“But how about you, Uncle Billy?” demanded Chester.  “Won’t you get in trouble for aiding us to escape?”

“No, sah,” replied the old negro.  “There won’t none o’ dese hyah Germans hurt ol’ Uncle Billy!”

“Well, then, good-by,” said the boys.  “After the war is over we are coming back to see you.”

“After de wah am over,” said the old negro slowly, “Ise gwine back ter ol’ Virginy!”

With another word of farewell the boys wheeled their horses and rode after their companions, who were now some distance ahead.

“We shall have to go very slowly and feel our way until we have passed the outposts of the town,” said the lieutenant, as they rode along; and for the first half hour their progress was slow.

Once they passed within a few yards of a German sentry, but so softly did their horses step that the soldier did not turn in their direction.

Bearing well to the south, they passed the long line of huts where they had been captured the night before, at a considerable distance; and now, feeling sure they had passed the last of the outposts, they urged their horses into a quick trot.

“We will try and avoid all towns this time,” declared Lieutenant Anderson, “going just close enough to them to keep our bearings.”

“A good scheme,” said the Frenchman.  “We would better avoid the highways as much as possible also.”

In almost a straight line, the direction in which the companions were now headed eventually would put them into Holland a few miles north of the Belgian frontier.  Following the highways, their way would lead through Prenzlau, Brunswick, and Detmold.  But upon Captain Derevaux’s advice, they decided to skirt these towns, staying just close enough to the roads to keep their sense of direction.

As the four rode along through the open fields, Hal and Chester continued to talk of Uncle Billy.

“After the war,” said Chester, “we’ll come back and get him and take him home with us.”

But such was not to be; nor was the old Southern negro ever again to see his Virginia home.

And because of the assistance he rendered Hal and Chester and their two friends, it is fitting that here be related the fate of this old plantation slave, who had come so nobly to the aid of our boys.

As the four companions rode away from the old castle, Uncle Billy, with bared head, gazed lovingly after them.

“Praise de Lawd!” he exclaimed.  “May dey git home in safety.”

The riders disappeared in the distance, and the old negro, after one last glance, turned toward his quarters in a broken-down wing of the old castle.

There he threw himself to his knees, and for long minutes prayed in silence.  Then he arose, extinguished his light, and crawled into his dirty cot.

Before sun-up he arose, and was soon about his duties of carrying food to others imprisoned in the castle.  Upon the order of General Steinberg he went to the vacant cell with the firing squad that was to put an end to the lives of the four companions whom he had aided to escape.