But the two lads were saved the trouble of finding a grave for the traitor, for suddenly through the woods came the sound of tramping feet.
For a moment the two lads listened intently. Then Chester grabbed Hal by the arm.
“Come,” he said in a hoarse whisper, “we must find a place of safety.”
Hal drew back.
“Wait until I see if Dersi happened to have another gun,” he said.
He ran his hand over the dead man and at length rose up with a second revolver and a belt well filled with cartridges. One of the weapons he passed to Chester.
“We’ll probably need these,” he said grimly. “Now, let’s see if we can’t find a place to hide.”
Cautiously the two lads made their way through the woods. They could hear the sound of their pursuers, but they had little fear of being detected in the still uncertain light, as long as they kept the same distance between themselves and the Germans.
But suddenly a gleam of light showed in the forest. A German soldier had flashed a pocket searchlight, and the glare of it fell squarely upon the crouching lads, before they could step behind a tree or any other place of refuge.