had aroused the Germans to what was going on.
Now they stormed back around the cottage. They were just in time to
see the motorcycle being ridden madly off; in time, too, to fire a
couple of shots apiece from their pistols. But their aim was bad: the
boys heard the bullets whistling over their heads. In less than a
minute they were safe!

CHAPTER V

PURSUIT

They had no thought of any further danger, as they sped along the road
on the stolen--or, rather, the captured motorcycle. The road was
smooth and good. There was nothing to detain them. Behind them the
furious shouts of the Germans, even the firing, died away, until the
only sound they could hear was the noise of the engine. The machine
was a good one, evidently built for the hard work of an army in the
field.

Before them now was the searchlight from Fort Boncelles, picking up one
patch of darkness after another, flooding it suddenly with light, and
then passing on to the next, swinging about endlessly in a great arc,
so that the slightest movement that was out of the ordinary was sure to
be seen. From time to time the great beam of light struck the road,
before them or behind them. Then they were in the midst of it, riding
in a sea of light. The searchlight winked off, came back to them, and
went with them for nearly half a mile.

"They've spotted us, Arthur!" said Paul, with a laugh. "Well, I hope
they're not frightened!"

"They must want to make sure of what we're doing, I suppose, Paul!
Look at the other lights! It's a great sight when they all swing up
together, isn't it?"

From the forts that ringed the ancient city the darting searchlights
swept the heavens. At times all of them met, for a moment, making a
blinding reflection against the sky. They would stay thus; then, one
after another, the lights would go swooping down, keeping their vigil.
Behind each were watchful eyes, ready to report immediately the first,
the slightest sign of what might come now at any moment.

"Those searchlights make the idea of war seem more real than anything
else has, Paul," said Arthur.

Paul gave a short laugh.

"If you'd seen those shells and the parts of the guns, all ready to be
put together in that cellar, you wouldn't say that!" he exclaimed.
"And how about the German officer--in uniform, on the soil of a
friendly country? That's almost an act of war itself, Arthur! He has
no business here!"

"I don't see what difference it makes, P