n they were captured by the Germans.

On hands and knees Hal made a short detour and approached his enemy
from behind. Now he was hardly ten feet from the man, who loomed up
like a giant in the darkness. Hal rose suddenly to his feet, and, as
he did so, he stepped on the fallen limb of a tree.

The deathly silence was shattered by this sound, and Hal's enemy
turned suddenly to confront this unexpected assailant. But, before he
could bring his rifle to bear, Hal was upon him.

The man did succeed in raising his rifle above his head, and he now
attempted to bring it down on the lad's head. But Hal was too quick
for him. Stepping in close, he struck his opponent a stinging blow in
the face, and at the same time seized the rifle barrel with his other
hand.

As the man staggered back, Hal wrenched fiercely on the rifle, and the
weapon came away in his hand. But the man was not badly hurt by the
force of Hal's blow, and he suddenly dropped his hand to his belt. A
moment later and the naked blade of a knife gleamed in the night.

Hal saw his enemy's move and sprang back. But the man was after him in
an instant, his knife raised to strike. They were too close together
for Hal to bring the rifle to bear upon his enemy, and, realizing that
he probably was no match for his opponent, the lad suddenly turned and
ran.

But it was not Hal's intention to run very far from his enemy. He was
not that kind of a boy. His idea was to get far enough ahead of the
man so that he might turn and shoot him. But as he ran he felt a gust
of air pass his ear, and he heard the sound of something whizzing by
him.

The German, realizing the boy's purpose, and also that he could not
overtake him, had hurled his knife. Hal also realized this the moment
the knife sped by him, and stopped suddenly in his tracks.

In spite of the fact that his assailant had attempted to murder
him, Hal could not find it in his heart to kill him in cold blood.
Therefore, even as he turned, he raised the rifle high above his
head, and, holding it tightly by the barrel, rushed upon his enemy.

In vain the man threw up his hands to ward off the blow. The force
behind it was too great. Hal, wheeling half around as he swung,
brought the heavy butt of the rifle against the side of the German's
head with a crack. The man dropped limp at the boy's feet.

Hal lowered his rifle, and stood for a moment over his fallen enemy,
wiping his brow. Then he stooped over and relieve