Yet, though this was no life and death fighting, Private Overton had nevertheless a good deal at stake. It would result in his being set down as a rather stupid soldier should he be captured by the enemy's outpost while on scouting duty. "I can't help it. I've got to have one more try, anyway," decided the mischievous soldier boy. So back he crept. An instant later he tried to make himself flatter against the earth than he had been able yet to do. For that sentry had now turned and was looking in his direction. "I commit myself to the darkness," gasped Private Overton inwardly. For, if his presence were detected, the sentry, with one call, could bring the other three sleeping men to their feet. Against such odds Hal would have but scant chance of getting away. "And I'll have to leave my rifle behind if I duck from here," thought Hal, beginning to regret his rashness. It was one thing to capture the rifles of the outpost; it was quite another thing to leave his own gun behind in their hands. After a few moments of agony the dimly seen sentry again turned his face in another direction. "Now that I've started this trick, I'll put it through or die," thought the soldier boy, setting his teeth. Again he crouched close to the corporal and the two other sleepers. This time there appeared to be no loot loose save a pair of canteens that lay upon the ground. Private Hal Overton made sure of these articles, then, as he lay there, took a last sweeping look. The shoes of Corporal Raynes, of C Company, protruded under the foot of his blanket. "I guess it would be too risky a stunt to try to unlace the corporal's shoes and carry 'em away," quivered mischievous Hal, eyeing the footgear longingly. Then, as he gazed, it struck the soldier boy that there was something odd about the position of the corporal's shoes with regard to the line of Raynes body. "I wonder if----" cogitated Private Overton, edging himself forward. Hal made a cautious try. His last guess proved to be correct. Corporal Raynes had taken off his shoes to ease his aching feet, and had tucked them in at the bottom of his blanket. "It's a shabby trick to play on a good fellow," grinned the soldier boy, "but this is war." For the last time Hal crept back. Now an even greater task confronted him, and that was how to get away with all the outpost loot he had captured. By making three stealthy trips, Private Overton at last succeeded in getting all the loot in safety to a point more than one hundred yards from the outpost. "Now, it's time to drop nonsense for real business," decided the young scout. Ten minutes later he had located the main camp, and that without falling into the hands of either of the two C Company sentries whom he was compelled to pass in the black night. Then back to the hidden loot the young soldier returned.