Without further words the young officer motioned for the lads to follow him, and, dismounting, they did so.  At the entrance of a rather large tent the officer halted.

“I don’t like to disturb him,” he said, “but—­”

“We might possibly be German spies,” said Chester, “so you had better arouse him at once—­unless you want to take the responsibility upon yourself and find us quarters for the night.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that,” was the quick reply.

“Well, then, get your commanding officer out here immediately,” ordered Hal.  “We are officers of General French’s staff, and we are entitled to some consideration, if we have to fight for it.”

The French officer finally entered the tent, and returned a few moments later followed by the officer in command of the outpost.  To him the lads explained the mission and recent difficulties, and the officer soon had them fixed up with comfortable quarters, where, safe once more and perfectly easy in their minds, they turned in for the night, and soon were sleeping the sleep of the exhausted.

On the opposite shore the German camp was in confusion.  The escape of the prisoners had been discovered, and Captain Eberhardt, held responsible for his prisoners’ disappearance, was under arrest.

CHAPTER XII.

A Noble sacrifice.

“You say Captain Eberhardt is to be shot?  What for?” demanded Hal.

“For allowing his prisoners to escape,” was the reply of the German soldier, captured the following morning by a squad of French troopers, who had picked him up on their side of the river, where he had been on scout duty.

The conversation was taking place in the tent of the French officer in charge of the outpost.  Questioned upon various topics the German had volunteered the information that Captain Eberhardt, from whom Hal and Chester had escaped the night before, was to be put to death.

“Tell us more about it,” said Chester.

“Well, there isn’t much to tell,” said the soldier.  “During the night a shot gave notice of the escape of two prisoners.  General Steinbach, suspecting the cause of the shot, went himself to Captain Eberhardt’s tent.  There he found the captain bound and gagged.  He immediately ordered him put under arrest, and commanded that he be executed at noon to-day for allowing the prisoners to get away.  That is all there is about it.”

Chester quickly drew his watch from his pocket and glanced at it.

“Nine o’clock,” he said; “plenty of time.”

“Plenty of time for what?” asked Hal in surprise.

“Why, plenty of time to save Captain Eberhardt.”

“What have you got on your mind now?” demanded Hal, grasping his friend by the arm.  “How do you figure you are going to save him?”

“Go back across the river,” said Chester briefly.

“Go back!”