hey would surely hear us."

The boys descended the steps. At the bottom they emerged into what, upon
inspection, proved to be a wine cellar. At the far side they saw another
passageway and moved toward it.

As they did so, they heard the door to the closet through which they had
recently passed open again, and a voice exclaim:

"I know these high and mighty Belgian gentlemen too well. There is always
wine in the cellar. Come, Franz, we shall explore."

Heavy footsteps descended the stairs, and two German officers hove in
sight. The boys, in the dimness of the cellar, were not seen.

"Quick!" whispered Chester, "into the passageway."

As Hal followed Chester into the darkness of the passageway, he tripped
over some obstacle in the dark, which gave forth the sound of tinkling
glass. The boys stopped stock still.

"What was that?" demanded one of the officers.

"I didn't hear anything," was the reply.

"I thought I heard something moving in the cellar."

"Probably a rat. Here is what we came after. Let's go back upstairs."

The boys heard the sound of retreating footsteps, and presently the door
above slammed once more.

Hal and Chester breathed easier.

"Pretty close," remarked Chester, in a low tone.

"You bet it was close," was the reply. "For a minute I thought it
was all off."

"Well, I guess we are safe enough now."

"Yes, I guess so. But we must wait here until the Germans have left
the house."

"I suppose they will go as soon as they have finished their breakfast."

"I hope so; we haven't any time to waste."

The boys sat down and waited.

What seemed like hours later, the door to the closet above again opened,
and the voice of the girl floated down the stairway.

"It's all right, now," she exclaimed. "They have gone. You can come up."

CHAPTER XV.

THE FIGHT IN THE FARMHOUSE.

The boys ascended the stairs and followed the girl back into the
dining-room.

"Well," said Chester, after the three had talked for some minutes. "I
guess we had better be moving. We have wasted too much time already."

They turned toward the door, and, as they did so, Hal uttered a low
exclamation.

"Look!" he whispered.

Turning to where Hal pointed, Chester and Edna beheld a face pressed
against the window pane.

"It is one of the German officers!" cried the girl. "He has returned for
something."

It was apparent that the officer had seen the two boys. He turned from
the window, and the lads