on
the ship. And I know they'll be glad when the pump's running. I was
thinkin' about something else. Come on, let's go out and hike." He
always called those little restricted walks about the enclosure, hiking.
He could not forget the good scout word.

When they had walked for some little way Tom looked about to see if
there was anyone near. The safest place for secrets and confidences is
out in the open. He hesitated, made a couple of false starts, then
began:

"There's somethin' I've always thought about ever since I came here. I
don't know if you've ever thought about it--I know you like adventures,
but you're kind of----" He meant irresponsible and rattle-brained, but
he did not want to say so. "And I wouldn't want to see you get in any
trouble on account of me. You're different from me. You see, for a
special reason I got to go and fight. Whatever you do, will you promise
not to say anything to anybody?"

Archer, somewhat bewildered, promised.

"I'm going to get away," said Tom simply.

"You must be crazy," Archer said, staring at him in astonishment. "How
are you going to do it? Didn't I tell you, you couldn't even get a
file?"

Tom went on seriously.

"I'd like to have you go with me only I don't know if you'd want to take
a chance the same as I would."

"Sure, I'd take a chance, but----"

"_You_ don't _have_ to go and I do," Tom interrupted. "That's what I
mean. If the war should end and I didn't fight, I'd be a kind of a---- I
mean I got to fight for two people. I _got_ to. So it ain't a question
of whether I take a chance or not. And it ain't a question of whether
it's fair to try and escape. 'Cause I got that all settled."

Archer said nothing, but looked at Tom just as he had first looked at
him a year ago, and tried to dope him out. For a few paces they walked
in silence.

"If you take a chance, I take a chance with you," Archer said.

"If anybody should discover us and call for us to halt, I'm not going
to halt," said Tom.

"Believe _me_, I'll sprint," said Archer, "but that part's a cinch
anyway----"

"It ain't a cinch," said Tom, "but I got to do it. I got a little button
a French soldier gave me that'll help me get through Alsace. His people
live there--in Leture--I mean Dundgardt."

"That's only six miles down," said Archer.

"That's so much the better," said Tom; "if I can once get that far----"

"Don't say _I_--say _we_."

"We'll be all right," finished Tom.

"But what's t