“I hate to do this,” said Chester, as he stood over a German soldier, “but there is no help for it.”

His arm rose and fell.

Across the tent Hal performed a similar operation.  Then they explored carefully in the darkness for signs of another figure.

There was none.

“Only two cots, Hal,” whispered Chester.  “Now let’s get to bed until things have quieted down.”

Quickly the three threw off their clothes and clambered into the cots, first throwing the men they had overcome beneath them.  Stubbs had a cot to himself, while Hal and Chester climbed in together.

“When they fail to find trace of us they likely will come back and ask if we have been seen,” said Hal.  “We must pretend to be asleep.”

A few moments later the sound of their pursuers’ feet were audible as they passed the tent on the run.  Then they died away in the distance.

“Had we better wait or try to get out before they come back?” asked Chester.

Hal was undecided, but the question was answered for him.

Only a few minutes had passed when there came the sound of returning footsteps.  The boys could hear them stop before the different tents and also the sound of voices.  Directly a man poked his head into the tent.

“Awake in here?” he asked.

There was no answer.

The man advanced into the tent and approached Stubbs’ cot which was nearest the entrance.  He laid a hand on Stubbs’ shoulder and shook him.

“Hello,” said the little man sleepily.  “What’s the matter.  Time to get up already?”

“No,” was the reply.  “Have you seen anything of three men, whose appearance would indicate they had been running?”

“I’ve been asleep,” protested Stubbs.  “I had a dream.  But I guess the men I saw in my dreams are not the ones you want.”

“These are not dream men,” was the response.  “I thought possibly you might have heard them run by this tent.”

“No,” said Stubbs, truthfully, “I didn’t hear them run by this tent.”

“All right,” said the German and withdrew.

For perhaps an hour the three fugitives lay in the shelter of the German tent.  From time to time they heard voices without but after awhile these died away.  After there had been absolute silence without for perhaps fifteen minutes, Chester slipped from the cot.

“May as well move, I guess,” he whispered.

Hal also arose.

“All right,” he said.  “Come, Stubbs.”

There was no reply from Stubbs’ cot.  Hal walked quickly across the tent, laid a hand on Stubbs’ shoulder and shook him vigorously.

“Come, Stubbs!” he exclaimed.  “Time to get out of here.”

Stubbs muttered something unintelligible and turned over.

“By Jove! if he isn’t asleep,” said Chester, who came to Hal’s side now.

“That’s what he is,” agreed Hal.  “Well, we’ve got to get him up.  Grab hold of his feet.”