they had gone.

"Same here," replied Chester. "But I wasn't going to let them take me
without a fight. Only one man could get up here at a time, and we could
certainly dispose of him."

"Yes, but they could starve us out, or set fire to the house or
something, which would be worse than being captured. Besides, we couldn't
let the woman who has aided us come to harm."

"No, that's so, too," agreed Chester. "I hadn't thought of that."

Further conversation was interrupted by a sound of some one at the
trap-door. Chester and Hal both jumped to their feet, and stood ready
above the opening in the floor to seize the intruder should it prove to
be an enemy.

But when the trap-door came away the head of their benefactress appeared
through the opening.

"You can come down now if you want to," she said. "The Germans have been
here and gone. I am sure they will not return."

Chester turned to Hal.

"What do you think?" he asked. "Shall we go down, or had we better
stay up here?"

Hal considered for a moment.