They had almost reached the forest on the other side and each was mentally congratulating himself upon giving the pursuers the slip when a shot rang out from behind, and a bullet cut the ground beside Hal.
"Quick!" said Hal, and increased his pace, swerving from side to side as he ran, making it difficult for the Germans to aim accurately. Chester did likewise, and soon they were safe once more beneath the protection of the great trees.
But now that they had been discovered, the lads knew that it was to be a race for life. They knew that it was but a question of a few minutes until the remaining Germans would again mount their motorcycles and give chase. Also they realized that their chances of eluding their pursuers were much more slight in broad daylight than they had been in the darkness.
Therefore they ran at top speed. While they were not afraid and had not lost a whit of their nerve, they realized that discretion was the better part of valor, and their feet continued to hit the ground at breakneck speed, until again came to their ears the first faint sounds of the pursuing motorcycles. Gradually the sounds became more distinct, this telling the boys that their pursuers were gaining rapidly, although the rough condition of the ground made it impossible for the motorcycles to travel very fast.
Finally, when he could run no more, Hal threw himself to the ground, and Chester immediately followed his example. For a few moments they lay there, panting, their tongues literally hanging out like worn out dogs.
Then they sprang to their feet again, and making an abrupt turn to the right plunged into the underbrush right where it was the most dense. Here Hal espied a large tree, with low hanging branches. With Chester by his side he rushed for it.
Hal stood aside while Chester grabbed the lowest branch and swung himself up, and then he followed suit. High up in the tree the lads climbed, the close set branches affording an excellent screen.
Half a minute later six motorcycle riders hove into sight, hardly a hundred yards from where the boys were perched.
Chester's fingers twitched on his revolver, but Hal, who had noticed the set expression on his friend's face, uttered a low warning.