dn't think much
of myself now."

"We had better hide these things," said Chester. "Their loss might be
discovered and a search made."

"Where shall we put them?"

Chester glanced around the room. He walked to the closet and opened
the door. Peering in, he found, just above the top shelf, a small
opening, apparently not meant for use, as it was too close to the
ceiling.

"Put 'em in here," he said, and, withdrawing the papers from his
pocket, he suited the action to the word.

Hal now brought the uniforms out from under the bed, and, by dint of
hard squeezing, also finally succeeded in secreting them. The dark
cloth made the hiding-place look like nothing more than a hole.

"All we need now are swords and pistols," said Chester.

"Pistols," agreed Hal. "I don't know that we need swords."

"You don't," said Chester, in contempt. "We would make a couple of
fine-looking officers, strutting around without swords, wouldn't we?"

"You're right," Hal agreed, somewhat sheepishly. "Where are we going
to get them?"

"The general always leaves his sword and revolvers on the table in the
hall before retiring," said Chester. "Then I noticed another pair of
swords hanging on the wall there. Also the lieutenant invariably
leaves his weapons on the parlor table. Careless, I say, but lucky for
us."

Chester's thoughtfulness in hiding the articles they had appropriated
stood them in good stead, as it turned out that evening. General
Strauss, upon his arrival home, went straight to his private office,
saying that he would be in to dinner in a few moments.

Accordingly the others went in and sat down at the table without
waiting for him. A moment later the old general came storming into the
room.

"My maps!" he cried. "My maps! Has anyone seen my maps?"

The lieutenant jumped to his feet.

"Have you lost them, sir?" he asked.

"Lost 'em? Lost 'em? Do you think I would ask for them if I knew where
they were?"

"Perhaps you left them at headquarters, sir."

"No, I didn't leave 'em at headquarters," raged the general. "Someone
has stolen them!"

"Stolen, sir? Why, there has been no one in the house, and you know
that none could have entered without the guard on the outside seeing
them."

"I tell you they have been stolen!" cried the general. "I want the
house searched at once--every room in it, sir, yes, and the room of
these two Americans also."

"Father!" admonished the lieutenant. "Surely you are not accusing