rown from their horses were hurt."

"Not badly perhaps," agreed Jacques. "They got an awful jolt just the
same. At any rate it's only six to three now."

"What do you think they'll do?" asked Earl.

"I wish I knew."

"Can't we crawl up to the edge of the woods and look at them?"

"That would be pretty risky."

"But we want our monoplane back again."

"Isn't there a full moon to-night?" exclaimed Leon suddenly.

"I believe there is," said Jacques. "Why do you ask?"

"Just as soon as the moon comes up we can sneak up to the border of the
forest and everything in the clearing will be lighted up; we will hide
in the shadow of the trees and can pick off the Boches at our leisure.
Isn't that a good scheme?"

"Fine," said Jacques, "all except for one thing."

"What's that?" demanded Leon.

"You don't think the Germans are going to sit out there all this time,
do you? Undoubtedly they have sent for help already."

"Then," exclaimed Leon, "our chance is to attack them at once. There
can't be more than five of them at the most left now."

"That's right," cried Earl eagerly. "It's our only chance and we must
be quick about it too."

"Don't you think so, Jacques?" insisted Leon. "Come along."

"It's an awful chance," mused Jacques.

"I know," exclaimed Leon, "but it's our only one. You know as well as
I do that if we don't get away before their reenforcements arrive we're
done for. Why, after we've killed a couple of their men they'll spend
a year if necessary to hunt us out."

"That's true," Jacques agreed. "I guess you're right; we'd better try
it now."

Crouching low and making as little sound as possible the three young
soldiers crept forward. Jacques led the way, with Leon and Earl close
behind him. Every boy held his pistol gripped tightly in his right
hand. Night had now fallen and pitchy darkness had taken possession of
the forest.

The clearing was but a short distance away and presently Jacques
stopped. All three of the boys stood still and listened intently for
some moments. Not a sound came to their ears and in a brief time the
advance was continued.

Slowly and carefully they picked their way. They practically felt out
every step before they took it; the snap of a dried twig or stick might
spell their doom. A few moments later Jacques spied the open sky
through a vault in the tree-tops; they were almost upon the clearing
and again the little band halted.

"We'd better separ