some sort of old French village around this neighborhood,"
observed Jack. "Many of these stones are partly covered with moss, as if
they were terribly old. But then this may be a private burial place for
the family that once lived for years and years in that big castle."

"That's nothing to us just now," Tom reminded him. "What we're
interested in is whether this road will lead us up there, and if we can
make sure of finding our plane again when we come back. Remember that
everything will be just the opposite; what's right to us now will be on
the left then."

"Oh, I learned that dodge long ago when I took up the study of
woodcraft," Jack announced confidently. "Can't fool me on a little
wrinkle like that, if I know it."

"Come along, and we'll make a start," Tom urged.

"Feels to me just as if we were two of those old-time crusaders,
starting out to rescue a Christian maiden from the Saracens. Only in our
case the girl is a mite of six, with a twin sister just breaking her
baby heart over her loss."

"Stop firing," said Tom, with a vein of authority in his voice; causing
the talkative Jack to remember that there were times when silence could
be called "golden."

"I'm dumb as a clam, Tom," he announced; and probably really meant it,
so far as a limited time went. But if anything at all out of the
ordinary happened Jack could no more help whispering than he could give
up eating and expect to live.

But even Tom felt that there was considerable truth in that assertion
made by his chum. They were engaged in a most peculiar errand, though
actuated by motives that did them both credit. And as they stole
carefully along the country road heading toward the foot of the ridge
upon which the old partly wrecked French chateau stood, both boys
realized more than ever what chances they were accepting in making this
bold move.

CHAPTER XX

BORROWED GOODS

AGAIN did Jack pluck at the sleeve of his companion. Remembering his
recently given promise, however, he waited to have Tom say the first
word before breaking the silence.

"What is it?" asked Tom softly.

"Just made a discovery."

"Let's hear it."

"The old chateau is inhabited, all right," came Jack's assertion. "Tell
you how I know. If you take a peep from here, between these trees,
you'll notice that one wing is all lighted up."

"It certainly looks that way for a fact, Jack. The general must be
having company, I should say."

"Maybe other officers