It was nearly fifteen minutes later when the chums met at the spot agreed upon.
"Whew!" muttered Hal, halting, as he came up and recognized his bunkie. "I guess we're safely away now, Noll. That being the case, I don't mind admitting to you that when we left the cave and stepped out into the camp, I hadn't a belief in the world, hardly, that we'd get away with our strategy."
"Oh, my shoes!" winced Noll.
"What's the matter with them?"
"Oh, nothing, except that they're full of sore feet!"
"I've some trouble of that sort myself," Hal grinned. "But we've got to forget all about it until we get to the twin oaks. Forward, bunkie!"
They traveled together, after that. An hour later they heard the most welcome challenge in the world:
"Halt! Who's there?"
The speaker belonged to a B Company outpost.
"Friends," replied Private Overton.