"Well, there isn't much to tell," said the soldier. "During the night a shot gave notice of the escape of two prisoners. General Steinbach, suspecting the cause of the shot, went himself to Captain Eberhardt's tent. There he found the captain bound and gagged. He immediately ordered him put under arrest, and commanded that he be executed at noon to-day for allowing the prisoners to get away. That is all there is about it."
Chester quickly drew his watch from his pocket and glanced at it.
"Nine o'clock," he said; "plenty of time."
"Plenty of time for what?" asked Hal in surprise.
"Why, plenty of time to save Captain Eberhardt."
"What have you got on your mind now?" demanded Hal, grasping his friend by the arm. "How do you figure you are going to save him?"
"Go back across the river," said Chester briefly.
"Go back!"
"Exactly. Didn't Captain Eberhardt put himself out attempting to save us?
He interceded for us, didn't he?"
"Yes, but—"