Part 41 (1/2)

Stubbs tried to respond to this command; and he did succeed in getting up a little more speed as he turned about a tent after Hal and Chester.

Twice more the three doubled on their tracks and then Hal pulled up before a tent.

”This will do as well as another, I guess,” he said.

”Waste no time,” said Chester. ”Revolvers ready and come on.”

With weapons reversed the three entered the tent quietly. Deep snores within led the friends to the cots of the occupants of the tent.

”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 pa.s.sed 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 pa.s.sed 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.

”h.e.l.lo,” 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.