Now his friends came up with him, and Hal, believing as did his friends that discretion was the better part of valor, also turned and ran.  Several shots rang out, but none was touched and they did not pause to reply.

“Just wait till we get back to our own men,” thought Hal to himself as he ran along, “that is, if we can make it.”

But help came unexpectedly.  Bristow, the man who had been left in charge of the little band of English, hearing the sound of firing, had crawled forward to investigate.  He made out the figures flying toward him and recognized them instantly; also, he saw the pursuing horsemen.

Quickly he returned to his men, and at a word they all dashed forward.  This reinforcement arrived not a moment too soon, for the horsemen were overhauling the fugitives rapidly.

When the fugitives saw their own men approaching they stopped in their mad flight, drew their revolvers and fired at the pursuers with almost a single movement.

The horses of the Germans came to a sudden halt, being pulled up on their haunches, so forcibly did their riders bring them to a stop.  A moment later the pursuers themselves were in full flight.

Hal laughed loudly to himself, and so great became his mirth that he was forced to hold his sides.

“What on earth is the matter with you?” demanded Chester in great surprise.  “What are you laughing at?”

“Why,” explained Hal, between bursts of laughter, “I am laughing at the sight of Emperor Wilhelm II, War Lord of Europe, flying as if the evil one himself were after him!”

CHAPTER XXIII.

Within the enemy’s lines.

Briefly now Hal recounted to his two friends what he had overheard in the farmhouse, pointing out the danger that threatened the allied armies.  When he had concluded he said: 

“Now I have another plan, and I want to know if you, Chester, and you, Lieutenant Anderson, will follow my instructions?”

“Certainly,” said the lieutenant.

“You know I will, Hal,” said Chester.

“All right, then.  What I want you to do is this:  Return and report to General French what I have just told you.  Take the men with you.  That’s all.”

“But you?” demanded Chester; “aren’t you coming, too?  Surely you have accomplished the mission successfully.”

“No,” replied Hal.  “In this German uniform I believe I shall be perfectly safe on this side, and I am going to try and gain further information.  It may be that I can learn something that will be important.”

“Then I shall go with you,” declared Chester.

“And I, too,” said Lieutenant Anderson.

“Oh, no you won’t,” said Hal grimly.  “Didn’t you just promise to obey my commands, both of you?”

“But we didn’t know what you planned to do,” said Chester.

“I know you didn’t,” said Hal.  “That is why I asked your promises before I told you.”