whisper he asked:

"What do you think, boys? Shall we do as he suggests?"

"Might as well," said Jack. "We can't be in much worse case than we
are now, and those rats might get good and ugly when they get wise to
our being here. I move we follow him."

"Second the motion, unless you've got a better suggestion," added
Harry. "This place is getting on my nerves. Let's go."

"I rather feel as if we ought not to go with this fellow unless he's
willing to show himself and let us get an idea who he is," Ned stated
in a hesitating way. "Perhaps you boys are right, but I don't feel at
all easy about it. Maybe he's trying to get us into a trap."

"That's so," agreed Harry. "At least if we remain where we are we'll
be no worse off than we would have been without him."

"You're right there," put in Jack, "but on the other hand we're in a
bad fix, and Jimmie's outside and needs us. This fellow's coming may
be just the chance for escape that we are wanting. Suppose we follow
him as he suggests and all the while remember our motto to 'Be
Prepared.' Wouldn't that be the proper course?"

"I guess you're right, Jack," Ned said with a sigh. "Perhaps I'm wrong
about it. I don't want to overlook a chance to help Jimmie and get
back to America. I'll withdraw my objections."

"All right, then, let's get started. Tell him so."

"Are you there?" Ned called out in a louder tone, addressing himself
toward the place from which the stranger's voice had come.

"I am for a minute," answered the other. "But I'm going now. If you
care to come with me I'll be glad to take you out of here."

"Where will you take us?" asked Ned, reluctant still to follow.

"That's something I cannot say right now. You'll find out."

"All right," consented the boy, starting forward. "But remember," he
cautioned, "we shall not relish anything in the way of tricks."

"Suspicious still, I see," laughed the other. "Well, follow this
light, and be careful how you step. There may be irregularities in the
floor that you'll have to discover for yourselves. It won't be safe to
do any talking for a while. The Germans are watchful."

The three boys were startled to observe a circle of light appear upon
the stone floor of the apartment at some little distance from the spot
where they were standing. It appeared to emanate from an electric
searchlight held in the hands of the stranger.

Ned took a step toward the light. Jack and Harry did likew