Chester’s heart beat rapidly.  Could it be that he was once again to escape death when he was sure that his last moment had come?  But he replied in a steady voice: 

“I saved your life?  Where?  When?”

With a quick move the man lifted his mask from his face.

“Do you remember now?” he demanded.

The face was that of the man with whom Hal had fought in the farmhouse—­the home of Edna Johnson—­some days before.  Chester recognized him immediately as the German officer who had led his men to the attack in the farmhouse.

But Chester had not spared the man’s life.  He had not even fought with him.  It was Hal who had refused to give the German his death-thrust when the latter was at his mercy.  Chester thought quickly.

“He has mistaken me for Hal,” he told himself, “and if he knew it he would probably kill me at once.  I must keep up the game.”

He replied to the German’s question: 

“Yes, I do remember you now.”

“Then you see why it is I cannot kill you,” said the German; “but neither can I let you go free.  For if I did you would consider it your duty to inform the Belgian commander of what you have learned and thus frustrate our plans.  I don’t know what to do with you.”

Chester made no reply, and the captain continued: 

“I can think of but one thing, and that is to keep you with me until the Germans have taken Louvain, after which, in some manner, I shall see that you reach the Belgian lines safely.  But we shall have to be very careful as we leave here.  The chief may have stationed a guard, and if he should learn that I have not killed you, my own life would pay the forfeit.  But come, we must act quickly.”

So saying, the German stooped over Chester and cut his bonds.  The lad rose to his feet and stretched himself.  For a moment he considered the advisability of leaping upon his captor-friend, wrenching his revolver from him, and making his escape.  But this plan he immediately put aside as unwise, for his captor still held the weapon ready, and the boy knew that a single false move and the German would fire.  Therefore, he did as his captor bade him.

The German raised his revolver in the air and fired a single shot.

“If anyone remained to see whether the execution was carried out, that will probably convince him,” he said.  “Now I will go out the door, and do you follow in sixty seconds.  I shall be watching, and if you try to escape I shall kill you.”

The German peered out through the door, and a moment later was on the outside.  For a moment Chester debated whether he should make a dash in the other direction.  A little reflection, however, and he decided he had better not.  His limbs were cramped from being tightly bound, and he knew that should he not make his appearance as commanded by the German within sixty seconds, the latter would come after him—­and the latter was armed and Chester was not.