“Oh, I expected that we’d be too late to prevent the mischief,” the ranch boy admitted. “All the same, we had the fun of giving the spy a scare. I reckon he thought a whole regiment of the hated British was on top of him, by the way he scooted out of here.” “Could you blame him?” demanded Amos. “Why, if it had been me I think that cowboy whoop of yours would have given me a cold chill. I’m pretty sure no German ever heard the equal of it.” “Thanks. I take that as a compliment,” returned the other laughingly. “We’d better get out of this now.” “Is there any danger?” asked Amos. “None that I know of,” Jack told him, “but you never can tell what these Germans will do. That fellow may have discovered a trick was played on him. If he chose to be ugly he might creep back and open fire on us with his automatic.” “Whew! standing up here as we are we’d offer a lovely target, with the sky for a background. Let’s vamoose the ranch, Jack, as I’ve heard you say lots of times.” “I’m agreeable,” the other remarked. “There’s always a time for ducking even as there is for an advance. Come along, Amos.” They hurried down the hill and started over the field with the intention of striking the road, so that they might return to the Belgian village. About half way across, while stumbling along in the semi-darkness, both boys were suddenly electrified by seeing a bright flash close at hand, accompanied by a sharp, spiteful report. Jack, who had rare presence of mind, and seemed to know just what to do under any and all conditions, pulled Amos down to the ground. As they flattened themselves out into as small a compass as possible other shots rang out in rapid succession. The reports came like the quick pulsations of Amos’ heart under the pressure of excitement. When the last shot had sounded Jack started to his feet, half lifting his companion at the same time. “Make for the road full tilt!” he called out, and with that they commenced to run as fast as the nature of the ground permitted. Perhaps Amos wondered whether the unknown would be satisfied to let them get away. He may have even anticipated hearing the footfalls of a pursuer in their rear, and this possibility kept him keyed up to the top-notch of excitement. The road proved to be near at hand, and the running boys managed to reach it without anything out of the way happening. In his excitement Amos might possibly have turned in the wrong direction, but Jack had his bearings well in hand, and knew what he was doing. They did not stop running with their arrival at the road; in fact, if anything, they increased their pace. Amos felt willing to keep it up just as long as his comrade thought best. Presently they knew the village was at hand, and accordingly Jack slowed down to a walk. Both of them were breathing heavily, but Amos felt that he ought to understand what the plan of campaign was to be. “Will you tell the old burgomaster about this adventure, Jack?” he asked.