"Well, here we are again," said Chester, with a faint smile. "What do you suppose will be done with us if we refuse to divulge what the general wants to know?" "I'm sure I don't know," was Hal's reply, "but I am afraid we are in for it this time. I have never taken much stock in the tales I have heard of the barbarous treatment of the Germans toward their prisoners, but one look at the general's face was enough to convince me that he would stop at nothing to gain his end." "The same thought struck me, too," agreed Chester. "But, one thing is certain, he'll get no information out of me." "Nor out of me, either," declared Hal. Chester rose and started to walk around the tent. In the darkness he stumbled over something and fell to the ground. Arising he reached in his pocket and produced a match. A tiny flame lighted up the dark interior of the tent, and the lad stepped back with an ejaculation. "Bicycles," he muttered. "What?" demanded Hal. "Bicycles. I wonder why they are here?" "Probably dumped in here by a couple of men who have returned from a scouting expedition," said Hal. "By George!" exclaimed Chester suddenly. "What is it now?" demanded Hal. Chester did not reply immediately. He appeared to be thinking deeply. "Have you a knife?" he asked at length. Hal produced one, and, taking it from his friend's hand, Chester stepped to the back of the tent. Quickly he opened the blade, and made a neat incision in the canvas, finally cutting out a little square. Then he put his eye to the hole and peered out. There was no one in sight. The guard could be heard pacing to and fro in front of the tent, but apparently there was no guard at the rear. Chester left his peep-hole and returned to Hal's side. "If we can get two of these bicycles out here," he whispered, "we may be able to get away by a quick dash. Are you willing to take a chance?" "Sure," agreed Hal. "Anything is better than sitting here and waiting for I know not what. But do you think we can make it?" "Well, we can at least try. There doesn't seem to be a guard in the rear. I am going to cut a big slit in the back. Then we'll slip the bicycles through it, mount and make a dash." "Good!" said Hal. Quietly Chester slit the canvas in the rear of the tent, making a hole large enough for a man to step through. Quietly the boys each selected a bicycle and pushed it cautiously through the opening. Once on the outside they drew a breath of relief. "We'll have to depend on our luck now," whispered Chester. "Come on!" The lads leaped into the saddles, and a moment later were speeding through the heart of the German camp. In the very boldness of their scheme lay a certain degree of safety, for the sentinels on guard certainly did not look for two youths of the allied armies to be riding through their midst.