Don't worry. But come away from here. We
don't want to be caught around here--and, besides, there's still a good
deal for us to do."
Swiftly they made their way to the road, away from the cottage and the
field where they had made their discovery.
"Now!" said Arthur, after a little distance had been covered, stopping
short. "I won't go a step further until you tell me what that place is
meant for!"
"It's meant for a big gun--that's what it's meant for!" said Paul,
vehemently. "Can't you see? A siege gun can't be fired from a
carriage, or even from ordinary ground. The recoil would bury it in
the earth if they tried that. There's got to be a regular emplacement
for it--a firm base of concrete and steel, so that it will withstand
the shock of firing!"
"You mean they'd mount a gun here?"
"I mean just that! It takes days, almost weeks, to do that. They have
to pour the concrete and let it stand until it's set. But here they've
got everything ready! They can bring up their guns, place them, and
begin firing, all in less than twenty-four hours! They must have been
preparing for this for months--perhaps for years!"
"The cowards! We've never done anything to them!"
"No, they're not cowards," said Paul, thoughtfully. "I suppose they
think they're right, and that as long as that is so, they are justified
in using any means at all to win. But I think we can put a spoke in
their wheel, just the same.
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