Desperately the two lads ran toward the woods, and, as they ran, the first single rifle shot was followed by a volley; but, thanks to the semi-darkness, the boys gained the shelter of the woods unscathed.

Once under the friendly shelter of the trees the boys did not diminish their speed. Rather, if possible, they ran faster. Then, suddenly they stopped; and the cause of their abrupt halt was this:

A heavy crashing in front of them gave evidence of the approach of a large body of men. For a moment the lads stood as if frozen to the spot; then Hal cried:

"Up in this tree, quick! It's our only chance!"

Acting upon the instant, the two lads swung themselves into the crotch of the great tree under which they stood; then climbed noiselessly higher up among the branches. Just as they had succeeded in screening themselves from possible discovery, a body of hors.e.m.e.n burst in among the trees.

"Caught right in between them," whispered Hal.

"Yes; and, if we get out of this fix alive, we are in luck," Chester whispered back.

The hors.e.m.e.n below them did not pause in their march, but continued on through the woods.

"Evidently a scouting party returning," whispered Hal.

And still the long line of hors.e.m.e.n pressed on beneath them.

Suddenly there came the sharp crack, crack, of many rifles; and from beneath the two lads came the hoa.r.s.e command of an officer:

"Forward!"

The line of hors.e.m.e.n quickened their pace; and then the firing ahead broke into a loud and steady roar.

For many minutes, it seemed to the two lads, the stream of hors.e.m.e.n poured on beneath them. Then the sound of firing became less distinct, and Hal and Chester dropped to the ground.

"At last! At last we are safe!" cried Hal.

"Safe?" repeated Chester. "How do you mean we are safe?"

"Why, you chump, doesn't that fighting going on there mean anything to you?"

"Do you mean that you believe the troop that just pa.s.sed us are French?"

"Yes; French, Belgians, or English, I don't know which. But, anyhow, they are friends. Hurrah!"

"Hurrah!" repeated Chester, throwing his cap in the air with delight.

Suddenly the beat of the feet of many horses was heard and the sound of firing became more audible. Several riderless horses broke into the woods, followed by the cavalry.

"Grab one of those horses, Chester!" cried Hal, as he jumped forward and seized the bridle of the one nearest him. Chester followed suit, and both lads were soon in the saddle.

At that moment a large body of hors.e.m.e.n broke through the woods from the direction in which they had so recently gone, retiring slowly, turning every now and then to fire.

"It's a retreat!" cried Chester. "They have been driven back! Let us get away from here or we shall be shot down!"

But, even as they turned to flee, a mounted officer laid his hand upon the bridle of Hal's horse.

"Who are you?" he demanded in French. "What do you here?"

Briefly Hal explained that they had just escaped through the German lines, and then asked:

"Where are we? What troops are these?"

"This is a troop of Belgian light cavalry," came the reply, "a reconnoitering force. We were attacked by a strong force of the enemy, and are falling back upon our lines."

"But where are we?"

"About five miles from Liege."

"Liege!"

"Yes; where did you think you were?"

"We had not the faintest idea, other than that we were beyond the German lines."

All this time the troop had been retreating slowly, firing as they went, the boys being led along by the officer.

"It will be necessary for me to place you under arrest," declared the Belgian officer. "I shall turn you over to the commanding general when we regain our lines."

Hal and Chester were stricken almost speechless.

"Great Scott!" Chester finally exclaimed. "After all the trouble we have had getting out of Germany, then to be arrested at the end!"

"I am sorry," replied the officer, "but I can do nothing else. You are sure to be looked upon with suspicion, having been found as you were, and, unless you can give a good account of yourselves, I fear you are in a serious predicament."

Fighting every inch of the way, the Belgian cavalry continued its retreat, being hard pressed by the Germans, who were continually reinforced. From the rear the firing became heavier, and then there was heard the sound of a galloping body of hors.e.m.e.n.

"Halt!" cried the Belgian officer in command, and the retreating hors.e.m.e.n came to a stand.

"About face!" And at the command they wheeled to meet the charge of a force of Uhlans.

The Germans came on bravely; but, just as they hurled themselves upon their foe, there came from the Belgian rear a fierce hail of rifle shots.

Reinforcements had arrived.

The Germans halted in their fierce charge, and then drew off, shooting as they went. At the same instant a regiment of Belgian infantry rushed forward on the run. They pursued the flying Germans for some distance, and then turned back.

Then the Belgians resumed their retreat to their own lines.

Hal and Chester bore up bravely during this--their first time--under fire. Unable to take part in the fighting themselves, being without weapons, they watched with interest the maneuvers of the officers and the gallantry with which the Belgian cavalry stood up against what at first were plainly overwhelming odds.

Once in the Belgian lines the boys breathed easier.

"Well, here we are at last," said Hal. "I guess we will be able to explain our presence in the woods satisfactorily."

"I hope so," replied Chester.

At this moment the officer who had placed them under arrest approached.