ans, quickly bringing their rifles to their shoulders, sent a
volley after the lads.

But neither was hit. In the darkness the Germans were unable to aim
carefully. The boys heard the hum of bullets around them, but they did
not falter. There was no second volley, for the lads had disappeared
in the darkness, and the Germans were not minded to spend their
ammunition foolishly.

The first streak of dawn appeared in the sky, and still the boys rode
on swiftly. But at length Hal slowed down and Chester followed suit.

"I'm tired out," said Hal, as he jumped from his bicycle.

"And so am I," replied Chester, as he, too, jumped to the ground to
stretch his legs.

Suddenly from the distance in which they had come came a faint
"chug-chug."

Chester pricked up his ears.

"What's that?" he demanded anxiously.

For a brief moment Hal paused to listen. The sound became louder. Hal
sprang toward his bicycle.

"Come on!" he cried, and leaped into the saddle. "Motorcycles! We are
pursued!"

Chester was hardly a second behind him, and the two lads were again
riding madly along the road. Fortunately there were many curves in the
highway, and this fact prevented their pursuers from sighting them
from any great distance.

Hal suddenly brought his bicycle to an abrupt stop and jumped to the
ground. Although not knowing what plan Hal had in his mind, Chester
immediately did likewise.

The spot where they had alighted was in the midst of a clump of trees,
and quickly the lads drew their bicycles in among them, hiding them
from sight of the road. Then Hal turned, and, with Chester close
behind him, dashed back in the direction from which they had come,
taking care to keep well within the shelter of the trees.

And now Chester made out the object of his friend's wild dash. It was
a farmhouse, setting well back from the road. Chester had not detected
it as they sped by, but Hal's keen eyes had singled it out as a
possible refuge.

"We'll have to take a chance of the occupants being friendly," Hal
told his friend, as they ran toward the house. "If they will allow us
to hide here until night, we may be able to get back to our lines
safely."

The boys ran around the house, and Hal rapped sharply upon the rear
door. A moment later and a kindly-faced woman appeared in the doorway.
She started back at the appearance of the two lads.

"Are the English coming?" she demanded, after a quick glance at the
lads' uniforms, and then s