had always been prime favorites with the boys of the old
Thirty-seventh, and that afternoon's exploit made them more popular
than ever. Their officers, too, were jubilant at their return.

They were taken to headquarters, where the general thanked them and
shook hands with each in turn.

"I don't need any report from you," he smiled. "I heard that when the
bridge went up. It was a brave deed, most gallantly done. I thank you
in the name of the army. Your names will be cited to-morrow in the
orders of the day and I shall personally bring the matter to the
attention of General Pershing."

CHAPTER XX

A TRAITOR UNMASKED

When Tom Bradford found himself racing toward the woods, the only
thought in his mind was to put as great a distance as possible between
himself and his would-be executioners.

At every step he expected to hear a shout raised and see a crowd of
pursuers rush from the house like a pack of wolves after their prey.

The thought lent wings to his feet and he covered the distance in
record time. And not until he was safe in the shelter of the friendly
trees did he pause to draw breath and cast a glance toward the house.

If his escape had been noticed, there was absolutely no sign of it.
The landscape lay in serene and smiling beauty. Not a trace of life
was to be seen about the house. It seemed scarcely possible that so
much tragedy and so much peace could exist side by side.

But he had no time for musing, and after a moment's glance he turned
and burrowed deeper into the woods. There alone for the moment lay
safety. In those leafy coverts he could lie concealed, while he took
breath and thought out the situation.

He had no idea of where the American lines lay. Bound hand and foot as
he had been during that terrible journey, and tortured by the thoughts
that had assailed him, he had taken little note of the way he was
traveling. And even if he had, he could not have told with certainty
what was the dividing line between the hostile armies.

All that he could do was to exercise the utmost caution, get as deeply
into the recesses of the wood as he could, and let his future course be
guided by circumstances. In a battle area that was so full of soldiers
it would not be long before he would catch sight of some of them. The
great thing was to see them before they saw him. If they wore German
helmets he would keep his distance. If, on the contrary, he should see
the old familiar