The German commander, without further thought of his subordinate, had wheeled his horse and was about to ride away. At that moment the German lieutenant, with an audible snarl, suddenly whipped out his revolver and covered his general.
But Chester was too quick for the man.
Taking a quick step forward, he sent the would-be assassin’s revolver spinning into the air by a sudden blow of his fist. The German lieutenant, thus foiled in his purpose, turned and grappled with the lad.
Hal sprang to his chum’s assistance, while the German soldiers closed in about him.
The German general, attracted by the sounds of the commotion but not knowing what the trouble was about, wheeled his horse again and rushed into the thick of the melee.
“Here! Here!” he cried. “Stop that!”
Immediately the soldiers drew off. The German lieutenant, however, was too furious even to heed the order of his commanding officer. His fingers sought Chester’s throat.
But Chester, athlete that he was, was too quick for his opponent, and he held the man off despite the fact that in strength he was hardly a match for him.
The German lieutenant suddenly released his hold and stepped back. His hand dropped to his belt, where hung a long sheath knife. The knife flashed aloft and Chester staggered back quickly to avoid the descending blow.
Before the man could strike again, Hal sprang forward and seized the man’s arm from behind. He twisted sharply and the knife fell to the ground. The German whirled quickly, but Hal dropped him with a well-directed right-hand blow to the point of the chin. The German lieutenant lay still.