as a serious time for them, and with set teeth
they hastened into the danger zone. Now they approached the place where
there would be the most peril from a volley fired by the oncoming
soldiers, who of course ere now had seen them, and perhaps judged that
they must be British scouts caught in a trap.

Rod had changed his mind. He suddenly remembered that there was a branch
road leading off from the one they had come along. Of course it was a
blind move, because none of them could even give a guess where it went
to; but if they took it they might manage to slip out of the dilemma
into which the fortunes of war had thrown them.

"Be ready to follow me when I turn into a side road!" he called to the
others.

Undoubtedly they heard him, though they gave no answering shout. It
would have availed little, however, because just at that moment there
was a savage burst of firing back in the direction of the hill, and many
spent bullets dropped all around them, some even kicking up little
clouds of dust as they fell on the road.

Rod turned in the saddle to see if there was any sign of his chums
having been struck. So far all seemed well, for they were coming right
along after him, and without any indication of having received even the
slightest damage.

The forks of the road were now close at hand. Rod was never more
delighted in his life than to realize this, for once they turned into
this lesser thoroughfare he believed they would be protected by friendly
trees from the gaze of those on the hilltop.

A dreadful crash gave him another chilly feeling. He understood that it
must be the explosion of a shrapnel shell, not more than fifty feet
behind them. The gunner may have been on the hill with the gathering
troops; but in calculating the distance he had failed to take into
consideration the speed which the escaping boys were making.

Perhaps if given an opportunity to try a second shot he might be able to
correct this error of judgment, and the next shell would burst directly
over their heads.

Rod almost held his breath. He felt as though so much depended on the
next twenty seconds of time, perhaps even the lives of his two brave
comrades, as well as his own.

Then he arrived at the forks, and, making a detour, left the main road
to plunge into the smaller thoroughfare. Again Rod looked back to assure
himself that both of the other boys were as successful in turning as he
had been.

Yes, there was Josh, safe and sou