The conversation continued and the lad stored up mentally the knowledge he gained by listening to the conversation.
The gathering within now seemed about to break up; but Chester delayed in his precarious position, thinking to gather every possible iota of information. And this almost proved his undoing.
Although Chester did not know it, one of the German officers had, for some moments, been gazing at the little slit in the tent made by the point of Chester's knife. Now, with a murmured apology to the other officers, he strode from the tent. Chester still had his eyes glued to the opening and did not hear soft footsteps behind him.
A harsh voice sounded in the lad's ear.
"Get up from there!"
Chester did not lose his nerve, although he realized immediately that he was in a ticklish position, indeed. His hand reached for his pocket as he rose slowly to his feet.
But one glance at the figure that confronted him told the lad that it
would be useless for him to attempt to draw his revolver; for the
German held a pistol in a steady hand and it was levelled straight at
Chester's head.
"What are you doing here?" was the officer's next question.
"Why, I heard voices," said Chester, "and I thought I would see what was going on."
"Curiosity has got a man into trouble many a time," said the German quietly. "March on ahead of me."