And indeed it seemed that the lads were right.  The wagon was covered with a canvas top, which came down over the back, leaving a little opening in the rear.

“What is the reason we can’t get in this thing and ride?” asked Chester.

“I can see none,” was Hal’s reply.  “We might as well do it.  Then, too, we can make better time.”

Accordingly the lads climbed in, and soon were riding slowly along the road.  When about five or six miles from Louvain, Hal, glancing behind, saw three horsemen approaching.

He grabbed Chester by the arm.

“Look there!” he said, pointing.

“Germans, by George!” exclaimed Chester, who was driving, and he immediately started the mules on a dead run.

“Hold on,” said Hal; “maybe they are Belgians.”

“No, no,” replied Chester.  “I know they are Germans!”

“Well,” replied Hal, “I am going to see,” and, stepping out on the footboard and holding to the side of the wagon, he looked back over the top of the wagon.  The horsemen were closer now, and Hal could make out their uniforms.

“They are Germans, aren’t they?” asked Chester.

“Yes,” replied Hal, “and they are coming like the wind!”

“Well,” said Chester, “maybe we can get away.  You do what fighting is necessary, and I’ll do the driving.”

“All right,” said Hal.  Crawling back in the wagon, he drew his two revolvers, and in response to his command, Chester turned his two pistols over to him also.

Hal had hardly reached his place at the back of the wagon when Chester, between yells to the mules, cried out: 

“How far off are they now, Hal?”

Hal answered him as well as he could, and Chester renewed his lashing of the mules and his yelling.

Once more Chester inquired the distance between pursued and pursuing, but, before Hal could answer, two shots were fired from behind, accompanied by a shouted command to halt.  The bullets from the rifles passed through the wagon between the two lads, but did no damage; and almost instantly the Germans charged down on them.  Three shots rang out as they passed the wagon, but the boys were not touched.

The Germans passed on, and then, circling back, prepared for another charge.  Hal had fired at them several times, but, owing to the bumping of the wagon, his shots had not found a mark.  But, if the bumping of the wagon had spoiled his aim, it had probably saved the lads’ lives, for it made accurate shooting by the Germans impossible.

Down came the Germans again, shooting as they passed by.  And again the boys were unharmed.  Hal and Chester were now yelling at the top of their voices—­why, they never knew.

Hal, crawling to the back end of the wagon and, looking out, saw the Germans ready to charge down on them again.  One man, however, was jogging along close behind the wagon, his revolver held in his hand.