"But how about you, Uncle Billy?" demanded Chester. "Won't you get in trouble for aiding us to escape?"
"No, sah," replied the old negro. "There won't none o' dese hyah Germans hurt ol' Uncle Billy!"
"Well, then, good-by," said the boys. "After the war is over we are coming back to see you."
"After de wah am over," said the old negro slowly, "Ise gwine back ter ol' Virginy!"
With another word of farewell the boys wheeled their horses and rode after their companions, who were now some distance ahead.
"We shall have to go very slowly and feel our way until we have passed the outposts of the town," said the lieutenant, as they rode along; and for the first half hour their progress was slow.
Once they passed within a few yards of a German sentry, but so softly did their horses step that the soldier did not turn in their direction.
Bearing well to the south, they passed the long line of huts where they had been captured the night before, at a considerable distance; and now, feeling sure they had passed the last of the outposts, they urged their horses into a quick trot.
"We will try and avoid all towns this time," declared Lieutenant
Anderson, "going just close enough to them to keep our bearings."
"A good scheme," said the Frenchman. "We would better avoid the highways as much as possible also."