could be heard a brisk fusillade of rifle-shots, with now and again
the brief chatter of a machine-gun.

"Strong cavalry patrols approaching," commented Max. "They are driving
in scattered bodies of stragglers or outposts, I should say. Look now at
Schenk! He is waiting for the works to go up sky-high."

The moments passed, and nothing happened. A minute, two minutes, three
minutes. Still there was no change, and the tense attitude of the men
waiting in the car relaxed, and they began talking together in low
tones. Suddenly the figure of the officer of the guard appeared at the
gates, gesticulating excitedly.

Schenk gave a quick order to the chauffeur. The car was turned and moved
quickly back to the gates, and there stopped. The officer of the guard
ran to it, leaned over the side, and explained volubly. Max and Dale,
from where they stood, could hear nothing of what was said, but they
knew, almost as well as if they had heard, that the officer was
explaining that he had tried to fire the mines, but somehow without
success.

With a gesture of rage or impatience Schenk sprang out of the car, and,
followed by both officers, ran quickly to the guard-room and disappeared
from view.

The dropping shots had approached quite near, and Max believed that the
skirmishers could not be more than half a mile away, and were advancing
with a speed that indicated that they consisted either of cavalry or
armed motors.

"I'd give something to see their faces now--wouldn't you, Max?" queried
Dale, who could hardly contain himself in his delight.

Max was busy scribbling on a sheet of paper torn from his notebook, and
did not for a moment reply. When he had finished, he folded it up
carefully and addressed it on the outside. "Let us walk past the gates,
Dale, as though just passing. I am going to administer the _coup de
grace_ to our friend Schenk."

They crossed the road and slouched along past the gates. As they passed
the great grey motorcar, Max lightly dropped the note he was carrying on
to the seat which Schenk had just been occupying. The chauffeur was
looking eagerly in the direction of the guard-room, and did not observe
the act or the missive. They slouched on until they turned a corner, and
then Max cried eagerly:

"Now back again and in that garden among the bushes. We shall see it
all, and see Schenk's face when he reads my note."

"What did you say, old man?"

"Let us get out of sight there, and I will tell yo