“Nice pleasant sort of a customer,” Chester muttered to himself.  Aloud, he said:  “Well, I was just giving you a word of warning.  You can’t tell about these fellows.  They’re pretty slippery customers.”

“Well, this one won’t slip out of our clutches,” declared the guard.  “I wonder if I hadn’t better go in and have a look at him?”

“Can’t be done,” said Chester.  “My instructions are to let no one pass.”

“So are mine, but what has that to do with it?”

“A whole lot.  I’m on guard in front here and I say you can’t go in.”

“Come now, be a good fellow, I want to have a look at the prisoner.”

“Can’t be done,” returned Chester.

“You are a deucedly uncivil sort of a fellow,” said the guard.  “I don’t seem to know you.  What’s your name?”

“None of your business,” returned Chester.

“Is that so?  Suppose I make it some of my business,” and the guard took a threatening step forward.

“You’ll be sorry, that’s all.”

“Think so, do you?  Let me tell you something.  I’m going to hunt you up in the morning and have it out with you.”

“All right,” said Chester.  “You can suit yourself about that.  But wait until morning.  Remember we’re guarding this prisoner now.”

“Well, I’ve a notion to settle with you right now, prisoner or no prisoner.  I don’t like you.”

“To tell the truth, I don’t think a whole lot of you,” said Chester.  “I would a great deal rather be without your company.  You had better get back where you belong.”

“Think so, do you?  Well, I’ll show you.”

With these words the German guard forgot all about the prisoner supposed to be inside and everything else save that he wanted to get at Chester.  He dropped his rifle with a clatter and struck at Chester with his right fist.

“Well, if you must have it,” Chester muttered to himself.

He, too, dropped his gun and his right fist shot forth.  The German staggered back with a grunt; but Chester’s blow had not reached a vital spot and the guard leaped forward again.

This time Chester timed his blow a little more carefully.

“Smack!”

The lad’s fist landed flush on the guard’s jaw.  The man rolled over like a log.

Chester looked around quickly.

“Now to get out of this,” he muttered.

He picked up his rifle and turned to move away.  But even as he would have started the sound of hurrying footsteps halted him; and he began to pace up and down in front of the tent.

Two figures dashed toward him; behind them came the sound of shots.

“Hello!” said Chester to himself.  “More trouble in camp.  Wonder what’s up now?”

The answer was to come sooner than he could have expected.  As the two figures came closer, other figures appeared in the distance.  There came the sound of revolver shots.

“This way!” cried a voice.