"We had better hide these things," said Chester. "Their loss might be discovered and a search made."
Chester glanced around the room. He walked to the closet and opened the door. Peering in, he found, just above the top shelf, a small opening, apparently not meant for use, as it was too close to the ceiling.
"Put 'em in here," he said, and, withdrawing the papers from his pocket, he suited the action to the word.
Hal now brought the uniforms out from under the bed, and, by dint of hard squeezing, also finally succeeded in secreting them. The dark cloth made the hiding-place look like nothing more than a hole.
"All we need now are swords and pistols," said Chester.
"Pistols," agreed Hal. "I don't know that we need swords."
"You don't," said Chester, in contempt. "We would make a couple of fine-looking officers, strutting around without swords, wouldn't we?"
"You're right," Hal agreed, somewhat sheepishly. "Where are we going to get them?"
"The general always leaves his sword and revolvers on the table in the hall before retiring," said Chester. "Then I noticed another pair of swords hanging on the wall there. Also the lieutenant invariably leaves his weapons on the parlor table. Careless, I say, but lucky for us."
Chester's thoughtfulness in hiding the articles they had appropriated stood them in good stead, as it turned out that evening. General Strauss, upon his arrival home, went straight to his private office, saying that he would be in to dinner in a few moments.
Accordingly the others went in and sat down at the table without waiting for him. A moment later the old general came storming into the room.
"My maps!" he cried. "My maps! Has anyone seen my maps?"
"Lost 'em? Lost 'em? Do you think I would ask for them if I knew where they were?"
"Perhaps you left them at headquarters, sir."
"No, I didn't leave 'em at headquarters," raged the general. "Someone has stolen them!"
"Stolen, sir? Why, there has been no one in the house, and you know that none could have entered without the guard on the outside seeing them."
"I tell you they have been stolen!" cried the general. "I want the house searched at once--every room in it, sir, yes, and the room of these two Americans also."
"Father!" admonished the lieutenant. "Surely you are not accusing them?"