to his feet, brought his rifle to his shoulder and
fired. He was too unsteady to aim carefully, however, and the lads were
unhurt.

But the sound of the shot aroused the Austrian camp. Men came rushing
forward.

The boys leaped to the backs of two horses and spurred on.

"It's a race for life, Hal!" shouted Chester, as the horses dashed
ahead.

CHAPTER XXVI.

A DASH FOR LIFE.

One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of
the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit. He passed
the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged
their horses to greater efforts.

From ahead suddenly came a body of horsemen. Before they realized it,
the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred
yards. Here the Austrian uniforms stood them in good stead. The officer
hesitated to give a command to his men to fire on what were apparently
Austrian officers, and before he was made aware of the situation by
shouts from behind, the lads had placed considerable distance between
themselves and these new enemies.

Now the latter also turned and gave chase.

After some minutes the lads realized that they were easily maintaining
their lead and breathed easier.

"We'll get away yet if our horses don't give out!" shouted Chester.

"All right!" Hal shouted back. "Keep up the pace!"

In their haste in seizing upon two horses, the lads had not had time to
look the animals over and it soon developed that they had made a bad
choice. The animals which the boys bestrode had returned only an hour
before from a long and tedious journey, and consequently were almost
exhausted. Under the spur they put forth their best efforts, but finally
they began to tire, and despite the urging of the lads, faltered in
their stride.

Hal was the first to notice this.

"I am afraid it is all up!" he shouted to Chester.

Right in the face of his oncoming enemies he drew rein. Chester followed
his example, and then both lads quickly dismounted.

At this spot there was a small clump of trees. Slapping their horses
across the flanks with their hats, the lads plunged in among the foliage
while the tired horses made off slowly.

"Up into these trees quick," shouted Chester. "It has saved us before;
it may again!"

Quickly the lads clambered up among the branches, where they lay
perfectly still. The sound of the approaching Austrians grew nearer, and
at last half a dozen of