t. They reached it
without mishap, though a dozen officers had shouted orders at them, and
one captain had ridden several hundred yards on their running board. The
complete blackout necessary to make a convoy movement safe helped a lot.

Reaching the settlement, they were directed to a grove of trees where
their truck was shoved back into deep cover.

Allison came forward and got in with Stan. When an officer came along
checking their load, he explained they had wine for the officers' mess
and suggested it be shoved deeper into the woods to keep it from being
tapped by the soldiers. The officer cleared a pathway and led them deep
into the timber beyond the rest of the convoy. He ordered the crew to
report to a designated spot and then rushed off.

The five raiders gathered beside the truck and broke out laughing.

"So considerate of them," Arno said.

"I have never known the German army to be so co-operative before," the
general observed.

"We better be on our way," Stan said.

They gathered up their things and headed into the woods with Tony
leading the way. After an hour of searching and much argument between
him and Arno they finally located a trail and followed it.

Stan and Allison began to suspect the boys were lost, when suddenly they
came out on a knoll. Above them, silhouetted against the starlit sky,
were the two square-topped peaks.

"See," Tony said to Arno. "Now you must admit I was right."

"You were, I am sorry I argued."

"It's twenty minutes to twelve," Allison said anxiously. "How far is it
to the wheat field?"

"Just a ten-minute walk," Tony answered.

"We'll hit it right on the minute," Stan said eagerly. "Lead on."

Tony led them out of the woods and into the wheat field. They checked
the wind and got out their flares. Arno took one, Tony another, while
Allison took the red center marker.

"Clear a space so as not to set the field of wheat on fire," Arno
warned. "I'll show you how far to go."

Stan and the general went along, carrying the guns and grenades. They
were about in the center of the field when they heard the roar of a
plane motor. Stan listened and then grinned. The engine was a powerful
radial. He was certain O'Malley was at the throttle.

The plane swooped around and around high above while the boys got spaces
cleared and everything set. Arno called to the others and the flares
blossomed out. Looking up into the sky they waited. The plane circled
and headed in. Sudd