Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-11
Copyright, 1918, By the Public Ledger Co.
Copyright bU Robert N. Mcbride & Co.
CHAPTER XX--(Continued)

ttTHEY'RE beating the forest for u.s." he
i painted. THE place is full of men. 1
had to crawl the whole way there and back,
and I'm soaked"
I pointed to Monica, who was fast asleep,
and he lowered his voice.
"Des," he said, "I've hoped as long as L
dared, but now I believe the games up.
They're beating the forest in great circle.
soldiers and police and customs men, Ii
we set out at once we can reach the frontier
before they get here, but what's the use of
that every patrol is on the lookout for
us the forest seems ablaze with
torches"
I'VE must try It, Francis I said. I'VE
haven't a dogs chance If we stay here!'
"Unlcss we could draw the patrols atten-
ticn away" said Sapper Maggs.
But Francis ignored the interruption.
We reused up Monica and groped our way
out of the cave into the black and dripping
forest T.,
front, then Monica, Maggs and l last. In
a few minutes were wet through, and our
hands, blue and dead with cold, were
scratched and torn. Our progress was In
terminably slow. Every few yards Francis
raised his hand and we stopped
At last we reached the gloomy glade
where, as Francis had told US. according
to popular belief, the wrath of Charlemagne
was still seen on the night of st. Hubert's
Day galoping along with his ghosty fol-
lowers of the chase. The rustling or leaves
caught our cars; instantly we all lay prone
behind bank.
A group of men came swinging along Ihe
glade.
els, as soon as they were past.
"The other lot they relieve will be back
this way in a minute. We must get across
quickly" My brother stood erect. and tiptoed
swiftly across Charlemagnes Ride. and we
followed
we came to the ravine. 1t was deep. mar
row ditch with steep sides. rull of under
growth and brambles. Now We could hear
distinctly the voices Of men all around us.
AZ it seemed, and to right and to left and in
front we caught at intervals glimpses or red
flames through the trees. We could only
nroceed at a snairs pace lest the continual
rustic Of our footsteps should betray u.s.
So each advanced few PAGES in turn;
then we all paused. and then the next one
went forward We could no longer crawl;
the underground was too thick for that; we
bad TO go forward bent double
We had progressed like this for fully half
ar hour when Francis. who was In front as
usual beckoned us to lie down.
Then voice somewhere above US said in
German:
And I'll have a man at the plank here.
sereeant: he can watch the ravne."
Another voice answered:
Every good, Herr Leutnant but In that
case the patrols to right and left need not
cross the plank each time; they can turn
when they come to the ravine guard"
The voices died away in a murmur
craned my neck aloft 1t was dark l
could see nothing save the fretwork Of
branches against the night sky. whis-
pered to Francis, wko was just In front OF
me:
UNLESS we make a dash for 1t now that
man will hear ruStling along!"
Francis held up finger. heard heavy
footstep along the bank above us,
TOO late" my brother whispered back.
'Do you hear the patrols?"
Footsteps crashing through the under
growth resounded on the right and left.
"Cold work !" said a voice.
"Bitter!" came the answer just above our
heads.
seen anything?'
Nothing"
I felt hot breath in my ear. Sapper
Maggs stood by my side.