This time Hal obeyed, for he knew by the hard ring in the woman’s voice that she was not to be trifled with.
“About face,” commanded his captor.
Hal did as ordered.
“Now,” continued the woman, “you will march on ahead of me, and, remember, at the first false move I shall fire.”
Without a word Hal turned and started away, the woman but a few paces behind him. But Hal was of no mind to be taken back to the German camp. He realized clearly what fate awaited him there.
His nimble wit was at work as he walked along, and he finally hit upon a plan. It was not without danger, but the lad figured he might just as well be shot then and there as to be put to death as a spy.
As he walked along he seemingly tripped over some unseen obstacle. In attempting to regain his balance he reeled backward. The woman by this time was right upon him.
Unable to tell whether he had really tripped or whether it was a ruse, she stood undecided a moment. That moment proved her undoing. For Hal, spinning on his heel, swept the revolver from her outstretched hand, and with a quick leap seized it himself.
“Now, madam,” he said calmly. “I shall give you just thirty seconds to get away from here. If you have not put a considerable distance between us by the time the thirty seconds have expired, I shall be forced to use this weapon, much as I should dislike to shoot a lady. I am on important business and it brooks of no delay. Neither shall one life stand in the way.”
The woman took one quick look at him, then turned and ran.