With a quick command the general stayed the fire of the soldiers, and
advanced to hear what the lad had to say. In their French uniforms, he
had not recognized Hal and Chester as Captain Eberhardt's erstwhile
prisoners.
"What is it?" he demanded sharply.
"This execution must not proceed," said Chester.
The general took a step back.
"And why not?" he asked.
"Because," said Chester, "Captain Eberhardt in no way aided the
prisoners to escape. It was through no fault of his that they were able
to get away."
"How do you know this?" asked General Steinbach. "Who are you?"
"We are the prisoners," replied Chester quietly.
"What!" exclaimed the general, starting back.
"Yes," said Hal, "we are the prisoners."
It did not take the German commander long to recover his poise, and he
advanced toward the lads.
"I thought you had made good your escape," he said. "I was told that you
had made you way into the French lines during the night."
"We did, sir," said Chester.
"Then how comes it that you are back here?"
"We learned from a prisoner this morning that Captain Eberhardt was to be
shot because we escaped," said Chester, "so we came back to help him if
possible.
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