Summary

Chapter 9. The chapter opens with news that there has been fighting in the city. No one knows what started the fighting or why it is taking place. The children have been dismissed from school and all the local shops have been closed. The villagers are told to go into their homes and close their doors. A deep fear runs through the village.

Pa emerges from his house and urges the men to speak with Mr. Slime, who might know something about the fighting. The men are too frightened and tell Pa to go home. Shortly after, Bob runs up the street shouting that someone is coming. Before he can elaborate, he faints. Trumper is close behind, and he asks if Bob has made it home. Trumper explains that the boys had walked down the train line that leads into the city. Before they knew it...