ce, but one worth taking," said Blake. "Though I can't
imagine what Secor and Labenstein, if those two fellows are really here,
could want of them."

"Maybe they just picked them up on the chance that they would give away
some of the American army secrets," suggested Charlie. "And they would
show our boys were drilling, fighting, and all that. Of course some of
the things on the films were actually seen by the Germans, but others
were not; and I fancy those would be of value to Fritz. That's why they
took 'em."

"They couldn't have known we were here taking views," remarked Joe.

"Oh, yes they could!" declared Blake. "Germany's spy system is the best
in the world, and lots that goes on in America is known in Germany
before half of our own people hear about it. But we'll have to get there
before we can find out what is in that dugout, if it's there yet."

"Well, some part of it--maybe a hut or a brush heap--must be there, or
the sentry wouldn't have seen men about it," observed Joe. "And now we'd
better keep quiet. We're getting too close to talk much."

A little later they passed a sentry--not their friend--gave the proper
password, and then stood on the edge of No Man's Land.

What would be their fate as they crossed it and ventured on the other
side--the side held by the Germans?

"Come on!" whispered Blake softly, and, crouching down to avoid as much
as possible being detected in the starlight, the boys went cautiously
into the debatable territory.

CHAPTER XXII

CAPTURED

Not without a rather creepy feeling did the three boys start on their
mission, the outcome of which could only be guessed. They were taking
great risks, and they knew it. But it was not the first time. They had
gone into the jungle to get films of wild beasts at the water hole. They
had ventured into Earthquake Land where the forces of nature, if not of
mankind, were arrayed against them. And they had dared the perils of the
deep in getting pictures under the sea.

But these were as nothing compared to the mission on which they were now
engaged, for, at any moment, there might go up from the German lines,
not half a mile away, a string of lights that would reveal their
presence to the ever-watchful snipers and sharp-shooters.

And, more than that, the whole area might suddenly be swept by a hail of
bullets from a battery of machine guns. Both sides had these deadly
weapons in readiness, and it was well known that Fritz was exc