The German officer turned to his fellow-officer.

“I’ll take charge of them,” he said quietly.  “Give me a couple of dry guns; mine are no good.”

The other did as requested, and, pointing his two weapons at the lads, the German ordered: 

“March!”

CHAPTER XI.

A break for liberty.

Chilled to the bone by their cold swim the boys marched along with chattering teeth.  Their clothes froze to them until they were stiff, and the lads moved with difficulty.

“Where are you taking us?” asked Hal, shaking with cold.

“To my quarters right now,” was the reply, “where I shall let you warm up a bit before taking you before General Steinbach.”

It was a long walk to the quarters of Captain Eberhardt, for as such the captain later gave his name, and when they reached there both lads were blue with cold.

Captain Eberhardt’s condition was just as bad, and once inside the hut all three shed their frozen garments and drew close to the fire.  Here they thawed out quickly, and the German officer motioned them to seats.

“You are both brave lads, as I learned a long time ago,” he said, “and it pains me that I must turn you over to my commanding officer.  I bear you no grudge for anything you have done against me, and if I could do otherwise I would.  But my duty is clear.  The necessity of war demands that you be tried by court-martial.”

“Tried by court-martial!” exclaimed Chester.  “What for?”

“You were found within our lines in civilian clothes.  Had you been in uniform you would have been treated as prisoners of war.  As it is—­”

The captain broke off and shrugged his shoulders expressively.

“True,” said Hal quietly.  “I forgot.”

“So we are to be shot as spies, eh?” said Chester.

“I am sorry,” replied Captain Eberhardt.  “I will speak a word for you, but I doubt if it will do any good.”

“Thanks,” said Hal.

They sat about the little fire for several hours, when the German officer, arising, said: 

“Well, whenever you are ready I shall conduct you before General Steinbach.”

“We are ready any time,” replied Chester.

The lads followed the captain from the tent, and at last stood before the German commander.  Here Captain Eberhardt briefly explained the details of the capture.

“And you say they were in civilian attire?” asked the general.

“Yes, sir.”

“Then they shall be given a trial, but unless they can show good reason for their actions they will be shot.”

“But, General,” said the captain, “I have told you that they wore civilian attire simply to get through our lines.  I can vouch for the fact that they are not spies.”

“You can make your statement before the trial board, sir,” replied the commander briefly.  “I may as well say, however, that I do not believe you will be able to do them much good.  You know our rules are ironclad.”