," he conceded.

At that moment a small door at the rear of the hangar opened.
The two friends heard the noise, and judged by sound more than sight.

"Sentry!" said the man who had stepped outside, in a low voice.

"Herr Lieutenant!" responded the man. "I am not locking the door,
sentry. I shall be back before long."

"Very good, Herr Lieutenant." Passing to the front of the hangar
this German aviation lieutenant waited until the sentry there
had reached him, then delivered the same information, after which
the aviation officer strode off briskly toward the troop camp
that could be only vaguely seen in the distance.

"It sounds as if he intended to make a flight," whispered Dick
uneasily.

"That wouldn't be so bad," Reade replied. "It will be worse if
his machine is out of order and he is coming back to fuss over it."

"We must make our break now," Prescott whispered.

"Lead the way," answered Reade. Fortunately, at this moment,
the sentries were at the outer ends of their posts. Bending low,
keeping his gaze on the sentries, Dick scurried noiselessly over
the ground until he paused, erect and panting, under the shadow
of the building near the rear.

So far safe, for Reade was with him an instant later. While the
rear sentry finished his post at this end just beyond the hangar,
the front sentry, as far as had been observed, came only as far
as the sliding doors of the hangar.

"Get your automatic ready!" Dick whispered. Then they heard the
rear sentry coming toward them.

There came that tense instant when the sentry's passing form loomed
up within three feet of Captain Prescott. Losing not an instant
Dick sprang upon him with the bound of a panther.

There was no outcry, for Dick's fingers sought and found the fellow's
throat, encircling it. Wrenching the enemy soldier off his balance,
Prescott laid him low, the man's bayoneted rifle falling across
his body.

It was Dick's eyes that said, "Ready, Tom!" Reade hesitated for
a second or so, then struck the prostrate, choking enemy between
the eyes. It was a fearful blow, and the man collapsed.

"One down, but we must get the other!" Dick whispered sternly.

They stole forward along the side of the building, Dick in the
lead. Peeping around the corner he saw the sentry almost finishing
the nearer end of his post. Back came Prescott's head like a
shot. He waited until he knew by the tread that the sentry had
turned and was going back over hi