on.

"Set the man down here while I give him a drain from my flask. You must
not take him away until my officer has seen him."

"One moment--here is a bank against which I can lean him," replied Max,
still moving steadily away. He could see the non-commissioned officer
was getting impatient, if not suspicious, and whispered to Dale: "I am
going to set you down. Directly your feet touch ground, bolt for the
river. I will follow and be there as soon as you; but don't wait for me.
_Now!_"

As he spoke, Max slowly lowered Dale to the ground. The soldier was
close by, but none else was within some yards. They were beyond the
circle of bright light cast by the fire, and a few yards would take them
into darkness, which was pitchy to anyone coming from the vicinity of
the fire. The chance of escape was good, and Max, the time for resolute
action at hand, felt his heart bound with fresh hope and energy.

The moment Dale's feet were on the ground Max gave him a push in the
direction of the river and off he flew. Almost simultaneously Max seized
his helmet and dashed it in the face of the soldier, who had raised a
shout of alarm and was on the point of chasing Dale. The sudden blow
disconcerted the man, and he hung in the wind for a moment. The supposed
injured man might be an enemy, but it was certain this aggressive
fireman was one, and, as Max darted off, the soldier turned, lifted his
rifle, and aimed a shot at him.

Max had little fear of the man's rifle. It was too dark, and he was
moving too rapidly and erratically, for anyone to take good aim. The
bullet passed wide of the mark, and the soldier, realizing his mistake
in not pursuing at once, instead of wasting precious moments in firing,
put his rifle at the trail and rushed madly after, shouting to his
comrades and all who might be within hearing that a spy was on the point
of escaping.

Max knew the ground and the soldier did not, so Max had no difficulty in
increasing his lead. He could see Dale a dozen yards ahead, and by the
time he reached the bank had caught him up.

"In at once, and dive down-stream, Dale!" he cried, and without a
moment's pause they both tumbled in, anyhow, and struck out with all
their strength down-stream.

CHAPTER XIII

The German Counter-stroke

The fury of the German military governor and his staff at the
destruction of the largest workshop in the Durend concern could hardly
have been greater had the town under their char