Quietly the boys emerged from the cave, and began walking slowly. But they had hardly gone five paces when there came a command:
“Halt!”
Swiftly the lads turned in the direction from which the hail had come, and beheld a squad of Germans approaching them with leveled rifles.
The automatics of both lads spoke simultaneously and continued to spout fire for several seconds. Then they turned and ran hurriedly back to the cave, into which they disappeared before their startled foe could realize what had happened.
Two German soldiers lay on the ground, while a third stood swaying dizzily on his feet.
With all possible haste the lads crawled through the passageway, and soon emerged at the other end. But now caution was thrown to the wind, for the lads figured that the Germans left to guard this end of the retreat were by this time on the way to aid their companions.
Their revolvers still gleamed in their hands, however, ready for instant use in the event that their plan had miscarried.
But it had not, for there was not a German in sight, and soon the boys were running through the woods as fast as their legs could carry them. At length Hal pulled up, panting.
“I guess we have given them the slip this time,” he panted.