n Hal
suddenly checked his mount, and raised a warning hand. All stopped to
listen. From the direction in which they had just come, came the
frenzied tolling of a great bell, followed by a few faint shots.

"They have learned of our escape," said Hal quietly. "That, I imagine,
is a warning to the countryside to be on the lookout for us."

All three put spurs to their horses, and set off again at a gallop. For
two hours they kept up this swift pace, and then Alexis drew rein.

"Unless I want this horse to drop under me," he said, "we shall have to
slow down. There is no horse living that can carry me at that gait very
long."

The boys did not doubt this, and they continued their journey at a more
leisurely pace. Finally, rounding a turn in the road, they came upon a
little stream, perhaps a hundred yards wide. There was no bridge.

"Guess we shall have to make our horses swim it," said Chester.

Accordingly all plunged into the stream, Marquis swimming behind, and
soon reached the opposite shore. Here they drew up in a clump of bushes
and sat down to dry off a bit.

"Do you suppose they know which way we came?" asked Hal of Chester.

"I don't know. However, I suppose they will search in all directions,
and they are bound to come upon us sooner or later if we linger around
here."

"You are right. I guess we had better move."

Soon the little party was in the saddle again, and making off at a rapid
trot. Hal, for some unaccountable reason turning suddenly in his saddle,
uttered an ejaculation.

"What's the matter?" demanded Chester.

"Look!" said Hal, pointing back toward the little stream.

Alexis and Chester followed the direction of Hal's finger. Just plunging
into the stream were half a dozen horsemen, and it was plain from that
distance that they were German soldiers, and that they had made out the
forms of the fugitives.

The three friends put spurs to their horses and, with Marquis loping
along behind, soon lost themselves in a little woods. Here they urged
their tired horses on, and at last came to a small open space. This they
crossed before Alexis' horse gave out and went to the ground in a heap.

"I am afraid it's all off," exclaimed Hal. "How far do you suppose we
are from the German border, Alexis?"

"Not far," answered the Cossack. "Besides, some of our troops have been
operating in these parts. They were only small detachments, and most of
them have been driven off; but even now there may