the boy was forced to laugh.

"All right, Mr. Stubbs," he said at last, "I believe you; but tell me,
what were you running from when you bumped into us?"

"I wasn't running, sir," was the reply. "I heard a large force of the
enemy in a field just out of the woods, and I was merely hurrying to a
place where I could get a look at them."

"Well, you were hurrying at a pretty good gait," said Hal. "But tell me,
is the enemy in force?"

"I didn't see any of them," said Stubbs, "but by the sounds of their
horses' hoofs, I should say they were in force, sir."

"Where?" demanded Hal, somewhat anxiously.

"Straight ahead, sir," replied Stubbs, pointing down the road.

"We thank you, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal, "and we shall now leave you to
gather your news while we proceed to reconnoiter."

"And leave me here?" cried Stubbs.

"Why, certainly. You are paid to get the news for your paper, are you
not?"

"But I'm not paid to be shot by the Germans," replied Stubbs vehemently.
"Take me with you."

How much truth there was in Stubbs' account of a large force of the enemy
approaching, Hal, of course, did not know. But the little man appeared so
greatly worried that Hal was moved to motion him to one of the spare
horses, which had followed the troop.

Stubbs clambered into the saddle with difficulty, and, once astride the
animal, he maneuvered so as to get right in among the British cavalrymen,
who smiled tolerantly as they surrounded him. Then, at a word from Hal,
the troop moved forward at a slow trot.

They rode for perhaps fifteen minutes, and so far Hal had seen no signs
of an enemy, nor was there any evidence that a large force had passed
that way recently. He turned to Stubbs.

"I see no sign of the enemy," he said. "Where were they?"

Stubbs motioned to the left.

"Beyond the woods, there, in an open field," he replied. "I didn't see
them, but I heard 'em, all right. They are probably lying in ambush, and
we shall all be killed."

Hal halted his men, and, dismounting, plunged into the woods to
investigate. At the edge of the woods he came upon a field, and there he
saw the "enemy" or at least what had caused Stubbs' fright. He broke into
a loud laugh, and hurried back.

"I have found the enemy," he said quietly. "Come, men, I shall show
them to you."

All dismounted, and Hal led the way, Stubbs following protestingly. At
the edge of the woods Hal stopped, and, taking Stubbs by the arm, led
him forward.

"