“Which way do we go?” asked Hal, of the young Englishman, as the four moved along the street.

“North,” was the reply.  “We are heading for Kolberg, on the Baltic Sea.  From there we will try to get across into Denmark.  The thing to do is to get out of Germany at the earliest possible moment, and, with good luck in getting a boat of some kind at Kolberg, that is the quickest route.”

“Won’t we have trouble getting a boat?”

“I am afraid we shall; but we must leave something to chance.”

“Well, I guess we won’t be any worse off in Kolberg than in Berlin,” said Hal.  “How do you figure to get there?”

“Automobile!  We have arranged for a car to pick us up on the northern outskirts of the city, just inside the line.”

“Won’t the place be guarded?”

“Of course; but, by a little ingenuity and a bold dash, we should be able to get through.  If not—­”

The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders expressively.

“Well,” said Hal, “I won’t object to a little excitement.”

“Don’t worry,” replied the young officer; “you will have all the excitement you want, and more, too, or I miss my guess.”

They continued their walk in silence.

Beyond getting into Denmark, the young officers had formulated no plan.  But, once out of Germany, the rest would be easy.  A ship to England, and from there into France for the young Frenchman, and the two American boys would telegraph to their mother, or continue their journey alone.  Lieutenant Anderson was bound direct for London, where he would join his regiment.

The officers had decided to make their attempt at escape by way of Denmark because, in all likelihood, the country between Berlin and Kolberg would be less closely guarded than any other part of the German Empire.  Troops were being rushed to the French and Russian borders, and they realized it was practically impossible for them to journey in those directions without being captured.  Also the southern route offered little hope of success.

The streets became more and more deserted as the four friends continued their walk toward the northern outskirts.  They passed several detachments of rapidly moving troops, but they were unchallenged.

Suddenly the young Englishman called a halt.

“The automobile is waiting at the next corner,” he explained.  “Just beyond is the northern limit of the city.  Go quietly and we may not be molested.”

Hal and Chester were greatly excited by this time, but they obeyed instructions as well as they could, and climbed into the big car that was waiting for them, without even being seen.  The driver immediately started the machine, and our boys were on their way at last.

On toward the city line the big car rushed, and it was just as the four friends were breathing a sigh of relief at having passed the first danger safely, that a harsh voice rang out: