less than German soldiers who had failed to see the
opening above.

They were taken by surprise when two forms leaped on them below, but they
put up a fight.

"Tap 'em over the head with your gun!" shouted Chester.

He had drawn his revolver as he leaped forward and now suited the action
to the word. The German toppled over with a groan.

Hal, however, had not drawn his weapon, and was now locked in the arms of
the second German, as they rolled over and over in the bottom of the pit.
Weakened by his recent experience he was getting the worst of it.

Chester took in the situation at a glance and leaped forward. At the
moment Hal was on top and the German stared up at Chester. Seeing a
second foe he raised a loud cry for help.

This was what Chester had been afraid of. He didn't want any more Germans
down there if he could help it.

"Turn him over, Hal!" he cried. "Let me get a whack at him with my gun."

By a desperate effort Hal obeyed and the German rolled on top of him. One
more loud cry he gave and then Chester silenced him with a sharp blow of
his revolver butt.

Chester stepped back with an exclamation of relief and Hal dragged
himself from beneath his now unconscious adversary.

"A tough customer, that fellow," he remarked.

"You'd have done for him if you hadn't been so weak," Chester replied. "I
didn't think we might have callers down here."

"Neither did I," returned Hal, "but I'm glad they came."

"Why?" demanded Chester in surprise.

"We can borrow their uniforms if it's necessary," Hal explained.

"By Jove! I hadn't thought of that," exclaimed Chester. "A good plan."

"Of course it may not be necessary," said Hal. "If the Germans
should be driven back it would be unnecessary. We'll wait until
after dark and see."

"In the meantime we had better tie these fellows up," said Chester. "One
of them is coming to now. He may not know when he's properly licked and
want to continue the fight."

"Better gag 'em, too," said Hal. "I noticed that one fellow had pretty
good lungs."

The lads removed their belts and with these bound the hands of their
captives. They had nothing to tie their legs, but they didn't feel there
was much danger of the men crawling out of the pit with their arms bound.
They gagged them with their handkerchiefs.

A few moments later one of the Germans staggered to his feet and gazed at
the two lads in astonishment. The second also soon regained consciousness
and apparentl