a little
noise!"

Pete obeyed. The next moment the sharp challenge of a sentry rang out,
and a shot followed. Jack and Pete ran, as if frightened and confused,
right out into the midst of the sleeping men, and a moment later they
were the prisoners of a group of laughing militiamen.

CHAPTER XII

A RACE FOR FREEDOM

"They've got us, Pete," said Jack, dejectedly.

"Here, who are you, and where did you come from?" said a sleepy officer,
running up.

"We've caught a couple of spies, sir," said one of their captors.

"We are not spies!" cried Pete, indignantly. "Can't you see that we're
in uniform?"

"Hello, that's an aggressive young fighter, all right!" said the
officer, smiling at Pete's red-headed wrath. "No wonder--look at his
hair! Boy Scouts, eh? Do you belong to Durland's Troop?"

"Yes, sir," said Jack.

"How did you get here?"

"I d--don't know, sir. We hadn't any idea we were right among you till
we heard the sentry challenge us."

"Well, we won't eat you, my boy. No need to be frightened. Here,
Corporal, put them in the guard tent. We haven't many prisoners--I guess
we can take them along in the morning and let them see us lick the Reds
at Tryon Creek."

Jack almost betrayed himself by the involuntary gasp he gave as the
lieutenant revealed the secret he had taken so much trouble to surprise.
Here was luck with a vengeance! The very information they wanted was
being handed to them on a silver platter. But he managed to restrain his
emotions, so that no one should suspect the elation he felt at the
discovery.

Tryon Creek! That meant it was doubly important for the news to be
carried back to General Harkness, for it showed that General Bliss had
seized upon the weak spot in the Red line of defense, the necessity for
weakening one spot to strengthen another, and, moreover, that the Blue
army was far from being out of it as a result of the success of General
Bean in the minor engagement of Tuesday morning.

Jack nudged Pete as they were being led away to the guard tent. And Pete
nudged back, to show that he understood. That pleased Jack, for he knew
now that the all-important information had a double chance of being
carried to General Harkness. If he were baffled in his attempt to escape
and Pete did manage to get away, the news would go with him.

"You two boys can give your parole in the morning," said the young
officer. "The guard tent's the only place where there's room for you
to