“You fellows engage the guard in conversation,” said Chester, “and keep talking to him until I rejoin you.”

The others asked no questions, but signified that they understood.  Chester let them walk on ahead of him, and then made his way to the rear of the row of tents.

He produced a knife when he stood behind Uncle John’s tent and slit the canvas silently.  Inside Uncle John was reading by candle light.  Chester whistled softly, the old whistle of his boyhood days at home, which he felt sure Uncle John would recognize.

Nor was he wrong.  Uncle John looked around quickly and beheld Chester’s face peering into the tent.  Chester laid a finger to his lips and Uncle John nodded.  Then Chester beckoned Uncle John to come toward him and the latter did so.  Chester enlarged the opening in the tent with his knife and Uncle John stepped into the open.

“Follow me,” whispered the lad.

Uncle John asked no questions, but obeyed.  Two hundred yards from the tent, Chester halted.

“Now you stay right here till I come back,” he said.

He hastened away to join his friends, who were still talking to Uncle John’s guard.

He joined in the conversation for a moment and then announced that they might as well turn in.  They told the guard good night and walked back to where Chester had left Uncle John.  The latter greeted them with silent joy; he realized that to make a sound might betray them, and he was tired of standing there by himself.

Colonel Anderson motioned to the others to follow and led the way forward.

Swiftly and silently the four shadowy forms made their way along in the shelter of the innumerable tents; and finally they passed beyond the farthest row and into the open.  Rapidly they covered the ground toward the outposts, and nearing them, slowed down.

Then they walked forward, talking quietly among themselves, as though they were just out for an evening stroll.  And then—­

“Halt!” came a hoarse command.

The four obeyed.  A soldier confronted them with levelled rifle.

“Who goes there?” he continued.

“Friends,” was the reply.

The man peered at them closely, and still keeping them covered, raised his voice for his superior.  The latter came on a dead run.

He eyed the four in the darkness and then motioned the soldier to stand back.

“It’s all right,” he told him.

The soldier saluted and walked away.  The officer spoke to Hal.

“You are out rather late,” he said.

“Right,” returned the lad, “but we thought we would take a short stroll before turning in.  We had no idea we had wandered so far from camp.”

“Oh, it’s all right,” was the reply.  “Who is that with you?” peering at Uncle John in the darkness.

“Just a friend we have made,” said Chester, a slight tremor in his voice, for he had hoped that Uncle John’s presence would be overlooked.