"Stand back!" cried Ned, as he swung the sledge, and with
a few blows broke the lock to pieces.
Then they pulled open the door, and into the light
staggered Tom Swift, a most woe-begone figure, and showing
the effects of his imprisonment. But he was safe and
unharmed, though much disheveled from his attempts to
escape.
"Thank Heaven, you've come!" he murmured, as he clasped
Ned's hand. "Is the tank all right?"
"All right!" cried Ned. "And now tell us about yourself.
How in the world did you get here?"
"It's quite a yarn," answered Tom. "I've got to pull
myself together before I answer," and he sank wearily down
on a step, looking very haggard and worn.
Chapter XXIII
Gone
"Here, eat some of this," and Ned held something out to
his chum. "It'll bring you up quicker than anything else,
except a cup of hot tea, and we'll get that as soon as you
can get away from here," went on the young bank clerk.
"What is it?" Tom asked, and his voice was very weary.
"It's a mixture of chocolate and nuts," replied Ned. "It's
a new form of emergency ration issued to soldiers before
they go over the top.
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