ple of halts
Arno paused and pulled the boys close to him.

"I think it best to leave the trail. Just a little way ahead it opens
into a roadway. There we should certainly run into outposts."

"We better go on until we locate them," Stan said.

"If you think that is the best way," Arno agreed.

"I'll walk ahead with you," Stan said.

They moved along very slowly, stopping every few feet to listen. Finally
they heard guttural voices in the darkness ahead. Halting, they
listened. Allison moved forward a little to try to overhear what was
said. Soon he came back.

"This is the outpost," he whispered. "Six men and two machine guns. They
are about to change guards." He chuckled. "And they do not expect us."

"Can we move around them?" Stan asked.

"We could, but I think we should stay. An officer is coming out to
inspect the guard. He's coming from Villa Sachetti." Stan could almost
see Allison's sardonic smile. "Nice spot for a surprise party, eh?"

"Swell," Stan answered. "We'll take over the post. Allison can be the
decoy to lure the officer in close. He speaks German."

"Good, very good," Arno said eagerly. "Will we use the short knives on
them?"

"No shooting if we can help it. We'll shove in close and have a look."
Stan began moving down the pathway with Allison at his side. The party
kept very close together so as to be able to give signals to each other
without speaking.

After edging forward a short distance they were halted by a gruff laugh
ahead. Getting down low they peered through the starlight and spotted
the sentries. They were grouped close together, four seated, two
standing. The two men standing up moved off, one to the left and one to
the right. Stan got his crew into a close huddle.

"Allison and I will do our commando stuff on the two guards walking
post. I take the one on the right, Allison the other. You boys stay
right here. We'll be back soon." Stan spoke in a low whisper.

One of the seated Germans suddenly sprang to his feet. He stood looking
into the night toward the party of raiders. Tony started to move
forward. Stan pulled him back. The German walked up the pathway a few
feet and halted, listening. The boys turned their faces away and
remained perfectly still. After a minute or so the man went back and sat
down. Stan gave Allison a signal and they moved off the pathway. They
left their tommy-guns and carried only their pistols, knives, and short
lengths of rope.

Stan moved s