The boys ran around the house, and Hal rapped sharply upon the rear door.
A moment later and a kindly-faced woman appeared in the doorway. She
started back at the appearance of the two lads.

"Are the English coming?" she demanded, after a quick glance at the
lads' uniforms, and then she clasped her hands and exclaimed: "At
last! At last!"

"No, madam," Hal undeceived her, "the English are not coming--yet. We are
trying to make our way back to our lines, but a German motorcycle squad
is after us. We have come here to see if you will hide us until
nightfall."

The woman was silent for one moment. Then she stepped aside and motioned
them into the house.

"Come," she said quietly. "The Germans will not learn you are here
through me."

The lads stepped inside the door, and not a moment too soon. For at that
very instant a band of a dozen Germans flashed by on the road, their
motorcycles kicking up a cloud of dust.




CHAPTER XII.

A TRAITOR APPEARS.