They continued their walk, still stepping along at a rapid pace, and at length emerged, without further difficulty, into a brilliantly lighted street, which, they learned, was the main thoroughfare of the town.  Mingling with the crowd, they were soon comparatively safe.

“The thing to do now is to find out where the hotel is,” said the Frenchman.

Stopping in an open shop, Hal made an inquiry.

“Two blocks ahead,” was the reply, and following directions, Hal and the captain soon came upon a large, though unpretentious, hotel.  They went in and sat down in the rotunda.  Chester and the lieutenant had not arrived, and once more Hal felt that queer sinking sensation in his stomach.

“If anything has happened to Chester,” he mused, “I don’t know what I shall do.”

But his anxiety was soon set at rest, for a few moments later Chester and Lieutenant Anderson appeared in the doorway.

Hal jumped to his feet and seized Chester by the hand.

“I was afraid—­” he began in a queer voice, but the lieutenant silenced him with a gesture.

“Careful!” he whispered.

Hal returned to his seat and Chester and the lieutenant also sat down.

Hal recounted the experience he and the captain had had, and the lieutenant said: 

“Then we have no time to waste.  We must leave here at once.”

Rising, the four companions left the hotel.

“We must get something to eat before we go,” declared the Frenchman, and accordingly they dropped into a little restaurant, where they treated the inner man to his entire satisfaction.  Then they went to the street again.

“The best thing we can do is to go straight through the town and out on the other side—­if we can,” said the lieutenant, and they turned their steps toward the north once more.

They reached the northern extremity of the town without difficulty and just as they were congratulating themselves on their good fortune, Hal gripped lieutenant Anderson by the arm and whispered: 

“Look!”

Not two hundred yards ahead could be seen a line of army huts, extending on either side as far as the eye could see.

“Ummm,” grunted the lieutenant.  Then:  “Doesn’t look like much chance of getting through here.”

At the same instant there came from the rear the sound of the footsteps of a large body of men approaching with confusion.

“The crowd!” cried Hal.

The lieutenant was a man of action, as already has been seen.

“Follow me!” he exclaimed, and dashed to the right.  His three companions ran after him.

Suddenly the lieutenant stopped and pointed ahead.

“Horses!” he whispered.  “Good!”

He advanced more slowly, the others closely behind him.

“If we can cut out four horses,” explained the lieutenant, “we will have a chance.  We’ll make a dash and trust to luck and the darkness.”