tched, and presently came to a standstill.
Instantly crowds of soldiers poured out from both sides and formed up on
the permanent way. Apparently in response to an order, the troops split
into two bodies, one passing to the north side of the line and one to
the south, both almost immediately disappearing from view in the woods.

Max and Dale next turned their gaze towards the flank guards. Here
desultory fighting was going on with numbers of the sentries attracted
to the spot. But beyond them, and in the direction of the head-quarters
of the company guarding that section of the line, a strong body of men
was on the march; and, in yet another direction, Max and Dale could see
the lances of cavalry occasionally coming into view as their line of
advance led them past bunches of low bush or gaps in the trees.

"Time we were off, Max," remarked Dale in a much sobered voice. "You see
what those troops from the train are after?"

"Yes, they want to strike across our rear, whichever side of the railway
we go, before the other bodies begin to attack us in front. Had we not
chanced to climb up here, that last fight of ours would have been very
near indeed. As it is, I shouldn't wonder if we have a job to get
Corporal Shaw and his fire-eaters away in time."

"We shall. They all reckon they're getting a bit of their own back, and
they'll be in no hurry to move."

As quickly as possible, Max and Dale dropped from the tree and ran back
to the railway, where Shaw and the bulk of his men were still working
like bees, tearing up rails and transporting them to the swampy stream.
The gist of what they had seen was soon told to Corporal Shaw, and that
worthy, while not inclined to take too much notice of "a few Germans",
now that all his men were fully armed, was duly impressed with the
necessity of moving from the neighbourhood without loss of time. He
promptly called in the flank guards, and curtly told the whole of the
band that it was time to march.

"Now, lad," he said, addressing Max, "you seem to know your way about.
Lead on out of this fix, and we will live to fight again another day.
Forward!"

Max and Dale strode quickly away, straight into the woods, and in single
file the band followed them. The men were in high glee at the success of
their enterprise, and seemed neither to know nor care about their
critical situation. Max, however, felt very anxious, and presently
managed to get Corporal Shaw so far to agree with him as