.. Poor devil! the humor of this whole
situation is displayed in the tragic 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_!'
".
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