The dim figures could barely be seen far ahead and not wishing to be observed, the boys kept as near as possible to the edge of the road, along a fence or an overhanging clay bank on one side. They soon gained on the men; then, fearing discovery, they fell back. But even at this they knew that presently they must be seen; it was natural that these men should look behind them and when crossing a knoll the lads could not avoid showing against the sky. Then the road began to descend, and the pursued stopped and stood a moment. “Keep right on slowly,” Don’s quicker wits advised. “They’ll smell a mouse if we stop, too. Come on; they won’t know we don’t live out this way.” Again the men, possibly somewhat reassured and yet not wanting to be overtaken, hurried on and were soon out of sight around a bend. “Wonder if they’ll sneak into the bushes to see who we are,” Clem queried. “No; they’ll only hurry more so as to turn off at a road or path,” Don argued and he proved to be right. From the bend the two figures could barely be discerned. To hurry after them would excite suspicion, but now fair chance come to the boys’ aid. Just beyond, and evidently unknown to the German-speaking pair, a path led across a meadow that short cut another sharp bend in the road and this enabled Clem and Don to gain so much on the men that before the latter had reached the farm house beyond, the lads were close behind them, between a double line of willow trees and thus unseen. But here the adventure was to end for the time. The boys, instinctively aware that the men believed they were beyond observation, now were eager to see which road of a fork beyond would be followed and they were not greatly surprised when the travelers turned in at the gate of the farm house and knocked at the door. A light appeared at the entrance, a large figure loomed in the doorway, a few words were exchanged in voluble German; then the door closed. “They’re friends of Shultz, by jimminy!” Clem exploded. “They are, you bet! That big fat slob of a saloon keeper was in the door,” Don added. “Let’s go home. We can look into this further, but later,” Clem advised and the boys almost reluctantly retraced their steps. CHAPTER III BANG Christmas festivities at Lofton, like those in nearly every live town in the United States, were such as to engross the attention of the youthful population, especially the rehearsing for Christmas Eve carols. The plans for home enjoyments, the doing up of packages, procuring and trimming of trees and many other happy duties kept both boys about their widely separated homes very busy.