"But how do you live?" demanded Chester.

"We have been living on roots and herbs," was the reply, "and such other
food as we have been able to take from the enemy."

"And where do you sleep?"

"This forest," said Stephan, "makes an ideal hiding place. It is filled
with large caves, the presence of which seems to be unknown to the foe.
Many of the caves are large enough for twenty men, although it is seldom
that there are more than five or six men in one at a time."

From the rear came the sound of galloping horses. Stephan sprang to
instant action.

"Come with me," he cried, and led the way into the very thick of the
forest.

Hal, Chester, Alexis and Marquis followed him and soon were safe from
discovery in a large cave, the mouth of which was screened from view by
a dense mass of shrubbery.

Outside, after a few minutes, the lads could hear the sounds of moving
horses and the exclamations of their riders. The horsemen halted near
the entrance to the cave and held a consultation.

"They have probably fallen in with some of these guerillas," said one
voice. "If so, we shall have hard work to find them."

Close upon his words came a scream from outside, and straining their
ears, the party inside made out the sound of a distant pistol shot.

"One more gone," said Stephan briefly.

There came a volley from outside the cave, as the Germans fired at their
unseen assailant.

"Not much chance of their hitting anybody," said Stephan calmly.

From outside the cave came the sound of rapidly retreating hoofbeats.
The Germans were moving away. Alexis, having thus quickly learned the
way of the guerillas, cautiously poked his head from the cave, reached
back and picked up his brother's rifle, and fired after the retreating
foe.

"Another one," he said grimly, returning the weapon to Stephan.

"Just how long do you suppose you can keep this work up?" Chester asked
of Stephan.

"Not much longer, I am afraid," was the reply. "I figure it is only a
question of days now until the Germans send out a force strong enough to
search the woods thoroughly. In that event, we shall try to make our way
back over the border to safety."

From a corner of the cave Stephan now produced a small quantity of food,
which he set out. All fell to and it was soon disposed of. Then they
ventured from the cave and, walking slowly, made their way northward.

"It's just a case of keep moving," Stephan explained. "Of course, it
might be p