TOWARD THE FRONTIER

Hal set his course by instinct and the glow of the disappearing moon,
and a few moments after their swift departure, it seemed, they were
beyond the city itself, headed straight for the Dutch frontier.

There was no pursuit, and Hal rightly judged the reason to be because
he had thrown pursuers off the track by several sharp turns before
leaving the city proper.

After an hour's riding, Hal made out specks ahead that he took to be
automobiles. He increased the speed of the car slightly to make sure
of this fact. The car driven by Hal was gaining, but so slightly as to
be almost imperceptible.

"Those fellows are hitting up a pretty swift gait," the lad muttered.
"I wonder why."

The sound of a shot was suddenly swept back to Hal's ear.

"Hello!" he muttered. "Trouble ahead."

He slowed down, for he had no mind to mix up with the Germans so long
as it could be avoided. Suddenly the first automobile ahead came to a
stop. The second did likewise. Hal shut off his searchlight and
approached slowly in the darkness.

It became plain, as he drew closer, that the first automobile had been
stopped by a pistol shot, which probably had punctured a rear tire.