rking in the interest of Belgium and France?
You just better believe we don't want to be nabbed by the Kaiser's men,
not if we know what's good for us, and I reckon we do."

"The worst is yet to come!" exclaimed Rod just then; "look off there to
the left and tell me what you see moving across those fields toward the
road back of us."

Hardly had he said this than loud outcries arose from his two
companions.

"Why, Rod, they're whole regiments of the Germans, and they're deploying
so as to cut off our retreat, you see!" cried Hanky Panky, in a near
panic.

"I don't expect they've even noticed us as yet," Rod went on to say;
"but all the same if ever they do reach the road we'll be caught like
rats in a trap."

"Looks like we might be between two fires," said Josh, frowning
savagely; "what can we do about it, Rod?"

It was second nature for the other fellows to depend on their leader
whenever a knotty problem arose that needed solving. And seldom did Rod
disappoint their expectations. He came up smiling on the present
occasion.

"Get turned around in a hurry!" he called out; "we've one chance in
three to slip past before they get near the road. Are you both game to
try for it?"

"Sure!" bellowed Josh; "try anything once, is my motto!"

"I'll go where you lead, Rod," was the simple but eloquent tribute which
Hanky Panky paid the other; and Rod must have felt deeply gratified to
know he was able to inspire the hearts of his chums with so much
confidence.

"Then let's get busy!" was all he told them.

The rattle of the machines' exhausts instantly announced the start. Rod
led the way, with the others close behind him. He did not dread the
soldiers who were upon the hilltop, even though every movement made by
the fleeing motorcycle boys must be plainly seen by their observing
eyes; for the distance was too great for them to expect to damage the
mounts of the escaping enemy by any gunfire.

It was the forces coming up on the double-quick to reach the road over
which the three boys had so lately passed that aroused Rod's greatest
fears. He knew that with the speed of which the machines were capable
they could manage to sweep past before the troops reached the road; but
should the Germans open fire on them the result might be disastrous
indeed.

Hoping for the best, and ready to accept the desperate chances, they
dashed along, every fellow bending low in his saddle from some instinct
of self-preservation. It w