Gregory eyed the object in surprise. It was a long-handled knife.

"I just happened to see it sticking in his belt," said Chester.

"I believe that you two fellows have been fooling us," said Gregory with evident sincerity. "Come, now. What was your occupation before you joined the army?"

"Well, it wasn't picking pockets, if that's what you mean," said Chester with a laugh.

"If this thing keeps up," said Crean, "we'll soon have weapons enough to equip a first-cla.s.s a.r.s.enal."

"And that's no joke," said the man called Jackson.

"We can't hope for any more such luck," said Hal quietly. "We'll have to create what opportunities come to us now."

"You take this knife, Gregory," said Chester. "I wouldn't know what to do with it."

Hal approached the canvas door to their prison and poked his head out.

"Get back there!" came a guttural command in German.

Hal spied a sentry standing before the tent.

"h.e.l.lo," he said pleasantly. "Didn't know you were there. All by yourself, too, eh?"

"Not much," was the reply. "There's a man in the rear, too."

"I just wondered," murmured Hal.

"Get back inside," commanded the guard.

"Oh, all right," said Hal, "if you are going to be nasty about it.

But, say, do you have a pack of cards you can lend us?"

"No, I don't," said the guard.

"Well, all right," and Hal would have withdrawn but the German halted him.

"I didn't say I didn't have a pack," he said.

"But I heard--"

"No, you didn't. I said I didn't have a pack to lend."

"Well, what's--?"'

"I've a pack to sell," said the guard.

"Oh, I see," said Hal. "Rather hard up, are you."

"If you mean I have no money, yes."

"I've a few German coins, I believe," said Hal, and explored his pockets. "I'll give you these for the pack of cards."

He held forth two coins.

The German grunted.

"All right," he said.

He produced a pack of cards, and took the money Hal extended.

"Times must be getting hard in Germany," said Hal suggestively.

Again the German granted.

"We don't have any bread, and we don't have any meat," he declared. "I haven't had a good meat for a year, it seems."

"It'll be worse before the war's over," said Hal pleasantly.

The German grounded his rifle with a thump. "Don't you think I know it?" he demanded with some heat.

"Well, don't get angry," said Hal, struck with a sudden idea.

"You've got some money," he said.

"Not very much."

"Well, I'll tell you something. We're going to have a little card game inside. I don't have any too much money, either, and I'd be glad to win some. What's the matter with you sneaking in and getting in the game? Your money's as good to me as anyone else's."

"And an officer'll come along, and I'll face a firing squad," grumbled the German.

"Pshaw!" said Hal. "Nothing risked nothing gained, you know. Besides, we're in an out of the way place here. When will you be relieved?"

"Not before 10 o'clock."

"And it's only a little after six now. However, if you won't, you won't. You know your own business best."

The German smiled an evil smile.

"Have you any objection to my inviting another in the game?" he asked.

"Not a bit. Who?"

"The man who is guarding the tent in the rear. He will come in handy, too. If you should try to escape, we'd do for you. We will be armed, and you won't."

"Who said anything about trying to escape?" demanded Hal. "This is to be a little friendly game of poker."

"Poker?" exclaimed the German.

Again his eyes gleamed.