t risk," murmured the Frenchman.

Blake motioned to his chums to follow him into the dugout. They could
see his gestures in the light of a lantern which formed the illumination
of the ruins.

Cautiously the three went inside, the noise they made being covered by
the rattling of the wind which had sprung up.

"We have them! We have them!" exulted Joe, in a whisper.

They were silently considering how best to surprise and capture the two
men, who were still unaware of the presence of the boys, when a sudden
noise came from outside. Blake and his chums, as well as the two men,
started.

"That was not the wind!" exclaimed Secor.

"No, my friend. It was not. I think there is some one here besides
ourselves. We must look. I----"

And then came a guttural command in German:

"Surrender--all of you! You are surrounded and are prisoners!
Surrender!"

CHAPTER XXIII

THE AIRSHIP RAID

Surprise on the part of Blake and his chums, as well as on the part of
Secor and Labenstein, was so complete that it would be hard to say who
felt the sensation most. The moving picture boys, after danger and
difficulties, had found the stolen army films and those they believed
had taken them. They were about to make a dash and get not only the
precious boxes, but also, if possible, capture the two plotters, when,
like a bolt from a clear sky, they were themselves called upon to
surrender.

"Come on!" yelled Charlie, as he understood the import of the summons to
surrender. "We can make a fight for it!"

"Don't try it!" advised Blake. By the light of lanterns carried by the
raiding party of Germans he had seen that they were numerous and well
armed. It would have been the height of folly to resist, especially as
the boys were non-combatants and not entitled to the honors of war.

"Hands up--and search them!" commanded the German officer of the raiding
party, as he pointed to Blake and his two chums. He spoke in German and
then lapsed into English, which he spoke very well, saying:

"It will be best for you Americans to give in quietly. Hands up!" And
the order was stern.

The boys had no choice but to obey, and their weapons were quickly taken
from them.

"I will allow you to keep your gas masks for the present," the German
captain said, "as you may need them, as we ourselves may, before we get
back to our lines."

"Then we are going back with you?" asked Joe.

"Of a certainty--yes! Did you think I would leave you her