other used to make!" he said as he
returned the empty dish and cup. "I'll see you again."

Jimmie stepped back a pace, preparing to follow Otto, presuming that he
would lead the way to regimental headquarters.

As he glanced about in search of his guide he discovered the German
stuffing the discarded Cossack uniform into the furnace underneath a
huge kettle. With a startled cry Jimmie grasped frantically at his
breast. Then he darted forward and snatched the clothing from the fire.

CHAPTER IV

BURIED ALIVE

"Well, if you're a friend, step forward and let us see what you look
like," challenged Ned, turning in the direction from whence the strange
voice proceeded. "You needn't be afraid to show your face."

"I'm not the one who is afraid," was the reply.

"We're not afraid, if that's what you mean," retorted the lad.

A chuckle from the newcomer was the only response.

"Are you coming forward?" asked Ned in a rather impatient tone, for his
experiences of the last few moments had been enough to cause him to be
slightly irritable. "I'd like to see you."

As the lad spoke he peered eagerly toward the blackness surrounding
himself and his chums. Owing to the faintness of the flame from their
small fire, the darkness lying about them like a dense pall was too
great for his eyes to pierce. Try as he might, he could not
distinguish even the faintest outline of the stranger.

"If you are afraid of the rats or the Germans you might step over this
way and we'll go to a more convenient and pleasant place. This isn't a
cheerful spot," was the stranger's suggestion.

This invitation was received in silence by the three boys.

"Of course," the other continued, "if you prefer to remain here and
talk it over with the rodents, I have no objections."

"Perhaps we would rather take our own way out of here," Ned stated with
little friendliness in his voice.

"Perhaps," was the dry response from the utter darkness. "But," went
on the stranger, "you'd have a beautiful time doing it. There's only
one way out of this place except by the trap door through which you
came. Unless you're regular little derricks you can't move all that
rubbish piled on top of the trap door, and you'd not be apt to discover
the underground exit if you had the eyes of a hawk and an electric
light plant besides. Better come along."

Ned had not relaxed his clasp on the hands of his companions, and now
drew them closer to him. In a