A lantern swung suddenly into his face by a newcomer caused him to start back in surprise.  And even as he did so he made out that the pair who had accosted him were a man and woman.

And what is more he also recognized the woman.  It was she whom he had so recently bound in the farmhouse.  And her cry made it apparent that she had recognized him as well.

“It is he!” she exclaimed in a loud voice.

CHAPTER XXIV.

A cold swim.

Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.  He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.

The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.  But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad’s head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.

Hal contrived to keep the woman between the man and himself, until he had decided just what course to pursue.  He had now freed his hands, and awaited an auspicious moment to spring upon his enemy.

It came at last.  Suddenly hurling the woman violently from him, Hal leaped forward and, catching his opponent off his balance, struck out swiftly with his bare fist.  There was a sharp “spat” and the man fell to the ground.

Hal turned to run, but found himself opposed by the woman, who pointed the revolver at his head.  She held the weapon in a steady hand, and the lad realized that a miss at that close range was utterly impossible.

“Hands up!” commanded the woman.

Hal temporized.

“Now see here—­” he began.

The woman interrupted.

“Hands up!” she commanded again.

This time Hal obeyed, for he knew by the hard ring in the woman’s voice that she was not to be trifled with.

“About face,” commanded his captor.

Hal did as ordered.

“Now,” continued the woman, “you will march on ahead of me, and, remember, at the first false move I shall fire.”

Without a word Hal turned and started away, the woman but a few paces behind him.  But Hal was of no mind to be taken back to the German camp.  He realized clearly what fate awaited him there.

His nimble wit was at work as he walked along, and he finally hit upon a plan.  It was not without danger, but the lad figured he might just as well be shot then and there as to be put to death as a spy.

As he walked along he seemingly tripped over some unseen obstacle.  In attempting to regain his balance he reeled backward.  The woman by this time was right upon him.

Unable to tell whether he had really tripped or whether it was a ruse, she stood undecided a moment.  That moment proved her undoing.  For Hal, spinning on his heel, swept the revolver from her outstretched hand, and with a quick leap seized it himself.