“You will not be sent back before to-morrow,” he said; “in the meantime, if you will give me your paroles, I shall be glad to have you as my guests.”

Chester glanced quickly at Hal, and the latter nodded his head negatively.

“We are sorry, sir,” said Chester, “but we cannot give our paroles.”

The general hesitated for a brief moment.

“Oh, well,” he said, “I don’t know as it makes any difference.  There is no chance of your escaping again.  I shall be pleased to have you lunch with me.”

The lads accepted this invitation gladly, for both were very hungry, and they knew from past experiences that the Kaiser treated his officers to the best that was to be obtained in the line of food.

They accompanied General Steinbach to his quarters, where they soon sat down to a substantial meal.  The meal over, the German commander walked with them to the outside, and asked them if they would care to have a look about.  Both lads agreed that they would and the general detailed an officer to show them around.

“I hardly believe you will be able to reveal what you may see,” he said with a smile, as he left them, “for within a few days you will be safe in Berlin.”

“I wish he wouldn’t harp on Berlin so much,” said Chester.  “I don’t like the name of that place.”

After an hour’s stroll the lads were conducted to a tent at the northern extremity of the German lines, where they were placed under guard.  They had the tent to themselves, but guards were stationed upon the outside.

All the rest of the afternoon they sat there talking over the situation and trying to hit upon some plan of escape; but no feasible scheme occurred to either.

Night came and food was brought them.  The lads did not turn in early, for they were in no mood for sleep.  Well into the night they sat up talking.

In the midst of the conversation Hal became conscious of the fact that an object of some kind was trying to crawl under the tent from the outside.  Silently he called Chester’s attention to the spot where the canvas was being tampered with.

Presently a head appeared beneath the rear of the tent, followed by a man’s head and shoulders.  His face was not turned toward the lads, so they did not recognize him; but they did not move from their chairs.

Now the apparition succeeded in drawing his legs within the tent, and, rising to his feet, turned toward them.  In spite of their surprise, however, the boys were too cool to exclaim aloud, but both muttered beneath their breath: 

“Stubbs!”

The newcomer was indeed the little American war correspondent.

He laid a cautious finger to his lips and came toward them.  Both lads arose and silently took him by the hand.

“I’ve come to get you out,” whispered Stubbs.

“How did you get here?” asked Hal in a low voice.