"No, you won't. You stay here and watch the engine."

"You are right, as usual," said Chester. "But don't be any longer than you can help."

Hal agreed, and a moment later Chester lost sight of him in the darkness.

Slowly and cautiously Hal made his way along the track. As he moved stealthily around a curve in the road the cause of the explosion became apparent. It was even as he had feared. His quick wit had detected the meaning of the explosion and none too soon.

Just ahead, where a short time before had been a bridge spanning a deep chasm, there was now nothing but s.p.a.ce. The bridge had been blown up. Had Hal applied the brakes to the engine one minute later, in spite of the fact that it was traveling very slowly, both boys probably would have been carried over the embankment to certain death; for it is doubtful that either, in the darkness, would have noticed the absence of the bridge in time to leap to safety.

And now Hal could make out a number of rapidly moving figures. To his dismay, he saw that they were moving in his direction. He turned quickly and ran back to the locomotive, where Chester was anxiously awaiting his return.

"Out here, quick!" he cried, and Chester, in response to his command, leaped to the ground.

Hal once more jumped aboard the locomotive, unheeding Chester's cry of wonder, released the brakes, and threw the throttle wide open. Then he dropped sprawling to the ground, while the engine dashed madly down the track.

Hal was not badly hurt and was quickly on his feet.

"What's the matter?" asked Chester in alarm.

"Matter is that the Germans are coming this way," answered Hal. "Come, let's get away from here while we have a chance. We may be able to escape in the darkness."

"But why did you start that engine down the track like that?"

"Well, I couldn't see that it was any use to us any longer, and it may dispose of a few more Germans. They are walking up the track in force."

This appealed to Chester.

"Good!" he cried, and both stopped in their tracks to listen.

A second and there came to their ears a sudden startled shout, followed by a fearful yell, a moment of silence, and then a crash.

"Good-by engine," said Hal. "That's a good job done. You perished n.o.bly. Now," to Chester, "let's get away from this spot as fast as we can."

They turned their faces in the direction from which they had come, and set out at a brisk pace. They plodded along for an hour through the open country, finally coming to a dense woods.

"Guess we had better try and lose ourselves in here," said Chester.

"Right you are," agreed Hal.

They entered the friendly shelter of the trees. Here they were forced to travel more slowly. They made good progress, however, and at the end of another hour had covered considerable distance.

"I guess we are safe enough as long as we can stay in the woods," said Chester.

"Don't be too sure," declared Hal. "It's the unexpected that always happens."

The words were hardly out of his mouth when the truth of them was proved. As they emerged from where the trees were thickest into a little clearing a sudden, guttural command brought them to an abrupt stop.

"Halt!" came a voice. "Halt, or I fire!"

CHAPTER XI.

CAPTURED.

Caught thus unexpectedly Hal immediately threw his hands above his head; Chester followed his example. It was plain to both lads that there was not a chance in a thousand to escape, for the German soldier had his rifle pointed squarely at them.

Of course there was a possibility that by a sudden spring one of the lads might have succeeded in knocking the man down; but this probably would have meant the death of the other. Hal and Chester both realized that it was no time to take such a chance.

"We surrender," called Hal in German, and immediately the soldier lowered his weapon and approached them.

He pa.s.sed his hands around their waists and then felt in the pockets of their coats and relieved them of their weapons. Then he ordered:

"Right about; forward, march!"

The lads obeyed this command, and the German stalked after them, keeping his rifle in readiness for a quick shot should his prisoners attempt to escape.

But the lads had no thought of taking to their heels, for they were fully aware that a bullet would stop one of them at least should they make even one false move.

They continued their walk, and presently came in view of what appeared to be a large German camp. Here their captor marched them directly to the tent of the commanding officer.

"What are you doing within our lines?" was the latter's first question after the soldier had related how he had made his capture.

"Well," said Hal, "we were accidentally carried through your lines by a locomotive which we happened to be running when the rest of the train was blown up. We couldn't get back, so we went ahead. We finally lost the engine, so we were making our way back to our own lines."

"Lost the engine? What do you mean?" asked the officer.

"Why," Chester broke in, "we sent it over a precipice that it might not fall into the hands of the Germans."

"You did, eh?" said the German officer. "Well, I shall attend to your case in the morning. Orderly! See that these prisoners are carefully guarded, and have them brought to me the first thing in the morning.

Perhaps they may be induced to give me the information I require."

"You won't get any information out of us," said Chester angrily.

"Won't I?" replied the officer, with a sneer. "We shall see. Take them away."

The two lads were led to a small field tent and thrust inside, with a guard on the outside.

"Well, here we are again," said Chester, with a faint smile. "What do you suppose will be done with us if we refuse to divulge what the general wants to know?"

"I'm sure I don't know," was Hal's reply, "but I am afraid we are in for it this time. I have never taken much stock in the tales I have heard of the barbarous treatment of the Germans toward their prisoners, but one look at the general's face was enough to convince me that he would stop at nothing to gain his end."

"The same thought struck me, too," agreed Chester. "But, one thing is certain, he'll get no information out of me."

"Nor out of me, either," declared Hal.

Chester rose and started to walk around the tent. In the darkness he stumbled over something and fell to the ground. Arising he reached in his pocket and produced a match. A tiny flame lighted up the dark interior of the tent, and the lad stepped back with an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n.