A German sentry was approaching them.

Perceiving the two shadowy forms, the sentry brought his rifle to his shoulder, and cried: 

“Halt!”

The lads obeyed, and the sentry came close to them.  Perceiving that the figures he had accosted were attired in women’s clothing, he dropped his rifle and demanded: 

“What are you doing here?”

“We have been selling apples to the soldiers,” replied Hal in French in a shrill voice.

The soldier understood French and replied: 

“Where are your baskets?”

Hal replied as he had been instructed by the little war correspondent.

“Well,” said the sentry, apparently satisfied, “you have no business around here at this hour of the night.  Go quickly.”

The lads needed no further urging, and, bearing off a trifle to the north, continued their journey.

Their shoulders stooped and their shawls thrown over their heads so they could barely see, they went on with slowly shambling steps.

“When we get back to America,” whispered Chester, “I am going on the stage as a female impersonator.”

“After this,” Hal whispered back, “I am inclined to believe that we would both make good.”

All night they continued toward the northwest, and when morning dawned they were still within the German lines.

“We shall have to be more careful now,” said Chester, as it began to grow light.

“On the contrary,” said Hal, “we may go forward more boldly.”

“How do you make that out?” demanded Chester in surprise.

“Why,” Hal explained, “two apple-women strolling about the enemy’s camp in the night would attract more attention, should they be discovered, than in broad daylight, when they might possibly have some business there.”

“Right,” agreed Chester.  “I hadn’t thought of it in that way.”

Accordingly they proceeded more boldly now.

Here and there troops of German cavalry now came to life.  The lads also passed regiment after regiment of hurrying infantry; but they were not so much as challenged.  Old apple-women, such as the lads appeared to the enemy, were plentiful in the German lines, and no attention was paid to them.

Suddenly the lads beheld a sight that caused them to start back in astonishment and dismay.

Directly ahead of them they saw a long trench, stretching out on either side as far as the eye could reach—­and it was filled with German soldiers.

“Great Scott!” ejaculated Hal.  “I had forgotten that the Germans were probably intrenched along here.  How on earth are we to get through?”

At that moment the two lads beheld three old women coming toward them, and Hal exclaimed: 

“I wonder if we look like that?”

In their hands the women carried large baskets, and even from where the lads stood they could see that they were chockfull of bright red apples.