Part 27 (1/2)

Gregory eyed the object in surprise. It was a long-handled knife.

”I just happened to see it sticking in his belt,” said Chester.

”I believe that you two fellows have been fooling us,” said Gregory with evident sincerity. ”Come, now. What was your occupation before you joined the army?”

”Well, it wasn't picking pockets, if that's what you mean,” said Chester with a laugh.

”If this thing keeps up,” said Crean, ”we'll soon have weapons enough to equip a first-cla.s.s a.r.s.enal.”

”And that's no joke,” said the man called Jackson.

”We can't hope for any more such luck,” said Hal quietly. ”We'll have to create what opportunities come to us now.”

”You take this knife, Gregory,” said Chester. ”I wouldn't know what to do with it.”

Hal approached the canvas door to their prison and poked his head out.

”Get back there!” came a guttural command in German.

Hal spied a sentry standing before the tent.

”h.e.l.lo,” he said pleasantly. ”Didn't know you were there. All by yourself, too, eh?”

”Not much,” was the reply. ”There's a man in the rear, too.”

”I just wondered,” murmured Hal.

”Get back inside,” commanded the guard.

”Oh, all right,” said Hal, ”if you are going to be nasty about it.

But, say, do you have a pack of cards you can lend us?”

”No, I don't,” said the guard.

”Well, all right,” and Hal would have withdrawn but the German halted him.

”I didn't say I didn't have a pack,” he said.

”But I heard--”

”No, you didn't. I said I didn't have a pack to lend.”

”Well, what's--?”'

”I've a pack to sell,” said the guard.

”Oh, I see,” said Hal. ”Rather hard up, are you.”

”If you mean I have no money, yes.”