place of the other. I cached them on a former trip. So!
Now, over this way. On hands and knees, Mademoiselle."

She followed him, obeying his word. So they crept out of the marmite
hole and up under the entanglement of wire. It was plain that this
path had been used before.

Once clear of the barrier, they descended the last few steps to the
shore of the lake. There was thick shrubbery here, but Major Marchand
led through this to the narrow beach.

"Can it not be crossed by boat?" she whispered.

"This water can be seen from watchers of both armies. Its least
disturbance--even that occasioned by a swimmer--would draw volleys of
shots from Americans and Germans alike.

"Now, we follow along this narrow beach. Step in my track, if
possible, Mademoiselle Fielding. And keep within touch of me."

They walked on steadily. Soon the track became soft and sticky. She
sank ankle deep in mire. Then gradually the morass grew deeper and she
was in mud and water up to her knees. Later she was plodding half-leg
deep, panting deeply.

The Frenchman wished to get to a certain place before they halted. The
girl was almost exhausted when the major leaped out upon a log and
offered her his hand.

"Come up here, Mademoiselle," he whispered. "We shall be dry here--and
we can rest."

She could not speak; but her breathing soon grew calmer. Major
Marchand said, suddenly speaking in German:

"Forget your French, Fraulein--from this point on. The German tongue
only for us."

"Oh! Are we near?" she asked, obeying him.

"Yes. Can you go on again?"

"At once," she declared with confidence.

They walked to the end of the long log. Stepping down, she found that
the quagmire was not so deep. But for some minutes they continued to
plow through it, but walking as softly as possible.

Ahead there was a flash of light. Ruth thought it might be another
flare, and prepared to drop down in the mud.

But it was merely an electric torch. There were voices--rougher voices
than those to which Ruth had been used. She caught German words.

Major Marchand drew her behind the huge trunk of a tree. There
splashed past through the mud a file of bulky figures. When they had
gone, her companion whispered to the girl:

"Fraulein, it is a patrol. We are in good season. Soon we shall be
there."

She was soon able to walk beside him on higher ground. She saved her
breath for continued exertion. They came to a wire entan