off through the sleeping
German camp at a fast walk.

Row after row of tents they passed through, walking along the improvised
streets until they were well beyond the main camp. Here they were still
in the midst of the enemy, but the tents were more scattered. Suddenly
they slackened their speed.

A German sentry was approaching them.

Perceiving the two shadowy forms, the sentry brought his rifle to his
shoulder, and cried:

"Halt!"

The lads obeyed, and the sentry came close to them. Perceiving that the
figures he had accosted were attired in women's clothing, he dropped his
rifle and demanded:

"What are you doing here?"

"We have been selling apples to the soldiers," replied Hal in French in a
shrill voice.

The soldier understood French and replied:

"Where are your baskets?"

Hal replied as he had been instructed by the little war correspondent.

"Well," said the sentry, apparently satisfied, "you have no business
around here at this hour of the night. Go quickly."

The lads needed no further urging, and, bearing off a trifle to the
north, continued their journey.

Their shoulders stooped and their shawls thrown over their heads so they
could barely see, they went on with slowly shambling steps.

"When we get back to America," whispered Chester, "I am going on the
stage as a female impersonator."

"After this," Hal whispered back, "I am inclined to believe that we would
both make good."

All night they continued toward the northwest, and when morning dawned
they were still within the German lines.

"We shall have to be more careful now," said Chester, as it began to
grow light.

"On the contrary," said Hal, "we may go forward more boldly."

"How do you make that out?" demanded Chester in surprise.

"Why," Hal explained, "two apple-women strolling about the enemy's
camp in the night would attract more attention, should they be
discovered, than in broad daylight, when they might possibly have some
business there."

"Right," agreed Chester. "I hadn't thought of it in that way."

Accordingly they proceeded more boldly now.

Here and there troops of German cavalry now came to life. The lads also
passed regiment after regiment of hurrying infantry; but they were not
so much as challenged. Old apple-women, such as the lads appeared to
the enemy, were plentiful in the German lines, and no attention was
paid to them.

Suddenly the lads beheld a sight that caused them to start back in
asto