He clapped his hands.

A moment later a second officer appeared in the tent and stood at attention.

"Call a guard of four men and have this tent surrounded," instructed Chester's captor.

The man saluted and left the tent. He was back within a few moments, however, and saluting said:

"The tent is surrounded, sir."

"Very well," said Chester's captor. "You may go."

Again the man left the tent; then Chester's captor said:

"Now, I guess you will be safe here until morning; after that you will be safe for all time."

"Thanks," said Chester, dryly.

The German left the tent.

Chester now took stock of his surroundings. Outside he could hear his guards pacing up and down.

"If I could get one of them in here at a time," the lad told himself, "perhaps I could dispose of them. I'll try it."

Approaching the entrance, he poked his head out.

"Get back inside there," a gruff voice exclaimed, and Chester beheld a large German soldier with his rifle pointed squarely at his head.

"Look here," said Chester. "I want a drink of water."

"Get back inside," was the sharp reply. "I'll get it for you."

Chester moved back in the tent. Five minutes later the German soldier stuck his head inside.

"Here's your water," he said, holding forth a tin cup.

Chester's right hand rested on his belt as he extended his left to take the cup. The German had lowered his gun at that moment; and he paid dearly for his carelessness.

Chester made a sudden movement and the cup of water went clattering to the ground. At the same moment Chester brought the b.u.t.t of his revolver down on the head of the German soldier with a crunch. The man fell to the ground.

Hastily now Chester seized the man by the feet and dragged him inside.

Then the lad quickly stripped him of his clothes and donned them himself.

They were large, but Chester made them fit by turning up the trousers and drawing his belt tight. Then he picked up the German's gun and stepped from the tent.

The lad had intended to move away from the tent immediately, but even as he would have walked off a second of the guards approached and engaged him in conversation. Chester m.u.f.fled his voice as well as possible and imitated the hoa.r.s.e tones of the man he had disposed of.

"Nice night," said the German.

"Nice night," Chester agreed.

"What is to be done with the prisoner inside?"

"Hang him in the morning," said Chester.

"Good! It's the way all spies should be treated."

"Of course; unless they chance to be German spies."

"That's different," muttered the guard.

"Of course it is," Chester agreed and added: "You'd better get back to your place. The prisoner might escape under your nose."

"Not much chance," was the reply. "I wouldn't care if he did try, though.

I'd like to have a shot at him."

"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 pa.s.s."

"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.