“Just as I thought,” declared Hal.  “So you tried to do me up as well as the German, eh?”

“It was an accident,” declared Stubbs.  “You know I wouldn’t have done it on purpose, Hal.”

“It came very near being a costly accident, Stubbs.  Suppose the German had laid you out?  Then what?  We would have been nabbed, sure.”

“I’ll be more careful next time,” said Stubbs, apologetically.

“You won’t have to be,” said Hal.  “Next time I’m going to get in the first blow.  Then we’ll see how you like it.  But come.  We must be moving away from here.  See.  The German is regaining consciousness.  I don’t want to kill him, and we mustn’t be here when he comes to.  Come now.”

Hal led the way rapidly along the row of tents.

“Looks as though we should be safe enough now,” the lad said, after they had walked for perhaps fifteen minutes.

The lad produced his watch, and by the soft light of the moon, took note of the time.

“By Jove! half past one o’clock,” he said.  “We shall have to hurry back or Chester will be worried.”

“Let’s hope Chester will be there when we arrive,” said Stubbs.

“Oh, he’ll be there, all right.  Come on.”

“Say,” said Stubbs as they walked along, “what I want to know is how you knew the German officer you knocked down had any valuable papers?”

“That’s easy,” was Hal’s response.  “Before entering the tent where your little game was in progress, I overheard one of the officers without mention the fact that an aide of General Ludwig’s was in the tent and that he carried important papers.  The rest was very simple.”

“I see,” said Stubbs.  “Now what—­look there, Hal.”

The little man broke off suddenly and pointed directly ahead.  Advancing toward them were perhaps a dozen German soldiers, with an officer at their head.

“We’ll have to get out of the way,” said Hal, quietly.  “We haven’t time to answer questions now.”

He turned between the rows of tents and hurried on, with Stubbs close behind him.  And from the German officer came the command to halt.

Instead, Hal increased his speed and a moment later he and Stubbs were running quietly between the rows of German tents.  Behind came the sound of pursuing footsteps.

“We’re in for it now, Stubbs,” panted Hal.  “I was a fool to run.  They know now that there is something wrong and they won’t rest until they have scoured the entire camp.”

“Then we are done for!” exclaimed Anthony Stubbs.

“Not yet!” replied Hal.  “While there’s life there’s hope.  Never say die, Stubbs.”

The little man did not reply.  He saved all the breath he had left for running purposes, for he felt that he was likely to have to run the rest of the night.

Suddenly, making another short turn, Hal pulled up.  Stubbs did likewise and both listened attentively.

The footsteps were some distance back.