"Yes," said Hal, "we are the prisoners."
It did not take the German commander long to recover his poise, and he advanced toward the lads.
"I thought you had made good your escape," he said. "I was told that you had made you way into the French lines during the night."
"We did, sir," said Chester.
"Then how comes it that you are back here?"
"We learned from a prisoner this morning that Captain Eberhardt was to be shot because we escaped," said Chester, "so we came back to help him if possible."
"Do you mean to tell me," exclaimed General Steinbach, "that you risked your lives to save that of an enemy?"
"He interceded for us," said Hal quietly, "and it was because of us that he was sentenced to be shot. It was no more than right for us to save him if we could."
The general looked at them in undisguised amazement.
"Hïmmel!" he exclaimed, and added beneath his breath: "No wonder we are having such trouble disposing of these English!"