“If possible,” replied Hal, “we shall slip down and try to pick out a couple of fresh horses. Then we can make another dash for it.”
“All right,” agreed Chester, “but we had better wait here until we can get down the tree unseen.”
Hal nodded in assent, and for perhaps half an hour the lads waited silently. In the distance they could hear the enemy beating up the bushes for some trace of them, but these sounds gradually grew farther away; then died down altogether.
Cautiously Hal peered down from his hiding place. There was no sign of an enemy. The lad dropped quickly to the ground, and Chester followed suit a moment later. Then they dashed silently toward the road.
Upon entering the woods in pursuit of the fugitives, the Austrians had abandoned their horses and were searching afoot. Approaching the edge of the forest, the lads saw six horses tied to trees. They ran rapidly toward them. As they did so a single Austrian, who had been left to guard the animals, stepped suddenly forward, raised his rifle and cried: “Halt!”
There was no time for either lad to draw his revolver. Chester’s hand went to his pocket, even as he ran, but he did not wait to extract the weapon. With his hand still in his pocket, he pointed the muzzle of his revolver at the Austrian and pressed the trigger. The bullet sped true through the cloth, and the Austrian dropped his rifle and toppled over to the ground.
“Good work, Chester!” shouted Hal, not pausing in his stride toward the horses.
He had all six horses untied in a jiffy, and passing the bridle of one to his chum, leaped lightly into the saddle. Chester did likewise. The other horses stood still.
“No use leaving them here for the enemy to pursue us with,” decided Chester.
He rode his own horse among the others, and with several quick blows of his cap, started them on ahead of them.