lieutenant report?'... 'The Captain said to present
his compliments and say that he is temporarily detained.'... My
'prisoner' poked me in the ribs impulsively and smiled.... 'Where
are the BODIES?'... 'Burned!' said the Sergeant. 'WHAT?'... 'BURNED
UP?... 'Who burned them?'... 'I did, Sir.'... 'Didn't throw them
in the well?'... 'No, Sir.'... 'Well, I'll be damned!... FALL IN!
_Unless those prisoners are produced I'll court-martial every one of
you_!'

"... We could hear the measured tread of a squad overhead tramping
away until the thump, thump, thumping sank into a faint indistinct
vibration which was caught up by the beating of our hearts and
the throbbing of our fascinated and incredulous ears.... 'Well!'
ejaculated my amused '_prisoner_'; 'It'll be exceedingly interesting
to read the future accounts of my double execution. I am sure my
family will read it with greater interest than they've ever manifested
in any of London's or Gorky's fanciful novels!'... 'I assume that you
will not be surprised to learn that you have some mighty good friends
in that crowd outside,' I ventured.... 'Oh, not at all,' my prisoner
returned, 'and I venture to say that your friend from Gallipoli will
find it convenient to contribute to the general misunderstanding
and confusion by allowing the suspected executioners to air their
conflicting explanations of my disappearance.'

"'_We haven't disappeared yet, my friend!_' I grumbled, as we turned
back in the direction of our underground camp.... 'If we had some
shovels it would solve the problem; but the way we're fixed it looks
like a case o