sink? I can't
understand how, with that weight upon it, it remained afloat."

"Why," said Alexis with perfect gravity, "I forgot to mention that the
stream was very shallow--in fact it could be waded. The boat was forced
down by the great weight until it rested on the bottom. In that way, it
was perfectly simple."

"I see," exclaimed Stephan. "A wonderful feat, truly!"

"Was the bridge made out of rubber?" asked Chester, laughing to himself.

"Rubber?" repeated Alexis. "No; it was a wooden bridge."

"Then," said Chester, "how do you account for the fact that it stretched
so when the boat went to the bottom of the stream?"

"I didn't say it stretched," said Alexis.

"I know you didn't say so," grinned Chester; "but it must have stretched
unless it broke in two."

Alexis looked aggrieved.

"If you don't believe me----" he began.

"I wouldn't dispute you for the world," said Chester. "I just wondered."

Alexis would have replied, but at that instant his hat was lifted from
his head, and all four became aware of the distant sound of a shot.
Quickly all dropped to the ground, but they were not quick enough to go
unscathed. A bullet struck Stephan in the arm, and he dropped it to his
side with a cry.

Instantly Alexis was all anxiety. He jumped to his brother's side.

"Are you much hurt, Stephan?" he asked tenderly, taking the injured arm
in his hand.

"Just a scratch," replied Stephan. "I'll be all right."

Nevertheless Alexis would not rest until he had bound up the wound with
his handkerchief. In the meantime, from their positions on the ground,
the others had been popping away at the enemy. Several rounds of shots
were exchanged but none of the four friends was hit again. The enemy was
so far away that the lads could not tell whether or not their fire was
effective.

Bullets began to drop closely about them, in their exposed position.
Also they fell oftener now, indicating that the force opposed to them
was numerically superior.

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal, as his hat seemed to leap suddenly from
his head. "We'll have to get away from here. This is too close for
comfort."

"You bet," said Chester. "Now when I say the word we'll all jump to our
feet and make a dash for those trees in the distance."

At the word, the four sprang to their feet, and not even waiting to take
a parting shot at the enemy, dashed away as fast as their feet would
carry them. Hal took the lead, and behind him came Stephan