was no one in sight.

Hal turned to Alexis.

"Change clothes with him," he whispered, motioning to the fallen German.

Hastily Alexis obeyed. In spite of the fact that von Bernstrum was
almost two inches taller than Alexis, the height of the latter was so
great that Hal believed the difference would not be noticed.

The lad now relieved von Bernstrum of his revolvers. Alexis had donned
his adversary's sword with his uniform. Then once more Hal approached
the door and peered out. Then he spoke to Alexis.

"We will go with you as though we were your prisoners," he explained.
"If anyone accosts us, we may have to fight. However, I believe you look
enough like von Bernstrum to avoid detection. Pull the hat well over
your face, and if anyone asks where you are going, reply that you are
taking the prisoners to the commandant. Do you understand?"

Alexis signified that he did, and quietly the three, still followed by
Marquis, left the room. Along the same passageways they had traversed
Hal guided Alexis by a touch of the hand, for the lad's sense of
direction was much better than that of the giant Cossack.

At last they came into the open and started toward the gate. So far they
had not been accosted. At the gate a soldier approached Alexis and
saluted.

"Are you going out, sir?" he demanded.

"Yes," replied the Cossack, mimicking von Bernstrum's voice as best he
could. "These prisoners have given me their parole, and I am taking them
out for a breath of air. Get me two more horses."

The soldier saluted and turned away. Hal addressed Alexis.

"You are doing beautifully," he exclaimed. "I didn't know you were such
a strategist."

"Why," exclaimed Alexis, "next to being a fighter I am a strategist. I
remember one time----"

"Save it for some other time," said Hal.

"If you don't believe----" began the big Cossack, somewhat crestfallen.

"Never mind now," broke in Chester. "We have other things to do."

Alexis subsided, grumbling. A few moments later the soldier reappeared
leading three horses. Alexis took all three bridles, and bade the
soldier begone, which order the latter obeyed in a hurry.

Quickly the three friends leaped into the saddle, and started off at a
rapid trot, riding eastward. Out of sight of the town, they bore off
slightly to the North, for, as Hal said, they did not wish to run right
into the German army advancing on Lodz.

They had proceeded perhaps a mile out of sight of the castle, whe