to his back was a
point in their favor. One buried its sharp teeth in the back of Stubbs's
neck and the war correspondent raised a howl of anguish.

As if by magic now the firing from the Germans' side of the road ceased.
Hal was unaware of the reason for this, but, suspecting a ruse, he
ordered his men to cease firing also until he could determine the cause
of the enemy's unexpected silence.

On the German side of the road dark faces peered from between the trees
and hoarse guttural exclamations issued from these faces as they watched
Stubbs struggle with the cats. While the Germans would not go to Stubbs'
assistance, nevertheless they would not shoot him down as he struggled
with his four-footed enemies.

The British also advanced to their side of the road and watched
the struggle.

Thus, by mutual consent, a truce had been declared.

It was at this moment that Chester came to Stubbs' rescue; but before he
could take a hand in the fray the figure of a large German, with leveled
revolver, accosted the lad.

"Back," he exclaimed in a deep voice. "Let the little man fight it out.
This is rare sport. We will declare a truce until the struggle is over.
Do you agree?"

Chester considered quickly. He knew that the German officer would be as
good as his word, and he knew also that Stubbs, if given time, would
dispose of his three enemies.

"I agree," he said, and made his way back to Hal, where he told him of
the strange request and his answer.

As the little war correspondent still struggled with his feline
assailants the Germans, from their side of the woods, gradually came
out from among the trees to get a closer view of the struggle.
Unconsciously also the British left their shelter and crowded about to
get a better view.

With his right hand Stubbs succeeded in grasping the cat that had bitten
him by the back of the neck, and in spite of the animal's frantic clawing
and scratching he raised it in the air and brought its head against the
ground violently. The cat lay still.

But while Stubbs was thus engaged with one of the enemy, the other two
were busy. Stubbs had now jumped to his feet, and one of the animals had
succeeded in crawling to his shoulder, where it was making desperate
efforts to reach the war correspondent's eyes with its claws. Stubbs
protected his eyes with one upraised arm, and groped blindly for the cat.

At last he grasped it securely by the neck and raised it aloft; the other
now was