Fred, however, was able to peer out and to see the dancing flames, giving a weird and ghostly appearance to the scene in the road.

The Germans were very close now and he had just time to poke up some branches to hide the opening through which he had fallen.

Then he lay down, his eyes glued to a sort of natural peephole that gave him a view of the road.
"It's like a grandstand seat!" he said.

"But I hope no one wants to see my ticket because I'm afraid the usher would make me change my seat!" But then Fred had to give his whole attention to what was going on in the road.

The Germans came running up, a young officer in the lead.
There were a half dozen of them.