ttle distance. They could be heard occasionally groaning, or talking
in low tones; but, as the boys were too tired to remain awake long, they
soon lost all consciousness of what was passing around them.

Perhaps the crowing of a rooster nearby may have told Rob that it was in
the neighborhood of three o'clock, for he aroused his chums close to
that time.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE HANGING BRIDGE.

"Do we have to get out at this terribly early hour?" asked Tubby, as he
dug his knuckles into his eyes, still heavy with sleep.

"Yes," said Rob. "I've taken a look at the stars, and it must be
half-past two, or near it. You know I've made it a practice to be able
to tell the hour of night in that way, and can hit it every time. Come,
get a move on you, Tubby, unless you'd prefer staying here in the hay
and waiting till we come back."

"Well, you don't shake me that way if I know it," muttered Tubby,
hastening to crawl out of his snug nest.

The night air was rather chilly, when once they found themselves
outside. All of them were glad to button up their coats.

Looking in the direction where the myriad of fires had been burning
earlier in the night and seeming like innumerable giant fireflies which
they were accustomed to seeing summer evenings at home, they found that
most of them had died out.

"I expected that would happen," said Rob, when Merritt called his
attention to the altered conditions in the camp of the Germans, "and
it's lucky I made my plans without depending on seeing those fires
again. I've got other landmarks to go by."

"I expected you'd have," said Merritt, filled with the utmost confidence
in the leader of the Eagle Patrol, which faith was founded on a long
list of past performances worth remembering.

As there was nothing to hinder them, they made an immediate start. Tubby
was observed to cast a last longing look back toward the humble village
inn. No doubt he was deploring the necessity that compelled them to
leave such hospitable quarters without waiting for breakfast-time to
come along.

It was not exactly dark, once their eyes became accustomed to
conditions. The stars shone brilliantly in the clear heavens overhead,
and in open country it is possible to steer one's way fairly well by
starlight.

For some time the boys went on. Tubby, of course, often stumbled, for it
would not have been Tubby otherwise; but, as he had not so far actually
spread himself face downward on the road, he t