Hal and Chester jumped to their feet.

“We must hide, Miss Johnson,” exclaimed Hal.  “If we fall into the hands of the Germans it may mean death to us.”

“What!” exclaimed the girl.

“Exactly.  I neglected to tell you that we are attached to the Belgian forces and our capture would not only mean trouble for us, but would be a blow to the cause of the Allies.”

The girl looked at the lads in amazement, but there was no time for words.  There was a loud knock at the door, followed almost immediately by the tramp of feet within the house.

Edna acted promptly.  Rushing to the side of the room, she pulled open a door to what appeared to be a closet and motioned to the boys.

“In here, quick!” she cried, and closed the door tightly.

As they passed through the door the boys saw a flight of steps leading apparently to the cellar.  Hardly had the door closed behind them ere the steps of the Germans were heard in the room they had just left.

They also heard the girl greet them pleasantly, and the gruff demand for breakfast.  Edna called one of her servants, and gave an order that breakfast for the Germans be prepared immediately.

“It is too cramped here,” whispered Chester.  “Let’s go down these stairs.  If we were to make a move here, they would surely hear us.”

The boys descended the steps.  At the bottom they emerged into what, upon inspection, proved to be a wine cellar.  At the far side they saw another passageway and moved toward it.

As they did so, they heard the door to the closet through which they had recently passed open again, and a voice exclaim: 

“I know these high and mighty Belgian gentlemen too well.  There is always wine in the cellar.  Come, Franz, we shall explore.”

Heavy footsteps descended the stairs, and two German officers hove in sight.  The boys, in the dimness of the cellar, were not seen.

“Quick!” whispered Chester, “into the passageway.”

As Hal followed Chester into the darkness of the passageway, he tripped over some obstacle in the dark, which gave forth the sound of tinkling glass.  The boys stopped stock still.

“What was that?” demanded one of the officers.

“I didn’t hear anything,” was the reply.

“I thought I heard something moving in the cellar.”

“Probably a rat.  Here is what we came after.  Let’s go back upstairs.”

The boys heard the sound of retreating footsteps, and presently the door above slammed once more.

Hal and Chester breathed easier.

“Pretty close,” remarked Chester, in a low tone.

“You bet it was close,” was the reply.  “For a minute I thought it was all off.”

“Well, I guess we are safe enough now.”

“Yes, I guess so.  But we must wait here until the Germans have left the house.”

“I suppose they will go as soon as they have finished their breakfast.”