he greatest ease. But, should they do this, Max feared that they
could not cross into Holland and retain their freedom. They would, he
felt sure, be treated as soldiers and be interned for the duration of
the war. None of them had any desire for that; all wished to be free to
strike again at the foe.

From the frontier back to a busy little station, two miles inland, Max
and Shaw continued their search. Then they returned to the place where
they had left the rest of the band in hiding.

"Well, Max, what do you think of it?" asked Dale. "D'ye think we can get
through anywhere about here without too much of a rumpus?"

"I hope so. I've thought of something that seems to promise."

"What is it, old man?"

"Take forcible possession of yon station in the middle of the night and
collar the first train that arrives _en route_ to the frontier. We ought
then to be able to run her successfully through the Dutch frontier
guards."

"Phew!" cried Dale in amazement.

Shaw gave a prolonged chuckle of intense delight. "Train-snatching--eh?"
he cried at last. "That'll suit the boys, I give you my word."

"It's not so easy as it sounds," responded Max soberly. "It needs
careful planning, for it must be done like clockwork if we are not to
make a mess of it."

"Well, we can do that, I suppose?" replied Shaw confidently. "You found
the clockwork all right in that raid on the railway? You plan it out and
you'll find we shan't fail you."

"No, I don't think you will, Shaw. Well, it must be done about an hour
after nightfall, so we must lose no time. This is how I think it ought
to be done," and Max unfolded the plan as it had so far framed itself in
his mind.

For an hour or two the three discussed the affair earnestly together.
Then they broached the scheme to their waiting comrades. As they
anticipated, it met with rapturous approval, and it was in a fever of
impatience--for the hour of their deliverance or their defeat was close
at hand--that the whole of the band awaited the closing in of night.

CHAPTER XX

Across the Frontier

A train steamed slowly into Storbach station. The stationmaster and a
host of officials crossed the platform and prepared to search and
interrogate the passengers with that thoroughness and also with that
lack of courtesy and consideration which seem peculiarly Prussian.

The engine-driver and his fireman, momentarily released from toil,
crossed to the near side of their engine, leaned