seemed to be a steep embankment.

He brought up abruptly at the bottom, and felt Hal's hand upon his
arm.

"Great Scott!" he ejaculated. "Where are we? Down in the bottomless
pit?"

Hal clapped his hand over Chester's mouth, for his keen ears had
detected the sounds of footsteps above.

"Quiet!" he whispered.

Chester needed no second warning. He did not move a muscle. From above
came the sound of a voice:

"I wonder where they went?"

"I don't know," answered another voice, "but we had best be careful.
They are probably armed."

Now, Hal, moving his position slightly, felt a space behind him, and
crawled slowly backward, where the darkness seemed greater, pulling
Chester along after him. They continued this crawling for some
minutes. Finally, raising his head, Hal dropped quickly again with a
muttered exclamation.

In arising his head had come in contact with something above him.
Raising an exploring hand, he investigated. He touched a rock above.
Then he reached out on each side. As he had surmised, only a few feet
each way were solid walls.

"A cave," he muttered.

"What?" asked Chester.

"We are cooped up in a cave. If the Germans are wise enough, after
they learn where we are, they will just sit down on the outside and
starve us out. But, if they try to come in--well, I don't think they
will get very far, as long as our cartridges hold out. You wait here
until I see how far back this thing goes."

Chester obeyed, and Hal continued his exploration. For two or three
minutes he crawled along, and then, turning a slight bend, gave a
sudden exclamation. He had come upon a possible means of exit, for,
apparently, the cave had two openings.

Quickly Hal poked his head out and looked around. He could see no one.
Slowly he crawled back to where he had left Chester, and informed him
of what he had learned.

"Then the best thing we can do is to get out of here quick," was
Chester's decision. "Let's go."

Slowly Hal led the way along the low passageway, and, reaching the
opening again, poked his head out. This time he was doomed to a
disappointment. Hardly had his head emerged from the hole in the
ground when he drew it in quickly again.

"What's the matter now?" demanded Chester.

"Matter is," said Hal quietly, "that there are six Germans standing
about five yards from the entrance."

"What!" cried Chester, in consternation.

"Exactly," said Hal; "if you don't believe it have a look for
yourself