The moment he fired his revolver Hal leaped into the car, slammed the door behind him and sent the machine forward with a lurch.
From behind came an angry hail from the lieutenant and his revolver cracked. But the bullets went wild.
The lieutenant’s action, however, had served his purpose. It alarmed the soldiers ahead, who, seeing the automobile bearing down on them, cried loud commands to halt.
But the car kept on.
“Duck!” cried Hal, and suited the action to the word.
The occupants of the tonneau also ducked their heads out of harm’s way even as the German soldiers fired a volley from their rifles. Before they could fire again, however, the car was far down the road, and a moment later it disappeared around a sharp curve.
“There’ll be pursuit, Chester!” shouted Hal. “Rifle the pockets of our friend the colonel and climb in the front seat here with whatever you can find.”
Chester needed no further instructions.
In spite of the protests and struggles of the German colonel, Chester went through his pockets systematically and thoroughly.
“Now you guard him, Harding,” the lad said.