"Perfectly," said Hal, "but we shall have to take that chance. I believe that having three English soldiers with us, apparently prisoners, will be a means of avoiding detection."
"All right," said Chester, "only we shall have to be careful."
Quickly the three mounted, and marching the soldiers on ahead of them started north, bearing off slightly to the east. For an hour they continued their journey, passing now and then a body of German troops. But they were not molested, not even challenged.
At length they came upon a farmhouse, setting well back from the road.
"Perhaps we can learn something here," said Chester.
Hal called a halt, and all approached the house. The door was opened by a young woman, who started back in dismay at sight of them.
"Have no fear," said Hal, who acted as spokesman of the party. "We are simply tired out and hungry. We thought perhaps you could furnish us with a bite to eat, and also our prisoners here."
Without a word the woman opened wide the door, and motioned for them to enter. The six followed her into the dining-room, where soon a hearty repast was spread on the table.
"We have been on a mission south," Hal said to the woman. "Can you tell me just how far the German staff is from here?"
"It can't be very far," the woman replied, "for some of the officers often come here to eat. They say that they like my cooking better than the regular army fare. I wouldn't be at all surprised if some of them were to come along soon."
"Good," said Hal, aloud, but nevertheless he was seriously alarmed. He did not wish to come into such close proximity with the German staff officers.
Hastily the six bolted their food, and even as they were disappearing around the outbuildings, Chester, glancing back, saw six men, in gold-trimmed uniforms, entering the house they had just quitted.
"Great Scott," he said, "we got out of there just in time. Look."
The rest looked back and saw the cause of his excitement. In the shelter of a clump of trees Hal called a halt.
"There must be something up," he declared, "or the German staff would not be this far south. I don't suppose General French has been informed of this. In some way we must find out what is going on."
"And I wouldn't be surprised," said Chester, "if they were using that farmhouse for a certain purpose."