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n reference to them--strode up to them and, laying his hand upon Ralph's shoulder, said: "Who are you, young fellows? The landlord says you do not belong to the village." "We belong to a party of woodcutters, from Colmar," Ralph said, quietly. Illustration: Among the German Soldiers. "Oh, indeed!" the sergeant said, in an incredulous voice, "and where are your party?" "Out in the forest, at the place where we have begun to fell trees," Ralph said. "But people do not come to cut wood without horses, or carts to take it away," the sergeant persisted. "They are up in the forest with our father," Ralph said. "Have you heard anything about this party?" the sergeant asked the landlord. The man hesitated a moment. He evidently suspected, also, that the boys might belong to the franc tireurs; and was anxious to say nothing which could harm them. "No," he said, after a pause, "I can't say that I have heard of them; but I know some of the forest was sold, not long ago, and they might have come from Colmar without coming this way." "We only arrived this morning," Percy said, quietly, "so that you could hardly have heard of us, unless some of the people of your place happened to pass, when we were at work; and we have not seen anyone, all day." "At any rate," the sergeant said, "I shall see if your story be true, and you will at once take us to the place. "Corporal, get ten men in readiness." "Certainly," Ralph said, "if you will allow us to finish our supper, we will show you the way, at once." The sergeant nodded, and resumed his seat. "Look here, Percy," Ralph said, quietly, "we are in a nasty fix, this time. There is only one thing to be done, that I can see. If we both go they will shoot us, to a certainty; for although one might make a bolt in the wood, it is certain we could not both get away. "Only one thing is to be done. I will say your foot is bad, and ask for you to stay here. Directly we have gone, you slip out and go--as hard as you can--to the place where our men are hid. I will bring them in that direction. We shall have passed the place before you can reach it--at least, unless you can get out, at once--and pass on in the darkness. Take off your shoes, so as to run lightly. As we pass, fire a volley right into us; and I will make a dart into the wood, in the confusion." "But you might be shot by our men, Ralph. They could not possibly distinguish you, in the dark. No, I
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