The Boy Allies On the Firing Line | Page 4

the fifty who had gone forth, continued their retreat. They had gone forth on horses; they were returning afoot. Their mounts were in the hands of the enemy. From the rear, in the darkness, still came the sounds of firing.
"Evidently they have not given up the pursuit," said Hal.
"No; and they are probably mounted. Let's turn off into this little woods," replied Chester.
They did so, and followed by the remaining eight troopers continued on their way.
As they came to the edge of the woods, Hal, who was slightly in advance, stopped suddenly, and raised a warning hand. The little party halted.
"What's the matter?" asked Chester in a whisper.
"Germans!" replied Hal briefly.
Chester approached closer and peered over his friend's shoulder. Less than three hundred yards ahead he could dimly make out moving forms.
"Perhaps they are not Germans," said Chester hopefully. "How did they manage to get behind us?"
"I don't know," replied Hal. "But I am sure they are Germans. Some way, I can feel it."
"Well, what are we going to do?"
"We shall have to try and go round them without letting them hear us. Otherwise we are likely to be killed or captured."
Making a wide detour, the little party continued on their way. For an hour they walked along unmolested, and then, suddenly, from almost directly before them, came a cry, in German:
"Halt!"

CHAPTER III.
WITH THE ARMY AGAIN.
In the dimness of the little woods in which they stood, the boys, at first, could not see the man who had accosted them.
At a word from Hal the little party came to a halt.
"Who goes there?" came the question from the darkness.
"Friends!" replied Hal in German, which he spoke like a native.
"Advance!" came the reply, and the shadow of a German soldier, with his rifle raised, ready to fire, suddenly appeared before them.
It was too dark for the German soldier to make out their uniforms until the English were upon him. Then he started back with a cry.
"English!" he exclaimed in surprise.
His amazement, slight though it was, proved his undoing. For as he staggered back Hal sprang forward, and the butt of his upraised rifle fell with stunning force upon the German's head. The soldier dropped to the ground with a slight moan.
"We'll have to get away from here quick!" exclaimed Chester. "Come on, men, follow us!"
Silently the little party, bearing off slightly to the right, went forward. Suddenly Chester stopped and clutched Hal by the arm.
"Great Scott!" he whispered. "Look! We are right in the middle of them!"
It was true. Ahead of them, in a long line running in each direction, the boys could see figures sprawled on the ground. It was a German force sleeping. There was not the sign of a light, a tent, or a hut. Here and there the boys could make out the dim form of a sentry flitting about.
"We have certainly got into a mess," whispered Hal.
"We have that," replied Chester. "Shall we make another detour?"
Hal thought for a few moments.
"I believe the best way is to try and go right through them without being seen," he replied at length. "There is no telling how far this line stretches out, and if we didn't get around them by daylight it would be all off with us."
"But the sentries?" asked Chester.
"Well, we shall have to dispose of anyone who sees us without being heard. That's all there is about it."
"All right, then," said Chester. "We might as well move at once."
The plan was outlined to the men and they went forward. A moment and they were in the midst of the sleeping Germans. It was plain now that the line of sleepers stretched out for some distance, but that it was not very deep. Three minutes undiscovered and they would be through safely.
Silently they crept between the sleeping soldiers. There was a certain amount of safety in the very boldness of the plan, for it was unlikely, should a sentry see them moving about, he would take them for English; and even if he did now, they would be able to make a dash with some hope of success. The German soldiers, tired and completely exhausted, slept heavily, and not one so much as moved in his sleep.
The little party was now at the last line of sleepers, and just as Hal, believing they had accomplished their difficult task, drew a breath of relief, a form suddenly appeared from the darkness before them. It was a German sentry.
Before he could make an outcry Chester and Hal both leaped forward. The former's hands grasped the German by the throat, stifling the sound of his voice, and Hal quickly delivered two hard blows to the man's face. The German fell limply into Chester's arms, and the boy laid him quietly on the ground.
Then they moved forward again. The sounds of