Both lads, knowing that this would be as good an opportunity as they could expect for making their escape, pleaded that they were too tired.

“Some other evening, if that will do as well,” said Chester.

“Oh, all right, whatever you say,” replied the lieutenant.  “I hope there are no hard feelings—­that you will overlook my father’s show of temper?”

“Of course,” said Hal.  “Anyone would have done the same under the circumstances.”

After a few further words the lieutenant departed, and the lads, bidding his mother good night, and announcing their intention of retiring early, made their way to their room.

There their air of leisure gave way to haste.

“We’ll have to hurry,” said Hal.  “The general will fail to find his maps at headquarters, and will be back here in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”

Quickly the lads threw on the young lieutenant’s uniforms, and Chester placed the maps in his pocket.

“We will have to go without revolvers,” said Chester, “for we certainly can’t afford to wait until the general and lieutenant come home.”

“I should say not,” Hal agreed.  “The sooner we get out of here now the better, providing we can get out.”

Quickly, but silently, the boys made their way from the room and descended the stairs.  Stepping lightly upon a chair, Hal secured the two swords, suspended in their scabbards with a pair of army belts, and, leaping lightly down, passed one to Chester.

Quickly the lads strapped the swords around them and quietly they opened the front door and closed it softly behind them.  Then, with a swaggering air, they descended the front steps, to bump squarely into one of the guards.

The guard drew back respectfully and saluted.

“I beg your pardon, sir,” he said, addressing Chester.  “I saw you go out once before, but I didn’t see you return.”

“You must be more careful,” said Chester, imitating the lieutenant’s voice.  “My friend and I came in a few moments ago and I didn’t see you anywhere.”

“But I was right here, sir, or at least, only a few steps away,” protested the soldier.

“Well, I’ll pass over it this time,” said Chester, “but don’t let it happen again.  The prisoners might escape.”

“Thank you, sir,” replied the soldier, saluting again.  “But the prisoners will not escape while I am on guard.  Never fear, sir.”

The lads bade the soldier good night and walked slowly away.  Once around the first corner, however, they increased their pace, and soon had put considerable distance between them and the Strauss home, where, even now, the old general, having failed to find his maps at headquarters, was again raging about, swearing that his documents had been stolen.

Walking into a quiet little shop, Chester purchased two revolvers.  Also, while there, he withdrew the map from his pocket and studied it carefully.