The lad stepped quickly across the room and lifted the German to his feet.

"I'm going to remove your gag," he said quietly, "but I want you to understand that if you make an outcry you'll never live to make a second. Do you understand?"

The German signified that he did.

"All right, then," said Hal, "out comes the gag. Chester, keep your gun in the middle of his back. We can afford to take no chances."

"Now," said Hal, "I want you to show yourself at the door and order your men there away."

The German eyed the lad angrily.

"So you want me to help you escape, eh?" he said. "Well, I won't do it."

"We're desperate," said Hal quietly. "If you don't I give you my word you shall be shot."

"Pooh!" sneered the German. "One shot and you will all be killed."

"But you won't be here to see it done," returned Hal. "Now I am not going to waste time with you. I shall count three, and if you have not decided by that time to do as I order, you will die. Chester, do you understand?"

"You bet I do," declared Chester.

"Very well," said Hal. "One! Two!" Still the German made no move.

"Three!" said Hal.

The hammer on Chester's revolver clicked.

"Hold on!" cried the German. "I give in!"

Chester drew a breath of relief. He couldn't have shot the man down in cold blood and he knew it. He lowered his revolver a trifle, but still kept the man covered.

"Go to the door and order your men away from here," Hal ordered the prisoner.

The German strode toward the door.

"Careful," said Chester in a low voice. "One false move and it will be your last."

Again he pressed his revolver against the German's back.

"Do you think I'm a fool?" exclaimed the prisoner. "I'm not going to be killed if I can help it. Take that gun away."

"Not until you have done as commanded," returned Chester quietly.

The German opened the door and stepped outside. Chester, still feeling perfectly safe in his German uniform, accompanied him.

"Men," said the German, addressing the soldiers, "I find that I shall not have need of you tonight. You will a return to your quarters."

The soldiers, who had stood at attention as the officer addressed them, at command from a minor officer, wheeled and marched away.

Chester marched his captive back inside.

"There," said the latter. "That's done; now what are you going to do with me?"

"We'll have to tie and gag you again," said Chester. "You will be found and released in the morning."

"And probably court-martialed and shot if this night's proceedings ever leaks out," muttered the German. "However, there is no help for it."

He suffered himself to be bound and gagged without opposition, and Hal then stretched him out on the floor again.

"Now," said the lad, "I guess our way is clear once more."

He moved toward the door, with the others following. Glancing out, he raised a hand suddenly and motioned the others to silence.

Outside two figures approached the house cautiously.

Hal called Chester to his side and the two watched the approaching figures. It was too dark outside to distinguish the features of the men who approached, but there was no room for doubt that they were enemies.

"Back inside and put out the light," whispered Hal. "They're coming in." The light was extinguished promptly. Then Hal added: "Be ready to grab them and stifle their cries the minute they are inside and I have closed the door behind them."

Those in the house stood silent.

A moment later the door moved cautiously inward. Then two shadowy forms stepped inside. Immediately Hal kicked shut the door behind them and sprang forward to lend a hand to Chester and Major Derevaux, who had pounced upon the strangers as they entered.

"Don't let them cry out and don't kill them if you can help it," the lad cried.

The struggle raged furiously in the darkened room for some moments.

Then Hal and Chester found themselves sitting upon one of the intruders, the latter with a revolver pressed to the man's forehead.

Gregory and Crean also had taken a hand in the struggle, and, with Major Derevaux, now held the other man helpless.

"Strike a light, Antoinette," called the major.

The girl obeyed, and then for the first time the lads were able to get a look at their prisoners.

"By the great Horn Spoon!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Chester, after one look at his prisoner. "I'll take my oath that this man is Stubbs."

At the same moment a cry of astonishment was wrung from Major Derevaux.

"Anderson!" he cried.

Chester and Hal got to their feet. The former twisted his hand in the collar of his prisoner and lifted him to his feet.

"Stubbs!" he said severely, "you should know better than sneak upon a fellow in the dark. You are liable to get hurt."

"I wouldn't have sneaked up, if I had known you were here," growled Stubbs. "I would have come up openly and with my gun shooting."

"My, my!" said Chester. "Little man's getting bloodthirsty. But didn't I hear someone mention the name of Anderson."

"You did," replied a voice, and Chester found his hand gripped by none other than his old friend, the British colonel. "By George! I'm glad to see you again," continued Anderson, "though I must say that this is rather a strenuous reception for a couple of old friends."