though they had not hoped for it so soon.

The Germans were in such confusion, and such havoc had been caused
among them when the ammunition dump went up, that they had no time,
then, to look to their prisoners. Consequently the unfortunate men who
had been kept in the horrible camp scattered to the four winds, eager
to make their way back to their own lines.

Jimmy, Bob and Roger formed a little party among themselves. They
had only a general notion of which direction to take, but again Fate
seemed to help them, for they were not stopped all that night. They
tramped on, taking the most unfrequented ways, stumbling on in the
darkness and on the alert for a sight of German soldiers. But the
attack of the Allied airships, and the consequent destruction of a
great pile of German shells, had caused such havoc back of the Hun
lines that for several hours all was in confusion.

"It's getting daylight," murmured Bob, as he and his two chums were
limping down a road. Limping is the correct term, for their own good
army shoes had been taken from them and replaced by German apologies,
with paper soles, which now were all but gone.

"What shall we do?" asked Roger.

"Keep on until we see something to stop us," advised Jimmy. "We are
going toward our own lines, I think, or where our lines used to be,
though there may have been a lot of changes since we were caught."

"Can't we stop and get a drink?" panted Bob. "My tongue is like a
piece of that leathery stuff the Germans gave us and called meat. I've
got to drink!"

It was light enough now to disclose a small stream not far away.
Looking about to make sure no Germans were in the vicinity, Jimmy led
the way toward it. A drink of water and the eating of some of their
scanty stock of food would put new life in them.

They reached the water safely, near a small clump of trees. They
drank, and though the fluid seemed half mud never was there a sweeter
draught to parched throats and dry mouths. Then, as they were about to
open their rude packets of food. Bob clutched Jimmy's arm.

"Look!" he exclaimed, pointing off to the left.

"A searching party!" gasped Jimmy. Then Roger saw at what his chums
were gazing--a squad of German soldiers under the command of an
officer, and they were marching straight toward the clump of trees
where our heroes hoped to stay and eat!

"Quick!" cried Jimmy. "Burrow down in the leaves and dirt! If they
see us we'll be shot on sight as escaping pr