“There is no state of war between your country and ours.”

“Perhaps not, but I am not sure of it; there may be by this time.  You have no passports, I take it?”

“We have not.”

“Then I must ask you to leave your machine and come with me.”

“For what reason?”

“Because I command it.  You are my prisoners.”

Turning to an aide, the German officer commanded: 

“Call a guard of four men!”

The aide saluted and did as he was ordered.  Four of the troopers who blocked the road dismounted and ranged themselves beside the car.

“Order Lieutenant Myers to take his men and report to Major Von Volk,” commanded the German officer of his aide.

The troopers, with the exception of the four who guarded the car, wheeled and rode away.

The officer turned again to the automobile.

“Leave the car,” he ordered the four occupants.

“He evidently hasn’t been tipped off,” whispered Lieutenant Anderson to his companions, as they left the machine.

“No,” Hal whispered back, “but the others are likely to be along in a few minutes.”

“Right,” came the reply.  “We must watch our chance, and, if one comes, make the most of it.”

The four stepped from the automobile, and were immediately surrounded by their guards.

“See what they have in the machine,” the officer ordered one of the men.

“Great Scott!” ejaculated Chester.  “We are in for it now!”

Exploring the front of the auto first, the soldier found nothing.  Then he turned his attention to the back.  He lifted up the rugs that had been thrown over the chauffeur, and started back with a cry.

“A dead man!” he exclaimed, and added:  “At least he appears to be dead.  He has a bullet hole in the back of his head.”

“What!” demanded the officer, and hurried to the side of the car.

He drew his sword and waved it at his men.

“Guard them closely!” he exclaimed, indicating his four prisoners.

“Pretty ticklish situation,” whispered Hal to Chester, who stood beside him.  “We have got to do something.”

“You bet,” replied Chester, “and we’ve got to do it now.”

He took off his cap, twirled it about a few seconds, and let it fall to the ground.

Chester stooped to pick it up.  Rising suddenly, he came up under the guard of his nearest captor, and with his head butted him with all his force under the chin.

The blow was more than flesh and blood could stand.  The soldier fell to the ground with a groan of pain, his tongue almost bitten off.  Without a pause, Chester turned upon another of his captors, and, with two well-directed blows of his fist, sent him staggering.

The suddenness of Chester’s attack had not taken Hal by surprise.  When Chester dropped his cap, Hal divined his purpose, and, as his friend butted his first victim, Hal acted.  Turning upon his nearest guard, he seized the latter’s rifle, at the same time delivering a well-directed kick at his enemy’s shin.  The man released his hold on the rifle, and, as he stooped unconsciously to rub his shin, the pain of which was almost unbearable, he met Hal’s right fist, which, sent into his face with stunning force, knocked him cold.