"If you think we have your papers, sir," he said quietly, "we are willing to submit to a search."

"And searched you shall be," said the general. He turned to his son.

"Search them!"

The lieutenant protested, but to no avail. The lads submitted to the search in silence.

"They have nothing, sir," said the lieutenant.

"Then search the second floor," commanded the general.

An hour later the lieutenant came downstairs, and a few moments later the old gentleman, now considerably cooled off, also returned.

"I found nothing, sir," reported the lieutenant.

"Nor I," said the general slowly. "Can it be I was mistaken? Perhaps, after all, I did leave the maps at headquarters." He turned to Hal and Chester. "I hope you will pardon me for my outburst," he said gravely, "but I am easily excited."

"Say no more about it, sir," replied both lads together, but to each came the same thought:

"We are in luck."

CHAPTER x.x.xIV.

SAFE AGAIN.

Dinner over and the old general having left the house, Lieutenant Strauss said to the boys:

"There is still some amus.e.m.e.nt in Berlin, in spite of the war. Would you care to accompany me to the play to-night?"

Both lads, knowing that this would be as good an opportunity as they could expect for making their escape, pleaded that they were too tired.

"Some other evening, if that will do as well," said Chester.

"Oh, all right, whatever you say," replied the lieutenant. "I hope there are no hard feelings--that you will overlook my father's show of temper?"

"Of course," said Hal. "Anyone would have done the same under the circ.u.mstances."

After a few further words the lieutenant departed, and the lads, bidding his mother good night, and announcing their intention of retiring early, made their way to their room.

There their air of leisure gave way to haste.

"We'll have to hurry," said Hal. "The general will fail to find his maps at headquarters, and will be back here in two shakes of a lamb's tail."

Quickly the lads threw on the young lieutenant's uniforms, and Chester placed the maps in his pocket.

"We will have to go without revolvers," said Chester, "for we certainly can't afford to wait until the general and lieutenant come home."

"I should say not," Hal agreed. "The sooner we get out of here now the better, providing we can get out."

Quickly, but silently, the boys made their way from the room and descended the stairs. Stepping lightly upon a chair, Hal secured the two swords, suspended in their scabbards with a pair of army belts, and, leaping lightly down, pa.s.sed one to Chester.

Quickly the lads strapped the swords around them and quietly they opened the front door and closed it softly behind them. Then, with a swaggering air, they descended the front steps, to b.u.mp squarely into one of the guards.

The guard drew back respectfully and saluted.

"I beg your pardon, sir," he said, addressing Chester. "I saw you go out once before, but I didn't see you return."

"You must be more careful," said Chester, imitating the lieutenant's voice. "My friend and I came in a few moments ago and I didn't see you anywhere."

"But I was right here, sir, or at least, only a few steps away,"

protested the soldier.

"Well, I'll pa.s.s over it this time," said Chester, "but don't let it happen again. The prisoners might escape."

"Thank you, sir," replied the soldier, saluting again. "But the prisoners will not escape while I am on guard. Never fear, sir."

The lads bade the soldier good night and walked slowly away. Once around the first corner, however, they increased their pace, and soon had put considerable distance between them and the Strauss home, where, even now, the old general, having failed to find his maps at headquarters, was again raging about, swearing that his doc.u.ments had been stolen.

Walking into a quiet little shop, Chester purchased two revolvers.

Also, while there, he withdrew the map from his pocket and studied it carefully.

"I want to impress this firmly on my mind," he said to Hal, "for we may not have a chance to look at it again for some time."

Hal also bent over and studied the map carefully. A few moments later they left the store, each feeling more secure because of the ugly-looking Colt each carried in his pocket.

As the boys walked along one of the dark streets, they became aware of the soft pat-pat of steps behind them, coming swiftly. They turned to face whatever danger threatened, and then Hal suddenly broke into a laugh.

"Marquis!" he cried aloud.

Sure enough, it was their four-footed friend. He came running up to the boys, wagging his tail happily at being with them once again, but with reproach in his eyes at having been left behind.

"Good old Marquis," said Chester, patting his head. "You didn't want to be left behind among all these Germans, did you?"

Marquis wagged his tail fiercely.

"What are we going to do with him?" asked Hal. "Won't he be in the way?"

"No, I don't think so," replied Chester. "Not if the plan I have in mind works."

"What is your plan?"

"You'll know soon enough," said Chester calmly. "Come on."

For two hours the lads walked along, gradually drawing out of the city at the eastern extremity. They pa.s.sed many German officers as they walked along, but were not molested nor even challenged.

Finally, beyond the city, Chester increased his pace and the two boys and the dog hurried on. At length they came to a large building.