“And leave me here?” cried Stubbs.

“Why, certainly.  You are paid to get the news for your paper, are you not?”

“But I’m not paid to be shot by the Germans,” replied Stubbs vehemently.  “Take me with you.”

How much truth there was in Stubbs’ account of a large force of the enemy approaching, Hal, of course, did not know.  But the little man appeared so greatly worried that Hal was moved to motion him to one of the spare horses, which had followed the troop.

Stubbs clambered into the saddle with difficulty, and, once astride the animal, he maneuvered so as to get right in among the British cavalrymen, who smiled tolerantly as they surrounded him.  Then, at a word from Hal, the troop moved forward at a slow trot.

They rode for perhaps fifteen minutes, and so far Hal had seen no signs of an enemy, nor was there any evidence that a large force had passed that way recently.  He turned to Stubbs.

“I see no sign of the enemy,” he said.  “Where were they?”

Stubbs motioned to the left.

“Beyond the woods, there, in an open field,” he replied.  “I didn’t see them, but I heard ’em, all right.  They are probably lying in ambush, and we shall all be killed.”

Hal halted his men, and, dismounting, plunged into the woods to investigate.  At the edge of the woods he came upon a field, and there he saw the “enemy” or at least what had caused Stubbs’ fright.  He broke into a loud laugh, and hurried back.

“I have found the enemy,” he said quietly.  “Come, men, I shall show them to you.”

All dismounted, and Hal led the way, Stubbs following protestingly.  At the edge of the woods Hal stopped, and, taking Stubbs by the arm, led him forward.

“There,” he said, pointing, “is the enemy; and I don’t believe they chased you very far.”

Stubbs looked and gasped, then mumbled: 

“I wonder, I wonder—­”

For the objects upon which his eyes rested, the movements of which had sent him scurrying down the road in fear for his life, were nothing more than a drove of about a dozen sheep, which, thrashing about in the field, had led Stubbs to suspect the presence of the Germans.

Stubbs, after the one look, turned and strode majestically to where the horses had been left.  The laughter of the troopers rankled in his ears and his face was a dull red.  He was mounted when Hal, Chester and the others returned.

“Stubbs,” said Hal, as they rode forward again, “you could have whipped all those fellows yourself.”

“Well,” replied Stubbs, “they might have been Germans.”

He lapsed into silence.

Night was fast falling when the British came in sight of a little house, and Hal decided that they would stop there and commandeer something to eat.  Accordingly they rode up to the door, where Hal, before dismounting, hailed those within with a shout.

A woman appeared in the door, and learning what the British required, invited them to dismount and enter.  This they did, and soon sat down to a substantial repast, Stubbs with them.  The war correspondent now became talkative, and entertained with an account of his adventures.