ved not a moment too soon, for the horsemen
were overhauling the fugitives rapidly.

When the fugitives saw their own men approaching they stopped in their
mad flight, drew their revolvers and fired at the pursuers with almost
a single movement.

The horses of the Germans came to a sudden halt, being pulled up on
their haunches, so forcibly did their riders bring them to a stop. A
moment later the pursuers themselves were in full flight.

Hal laughed loudly to himself, and so great became his mirth that he
was forced to hold his sides.

"What on earth is the matter with you?" demanded Chester in great
surprise. "What are you laughing at?"

"Why," explained Hal, between bursts of laughter, "I am laughing at
the sight of Emperor Wilhelm II, War Lord of Europe, flying as if the
evil one himself were after him!"

CHAPTER XXIII.

WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES.

Briefly now Hal recounted to his two friends what he had overheard in
the farmhouse, pointing out the danger that threatened the allied
armies. When he had concluded he said:

"Now I have another plan, and I want to know if you, Chester, and you,
Lieutenant Anderson, will follow my instructions?"

"Certainly," said the lieutenant.

"You know I will, Hal," said Chester.

"All right, then. What I want you to do is this: Return and report to
General French what I have just told you. Take the men with you.
That's all."

"But you?" demanded Chester; "aren't you coming, too? Surely you have
accomplished the mission successfully."

"No," replied Hal. "In this German uniform I believe I shall be
perfectly safe on this side, and I am going to try and gain further
information. It may be that I can learn something that will be
important."

"Then I shall go with you," declared Chester.

"And I, too," said Lieutenant Anderson.

"Oh, no you won't," said Hal grimly. "Didn't you just promise to obey
my commands, both of you?"

"But we didn't know what you planned to do," said Chester.

"I know you didn't," said Hal. "That is why I asked your promises
before I told you."

"But I don't think it is fair," protested Chester.

"I don't care what you think," replied Hal. "You have both promised,
so that's all there is about it."

In vain did Chester and Lieutenant Anderson protest. Hal was firm.

"Come, now," he said at last. "You are making it more dangerous for me
every moment you stand here arguing about it. Get in the boats and
return at once."

Slo