“Good old Chester!” he said to himself.  “I hope nothing happens to him.  I wish I could take all the danger upon my own shoulders.”

In vain did he try to shake off the feeling of uneasiness that oppressed him; and it was with a heavy heart at the absence of his friend that he found himself bidding the chauffeur good-by, when Captain Derevaux roused him from his reverie and announced that it was time for them to be on their way.

Striking out from their shelter, the two approached the town boldly.  They walked silently and swiftly.

It was now quite dark, but the gleam of a full moon made their figures plainly discernible.  At the edge of the town they unconsciously breathed easier and quickened their step.

Just passing the first house inside the city, they heard the sound of running footsteps behind them.  Hal looked over his shoulder.  A uniformed figure was hurrying after them.

“Run!” cried Hal to his companion, and he suited the action to the word.

The captain also broke into a quick run.

A command of “Halt!” behind them went unheeded, and the two friends sped over the ground, heading for the friendly shelter of the first cross street that was now but a few yards away.

Slackening their speed but a trifle, they rounded the corner just as the sharp crack of a rifle rang out.  Around a second corner they dodged, and another, and still another.

Stopping a moment to gain a much-needed breath, they could hear the sounds of great confusion, and again they broke into a quick run.

“The whole town will be aroused and on our track in a few minutes,” panted Hal.  “We will have to lose ourselves some way awfully quick.”

Luckily, the streets they had traversed so far had been deserted.  But as they rounded another corner they saw a crowd of men coming rapidly toward them.

“I guess it’s all up,” exclaimed Hal, and the two slowed to a walk.

The crowd moved rapidly, and they advanced to meet it.

“No use running,” said the captain.  “We will try to bluff it out.”

The first man of the crowd to reach them stopped.

“What’s the row back there?” he asked.

“Just a street fight, I guess,” replied Hal.  “We didn’t stop to see.”

“More than likely some Frenchman has been rounded up,” said the man.  “Better come along and see the fun,” and he broke into a trot again.

“We had better make a bluff at going,” said Hal to the captain, as he noticed that some of the crowd eyed them queerly.

Turning, they joined the crowd, and began to retrace their steps.  They went slowly, however, and the crowd gradually drew away from them.  At last, finding themselves behind the last man, they turned suddenly into a side street and broke into a run again.

Turning another corner, they slowed down to a walk.

“We had better get away from here,” exclaimed the Frenchman.  “They will be back after us in a minute.”