ed to himself. "I can get
out here."

He went back to the center of the tent again and enjoined the others
to silence.

"Don't make a sound on your lives," he commanded sternly. "Chester, you
remain right where I leave the tent and if I bring a man back with me you
drag him under and see that he doesn't make a sound."

Chester nodded his agreement and took his place at Hal's side.

Now the lad lifted the bottom of the canvas slightly and peered out. He
smiled a trifle to himself. It was as he hoped. The guard or guards, as
the case might be, was not as vigilant as the security of the prisoners
should have required. Hal wriggled into the open.

The huge camp slept. Here and there a sentinel stalked and it was upon
these guardians of the night that Hal must prey.

He moved toward the front of the prison tent, seeking the guard there.
And directly he came upon him, stretched at full length upon the ground,
his heavy military coat pulled closely about him, smoking a cigarette.
Hal moved toward him cautiously.

"I hate to do this," he muttered, "but--"

With a light leap he was upon the man and his right fist shot out hard
and true. It caught the Bulgarian just above the left ear and the man
never made a sound.

Quickly Hal dragged the body to where he knew Chester would be waiting.
Chester dragged it under the tent and Hal went under after it.

"This uniform is for me. I'll go after some more," he said.

Quickly he climbed into the Bulgarian uniform and disappeared again. But
this time, garbed in a Bulgarian uniform, he went more confidently. His
hand rested upon his revolver.

A short distance away he came upon an unsuspecting sentinel. A sharp
blow with his revolver butt placed the other _hors de combat_.
Supporting the unconscious figure with his arm, Hal moved back to the
prison tent. This figure also was pushed beneath the canvas and the
uniform donned by Chester.

"Now we can make a little better time," said Hal, "there are two of us."

Uniforms were still needed for Colonel Anderson, Ivan, Nikol, Stubbs and
Helen. Hal and Chester disappeared into the night.

Five minutes later Hal returned, this time with a uniform and no man. He
had found him in a deserted spot, and after knocking him down and tying
him up, had stripped him.

"Put this on, Anderson, and get out after one," he ordered.

He was gone again a moment later. Soon also Chester returned successful
and he and Anderson departed almost tog