Silently they approached the horses, which stood quietly a few yards away.  A sentry passed nearby, and the four companions dropped to the ground.  Fortunately, the sentry did not look in their direction.

“That’s what I call luck,” whispered Hal.

From behind the sounds of confusion became more audible, indicating the rapid approach of the crowd.  At the same time lights flared up in the huts, and an officer stepped to the entrance of one only a few feet from the four friends.

He espied them on the instant, and then the lieutenant acted.

“Quick!” he cried, and jumped toward the horses.

A revolver cracked, and a bullet whined over Hal’s head even as he leaped forward.

With a bound all four fugitives were among the horses, and almost with a single movement each threw himself into a saddle.

But at that moment the camp came to life.  Armed men sprang up on all sides.

In the very act of digging his heel into his horse’s flank, the lieutenant pulled up.

“It’s no use,” he said quietly to his friends.  “To move is certain death.”

Then came a voice from right before them.

“Surrender!” it cried.  “Surrender or you are dead men!”

CHAPTER VI.

The old castle.

Lieutenant Anderson raised a hand.

“We surrender,” he said quietly.

The officer approached, a revolver held ready for instant use.

“Dismount!” he ordered shortly.

The four companions slid to the ground.  A squad of soldiers surrounded them.

“Search them for arms,” was the next command, and they were relieved of their weapons.

“To the castle!” ordered their captor.  “Forward, march!”

With the four prisoners in the center, the soldiers moved away.

“Looks like we were into it pretty steep this time,” said Hal, as they were being led away.

“Silence!” came the sharp command of the German officer.

They moved along for several minutes without a word except for an occasional command from the officer.

At length a grim, gray wall loomed before them in the darkness, and without a stop the prisoners were hurried across a little bridge, led across a courtyard and escorted within the structure.

A fear-inspiring place it was, but the four captives entered without a tremor, their heads held high and their step firm.  Any spirit of foreboding they may have felt was not manifested in their carriage.

Down dark and dirty corridors they were led, and after many sharp turns, their guards stopped before what appeared to be a hole in the side of the wall.  Into this opening the prisoners were thrust without ceremony, and a door behind them was closed with a bang.

It was several minutes before the four companions could accustom their eyes to the semi-darkness, but finally they were able to make out the few objects that furnished the cell, for such it proved to be.