diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32440-8.txt | 6171 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32440-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 114062 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32440-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 309089 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32440-h/32440-h.htm | 6401 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32440-h/images/cover.png | bin | 0 -> 114382 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32440-h/images/jacket.png | bin | 0 -> 73548 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32440.txt | 6171 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32440.zip | bin | 0 -> 114039 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
11 files changed, 18759 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32440-8.txt b/32440-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c85c93 --- /dev/null +++ b/32440-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6171 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dave Dawson at Dunkirk, by Robert Sydney Bowen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dave Dawson at Dunkirk + +Author: Robert Sydney Bowen + +Release Date: May 19, 2010 [EBook #32440] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DAWSON AT DUNKIRK *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Roger L. Holda, Joseph R. Hauser +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + DAVE DAWSON + AT + DUNKIRK + + + _by_ + R. SIDNEY BOWEN + + + + + THE WAR ADVENTURE SERIES + + + + + THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY + AKRON, OHIO * NEW YORK + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1941, BY CROWN PUBLISHERS + + + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I HITLER GIVES THE ORDER! 11 + + II DIVING DOOM 21 + + III DAVE MEETS FREDDY FARMER 34 + + IV PRISONERS OF WAR! 45 + + V IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP 55 + + VI THEY'LL NEVER BEAT US! 66 + + VII SHOOT! 77 + + VIII ESCAPE! 88 + + IX A DESPERATE MISSION 102 + + X TRAPPED IN WAR SKIES! 115 + + XI FIGHTING HEARTS 130 + + XII IN THE NICK OF TIME 148 + + XIII BOMBS FOR NAMUR 160 + + XIV ORDERS FROM HEADQUARTERS 172 + + XV BELGIUM GIVES UP! 186 + + XVI FATE LAUGHS AT LAST 199 + + XVII THUNDER IN THE WEST 215 + + XVIII WINGS OF DOOM 227 + + XIX THE WHITE CLIFFS! 241 + + + + +CHAPTER ONE + +_Hitler Gives The Order!_ + + +The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination +clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed. He stared at it +sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see +it the very first thing when he opened his eyes. He knew there was some +reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember. + +He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed +and glanced about the room. For one brief second the unfamiliar sight +startled him. Then he realized where he was and grinned broadly. Sure +enough! This was his room in the Hotel de Ney in Paris, France. This was +just a little part of the wonderful dream that had really come true! + +The "dream" had begun two weeks ago. It had begun with the thundering +roar of the _Dixie_ Clipper's four engines that had lifted Dave and his +father from the waters of Port Washington Bay, Long Island, on the first +leg of the flight across the Atlantic to Lisbon, Portugal. His father +had been sent to Europe on a government mission, and after much coaxing +and pleading had consented to take Dave along. The thrill of a lifetime, +and during every minute of these last two weeks Dave Dawson had been +living in a very special kind of Seventh Heaven. + +To fly to a Europe at peace was something, but to fly to a Europe at war +was something extra special. It was a trip a fellow would remember all +the days of his life. It was an adventure that he'd tell his +grandchildren all about some day. The Clipper roaring to a landing at +Bermuda, then on to the Azores, and then farther eastward to Lisbon. The +train journey across Portugal to Spain, then up across Spain and over +the Pyrenees into France. Finally on to Paris and all the beautiful +things that beautiful city had to offer. + +Not all of the things, however, had been beautiful. There were lots of +things that were grim looking and made a fellow think a lot. The things +of war. True, the war was a long, long ways from Paris. It was far +eastward between the great Maginot Line of the French and the Siegfried +Line of Adolf Hitler's Nazi legions. There it had remained for eight +months, now, and people were saying that there it would remain. Hitler +would never dare attack the Maginot Line, and eventually the war would +just peter out. + +Yes, that was the talk you heard all over Paris, but the grim things +were there for you to see with your own eyes just the same. The +batteries of anti-aircraft guns strategically placed about the city. The +fat sausage balloons that could be sent up to great heights as a +barricade against raiding German bombers, should Hitler ever decide to +send them over. Then too there were the French Flying Corps planes that +patrolled almost constantly over the city day and night. The army +trucks, and small tanks that rumbled through the suburbs day after day. +The lorries filled with solemn eyed French troops going up to battle +stations. And at night ... the black out. No lights on the streets save +the tiny blue flashlights that the people carried. At first it made you +think of a crazy kind of fairyland. Then the faint _crump-crump_ of a +distant anti-aircraft battery going into action, and the long shafts of +brilliant light stabbing the black skies, would remind you that France +was at war, and that danger might come to Paris, though as yet it had +not even come close. But.... + +At that moment the musical chimes of the French alarm clock cut into his +thoughts. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was exactly fifteen +minutes of seven. He glanced at the calendar, too, and it told him that +the date was May 10th, 1940. + +May Tenth! In a flash the elusive bit of memory came back to him. He let +out a whoop of joy and flung back the covers and leaped out of bed. May +Tenth, of course! Gee, to think that he had actually forgotten. Why, +today was doubly important, and how! For one thing, he was now exactly +seventeen years old. For the other, that swell French officer, +Lieutenant Defoe, of the 157th Infantry Regiment, was going to take Dad +and himself on a personally conducted tour of the famous Maginot Line! +The Lieutenant had said he would come by the hotel at seven thirty +sharp. That's why he had put the clock so close to his bed! To make sure +he would hear the alarm, in case his dad in the next room over-slept. +Heck, yes! Seventeen years old, and a trip to the Maginot Line! + +He danced a jig across the room to the tall mirror that reached from the +floor to the ceiling and took the stance of a fighter coming out of his +corner for the knock-out round. For a couple of minutes he shadow boxed +the reflection in the glass, then whipped over a crushing, finishing +right and danced back. + +"Boy oh boy, do I feel good!" he cried happily and tore off his pajamas. +"Bring on your Joe Louis. Hot diggity, the Maginot Line. Me! Oh boy!" + +In almost less time than it takes to tell about it he was bathed and +fully dressed and ready to go. He started for the door leading into his +father's room but checked himself as he saw the camera on the bureau. He +took a step toward it, then snapped his fingers as he remembered +Lieutenant Defoe had said that the Maginot Line was one place where even +the President of France could not take a camera. For a second he was +tempted to take one anyway, but sober judgment quickly squelched that +idea. He knew that Lieutenant Defoe had gone to a lot of trouble to get +permission for him and his father to visit that great string of +fortresses, and it would be pretty cheap to do anything that would get +the Lieutenant in wrong. + +So he left the camera where it was, caught up his hat, and went over to +the connecting door and knocked loudly. + +"Rise and shine in there, Mister!" he called out. "Big doings today, +remember? Are you up, Dad?" + +There was no sound save the echo of his own voice. He knocked again and +shouted, "Hey, Dad!" but there was still no sound from the room beyond. +He hesitated a moment, then grasped the knob and pushed the door open. + +"Hey, Dad, get...!" + +An empty room greeted his amazed gaze. The bed hadn't been slept in. As +a matter of fact there was not a single sign that the room had been +occupied. There were no clothes in the closet, no toilet articles and +stuff on the dresser, and not even any traveling bags. The sudden shock +made his heart contract slightly, and for a long moment he could do +nothing but stare wide eyed at the vacant room. + +"Can I be dreaming?" he heard his own voice murmur. "This is Dad's room. +I said good night to him here last night. But, there's no one here. +Dad's gone, for cat's sake. _Hey, Dad!_" + +All that he got for his extra loud shout was a muffled voice protesting +violently in French, and an angry pounding on the floor of the room +above. He closed his Dad's door and went down the stairs three at a time +and straight across the lobby floor to the desk. + +"Have you seen my Father?" he asked the girlish looking man at the desk. + +The girlish looking man didn't hear. He was talking on the telephone. +Talking a blue streak with his hands as well as his mouth. In fact, in +order to make full use of both his hands the clerk had dropped the +receiver and was giving all of his attention to the mouth piece. He +looked like he was trying to do the Australian Crawl right into it and +down the wire to whoever was at the other end of the line. + +Dave grinned and stood watching the clerk. The words came out like a +string of machine gun bullets. Much, much too fast for Dave to line them +up in a sentence that made sense. He caught a word here and there, +however, and presently the grin faded from his face. He heard the name, +_Holland_, and _Belgium_. He heard _Nazi cows_. He heard _Maginot Line_, +and _Siegfried Line_. And a whole lot of the girlish looking clerk's +personal opinions of Hitler, and Goering, and Hess, and Goebbels, and +everybody else in Nazi Germany. + +He did not hear a lot, but he heard enough, and his eyes widened, and +his heart began to thump against his ribs in wild excitement. He banged +on the desk and shouted at the clerk, but he might just as well have +shouted at the moon. The clerk was far, far too busy trying to swim down +the telephone cord. + +Dave started to yell even louder but at that moment a hand took hold of +his arm and swung him around. He found himself staring into the flushed, +good looking face of Lieutenant Defoe. The French officer was breathing +hard and there was a strange look in his eyes that checked the happy +greeting on Dave's lips. + +"Hey, what's wrong, Lieutenant?" he asked instead. "That clerk acts like +he's going nuts. And, say, Dad isn't in his room. Not even any of his +things." + +"I know, _mon Capitaine_," Lieutenant Defoe said and held onto his arm. +"Come. First we shall have some breakfast, and then I will explain all." + +The fact that Defoe was there, and that the French officer had called +him by the kidding title of My Captain soothed the tiny worry that was +beginning to grow inside Dave. + +"Okay, Lieutenant, I am starved at that," he said as the officer led the +way to the breakfast room. "But, that clerk. He was shouting something +about the Germans in Holland and Belgium, and.... Hey, my gosh! Has +Hitler invaded the Lowlands?" + +"Early this morning," Defoe said gravely. "Another of his promises +broken, but we expected it, of course. Yes, _mon Capitaine_, now France +will truly go to war. Here, sit there. Let me order. They are perhaps +excited a little this morning, and I will get better results." + +Dave waited until the French officer had ordered for them both and put +the fear of the devil in the lumbering and thoroughly flustered +waitress. Then he leaned forward on the table. + +"What about Dad, Lieutenant?" he asked. "Is anything wrong? I mean, is +he all right?" + +The French officer nodded and wiped beads of sweat from his face with a +huge colored handkerchief. It was then Dave saw how tired and weary the +man looked. His eyes were drawn and haggard. His funny little mustache +seemed even to droop from fatigue. Despite his natty uniform, and the +two rows of shiny medals, the Lieutenant looked as though he had not +slept for days. + +"Yes, your father is well, and safe," Defoe finally said through a +mouthful of hard roll. "He is in England." + +Dave spilled some of the water he was drinking. + +"England?" he gasped. "Dad is in England?" + +"In London," Defoe said and crammed more roll into his mouth. "It was +all very sudden. Be patient, _mon Capitaine_, and I shall try to +explain. First, a thousand pardons for not arriving sooner, but I was +delayed at the War Ministry. And there was not one of those cursed taxis +we have in Paris, so I was forced to run all the way. You were surprised +and alarmed to find your father gone, eh?" + +"I was knocked for a loop," Dave said with a grin. "But, look, tell me. +Why in thunder did Dad go to London? Because of the German invasion into +Holland and Belgium?" + +"No," Defoe said. "Some business with your American Ambassador there. +What, I do not know. We were in the lounge having a good night glass of +wine just after you had gone to bed. A wireless message arrived. Your +father said that he had to leave for London at once. An Embassy car took +him to Calais where he could embark on a destroyer. He said that he +would be gone for three days. You were asleep and he did not wish to +wake you. He asked me to take his room, and to be your companion until +he returned. He said he would write you from London. He said it was just +a quick business trip and nothing for you to worry about." + +"Yes, yes," Dave said, trying to keep his voice polite. "But what now?" + +Lieutenant Defoe gestured expressively with a butter knife in one hand +and a piece of roll in the other. + +"Now, everything is changed, _mon Capitaine_," he said. "In a few hours +you and I shall drive together to Calais. There I shall salute you and +bid you farewell. A British destroyer will take you to Dover. And from +there to London you shall travel by train. Your father will meet you at +the station in London. What you will do then, I do not know. Your father +did not honor me with the information." + + + + +CHAPTER TWO + +_Diving Doom_ + + +The small but speedy Renault car scooted along the broad dusty French +road like a grey-brown bug fleeing for its life. The ride out of Paris +had both thrilled Dave and depressed him. It was exciting to streak past +the long lines of army cars and troops on the march. It gave him a kick +the way the simple showing of Lieutenant Defoe's military papers cleared +the way through barrier after barrier thrown up across the road. Those +papers were as a magic charm that made officers and men alike spring to +attention and salute. And in a way they _were_ a magic charm. They had +not only been signed by the highest military authorities, but by the +President of France, himself. + +Yet with all that it made him a little sad to leave Paris. He felt as +though he were running away in the face of danger. He had had lots of +fun with his Dad and Lieutenant Defoe in Paris. Swell times, and now he +was rushing away from the city. Running away because danger might come +to Paris. True, he was only obeying his father's instructions, yet he +could not rid himself of the feeling that he was running away. + +From time to time he glanced at Lieutenant Defoe at the wheel of the +car. The laughter and gaiety had gone from the Frenchman's eyes. His +face was set and grim. He gripped the wheel tight with his big hands, +and every so often he flung an anxious look up into the sun filled blue +sky. Each time Dave followed his look but could see nothing. Eventually, +the question was forced from his lips. + +"What's the matter, Lieutenant?" he asked. "You look worried. You think +something's going to happen?" + +The French officer shrugged, and for the five hundredth time peered up +at the sky. + +"Something going to happen?" he murmured. "Of course not. My neck, it is +a little stiff. It feels better when I move my head, so." + +Lieutenant Defoe punctuated his words with a laugh, but that laugh did +not ring true in Dave's ears. + +"You're looking for German airplanes, aren't you?" he said straight out. +"And you are worried, too, about how the army is getting along. I saw +you talking with a colonel just before we left. Did you get any news?" + +"We are holding the German cows," Lieutenant Defoe said through clenched +teeth. "The English and our gallant troops are now pouring into Belgium +by the thousands. We will throw the Boche back. Yes, he shall be taught +a lesson he will not forget for a long time." + +The French officer lifted one hand from the wheel, doubled it into a +rock hard fist and shook it savagely at an imaginary foe. + +"This time we shall teach them a lesson, once and for all!" he cried. +"We...!" + +The rest died on his lips. Rather it was changed into a cry of both +anger and surprise. At that moment the car had gone spinning around a +sharp bend in the road and there directly ahead was a scene that brought +both Defoe and Dave bolt upright in the seat. The road was black with +men, women, and children. A sea of people, and horses, and cows, and +goats, and dogs was sweeping toward them. There were wagons, and carts, +and even baby carriages piled high with household goods. And above it +all rose a constant unending babble of frightened tongues. + +"Good gosh, look at them!" Dave exclaimed. + +Lieutenant Defoe didn't say a word. He quickly slipped the car out of +gear and braked it to a stop. Then he climbed down onto the road and +Dave saw him slide his hand toward his holstered gun. The swarm of men, +women, and children advanced relentlessly toward them. Lieutenant Defoe +flung up one hand. + +"Halt!" he bellowed at the top of his voice. "What is the meaning of +this?" + +Ten thousand tongues answered his question all in the same voice. + +"The Boche!" they screamed. "They have broken through. They have taken +everything. They are everywhere. They will slaughter us like cattle, if +they catch us. How far to Paris? We are tired. We have walked for hours. +Yes, for years!" + +"Enough!" Lieutenant Defoe roared. "The Boche will not break through. +The soldiers of France will not permit it. You are but frightened fools, +all of you. Go back to your homes. I command you to! Go back to your +homes where you will be safe. The Boche will not harm you!" + +An old, old woman clutching a bundle of clothing laughed wildly and +rushed up close to the French officer. She shook a gnarled fist in his +face and screamed at the top of her voice. + +"Our soldiers? Where are they? I will tell you. They are in retreat. +There are too many of the Boche. And they have airplanes, and, tanks, +and guns. With my own eyes I have seen them shoot down anybody, and +everybody. I ask you, where is our army? And the English, where are +they? I will tell you, my Lieutenant, the Boche have killed them, killed +them all. Turn this thing around and flee for your lives. That is my +advice to you." + +"Silence, old woman!" Lieutenant Defoe thundered. "Enough of such talk! +Spies have filled you with such lies. That is what they wish to do. To +scare you, and frighten you, and to make you leave your homes, and +clutter up the roads this way. Listen to me! I...." + +The Frenchman roared with all the power of his lungs, but it was even +less than a faint cry in the wilderness. The long lines of terror +stricken refugees drowned him out. Like a gigantic black wave parted in +the middle they swept by on both sides of the car. The Frenchman's face +turned beet red with fury. He shouted, and ranted, and raved. But it was +all to no avail. His voice and his actions were but a waste of breath +and muscle energy. For a little while Dave tried to help him. He tried +to reason with the mass of terrified humanity sweeping by the car. He +begged, he pleaded, and he threatened, but it was as useless as +thundering at the sun to turn off its light. No one paid him any +attention. It is doubtful if anybody even heard him. Eventually he sank +down on the seat, his voice exhausted and his throat sore. + +He looked helplessly at Lieutenant Defoe. The French officer was a +picture of misery, and of burning anger. Tears were in his eyes, and he +was working his mouth though no sound came off his lips. In time he got +back in the car and sank dejectedly behind the wheel. + +"I am ashamed of my countrymen!" he shouted at Dave. "I am mortified +that you should see this. But this is the curse of war. The people are +like chickens when war comes. They do not stop to think or reason. They +think of nothing but fleeing for their lives. They ... they are like +children. I am ashamed." + +The utter sadness and remorse in the officer's voice touched Dave +deeply. He reached over and took hold of the Lieutenant's arm and +pressed hard. + +"That's okay, I understand, Lieutenant," he said. "Forget it. Look, +we'll be stuck here forever if we don't do something. Let's try and get +off to the side. I'll get out and push them aside, and you keep the car +in low gear. Okay, take it easy, Lieutenant." + +Some of the anger faded from the Frenchman's eyes and the corners of his +mouth tilted in a faint smile. + +"At your orders, _mon Capitaine_," he said. "Yes, you get out and warn +them away, and I shall drive the car to the side of the road." + +Dave returned his smile and slid out of the car. No sooner had his feet +touched the road than he felt as though his body had been caught in the +roaring torrent of a rampaging river. Like a chip of wood he was picked +up and swept along, and it was several seconds before he was able to +regain his footing and force his way back and around to the front of the +car. There he put out both his hands and started waving the steady +stream of babbling refugees to the left and to the right. + +It was tedious, heartbreaking effort, and a hundred times he came within +an ace of falling flat on the road under the crawling wheels of the +Renault. But for his young strong body pushing and shoving this way and +that Lieutenant Defoe would not have been able to move the car forward +an inch. As it was the car did not travel more than fifty yards in a +good half hour. By then Dave was drenched with his own sweat. His hat +was gone and his clothes were slowly but surely being torn from his +back. + +Suddenly he saw Lieutenant Defoe at his shoulder and heard the +Frenchman's voice shouting in his ear. + +"It is useless, _mon Capitaine_! It is madness. We will not get any +place with the car. The town of Beaumont is but a few _kilometres_ +ahead. There is an army post there. I shall request a military car and +a driver. Ah me, I am desolate that this should happen. Here! Watch what +you are doing! You! Let go of me, my old one! _Attention!_" + +At that moment the French officer had been caught in the river of +people. He struggled and he fought but he was relentlessly swept along +and away from Dave's clutching hands. In almost the same moment Dave, +himself, was caught up by the moving mass. It was either a case of +moving along with the stream or stumbling to his hands and knees and +being trampled under foot, or being run over by the heavy wheel of an ox +cart or wagon. It was absolutely impossible, and an act of sheer +suicide, to buck that packed throng. + +And so Dave took the only course open to him. He moved along with the +stream of refugees and inch by inch worked his way to the edge of the +stream and into a clear space. There he paused for breath and strained +his eyes for a glimpse of Lieutenant Defoe, but the Frenchman was +nowhere to be seen. He had been virtually swallowed up by the stream of +humanity moving relentlessly and blindly forward. Dave thought of the +troops and the long lines of army cars he and Defoe had passed since +leaving Paris, and shuddered at the thought. When the army and the +populace met what would happen? Who would give way, or would anybody? +In his mind's eye he pictured other French officers like Defoe striving +to force the refugees to abandon their mad flight and return home. It +was not a pretty picture to imagine. It was not a nice situation to +contemplate. Troops with tanks and guns moving forward to meet the enemy +but instead meeting thousands and thousands of their own flesh and +blood. + +"Please, God, put sense in the heads of these poor people!" Dave +breathed softly to himself. "Tell them what they should do for the sake +of France, and...." + +Dave Dawson never finished that prayer. At that moment there came to his +ears a new and entirely different sound. At first he could think only of +tons of brick sliding down a slanting tin roof. Then suddenly he knew +what it was, and in that same instant the rising hysterical scream of +the passing throngs echoed his own thought. + +"_Les Boches! Les Boches!_ Take cover at once!" + +Like thousands upon thousands of stampeded cattle the refugees broke +ranks and went scattering madly and wildly in all directions. Carts and +wagons were left where they had come to a halt on the road with their +horses, or oxen, or dogs standing dumb eyed and drooping in their +tracks. Dave stayed where he was for an instant, not moving an inch, and +his eyes fixed upon the cluster of dots streaking down from the blue sky +high overhead. In the twinkling of an eye they ceased to be dots. They +became planes! German planes. Heinkels, and Messerschmitt 110's, and +Stuka dive bombers. Winged messengers of doom howling down upon the road +choked with wagons and carts, and countless numbers of helpless +refugees. + +Even as Dave saw them the leading ships opened fire. Tongues of jetting +red flame spat downward, and the savage yammer of the aerial machine +guns echoed above the blood chilling thunder of the engines. Tearing his +eyes from that horrible sight Dave glanced back at the road. It was +still filled with frantic men, women, and children, and at the spot +directly under the diving planes bullets were cutting down human lives +as swiftly as a keen edged scythe cuts down wheat. + +His feet rooted to the ground, Dave stared in horror. Then suddenly one +of the diving Stukas released its deadly bomb. The bomb struck the +ground no more than twenty feet from the edge of the road. Red, orange, +and yellow flame shot high into the air. A billowing cloud of smoke +filled with dirt, and dust, and stones fountained upward. Then a mighty +roar akin to the sound of worlds colliding seemed to hammer straight +into his face. The next thing he realized he was flat on his back on the +ground gasping and panting for air while from every direction came the +screams of the wounded and the dying. + +The screams seemed to release a hidden spring inside of him and make it +possible for him to set himself into action. He scrambled to his feet, +stared wild eyed up at the diving planes and shook his fist in white +heat anger. + +"You'll pay for this!" he shouted. "You'll pay for this if it takes the +Allies a thousand years. And I'll do my share in helping them too!" + +As the last left his lips he suddenly saw an old woman, almost bowed +down by bundles, trying feebly to get away from the road and out from +under the roaring armada of diving death. She took a few faltering steps +and then stumbled to her knees. One withered hand was stretched out in +mute appeal to the others to help her up, but no one paused to give her +aid. Stark fear had them all in its grasp and none could be bothered +about the misfortunes of the other. + +The old woman was only one in thousands and thousands, but Dave had +witnessed her sad plight and so his movements were instinctive. He +leaped forward and went dashing to her side. With one hand he grabbed +her bundles and the other hand he put under her arm. + +"I'll help you, Madam," he said. "Just lean on me. I'll get you to a +safe place. Don't worry." + +He had spoken in English and of course the old woman didn't understand +his words. She understood his actions, however, and there was deep +gratitude in the lined and tired face she turned toward him. + +"_Merci, Monsieur, merci_," she whispered and started forward leaning +heavily on Dave's arm. + +And then down out of the blue it came! Dave heard the eerie sound above +the general din but of course he didn't see the dropping bomb. He didn't +even taken the time to glance upward. He simply acted quickly. He +grabbed the old woman about the waist and hauled her to the scanty +protection of a standing wagon. There he pushed her down and bent over +her so that his body served as partial protection against what he knew +was coming. + +It came! A terrific crash of sound that seemed to split the very earth +wide open. Every bone in Dave's body seemed to turn to jelly. The entire +universe became one huge ocean of flashing light and fire. The ground +rocked and trembled under his feet. Unseen hands seemed to grab hold of +him and lift him straight upward to hover motionless in a cloud of +licking tongues of colored flame. Then suddenly all became as dark as +the night, and as silent as a tomb, and he knew no more. + + + + +CHAPTER THREE + +_Dave Meets Freddy Farmer_ + + +When Dave again opened his eyes it was night. He was lying on his back +under some trees and staring up through bomb shattered branches at the +canopy of glittering and twinkling stars high overhead. For several +seconds he remained perfectly still, not moving a muscle. What had +happened? Where was he? Why was he out here under some trees in the +dark? + +Those and countless other questions crowded through his brain. Then, as +though somebody had pulled a curtain aside, memory came back to him and +he knew all the answers. Of course! A Stuka bomb. It had dropped close. +He had been trying to shelter that old woman. Yet, that had been on the +road by a cart, and here he was under some trees. How come? Had the +exploding bomb blown him under the trees? Was he wounded but still too +dazed to feel any pain? Good gosh, it was night now, so he must have +been here for hours! + +Thought and action became one. He put out his hands and pushed himself +up to a sitting position. Almost instantly he regretted the effort. A +hundred trip-hammers started going to work on the inside of his head. +The night and the stars began to whirl madly about him. He closed his +eyes tight, and clenched his teeth until things stopped spinning so +fast. That helped the pounding in his head, too. It simmered down to a +dull throbbing ache that he could stand without flinching. + +For a few moments he sat there on the grass feeling over his body and +searching for broken bones or any wounds he might have received. There +was nothing broken, however, and his only wound was a nice big goose egg +on the left side of his head. Thankful for the miracle wrought, he got +slowly to his feet, braved a hand against a tree trunk and peered about +him in the darkness. + +It was then one more little surprise came to him. He was in a field and +as far as he could tell there wasn't a road any place. No unending +stream of refugees, no wagons, no carts, and no road. It was as though +he had dropped down into the very middle of nowhere. Completely puzzled +by the strangeness of his surroundings, he glanced at the sky, found the +North Star and started walking northward. Way off in the distance there +was a faint rumbling, like thunder far far away, but he knew at once it +was the roar of heavy guns. If he needed any proof he had only to stare +toward the northeast. There the faint glow of flames made a horizon line +between the night sky and the earth. + +"But where _am_ I?" he asked himself aloud. "I couldn't have just been +blown away. I haven't even got a sprained ankle. Gosh! I wonder where +the Lieutenant is? And those poor refugees. I sure hope French planes +caught those Germans and gave them some of their own medicine. And...." + +He choked off the rest and started running. In the distance off to his +left he had suddenly seen a pair of moving lights. One look told him +that it must be some kind of a car on a road. He would stop it and at +least find out where he was. Perhaps he might even get a ride back to +Paris. He would be crazy to try and reach Calais, now. The best thing +for him to do was to get back to Paris as fast as he could and send word +to his father. + +"But how can I?" he gasped as sudden truth dawned on him. "I don't even +know where Dad's staying in London. He was to meet me at the station. I +didn't bother to ask Lieutenant Defoe where Dad was staying!" + +The seriousness of his plight added wings to his feet. He raced at top +speed toward the pair of moving dim lights. And with every step he took, +fear that he would not get to the road in time mounted in his breast. +But he had been the star half miler on the Boston Latin High School +track team, and finally he reached the edge of the road a good fifty or +sixty yards in front of the advancing pair of lights. Disregarding the +danger of being run down in the dark he stepped to the center of the +road and waved both his arms and shouted at the top of his voice. The +sound of the car's engine died down, brakes complained, and the car came +to a halt. + +"I say there, what's up?" shouted a voice from behind the lights. "I +jolly well came close to running you down, you know. Just spotted you in +the nick of time." + +Dave gulped with relief at the sound of an English speaking voice. He +trotted toward the lights and then around them to the driver's seat. It +was then he saw that the car was an ambulance. It was a nice brand new +one, and only a little dusty. Painted under the red cross on the side +were the words ... British Volunteer Ambulance Service. + +"I say, do you speak English?" the driver asked as Dave came close. + +Dave looked at him. The driver wasn't in uniform. He wore civilian +clothes, and he was about Dave's age. Perhaps a few months younger. In +the faint glow of the dashboard light his face held a sort of cherubic +expression. He wore no hat and sandy hair fell down over his forehead. +His eyes were clear blue, and he had nice strong looking teeth. One look +and Dave knew instantly that he could like this friendly English boy a +lot. + +"You bet I speak English," he said. "I'm an American. My name is Dave +Dawson." + +"Mine's Freddy Farmer," said the English boy. "I'm very glad to meet +you, America, but what in the world are you doing here? Good grief, look +at your clothes! Did a bomb fall on you?" + +"One came mighty close," Dave said with a grin. "I just came to a few +minutes ago, and saw your lights. I'm trying to get back to Paris. Is it +far?" + +"Paris?" young Freddy Farmer exclaimed. "Why, it's over a hundred miles +back. This is a part of Belgium. Didn't you know that? What happened +anyway? You say you were bombed? A nasty business, bombing." + +For a moment or so Dave was too surprised to speak. This was Belgium? +But it couldn't be! Freddy Farmer must be wrong. He was sure Defoe and +he had not been seventy miles from Paris when they'd met those +refugees. Belgium? Good gosh! Did that exploding bomb blow him over +thirty miles away? But that was crazy. + +"Come, get in and ride with me," the English lad broke into his +thoughts. "I can't take you back to Paris but Courtrai is just up ahead. +That's where I'm delivering this ambulance. Perhaps you can get +something there to take you back to Paris. Right you are, America. Now, +tell me all about it." + +As gears were shifted and the car moved forward Dave told of his +thrilling experiences since leaving Paris that morning. Young Freddy +Farmer didn't interrupt, but every now and then he took his eyes off the +road ahead to look at Dave in frank admiration. + +"Say, you did have a bit of a go, didn't you?" Freddy Farmer said when +Dave had finished. "That was mighty decent of you to try and help that +old woman. I hope she got through, all right. We heard that the Germans +were shooting and bombing the refugees. A very nasty business, but +that's the way Hitler wages war." + +"I hope he gets a good licking!" Dave exclaimed. "Those poor people +didn't have a chance. They were helpless. I don't see how he thinks he +can win the war that way." + +"Hitler won't win the war," the English boy said quietly. "He may have +us on the run for a bit, but in the end we'll win. Just like we did the +last time. That's part of his plan, shooting civilians on the road. I +heard a major and a colonel talking about it. You see, if his airplanes +can get the civilians to leave their homes and clog up the roads, why +then our troops have a hard time passing through. I saw some of that +sort of thing myself, today. It was awful, I can tell you. I couldn't +make any more than five miles in six hours. And it was all I could do to +stop them from taking my ambulance and using it for a bus. I wouldn't +let them, though." + +Dave looked sidewise and saw how tired the English lad was. His cheeks +were slightly pale from fatigue, and his eyelids were heavy. Dave +reached out and touched the wheel. + +"I've just had a pretty good sleep," he said with a laugh, "and you look +pretty much all in, Freddy. Want me to take the wheel for a spell? You +can tell me which way to go." + +The English boy turned his head and smiled at him, and somehow both +suddenly knew that a deep friendship between them had been cemented. + +"Thanks, awfully much, Dave," Freddy Farmer said, "but I'm not really +tired at all. Besides, there isn't far to go now. Only a few more miles, +I fancy. It's nice of you to ask, though." + +"It'll still be okay if you change your mind," Dave said. "Have you been +driving an ambulance long? Do you go out and help pick up the wounded, +and stuff? I guess you've seen a lot of battles, haven't you?" + +"Oh, No, I'm not really an ambulance driver, Dave. You have to be +eighteen to get in this volunteer service, and I won't be seventeen +until next month. You see, I've been going to school just outside Paris +and my family decided I'd better come home to England. Well, yesterday +several of these ambulances arrived at the Paris headquarters of the +Service. They had been shipped clear to Paris through a mistake. The +French do funny things sometimes, you know. Anyway, they were needed in +Belgium and there were no regular drivers in Paris. Not enough, anyway. +I thought it would be good fun to drive one and then carry on to the +Channel and on home to England. We left Paris at midnight last night, +and soon lost track of each other. It's been fun, though. I'll be sorry +to have the trip end." + +"Jeepers, you've been driving since midnight?" Dave exclaimed. "You sure +can take it, Freddy, and how!" + +"Take it?" the English boy murmured with a puzzled frown. "I don't think +I know what you mean." + +Dave laughed. "That's American slang, Freddy," he said. "It means that +you've got a lot of courage, and stuff. It means that you're okay." + +"Thanks, Dave," Freddy Farmer said. "But it really doesn't take any +courage. I'm very glad to do my bit, if it helps the troops any. We've +got to beat the Germans, you know. And we jolly well will, I can tell +you!" + +The two boys lapsed into silence and for the next two or three miles +neither of them spoke. During that time Dave stared at the dim red glow +of burning buildings in the distance and thought his thoughts about the +war that had apparently begun in earnest. He was an American and America +was neutral, of course. Yet after what he'd seen this day he was filled +with a burning desire to do something to help beat back Hitler and +defeat him. He knew that there had been a lot of boys his age who had +taken part in the last World War. He was big for his age, too, and +strong as an ox. He decided that when he got to London and found his +father he would ask Dad if there wasn't something he could do to help. +Nothing else seemed important, now. The important thing was to help stop +all this business that was taking place in Europe. + +At that moment Freddy Farmer suddenly slipped the car out of gear and +braked it to a stop. + +"Yes, Freddy?" + +"I'm afraid I've got us into a bit of a mess, Dave," he said. "To be +truthful, we are lost. I really haven't the faintest where we are. You +must think me a fine mug for this. I'm frightfully sorry, really." + +"Wait a minute!" Dave cried out. "Here comes a car. It sounds like a +truck. Gee, what a racket!" + +A pair of headlights was rapidly approaching along the road that led off +to the right. They bounced up and down because of the uneven surface, +and the banging noise of the engine made Dave think of a threshing +machine. On impulse he and Freddy Farmer moved out into the glow of the +ambulance's lights and began waving their arms. The truck or car, or +whatever it was, bore down upon them and finally came to a halt with the +grinding and clashing of gears. + +"Come on, Dave, we'll find out, now!" Freddy said and trotted into the +twin beams of light. + +Dave dropped into step at his side, and they had traveled but a few +yards when a harsh voice suddenly stopped them in their tracks. + +"Halt!" + +The two boys stood motionless, their eyes blinking into the light. Dave +heard Freddy Farmer catch his breath in a sharp gasp. He suddenly +realized that for some unknown reason his own heart was pounding +furiously, and there was a peculiar dryness in his throat. At that +moment he heard hobnailed boots strike the surface of the road. The +figure of a soldier came into the light. On his head was a bucket shaped +helmet, and in his hands was a wicked looking portable machine gun. He +moved forward in a cautious way, and then Dave was able to see his +uniform. His heart seemed to turn to ice in his chest, and his hands +suddenly felt very cold and damp. + +He was looking straight at a German soldier! + + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + +_Prisoners Of War!_ + + +"Good Grief, a German!" + +Freddy Farmer's whispered exclamation served to jerk Dave out of his +stunned trance. He blinked and swallowed hard and tried to stop the +pounding of his heart. + +"Hey, there, we're lost!" he suddenly called out. "Where are we anyway?" + +The advancing German soldier pulled up short and stopped. He stuck his +head forward and stared hard. There was a sharp exclamation behind him +and then a second figure came into the light. The second figure was a +German infantry officer. He kept one hand on his holstered Luger +automatic and came up to Dave and Freddy. + +"You are English?" he asked in a heavy nasal voice. "What are you doing +here? Ah, an ambulance, eh? So, you are trying to sneak back through our +advanced lines? It is good that I have found you just in time. Keep your +hands up, both of you! I will see if you have guns, yes!" + +"We're not armed, Captain!" Dave exclaimed. "We're not soldiers. We're +just lost." + +"I am not a captain, I am a lieutenant!" the German snapped and searched +Dave for a gun. "You will address me as such. Not soldiers, you tell me? +Then, why this ambulance? And why are you here?" + +"As you were just told," Freddy Farmer spoke up in a calm voice, +"because we are lost. Now, if you will be good enough to tell us the way +to Courtrai we will be off." + +The German officer snapped his head around. + +"Ah, so _you_ are English, yes?" he demanded. + +"And proud of it!" Freddy said stiffly. "And this chap, if you must +know, is an American friend of mine. Now, will you tell us the way to +Courtrai?" + +The German said nothing for a moment or two. There was a look of +disappointment on his sharp featured face. It was as though he was very +sad he had not found a pistol or an automatic on either of them. He +moved back a step and stood straddle legged with his bunched fists +resting on his hips. + +"American and English?" he finally muttered. "This is all very strange, +very unusual. You say you don't know where you are?" + +"That's right, Lieutenant," Dave said and choked back a hot retort. +"Where are we anyway? And what are you doing here? My gosh! Is this +Germany?" + +The German smiled and showed ugly teeth. + +"It is now," he said. "But that is all you need to know. I think you +have lied to me. Yes, I am sure of it. I will take you to the +_Kommandant_. He will get you to talk, I'm sure. _Himmel!_ Our enemies +send out little boys to spy on us! The grown men must be too afraid. +But, you cannot fool us with your tricks!" + +"Tricks, nothing!" Dave blurted out in a burst of anger. "We told you +the truth. I was on my way to join my father in London...." + +"Don't waste your breath, Dave," Freddy Farmer said quietly. "I'm sure +he wouldn't understand, anyway." + +"Silence, you Englisher!" the German snarled and whirled on the boy. +"You will make no slurs at a German officer. Come! We will go to see the +_Kommandant_ at once!" + +"We'd better do as he orders, Freddy," Dave said swiftly. "After we've +told our story to his commanding officer they'll let us go. They can't +keep us very long. If they do, I'll appeal to the nearest American +Consul. He'll straighten things out for us." + +"So?" the German muttered and gave Dave a piercing look. "Well, we shall +see. If you are spies it will go very hard with you, yes. Now, march +back to the car in front of me." + +The officer half turned his head and snapped something at the soldier +who had been standing in back of him. The soldier immediately sprang +into action. He hurried past and climbed into the front seat of the +ambulance. Dave impulsively took hold of Freddy's arm again. + +"Don't worry, Freddy!" he whispered. "Everything, will come out all +right. You wait and see. Don't let these fellows even guess that we're +worried." + +"What's that?" the German suddenly thundered. "What's that you are +saying to him?" + +The officer had half drawn his Luger and the movement chilled Dave's +heart. He forced himself, though, to look the German straight in the +eye. + +"I was simply telling him the American Consul would fix things up for +us," he said evenly. + +The German snorted. + +"Perhaps," he growled. "We shall see." + +Walking straight with their heads up and their shoulders back, the two +boys permitted themselves to be herded back to the car. When they passed +beyond the glow of the headlights they were plunged into darkness and +for a moment Dave could see nothing. Then his eyes became used to the +change and he saw that the car was a combination car and truck. It was +actually an armored troop transport. Steel sheets protected the back and +the driver's seat, and instead of heavy duty tires on the rear wheels +there were tractor treads instead so that the army vehicle could travel +across country and through mud as well as along a paved road. + +In the back were some fifteen or twenty German soldiers each armed with +a small machine gun and completely fitted out for scouting work. They +peered down at Dave and Freddy as the officer motioned them to get into +the transport, but none of them spoke. They either did not understand +English, or else they were too afraid of the officer to speak. And so +Dave and Freddy climbed aboard in silence and sank down on the hard +plank that served as a seat. The officer got in beside the driver and +growled a short order. + +The engine roared up, gears clanked and crashed, and the transport +lunged forward. It traveled a few yards and swung off the road and +around in the direction from which it had obviously come. That direction +was to the east, and that caused Dave to swallow hard and press his knee +against Freddy's. The pressure that was returned told him that the +English boy had a good hold on himself, and wasn't going to do anything +foolish. + +Glad of that, Dave stared ahead over the shoulder of the driver at the +road. At various points the pavement had been torn up by a bomb or by a +shell and the transport's driver was forced to detour around such spots. +Presently, wrecked ammunition wagons, and light field artillery pieces +were to be seen, strewn along the side of the road. They were all +smashed almost beyond recognition, and close by them were the death +stilled figures of Belgian soldiers, and refugees who had been unable to +escape the swiftly advancing German hordes. + +Suddenly the sound of airplane engines lifted Dave's eyes up to the +skies. He could not see the planes, they were too high. However the +pulsating beat of the engines told him they were Hitler's night bombers +out on patrol. Impulsively he clenched his two fists and wished very +much he was up there in a swift, deadly pursuit or fighter plane. He had +taken flying lessons back home, and had even made his first solo. But he +had not been granted his private pilot's license yet because of his age. + +"But I'd like to be up there in a Curtis P-Forty!" he spoke aloud. "I +bet I could do something, or at least try!" + +His words stiffened Freddy Farmer at his side. The English boy leaned +close. + +"Are you a pilot, Dave?" he whispered. "Do you fly?" + +"Some," Dave said. "I've gone solo, anyway. I hope some day to get +accepted for the Army Air Corps. I think flying is the best thing yet. +There's nothing like it. Hear those planes up there? Boy!" + +"They're German," Freddy said. "Heinkel bombers, I think. Or perhaps +they are Dorniers, I can't tell by the sound. I'm crazy about flying, +too. I joined an aero club back in England. I've got a few hours solo to +my credit. When war broke out I tried to enlist in the Royal Air Force, +but they found out about my age and it was no go, worse luck. But, some +day I'm going to wear R.A.F. wings. At least, I hope and pray so. I...." + +"Silence!" the German officer's harsh voice grated against their +eardrums once more. "You will not speak!" + +"A rum chap, isn't he?" Freddy breathed out the corner of his mouth. + +"Sure thinks he's a big shot," Dave breathed. + +And then as the transport continued to rumble and roll eastward Nature +took charge of things as far as the boys were concerned. Strong and +healthy though they were, they had been through a lot since dawn. It had +been more than enough to wear down a full grown man. And soon they fell +sound asleep. + +The rasping and clanging of gears and the shouting of voices in German +eventually dragged Dave out of his sound slumber. It was still dark but +he could see the first faint light of a new dawn low down in the east. +The motorized transport had come to a stop in the center of a small +village. Dave could see that here, too, shells and bombs had been at +work, but lots of the buildings remained untouched. There were German +soldiers in all kinds of uniforms all over the place. A hand was slapped +against his shoulder and he looked up to stare into the small bright +eyes of the German lieutenant. + +"Wake up your friend!" the German snapped, "We are here. Get out, both +of you!" + +"Where are we?" Dave asked and gently shook Freddy Farmer who was fast +asleep on his shoulder. "What town is this, Lieutenant?" + +The German smiled slyly. Then annoyance flashed through his eyes. He +whipped out a hand and took a steel grip on Freddy's shoulder and shook +viciously. + +"Wake up, Englander!" he barked. "You have had enough sleep for the +present. Wake up, I say!" + +A smart slap across the cheek emphasized the last. The English lad woke +up instantly, and he would have lunged out with a clenched fist if Dave +had not caught hold of his arm. + +"Take it easy, Freddy!" he exclaimed. "This is the end of the line. +Here's where we get off. How do you feel?" + +Freddy shook his head and dug knuckles into his sleep filled eyes. That +seemed to do the trick. He was fully awake in an instant. + +"Oh yes, I remember, now," he said. "Where are we, though? What's this +place?" + +The German threw back his head and laughed. + +"I will tell you," he said and waggled a finger in front of their faces. +"This is the Headquarters of the German Army Intelligence in the field. +I am taking you before the _Kommandant_. And now we shall learn all +about you two. Yes, you will be very wise to answer truthfully all the +questions _Herr Kommandant_ asks." + +With a curt nod to show that he meant what he said the German climbed +down onto the street, and then motioned for Dave and Freddy to climb +down, too. + +"That building, there," he said and pointed. "March! And do not be so +foolish as to try and run away. I warn you!" + +Dave and Freddy simply shrugged and walked across the street to the +doorway of a solidly built stone building. A guard standing in front +clicked his heels and held his rifle at salute at the approach of the +officer. + +"My compliments to _Herr Kommandant_," the officer said sharply. +"_Leutnant_ Mueller reporting with two prisoners for questioning." + +The guard saluted again, then executed a smart about face and went in +through the door. Dave caught a flash glimpse of desks, and chairs, and +the part of a wall covered by a huge map, before the door was closed in +his face. He looked at Freddy and grinned, and then glanced up into the +small eyes of the German officer. Those small eyes seemed to bore right +back into his brain. + +"You will do well to tell the whole truth!" the German said without +hardly moving his lips. "Remember that!" + +At that moment the door was reopened and the guard was nodding at the +lieutenant. + +"_Herr Kommandant_ will see you at once, _Herr Leutnant_," he said. + +"Good!" the officer grunted, and pushed Dave and Freddy in the back. +"Inside, at once!" + + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + +_In the Enemy's Camp_ + + +The first thing Dave saw as the Lieutenant pushed him through the open +doorway was a desk bigger than any other desk he had ever seen. It was a +good nine feet long and at least five feet wide. It took up almost one +whole side of the room and upon it were piled books, official papers, a +couple of portable short-wave radio sets, and at least a dozen +telephones. And seated at the desk was a huge red faced, bull necked +German in the uniform of a staff colonel. + +"My prisoners, _Herr Kommandant_ Stohl," the Lieutenant said. "_Heil +Hitler!_" + +The big German Colonel lifted his gaze from some papers in front of him, +looked at Dave Dawson and Freddy Farmer and started violently. His eyes +widened and his jaw dropped in amazement. He got control of himself +almost instantly and whipped his eyes to the Lieutenant's face. + +"Is this a joke, _Herr Leutnant_?" he demanded in a booming voice that +shook the thick walls of the room. "What is the charge against these two +peasant urchins? Look, the clothes of that one, there, are in rags!" + +The high ranking officer lifted a finger the size of a banana and jabbed +it at Dave. The lieutenant flushed and made gurgling sounds in his +throat. + +"They are not urchins, not peasants, _Herr Kommandant_," he explained +hastily. "This one of the brown hair claims he is an American. And this +one of the light hair is an Englisher. I caught them trying to sneak +past our advance units with an ambulance. They stated that they were +lost, and wanted to know the way to Courtrai. When I caught them they +were a good forty miles southeast of that city. I did not believe their +stories so I escorted them here at once." + +"And the ambulance?" the German asked slowly. "There were wounded +soldiers in it, perhaps?" + +"No, _Herr Kommandant_," the Lieutenant said with a shake of his head. +"There was nothing. It was completely empty. It has never been used. +That, also, added to my suspicions of these two. I shall give it a +better examination at your orders, sir." + +"Do so at once, now," the senior officer said and made a wave of +dismissal with one hand. + +"At once, _Herr Kommandant_," the Lieutenant said in a magpie voice. +"_Heil Hitler!_" + +The German Colonel waited until he had left, then focussed his eyes on +Dave and Freddy, and smiled faintly. + +"And now, boys," he said in a kindly voice, "what is all this about? How +did you happen to get so far behind our lines?" + +"We told the lieutenant the truth, sir," Freddy Farmer spoke up. "I was +lost. It was all my fault. I had no idea where I was. You have no right +to hold us as prisoners. We have done nothing except get lost, and it +was all my fault." + +The German's smile broadened and his shoulders shook. + +"So, I have no right, eh?" he chuckled. "You are not in your England +now, my boy. But suppose you tell me all about it?" + +"Very well, sir," Freddy said in a quiet dignified voice. "And you can +take my word for its being the truth, too." + +The English youth paused a moment and then told the story of leaving the +Paris headquarters of the British Volunteer Ambulance Service, becoming +separated from the others, and after many hours picking up Dave Dawson. + +"And so there you are, sir," he finished up. "A very unfortunate +incident, but I've already told you it was my fault." + +The big German, shrugged, started to speak but checked himself and +swiveled around in his chair to peer at the well marked map that took up +most of the wall in back of him. Presently he turned front again and +fixed his eyes on Dave. + +"And you?" he grunted. "Where were you forced to leave your car? And +where is this French Army lieutenant your friend mentioned?" + +"I don't know where he is," Dave said. "When the German planes started +shooting and bombing those refugees I...." + +"One moment!" the Colonel grated harshly. "Our pilots do not shoot or +bomb helpless civilians. Those were undoubtedly French planes, or +British ones, made to look like German planes. Go on." + +Anger rose up in Dave Dawson. He had seen those planes with his own +eyes. And he knew enough about foreign planes to know that they were +neither French nor British. They were German, and there were no two ways +about that. He opened his mouth to hurl the lie back in the German's +face, but suddenly thought better of it. + +"The spot was about seventy miles north of Paris, I think," he said. "I +know that a few minutes before, we had passed through a small village +named Roye. And I remember looking at my watch. It was a little after +one this afternoon." + +"I see," murmured the German, and an odd look seeped into his eyes. "And +when you awoke it was night? You saw the ambulance of this English +boy's, and he picked you up?" + +"That's right, sir," Dave said with a nod. + +"And so?" the German said in the same murmuring tone. "So from a little +after one this afternoon until your friend picked you up you traveled +over thirty miles ... _while unconscious_? You expect me to believe +that?" + +"I'm not telling a lie!" Dave said hotly. "You can believe what you darn +well like. It's still the truth, just the same. I don't know how I got +there. Maybe some passing car picked me up, and then dumped me out +thinking that I was dead. Maybe somebody took me along to rob me because +of my American clothes. They might have thought I had some money, +and...." + +Dave slopped short at the sudden thought and started searching the +pockets of his torn clothes. All he could find was a handkerchief, a +broken pencil, and a bent American Lincoln penny that he carried as a +lucky piece. Everything else was gone. His wallet, his money, his +passport ... everything. He looked at the Colonel in angry triumph. + +"That's what happened!" he cried. "Somebody picked me up and robbed me, +and then left me in that field under the trees. Good gosh! I'm broke, +and I'll need money to get to England. I...." + +Dave stopped short again as he saw the smile on the Colonel's face. This +time it was a different kind of smile. There was nothing pleasant or +fatherly about it. It was a cold, tight lipped smile, and Dave shivered +a bit in spite of himself. + +"You are not going to England ... yet!" the German said slowly. "There +is something very funny about all this, and I mean to find out what it +is. Yes, it is rather strange, I think." + +"For cat's sake, why?" Dave blurted out. "We simply got lost in the +dark, and that's all there is to it!" + +"Exactly!" Freddy Farmer spoke up. "It is the truth. We are not even old +enough to be soldiers ... unfortunately." + +The German officer scowled so that his heavy black brows formed a solid +line across the lower part of his forehead. + +"Your sharp tongue may get you into more trouble than you think, my +little Englisher!" he growled. "You had best take care. Now, we will ask +some more questions. You both left Paris this morning, eh? You saw +troops and tanks and things on the march?" + +"Millions of them!" Freddy Farmer said quickly. "And airplanes, too. I +never saw so many soldiers, or so much military equipment." + +"So?" the German breathed. "You saw which way they were heading, of +course?" + +"Naturally," Freddy said. "They were going into Belgium, of course. And +not just French troops with tanks and guns, either. There were thousands +of British and Canadians. And there were more thousands from Australia +and New Zealand, and South Africa. And the sky was filled with R.A.F. +and French planes. And...." + +The German's booming laughter stopped Freddy. The big man shook like +jelly and he was forced to blow his nose before he could speak. + +"I must say I admire you, my young Englander," he said. "I suppose now +we should become very frightened and order a general retreat at once, +eh?" + +"You will be forced to, shortly," Freddy said stiffly. + +The laughter faded from the German's face and his eyes became brittle +and hard. + +"Germans never hear such an order, for it is never given!" he snapped. +"But, I see you want to treat this all as a little joke, eh?" + +"Do you expect us to give away military information?" Dave demanded. + +"It would help you a lot, boys," the officer said slyly. "You two want +to get to England, don't you?" + +"Not that way, we don't!" Dave said, standing up to him. "You'll get no +military information out of either of us, even if we had any to give." + +"Good for you, Dave!" Freddy said in a low voice. "He can't make dirty +traitors out of us." + +Heads up and shoulders back the two of them stared defiantly at the +officer. He glared back at them for a moment and then as quick as the +blink of an eye his big face broke out all smiles. + +"Good, good, boys!" he cried. "I like you all the more for refusing. I +wouldn't tell anything either if I should happen to be captured. All +right, we will speak no more about that. But, I must make out a report. +Give me your names, and addresses. I will send word through the Red +Cross to your families so they will know where you are." + +"But I live in America!" Dave cried. "I'm on a trip with my father. He's +in London, as I told you, but I don't know where!" + +"What is his name?" the officer said and picked up a pencil. "I will +have word sent to the hotel where you stopped in Paris. It will be +forwarded to him wherever he is. Well?" + +Dave hesitated a moment, then decided there wasn't anything else to be +done about it. + +"Mr. Richard C. Dawson," he said. "My name is David. Hotel de Ney, +Twenty-One Rue Passey, Paris. But, wait! He went to see the American +Ambassador in London. You can send word there." + +That bit of information seemed to startle the German. He gave Dave a +long piercing look, then nodded and scribbled on a piece of paper in +front of him. In a minute he glanced up at Freddy. + +"And you, Englisher?" he grunted. + +"My name is Frederick Covington Farmer," Freddy said. "I live at +Sixty-Four Baker Street, London, England. But, see here, sir! You don't +really intend to keep us prisoners, do you? I mean, after all, you +know!" + +The officer laughed and shook his head. + +"Keep you prisoners?" he echoed. "Of course not. But I can't very well +let you go until I get proof who you are, now can I? In a very short +time I shall learn if you've told me the truth. And then, if you have, I +will have you put in a car and passed through the Belgian lines. Just as +simple as that, see?" + +"We have told you the truth," Freddy said grimly. + +"You bet we have!" Dave said. + +"Then there is nothing for you to worry about," the big German chuckled. +"And now, you must be hungry, eh? Well, I shall at once see that you are +taken care of and given something to eat." + +The German reached out one of his big hands and jabbed a desk button +with a thick finger. As though by magic a side door swung open and a +German soldier with a Staff Orderly's arm band about his tunic sleeve +popped into the room. The officer fired words at him so fast that Dave +couldn't catch a single one of them. The orderly saluted and then +motioned for Dave and Freddy to walk out ahead of him. When he had +closed the door he pointed toward a flight of stairs, and then up. He +stopped them on the second landing, pushed open a door and waved them +inside. There were two army cots with a blanket for each, a couple of +broken chairs, and nothing else. A single window was at the rear of the +room and its sill was a good five feet up from the floor. It was thick +with dust and cobwebs and looked as if it hadn't been opened in years. + +The two boys glanced at the room in dismay. Then the click of the door +latch, and the grating sound of a bolt being shot home, spun them both +around. Dave leaped for the door and grasped hold of the knob. It +turned in his hand, but the door refused to open. He gulped and glanced +back at Freddy. The English youth's face had paled a bit, but his eyes +were grimly defiant. + + + + +CHAPTER SIX + +_They'll Never Beat Us!_ + + +"Keep the old chin up, Freddy," said Dave. "They can't do anything to +us. They wouldn't dare! Don't let it get you, fellow." + +Freddy lifted his face and smiled wryly. There was the faintest +suggestion of tears in his eyes. + +"I'm not afraid of them!" he said scornfully. "I'm mad at myself. I +could kick me all around this room. Through my own stupidity I've gone +and lost our boys a perfectly good ambulance. That's what I can't get +over. I could chew nails when I think of it falling into the hands of +the blasted Germans. I'm just no good, Dave." + +Dave laughed and doubled up a fist and put it under the other's chin. + +"Hey, none of that!" he cried. "You're my pal, and I don't let people +say crazy things about my pals. Gee whiz, you were swell downstairs, +Freddy. You talked right up to him when I was all the time quaking in my +boots. You bet! Don't worry about that ambulance. Maybe we'll get it +back. Heck! Maybe we can figure out some way to steal it back." + +Bright hope flickered in the English youth's eyes. + +"You think so, Dave?" he whispered. "You think there's a chance we might +steal it away from them?" + +"We can sure try," Dave replied with a vigorous nod. "You just keep +everything under control, and.... Sh-h-h! I think somebody's coming up +the stairs. Come on, Freddy! Let's not let them get the idea we're +worried at all." + +"Right-o!" Freddy whispered back and gave Dave's hand a quick squeeze. +"Count on me to hold up my end, Dave!" + +Footsteps were now just outside the door. They heard the outside bolt +slap back and then the door was pushed open. The German guard stood in +the hallway outside. In one hand he carried a battered tray containing +food, and tucked under the other arm was a bundle of old clothes. Just +behind him stood Colonel Stohl. The big German's face was beaming like a +full moon. + +"Did you think I had forgotten you, boys?" he boomed and strode into the +room. "But of course not. Here is food for you. And take off your +clothes and put on these things. I will have what you're wearing mended +and cleaned up. So!" + +"That's very kind of you, Colonel," Freddy said in a faintly mocking +tone. "You're going to be frightfully disappointed, you know." + +"Disappointed?" the German officer mumbled and gave him a puzzled look. + +"Quite so," Freddy said and started peeling off his dust and dirt caked +clothes. "I can assure you you'll find no secret messages or maps sewed +into the lining. No matter what you suspect, we really aren't spies, you +know." + +The German laughed loudly but there was a look in his eye that did not +mean laughter to Dave. The Intelligence officer didn't like the idea of +a sixteen year old English boy seeing right through him as though he +were made of glass. + +"Why that's ridiculous!" the Colonel cried. "Of course you aren't spies. +I just want to have your clothes cleaned. We Germans take good care of +the people we have to protect. You will do well to think of that when +you return to your homelands. Now, get into these clean clothes and then +eat your food. There, that is better, yes!" + +The officer waited until the guard had gathered up the boys' clothes, +then he smiled at them and went out the door followed by the guard. Dave +and Freddy waited until the bolt was jammed home and then, being half +starved, they fell upon the tray of food. The very first mouthful was a +delightful surprise to them both. The food was excellent and there was a +lot of it. They wolfed it down for a moment or so and then Dave put a +restraining hand on Freddy's. + +"Wait a minute!" he said in a low voice. "I think this is another part +of the trick he thinks he's playing on us." + +"What do you mean?" Freddy whispered and stopped eating at once. "Good +grief! You think there is something in this food? I once heard a story +about the Germans using some kind of a drug that makes a prisoner talk. +But I'm starved, Dave!" + +"Me, too," Dave nodded. "I don't mean that. I'm sure the food's okay. +That's the point. It's swell! I bet the troops don't get this kind of +food. Look, Freddy! I've got a hunch he wants to make a hit with us. +Feed us up good and then get us to talk about the French and British +military units we saw yesterday. You know, they're always after +information that will give them a line on what's in front of them." + +"Then he is a fool, if he thinks filling my stomach with good food will +make me tell him anything!" Freddy snorted in disgust. + +"Check and double check for both of us!" Dave agreed. "But here's what I +mean. I think we'd be wise not to eat all of this. Let's save some. +This bread, at least. We might need it later, and bad." + +"You're right, Dave!" Freddy said, realizing instantly what his American +friend had in mind. "When we do escape from here we'll certainly need +some food to take along. And I think that's what we'll have to do ... +escape somehow." + +Dave nodded but didn't speak. There was a queer feeling inside of him, +and the back of his neck was beginning to tingle a little. That was a +sure sign with him that there was trouble ahead. And it had proven to be +true more than a couple of times during his young life. No, the German +colonel wasn't fooling him at all. Perhaps they puzzled the Intelligence +officer, but Dave felt pretty sure he didn't really believe they were +spies. Yet, you never could tell. One thing seemed certain, however. The +German hoped to pump them for what little they could tell him. He was +going to keep them prisoners until he was satisfied. And perhaps he +would keep them prisoners even after that. This thing worked two ways. +Would the Intelligence officer let them pass safely through the Belgian +lines knowing full well they'd tell the authorities what they'd seen on +the German side? + +No, that wasn't at all likely, and Dave suddenly didn't feel very +hungry. He got up and walked over to the rear window. The sill came +only to his chin for he was close to six feet tall, so he could see out +without any trouble. That is, after he had wiped away some of the dust +and cobwebs. What he saw, however, brought no joy to his heart. The +window looked out on a tree studded hill that blocked out everything +beyond. Another fine day was well on its way and as Dave screwed his +head around so that he could look high up into the blue sky he saw +cluster after cluster of planes in line and in V formation. And all of +them were moving swiftly westward. By straining his ears he could just +barely catch the throbbing beat of German engines. Even as their sound +came to him he heard louder and more thunderous sounds farther to the +west. He did not need two guesses to know that German bombers were once +again dropping their loads of death and destruction upon the soldiers +and civilians of the countries Adolf Hitler desired to crush under his +iron heel. + +He turned from the window and stood staring flint eyed at nothing at +all. Yesterday he had reached seventeen years of age. But today? Today +he somehow felt a dozen years older than that. What he had seen since +leaving Paris had added years to his way of thinking, if not to his +body. A fierce anger at the injustices wrought had sprung up within him. +He wanted to do something about it. What, he did not know. But today +there had been born in him a blazing desire to do what he could to spare +Europe, and perhaps the whole world, from the bullets and bombs and the +tyranny of the Nazi legions. + +"What are you thinking of, Dave?" + +Freddy's quiet voice at his elbow jerked him from his thought trance. He +turned and stared into the clear blue eyes of his new found friend and +ally in the face of danger. + +"A lot of things, Freddy," he said. "Maybe I'm crazy, but I want nothing +better than the chance to do something. A chance to get back at these +Germans for what I've seen them do. We may be kids and not old enough to +enlist, Freddy, but there must be _something_ we can do to help. And, +believe me, I sure want to do it. Listen, Freddy, have you any idea +where we are? I've never been in Belgium in my life. And I guess this is +still Belgium, isn't it?" + +"Yes, I could tell from the looks of the buildings, and some of the +townsfolk I saw when we arrived," the English youth said. "But what town +this is, I haven't the faintest idea. I ... Wait!" + +"What's the matter?" Dave asked. + +"That map in the colonel's office downstairs!" Freddy whispered +excitedly. "Did you see it, and see how it was marked with those little +pins and tiny flags?" + +"Sure, I saw it," Dave said with a nod. "But I didn't pay much attention +to it." + +"Nor I," Freddy said. "But I'll bet you something, Dave. This is an +Intelligence headquarters, and I'll bet those little pins and flags mark +the points of advance by the German forces. Do you see what I mean, +Dave? If we could get a good look at that map, and remember some of the +things it tells, and then get away from here, why...." + +The English youth stopped. He was shaking too much from eager excitement +to continue. Dave nodded and gripped him by both arms. + +"You're right, Freddy!" he whispered. "It might help a lot if we could +tell the Allied commanders where some of the German units are, and what +places they seem to be heading for. Let me think. How in heck can we get +another look at that map?" + +"We could pound on the door," Freddy said, "and tell him we're willing +to tell all that we know, if he'll let us go. He'd probably take us down +to his office to hear what we have to say." + +"Maybe," Dave said with a frown. "But I think it's a little too soon to +make him think we're scared and giving in. And, besides, he may not be +tricking us. Maybe he really is going to just check on us and then let +us go." + +"Let us go back and tell what we've seen behind the German lines?" +Freddy scoffed. "Not a bit of it, Dave. You must be off your topper!" + +"Yeah, I'd thought of that, myself," Dave said sadly. "It's a cinch he's +not going to let us go no matter what he thinks about us. Well, the way +I see it there's only one thing we can do. We can't try an escape now in +broad daylight, so we've got to wait. Let's put on these clothes and +catch up on some sleep. The only thing we can do is wait for awhile. +Wait to see if he makes any move." + +"I hate waiting," Freddy said and started pulling on the old clothes the +guard had brought with their breakfast. "But of course you're right, +Dave. There's nothing else we can do, right now." + +"But plenty later on!" Dave said determinedly and flung himself down on +one of the cots. "You wait and see, Freddy. It's a promise!" + + * * * * * + +Later that afternoon, the Colonel did make the next move. A guard came +up to the boys' cell, woke them from a deep sleep and ushered them down +to the Colonel's office. + +"Sit down, boys," he said and circled around to in back of his huge +desk. "I want to have a talk with you." + +Dave and Freddy exchanged quick looks, then sat down as ordered. + +"Now," the Colonel said and clasped his big hands together on the edge +of his desk. "Our Leader is a man of peace. He _loves_ peace, and would +gladly give his life for peace among nations. You, my little Englisher! +Did the Fuehrer declare war on your country, or on France? No! They +declared war on him, on Germany. Listen to me! Don't you want peace?" + +"Certainly,"' Freddy replied. Then he added, "At the right time." + +"No, peace as soon as possible," the German said. "Now is the best time. +Before there is more bloodshed. You two boys can help bring this war to +an early end. You will be doing a favor to Germany's foes. Now, why not +be good boys and tell me the truth? Then everything will be fine." + +Neither of the boys said a word. As for Dave, it all sounded as though +he were listening to a broken phonograph record. "Tell me the truth.... +Tell me the truth.... Tell me the truth!" It was like the title of a +song. He sat silent and kept his eyes fixed on the huge map on the wall. +He stared at it hard and tried to memorize the dates he could read +there, and the names of the towns and cities, and the locations of the +pins and flags. One town on the map was well smudged by finger and thumb +marks. It was named Estalle and was close to the Belgian-German +frontier. He suddenly had a hunch that that was where they were. At +Estalle, close to the German frontier, but how far behind the advanced +German lines? He thought of the long ride in the motored transport last +night and his heart sank down toward his boots. + +"Well, for the last time!" the German Colonel suddenly thundered. "Do +you tell me the truth?" + +"For Heaven's sakes, we already have!" Freddy shouted at him. "We've +told you nothing but the truth a dozen times. What must we do to get you +to believe us?" + +The German didn't answer at once. He slammed both hands down flat on the +desk, hoisted his huge bulk forward, and glared at them. + +"Very well," he said. "I have tried to be gentle and kind with you, +because you are only young boys. But, you refuse my kindness. So, I +shall treat you as grown men. I shall have you both _shot_!" + + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + +_Shoot!_ + + +If the roof had suddenly fallen down on top of his head Dave Dawson +could have not been more astonished or surprised. Shot? He gaped at the +German officer half expecting to see the man burst out laughing. Colonel +Stohl did not laugh, however. He remained leaning forward over the desk +and raking them with eyes that looked like twin cubes of ice. + +"Shot?" Dave heard himself speak the word. "You can't shoot us. We +haven't done anything! Gee whiz, why do you want to shoot us?" + +"Of course we haven't done anything!" Freddy Farmer spoke up loudly. "I +think this is all just a bluff!" + +"A bluff?" the German snarled. "Do you take me for a fool? I do not +bluff at a time like this. Take a look at this that I hold in my hand, +so! Ah, you recognize it, eh?" + +The officer had suddenly whipped up something off the desk. Dave took a +good look and saw that it was a rolled up map. + +"It's a map," he said, "but I never saw it before." + +"Nor have I," Freddy said stoutly. + +"It was found hidden under the seat of the ambulance," the German said +in a flat voice that made Dave shiver inwardly. "There are certain marks +on it. Numbers and figures written in pencil near the names of towns you +passed through before you were caught. So you told me the truth, eh? No, +you lied. This map contains information that would be very useful to +Germany's enemies. You thought you could protect yourselves by driving +an ambulance ... but you can't. But ... and listen to what I say ... you +_can_ save your lives!" + +Dave tried to speak but his tongue was sticking to the roof of his +mouth. He felt his knees go weak, and it was all he could do to force +himself to stand upright. He had the feeling that this was all a crazy +dream, a nightmare. In a few moments he would probably wake up and find +himself safe and sound in bed in his room at the Hotel de Ney. He didn't +know anything about a map. He'd never even seen it before. + +He half turned and looked at Freddy Farmer. The English youth's face was +a little paler, but his chin was firm, and his eyes were filled with +scornful defiance. + +"I haven't any idea what you are talking about, sir," Freddy said to +the colonel. "I was not trying to protect myself, or my friend, from +anything. I was simply delivering the ambulance to Courtrai. And, for +the hundredth time, _I lost my way_!" + +The German made a movement with his hand as though brushing the words to +one side. + +"Enough of that!" he said. "This is a serious business. I am not saying +that you collected the information about our advance units I find here +on this map. Perhaps you were only taking it to somebody else. Yes, +perhaps you did not even know you were being used for such work. Let us +say that is the truth. We Germans do not make war with boys, but.... But +this information _was found on you_, and that is most serious. Answer +the questions I ask you, and I promise that you will not be treated as +spies. I also promise you that you will be made comfortable until +arrangements can be made to send you home. Now!" + +"What are the questions?" Freddy asked. + +The stern look fled the German's face, and he smiled. + +"Ah, that is better!" he said and spread the map on the desk. "Now, here +you have marked a line showing the route you traveled from Paris. Each +town you passed through is marked. Those towns are French troop and +equipment garrisons. This town here, close to the Belgian border, what +did you see there? French troops? British troops? And what was their +equipment? Tanks? Big ones, or small ones? Were there motorized +anti-aircraft batteries? Were...?" + +The German suddenly stopped and looked up from the map. + +"You are not listening?" he said softly. + +Freddy's face seemed actually to grow thin as Dave looked at him. The +English boy licked his lips just once and then put his shoulders back a +little more. + +"Certainly I'm listening," he said. "But I won't answer a single one of +your questions even though you do shoot me!" + +Dave felt like throwing his arms about young Farmer and hugging him. +Here was the kind of cool, calm courage for which the British were +famous the world over. Instead, Dave turned his head and looked at the +German. + +"We're not saying a thing!" he shouted. "I demand that we be permitted +to see the nearest American Consul!" + +The German officer ignored Dave's outburst as though he had not spoken. +He looked steadily at Freddy for a moment and then sighed heavily and +raised both hands in a gesture of despair. + +"Very well," he said. "That is all for now. I will give you until +tomorrow morning to think it over ... and change your mind. Guard!" + +The side door popped open and in popped the guard. Colonel Stohl pointed +a finger. + +"Take them back," he said, "and stand guard outside the door. If either +of them attempts to escape ... _shoot!_" + +The Colonel gave them an angry stare and a curt nod, and then busied +himself with some papers on the desk. Two minutes later the boys were +back in their prison room. The door was closed and bolted, and they +could hear the boots of the guard pacing up and down the hallway +outside. Freddy sat down on a cot and started to shiver violently. Dave +went over to him instantly and put a friendly arm about his shoulders. + +"Steady, Freddy!" he whispered. "We'll get out somehow. He was only +bluffing. He wouldn't dare shoot us. I'll make him let me see the +nearest American Consul. I'll ... I'll make him let me telephone the +American Ambassador in Brussels." + +"I hope you do for your sake, Dave," Freddy whispered. "But England is +at war, and I'm an Englishman. And, Dave ... that map was mine. I used +it and marked my route until it got too dark." + +Fingers of ice clutched at Dave's heart and pressed hard. He sucked air +sharply into his lungs. + +"Holy smokes!" he breathed. "Then you did put down all that stuff he was +talking about?" + +"Oh no, not that!" the English youth said and shook his head vigorously. +"I just penciled in the route I had taken until it got too dark. +Besides, I lost my pencil when I tried to do it in the glow of the dash +light. The rest of the things he must have marked in." + +Dave gave a shake of his head and looked puzzled. + +"I don't get it!" he murmured. "Why?" + +"Don't you see?" Freddy said. "It's really very simple, Dave. They did +it to frighten me, to make me answer their questions. They'll hold a +military court and use that map as evidence. There'll be an awful row. +They'll make one, hoping to scare me into talking. I knew a Jewish boy +in England who escaped with his family from the German Gestapo and he +told me about the tricks they play to scare you into telling them +things. That's what he plans to do with me. But, I won't tell him a +thing, not a thing! It's my map all right, but they're not going to +frighten me into telling anything that would hurt the Allies. They can't +make me!" + +"You bet they can't, pal!" Dave said. "And they won't get anything out +of me, either." + +"I don't think he means any harm toward you, Dave," Freddy said after a +long pause. "You just insist on seeing the American Consul and I think +he'll let you. When you spoke of your father's trip to London he seemed +surprised. You're an American, Dave. You'll be all right." + +"But what about you, Freddy?" Dave exclaimed. + +"I won't tell them a thing, no matter what they do," the English youth +said determinedly. "Never!" + +Dave started to speak, checked himself, and stepped back a pace. + +"So that's the kind of a pal you are, huh?" he grunted. "You just up and +let me down!" + +Freddy jerked his head up in blank amazement. Tears were dangerously +close to his eyes. + +"Let you down, Dave?" he gasped. "But, Dave...!" + +"Sure, let me down," Dave snapped at him. "I thought we were pals? I +thought we were going to see this through together?" + +"But, Dave, you...!" + +"Me walk out and leave you behind?" Dave interrupted the English youth's +speech. "Quit a pal just because I'm American and he's English? Not a +chance. We're sticking together. You can't toss me off like that!" + +"But I was only thinking of you, Dave," Freddy protested. "After all I +really got you into this, you know." + +Dave suddenly stopped acting hurt and angry. He bent down and grinned +broadly. + +"So what?" he whispered. "So I'll get you _out_. We've got until +tomorrow morning to think things over. That's what he said. Well, we're +not going to think things, we're going to _do_ things. Are you game, +Freddy?" + +For an answer Freddy put out his hand, and the two clasped hands warmly. +The color came back into the English youth's face, and that made Dave +feel almost happy. + +"Okay, Freddy," he whispered. "I saw something besides airplanes out the +window awhile ago. Come over and I'll show you." + +For a couple of seconds Dave stood still listening to the footsteps of +the guard outside, then he motioned to Freddy and tiptoed over to the +window. + +"Look out, and down," he breathed in Freddy's ear. "See? The bottom half +of this building sticks out. See the roof? It's not more than six feet +below this window. And it's not more than ten feet from the edge of the +roof to the back yard. Think you could jump it?" + +"Easy!" Freddy whispered. "But what about this window, here? It's +screwed in." + +"Got that all figured, too," Dave said and pulled an army canteen spoon +from the pocket of the old clothes he wore. "Swiped this from the +breakfast tray," he said. "A hunch made me stick it in my pocket. A +spoon makes a swell screw driver sometimes. I found that out once when I +was a kid. I used one of my Mother's to open an old chest I found up in +the attic. I got a licking for it because I marked up the wood pretty +bad. But the spoon did the trick. Now, here's what you do." + +Dave paused and slipped the tip of the spoon handle into the groove of +the nearest screw head and applied pressure with both hands. He turned +the screw a sixteenth of an inch or so and then stopped. + +"Hot dog!" he whispered. "I was scared for a minute the darn things +would be so rusted with age they wouldn't budge. But, it's okay. Now, +you go over to the door and start talking to me. Talk about anything. +Sure, let's talk about baseball." + +"But I don't know anything about baseball!" Freddy whispered. + +"That's swell!" Dave said. "You can ask me questions and I'll give you +the answers. But keep an ear open for that guard. If he starts to open +the door you ask me, What's a home run? See? That'll give me time to get +away from this window. Okay, got it?" + +"Yes, I understand," Freddy said and nodded eagerly. "Gee, you're a +great friend, Dave!" + +"You too, Freddy," Dave said and gave him a push. "Now, get over there +and start asking questions. Thank goodness this window is dirty and +nobody can see me from outside." + +The instant Freddy went over near the door Dave gave his attention to +the first screw. The English youth asked question after question and +Dave answered them without half thinking. Every second of the time he +worked feverishly with the spoon on the screws. There were eight of them +and he guessed it was well over an hour before he had seven of them out +and the eighth well loosened. That one he let stay partly in so that the +window would remain in place. The last thing he did was to cover the +screw holes with bits of cobweb so they wouldn't be noticed. Then he +walked over to the cot and sat down. + +"Okay, that's enough baseball talk!" he said in a loud voice and winked +at Freddy. "Gee, how you can ask questions. Well, it looks like we're +not going to get anything to eat. So I'm going to try and get some +sleep." + +Stretching out on the cot Dave pointed at the window and grinned. Then +clasping his hands together he put them over his head and shook them +like a prize fighter being introduced to the fight fans. Freddy looked +puzzled for a moment, then realized what Dave meant, and went through +the hand-shaking motions himself. + +"Well, I guess I might as well try to get a little sleep, myself," he +said loudly and walked to the other cot. + +A moment later the two boys listened to the sound of the guard's +footsteps outside and looked at the gradually fading light of day +outside the dust and cobweb smeared window. + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + +_Escape!_ + + +Somewhere in the distance a church clock tolled the hour of ten. Dave +absently counted the strokes, and then slowly sat up on the army cot. +All was pitch dark inside as well as outside. For a couple of minutes he +sat perfectly still listening to the various sounds that came to him +faintly. He heard the guard outside in the hallway cough and then strike +a match. He heard the muffled sounds of hobnailed boots marching along +in the street outside, and the clanking sound of tank and scout car +tractor treads on the stones. Somewhere in the distance a whistle was +blown. He heard the occasional dull boom of heavy guns, or of bombs +exploding. And once a flight of planes droned by high up in the night +sky. + +He held his breath and listened to all those various sounds. He listened +to another sound, too, A sound he could feel as well as hear. It was the +pounding of his own heart. His chest ached from the pounding, and his +throat and mouth were bone dry from the excitement and the suspense. +For almost five hours he and Freddy had remained stretched out +motionless on the cots. Every second had seemed like a minute, every +minute like an hour, and every hour like an eternity. A hundred times it +had been all he could do to restrain himself from leaping to his feet +and shouting at the top of his voice. Anything to give release to the +charged emotion pent up within him. + +Four times the guard had opened the door and played the beam of his +flashlight on them. The first time Colonel Stohl had been with the +guard, for Dave had heard the German officer's voice. He had muttered +something about "making them sing a different tune in the morning," and +then had gone clumping down the stairs. + +Five long hours, and now Dave couldn't stand the waiting any more. Every +fiber of his entire being screamed for action. He had waited long enough +to make their captors believe they were done in for the night. The guard +had taken another look at them only a couple of minutes ago. It would be +awhile before he looked in again. It was now, or never. It had to be! + +He slipped silently off the cot and crept over to Freddy's cot. He held +one hand ready to clap it over the English boy's mouth in case he woke +up with a startled yell, and put his lips close to Freddy's ear. + +"Freddy, wake up!" he breathed, and shook the youth gently with his +other hand. + +"I'm awake, Dave," came the whispered reply. "Shall we try it now?" + +"Yes," Dave said. "The guard just took another look at us. He won't +again for awhile. Have you been asleep?" + +"Not a wink, Dave. I couldn't, possibly. Look, Dave. You don't want to +change your mind and have a go at it alone? I'll understand. You might +get to an American Consul before they caught you. They'll come looking, +you know." + +"That's out!" Dave hissed. "Pipe down! Take off your shoes. We can't +risk making a single sound. That guard may have big ears. Okay, Freddy, +let's go!" + +Taking hold of the English youth's hand Dave led the way across the room +to the window. There he let go, and took out his spoon screw driver and +went to work on the one remaining screw. The instant it was out he +started to pry out the frame with his fingers. It wouldn't budge. He +sucked air into his aching lungs and then worked the end of the spoon +into the side crack and used it as a lever. The window still didn't +move, and Dave's heart sank as he felt the spoon bending under his hand. +He groaned softly. + +"The darn thing's stuck!" he whispered. "Swollen tight by the weather, I +guess. But.... Gee!" + +"What's the matter, Dave?" Freddy asked in a tight whisper. + +Dave fumbled for his arm in the darkness and pressed it reassuringly. + +"There's a nail, here at the bottom," he said. "I didn't see it, but I +can feel it, now. Am I dumb! Hold everything while I bend it down flat. +It's a thin one. Then I think the window will slide over it." + +Two long minutes later Dave had the nail pressed flat on the base board +of the sill. Then he applied pressure with the spoon again, and the +window began to move. His face was wet with nervous sweat, and his whole +body was trembling. He fought back his rising fear and nervousness and +stuck doggedly to his task. Eventually he had worked the window out +enough so that he could get his fingers under one corner. After that it +was simple. But, as he finally pulled the whole frame clear a corner of +it caught on a splintered sliver of the sill. The sliver snapped off +with a sound that was as loud as a pistol shot in Dave's ears. He froze +stiff, ears straining for sounds of the guard in the hallway. + +There was no click of the bolt or rattling of the latch. The sliver of +wood snapping had not been heard. Dave slowly released the cramped air +from his lungs and gently lowered the window frame down onto the floor +and to the side where they would be sure not to hit it when they climbed +out the window. Then he took hold of Freddy in the dark. + +"You first, because you're shorter, Freddy," he whispered. "I'll make a +fireman's step with my hands. Put your foot in it and I'll boost you up. +But for Pete's sake, be careful. If we make any sound we're sunk. Okay, +give me your foot." + +Dave crouched slightly and laced the fingers of his two hands together +with the palms facing upward to form a step. Freddy put one stockinged +foot on it, and one hand on Dave's shoulder to steady himself. + +"Okay," he whispered. + +Bracing his feet Dave slowly boosted the English youth up the wall. As +soon as Freddy had half his body through the open window he released the +pressure of his foot on Dave's locked hands and squirmed the rest of the +way up like a snake. + +"Get your feet out and then let yourself down by your hands," Dave +cautioned. "The roof shouldn't be more than a few inches under your +toes. But, watch out. The darn thing slants down a bit, you know." + +"I'll make it, all right," Freddy said and twisted around on the sill so +that he was hanging on his stomach. "Can you make it alone, though?" + +"A cinch!" Dave whispered. "Don't wait for me. Sneak down the roof and +drop to the ground. I'll be right behind you. Go ahead, Freddy." + +Dave waited until he heard the soft thud of the English boy's feet +touching the roof, then he grabbed hold of the sill with his hands and +swiftly and silently hoisted his body upward. For a brief instant he sat +poised on the sill grinning back into the darkened room. Then he +swiveled over and lowered himself down. In almost no time he had +cat-crawled down the gently sloping roof to its lip. He pressed flat on +his stomach and stuck his head over the edge of the roof. Below him was +nothing but a sea of inky darkness. For some crazy reason a twinge of +panic shot through him. + +"Freddy!" he whispered. + +"Here, Dave," came the welcomed reply. "I'm on the ground and to your +left. It's all clear down here. The ground's soft. Come on down." + +"Here I come!" Dave said, and twisted over and let himself lightly down +onto the ground. + +No sooner had his feet touched than Freddy had a hand on his arm. + +"Well, that's the first part!" the English youth breathed excitedly. +"Now, what's the next move?" + +"Our shoes," Dave said and pulled the other down onto the ground. "Then +we head straight up that hill, there, and keep going north." + +"North?" Freddy said in a puzzled whisper. "Why not west toward the +Belgian lines? We want to get there as fast as we can. I got a good look +at that map, Dave. I think this town, here, is called Estalle. And...." + +Freddy cut off his words and both boys froze back against the rear wall +of the building as a shaft of yellow light suddenly cut the darkness of +night. Dave's heart rose up to clog in his throat as he waited with fear +in his heart for the shaft of light to sweep over to reveal them in its +glow. + +Then suddenly truth dawned and he was almost overcome with an insane, +crazy desire to burst out with hysterical laughter. His taut nerves +twanged like plucked fiddle strings and his whole body seemed to melt +with relief. A light had suddenly been turned on in the building against +which they crouched, and the shaft of light had simply been the inside +light flooding out through a rear window. When it didn't move where it +struck the bottom of the hill slope a dozen yards or so away Dave +realized the truth. And so did Freddy a moment later. + +"Good grief, that scared me!" the English boy breathed. + +"We'll talk later," Dave said. "Right now we're making tracks away from +here. Got your shoes on?" + +"Yes," Freddy replied. "You lead, Dave. I'll stick right at your heels. +Mind your step, though." + +"You're telling me!" Dave grunted and started creeping along the rear of +the building to the right. + +When he reached the corner he stopped and cautiously peered around it. +Luck was with him. He had half expected to find himself looking down an +alley to the street out in front. But it wasn't an alley. It was just a +small court that connected with the next building. A high fence at the +front blocked off a view of the street. He couldn't see the street, but +the point was that when they started up the hill slope no passing +soldiers in the street could see them and give chase if for no other +reason than curiosity. + +"Stick close, Freddy!" Dave whispered over his shoulder. "First stop is +the top of the hill. Here we go!" + +Bent over low Dave turned sharp left and went scuttling across some +thirty feet of bare ground, and then into the scrub brush that fringed +the base of the hill. Hands out in front of him to prevent barging +straight into a tree, he started up the slope as fast as caution would +permit. By the time he was half way up his breath was coming in sobbing +gasps, and his legs felt like two withered sticks that might snap in two +at most any second. + +He gritted his teeth and called upon every ounce of strength in his +strong young body. It was mighty hard going. From the prison room window +the hill slope had looked not at all steep, but now climbing up it in +the dark, dodging around tree trunks and jutting rocks, it seemed almost +to rise right straight up in front of him. Every so often he half +twisted around to make sure Freddy was still with him. And each time +that was exactly the case. Freddy was right there at his heels, puffing +and panting, but sticking like glue. + +The English youth's courage and stick-to-itiveness made Dave doggedly +refuse to permit himself to rest even for a moment. Freddy wasn't +complaining, and if Freddy could take it then he could, too. Freddy +might be younger, and a bit shorter, and weigh less, but there was no +difference in the quality of his fighting spirit, or of the courage in +his heart. And so Dave kept on climbing upward, and upward through the +black night until finally ... and it seemed as though a thousand years +had passed by ... he finally reached the crest. He staggered along the +flat crest for a few yards and then sank wearily down on the soft earth. +Freddy dropped down beside him, and for a long time there was no sound +between them save the sounds of their labored breathing. + +Eventually, Dave pushed himself up to a sitting position, wiped his +dripping face on the sleeve of his shirt, and let out a long sigh. + +"Gee, am I out of condition for track!" he breathed. "That was plenty +tough. I thought we'd never make it. You okay, Freddy?" + +The English youth groaned softly as he sat up. + +"I guess so," he murmured and sucked in great gulps of cool night air. +"But I certainly hope we don't have to do that often. You can't see very +much from here, can you? I guess they're not taking chances on showing +many lights in case our bombers come over. I'd like very much to see a +big bomb drop on that Colonel Stohl, though. He deserves one!" + +Dave chuckled and instantly felt much better. Freddy might be dead on +his feet, but he still had the old fight. + +"Two, one for me," he said and stared down at the town. + +In all there were not more than two dozen lights showing, and at least +half of them were the shaded lights of army cars and trucks moving along +the one main street of the town. If there were others they were blotted +out by the trees. + +"About that map, Freddy," Dave said presently in a low voice. "I think +this is Estalle, myself, but that's not much of a help. I mean, I +couldn't figure how far we are from the Belgian lines. I guess it can't +be very far, though. They only started the invasion yesterday morning, +so they can't have gone very deep into the country." + +"I don't agree with that, Dave," Freddy said. "The German blitzkrieg in +Poland made as much as eighty and ninety miles in a day. Besides, my +father taught me a lot about marking army maps. Of course I don't know +what _all_ of those markings meant on the Colonel's map, but I'm pretty +sure those little yellow pins represented their advanced armored +scouting units." + +"But good gosh, they were as far west as Brussels and Charleroi!" Dave +gasped. "That's miles away. What about the Belgian frontier forts, and +the forts of Liege, and such big places? Wouldn't they hold them back?" + +"I don't know," Freddy said. "But I suspect the Germans are doing the +same thing they did in the Polish campaign. Their light fast mobile +units scoot right on past the heavily fortified centers and capture +small positions in the rear. Then the bombers and the heavy attack +tanks, and such, go at the big forts. It's as I heard my father say +shortly after the Polish invasion. You don't have trench warfare any +more. It's blitzkrieg nowadays. Lightning attack with small fast units, +with the main body moving up behind and concentrating on main points of +defense. And don't forget Hitler's air force, Dave. It cleared the way +for him in Poland, and in Denmark, and Norway. They're probably doing +the same against the Belgians. At least until the British stop them. And +we'll jolly well stop them, don't worry." + +"Gee, you talk like a regular military expert," Dave said in admiration. +"I guess your Dad taught you a lot. War certainly isn't what it used to +be, I guess. But, look, there were some blue pins on that map, and +beside each one was a date. I saw dates a week and two weeks from now. +And there were blue pins all the way across Belgium to the English +Channel. I ... Holy smokes! It just struck me. The yellow pins show +where the Germans are today, and the blue pins mark places they expect +to capture on certain days! Could that be true, do you think?" + +"Yes, I do," Freddy said. "I'm pretty sure, Dave, that we've seen +something the Allied High Command would give a million pounds to see. +Five million, or more! That was an Intelligence map of the whole German +plan of invasion, Dave. I'm sure of it!" + +"My gosh, then let's get going!" Dave cried, and leaped to his feet. +"We've got to get through to Allied High Command, wherever it is. We +can't show them the map, but between us we should be able to remember +enough about it to help them plenty. We...." + +A wild yell from down at the base of the hill, and three pistol shots in +rapid succession, cut off Dave's words like a knife. He shot a quick +look down the hill and saw a cluster of lights suddenly spring into +being. He wasn't sure but he felt pretty certain they were from the +building where he and Freddy had been held prisoners. + +A second later when more shots and more shouting drifted up to him, he +was sure. The guard had probably taken another look, and found out they +had escaped. Now the alarm was being given. Bitter anger for wasting +time talking flashed through him and was gone. He reached down quickly +and pulled Freddy up onto his feet. + +"They've discovered our escape!" he cried. "We've got to start moving, +and fast. Stick close to me. We'll still head north." + +"But why north?" Freddy protested. "We should go west if we want to +reach the Belgian outposts as soon as possible, and get them to take us +to Allied G.H.Q., Dave!" + +"No, north!" Dave said. "They'll guess we're trying to get to the +Belgians, you see? So they'll start hunting toward the west, and sending +word ahead. If we go north we'll be fooling them for awhile ... I hope. +Anyway, it's our best bet. See? There go a couple of their cars racing +down the road toward the west. Come on!" + + + + +CHAPTER NINE + +_A Desperate Mission_ + + +Dawn was a little over an hour away and Dave Dawson couldn't drag his +body forward another step. For hours he and Freddy Farmer had trudged +across strange country through the darkness striving to put more and +more ground between them and the pursuing Germans. A dozen times they +had almost stumbled headlong into roving German mop-up patrols. And once +they had crouched for a solid hour in a road ditch while a long line of +tanks, and motorized artillery units had rumbled by heading westward. + +But now he just couldn't go another step. He didn't care if the whole +German Army was right at their heels. He had to stop and rest. There is +a limit to the endurance of even the strongest of men, and Dave and +Freddy had most certainly proved themselves to be men, not just mere +boys, during those hours of mad flight across enemy held ground. Where +they were Dave didn't know, nor did he care much right at the moment. +The North Star had been his guide all the way, but they had been forced +to change their direction in order to skirt bomb blasted villages filled +with German troops, and roads clogged with parts of the mighty Nazi war +machine, so it was impossible even to guess how far they had traveled, +or in what general direction. + +Now, though, as he came to the outer edge of some woods and saw the +shadowy shapes of barren fields beyond, Dave flung himself down under +some bushes and gave his body over to the utter fatigue and weariness +which had been trying to drag him down for the last several miles. His +throat was dry and craving for water, and his stomach was screaming for +some of the bread and the hunk of cheese he and Freddy had so wisely +saved from that huge breakfast, and had stuffed inside their shirts +before crawling out the window. Yes, food and water would go fine, but +later. He was too dead tired now to so much as move a muscle. In a dull +sort of way he was conscious of Freddy flopping down beside him, and +then a moment later he felt himself slip away into blissful peace. + +A soothing warmth on his back eventually woke him up. He started to move +but the sudden aches and pains in his body brought a stifled groan to +his lips. He stayed where he was for a moment with his face buried in +his crossed over arms, soaking up the soothing warmth on his back. Then +he rolled over on his back and stared up through the bush branches at +the sky. It was another perfect spring day and the sun was well up on +high. That realization finally filtered into his tired brain and brought +him sitting bolt upright. + +"Gee, it must be close to noon!" he heard his own voice whisper. "And +we've still got a heck of a ways to go. But where, and in what +direction, I wonder?" + +He turned and put out his hand to shake Freddy sleeping close beside +him. But when he saw the pale drawn face of his friend he let his hand +drop back into his lap. He just didn't have the heart to wake up Freddy. +The English youth was positively dead to the world, and one look at the +completely exhausted expression on Freddy's face told Dave the youth +wouldn't be fit to travel even if he were awakened. True, it might be +very dangerous for them to remain where they are. German soldiers might +stumble about them at 'most any moment. Just the same a strange sense of +responsibility took possession of Dave. He was the older of the two, and +the stronger. By more or less mutual consent he had become the leader. +As the leader he should use his head. And it would _not_ be using his +head to wake up Freddy and force the poor kid to continue on. + +"No, it's best to stick here, at least until dark," he argued with +himself. "We're pretty well hidden under these bushes. And ... and, +gosh, I just haven't the heart to wake him up!" + +His decision made, he put his hand inside his shirt and pulled out the +very much crushed half loaf of bread and the hunk of cheese. He ate a +little of each and then made himself put the rest back inside his shirt. +It helped his stomach a little, but it only served to aggravate his +thirst. He'd rather have a glass of water right now than be standing in +the middle of Piccadilly Circus, in London, with his father. + +He lay back on the ground again and started thinking about his father in +an effort to forget his thirst. But after no more than five or six +seconds it just wasn't any use. He sat up again and peered around. It +was then he saw the farm house and the sheds about half a mile away. +Smoke was coming from the farm house chimney, and he could see figures +moving about in the yard. Because of the sun in his eyes he couldn't +tell if they were German troops or not. Off to the right he suddenly saw +a moving cloud of dust. He knew at once it was a car traveling along a +road. And presently the car came into view from behind a string of +trees. It traveled up to the farm house and came to a stop. Four +figures climbed out and hurried into the farm house. A faint hope that +had been flowering in Dave died out at once. His straining eyes had made +out the bucket shaped helmets and the tight-fitting field-grey uniforms +of German officers. + +Approaching the farm house was out of the question, now. He had hoped +there might just be peasant farmers there, passed by by the Germans. But +that obviously wasn't so. The place was alive with Hitler's soldiers. +Fighting back his momentary defeat, he got slowly to his feet, took a +make-sure look at the sleeping Freddy Farmer, and then crept off into +the woods in search of a brook or a small pond. + +Remembering his Boy Scout training, he broke branches off bushes every +now and then so that he would be sure to find his way back to the +sleeping Freddy. As a matter of fact, though, there really wasn't any +need of his doing that. At the end of a quarter of a mile the ground +sloped down into a shallow valley, and there was a small brook trickling +through the middle. With a low cry of joy Dave rushed down to it, flung +himself flat, and buried his face in the icy cold water. Never, never in +all his life had anything felt so good, so completely satisfying as the +coolness of that brook. Cupping his hands he drank until he couldn't +hold another drop. Then tearing off part of his shirt sleeve he used it +to wash his face and his neck. Finally, feeling almost like a new man, +he got up and retraced his steps to his hiding place. + +Freddy was awake when he got back, and when the English youth spotted +him a look of fear and utter misery was instantly banished by joyful +relief. + +"Phew, what a fright you gave me!" Freddy choked out. "When I woke up I +couldn't remember if we'd come to this spot together, or if we'd lost +each other last night. I came jolly close to yelling for you and then I +sighted those German blighters over at that farm house. Where have you +been, and I wonder where we are?" + +"I wish I knew," Dave said. "But I've got some good news, anyway. Go +straight back about a quarter of a mile and you'll find a brook. Bet you +could do with a nice long drink of water, couldn't you?" + +"I should say so!" Freddy cried and sprang to his feet. "My throat feels +completely filled up with dust." + +"Then hop to it," Dave grinned and pointed. "Straight back. You'll see +branches broken off the bushes. I'll wait here and try to figure our +next move." + +"Be right back," Freddy said and hurried off into the woods. + +When the English youth left Dave sat down on the ground and fixed +frowning eyes on the farm house. Last night in that prison room his +brain had concentrated on but one problem. The problem of getting out of +the room. Well, they had done that, and they had put considerable +distance behind them. That was all, however. Now, there were more +problems to confront, and consider. Number one, was to find out where +they were. Number two, was to decide whether or not it was safe yet to +start heading west, or to continue north, and number three, was the +problem of food. Whether they went north, south, east, or west they had +a long road facing them, and their bread and cheese was not going to +last forever. They would have to get food some place. And that farm +house.... + +Dave let his thoughts trail off and stop as Freddy came up and sat down +beside him. The English boy looked like an entirely different person. +His eyes were clear and not heavy with fatigue. There was a lot of color +back in his face, and there was a happy and contented smile on his lips. + +"I'll remember that brook all the rest of my life," he said. "Gee, +nothing ever seemed so good. Well, have you thought up a plan? I fancy, +though, we'd better stay here until it's dark. We're bound to be +stopped in daylight. That colonel chap has probably radioed a +description of us all over the place." + +"Gee whiz, you think so?" Dave ejaculated. "Just to catch a couple of +fellows like us?" + +"I fancy so," Freddy said in a sober adult voice. "He'll be hopping mad +that we escaped. And besides pricking his pride it will probably add to +his silly ideas about us. Yes, I think the blighter will go to all ends +to catch us. So, we'd better keep a watchful eye out even if we are in a +hurry. What do you make of that farm house?" + +"I've been thinking about it," Dave grunted. "There are Germans there, +of course, but there must be food, too. If we could only manage to swipe +some food I'd feel a lot better about starting out again. It's going to +be a long walk, and it's a cinch we won't be able to do any hitch-hiking +with German tanks and armored cars all over the place." + +"True," Freddy murmured. "But we might have to walk for days, and days. +Then the information we have might not be of any use to the Allied High +Command. We've got to get back quickly, Dave, and I'm afraid we can't do +that by walking all the way." + +"No, I guess not," Dave said unhappily. "But we'd be taking a heck of a +chance trying to thumb a ride. Maybe, though, if we moved over close to +that road over there, an empty truck or something might come by and we +could slip aboard it for a little ways, anyway. Gosh, it seems a hundred +years since I left Paris!" + +"Two hundred," Freddy said with a sigh. "I certainly never even dreamed +that anything like this would ever happen to me." + +"Me, too," Dave said and gave a little half shake of his head. "Boy, +what I'll have to tell the fellows when I get back home!" + +"We're not back home, yet," Freddy said grimly. "Let's talk some more +about what we should do." + +It was as though Lady Luck or the Good Fairy had been waiting for that +exact moment. From up in the sky to the east came the throbbing drone of +a German plane. The two boys swiveled around at once, shielded their +eyes with their hands and peered upward. The plane was down fairly low +and coming straight toward them. A moment of panic seized hold of Dave +and he unconsciously grabbed hold of Freddy and pulled them both down +under the bushes. + +"Gosh!" he exclaimed excitedly. "Maybe they've got planes out looking +for us. Don't move a muscle and they won't see us. Gee, it's a biplane, +but it's got the swastika marking on the tail. I thought all the German +ships were monoplane design." + +Freddy didn't answer for a moment. He sat crouched low under the +protecting bush branches and squinting his eyes up at the plane. + +"That's a German plane, right enough," he said presently. "I recognize +it, now. It's an Arado AR-95. It's a two seater, and was built as a +torpedo plane. They use it off airplane carriers, but it's a pretty old +type. Look, Dave! The pilot has cut his engine. He's gliding down. I +say, let's get out of here! The observer in back has probably spotted +us!" + +"Now, wait!" Dave hissed and shot out a hand to stop Freddy from leaping +to his feet and dashing back into the woods. "If they have spotted us +we'd not get far before we'd be caught. Besides, I don't think they've +seen us. Look! He's going into a gliding turn. Freddy! I'll bet you a +million dollars he's going to land in that smooth field over there. Yes, +sir, that's what he's going to do!" + +"You're right, Dave!" Freddy breathed. "And some of the Germans in that +farm house are running out to meet them. But I don't like this, Dave. +They may be landing to tell them where we are." + +"Nope," Dave said doggedly. "They wouldn't land. They'd either drop a +message, or use their radio If they have one. They'd stay up to see +which way we headed. Nope. That's some kind of a headquarters over +there, Freddy. I bet the plane is bringing them a message." + +"I hope you're right," Freddy said in an uncertain voice, as his clear +blue eyes clouded with doubt. "There! He's down on the ground, now, and +braking to a stop." + +"That sure is a sweet looking ship!" Dave breathed softly. "An Arado +AR-95, huh? Oh, sure, now I remember seeing pictures of that design. It +has a B.M.W. radial engine. (_Bavarian Motor Works_). The Germans used +it a lot in training their pilots. It's not so fast as the other war +planes, and it's a cinch to fly, they say. _Freddy!_" + +Dave almost shouted the name, and his fingers still gripping the English +youth's arm bit deep into the flesh. + +"Ouch, my arm!" Freddy protested, "What's the matter, Dave? What's up?" + +Dave didn't reply. He watched the German plane come to a stop. The pilot +and observer jumped down onto the ground and walked toward the group of +Germans advancing from the farm house. They met and appeared to talk for +a moment or two. Then all of them turned and went back to the farm +house. When they passed inside Dave took a quick look over at the Arado +with its prop ticking over, then swung around to face Freddy. + +"Maybe that solves our problem, Freddy!" he said in a strained whisper. +"That plane!" + +"The plane?" Freddy echoed with a frown. "What about it? Good grief, you +surely don't mean...." + +"Why not?" Dave countered. "I made my first solo on a better ship than +that. I'll bet you anything you like I can handle it. What do you say, +Freddy?" + +The English youth gulped and looked most undecided. Dave took the moment +of silence to press home his point. + +"It's the best bet we could possibly have!" he argued. "Gee, in that +ship we could be behind the Allied defenses in no time. I say let's try +it, anyway. Gee whiz, Freddy, we might be stuck here for months. There's +no telling what we might run into. What do you say? Are you game to try +it with me?" + +The English youth was already smiling and nodding his head. + +"Right you are, Dave, I'm game," he said quietly. "Anything's better +than just sitting here. And between us we ought to make a go of it. +Right-o, Dave, if you like." + +"That's the stuff!" Dave said and slapped him on the back. "They're all +inside the farm house now, and if we keep back of that field wall, +there, we can get right up close without being seen. When I give you the +sign, run like the dickens for the ship. Gee! We've got to make it, +Freddy. _We've just got to!_" + +The two boys looked at each other, nodded, and then started crawling out +from under the bushes on all fours. + + + + +CHAPTER TEN + +_Trapped In War Skies!_ + + +Hugging the ground at the extreme end of the field wall, Dave and Freddy +stared at the German plane not thirty yards away. The idling propeller +filled the air with a purring sound that struck right to their hearts +and sent the blood surging through their veins in wild excitement. The +feeling of fatigue and body weariness had completely fled them, now. The +thrill of the dangerous adventure ahead filled them with a renewed sense +of strength, and fired them with grim determination. + +Dave slowly rose up onto one knee like a track star on his mark at the +starting line. He cast a quick glance back over his shoulder at Freddy, +and nodded. + +"Now!" he whispered sharply, and went streaking around the end of the +field wall. + +He reached the plane a dozen steps ahead of the English boy, and +practically leaped into the pilot's cockpit forward. No sooner was he +seated and snapping the safety belt buckle than Freddy was scrambling +into the observer's cockpit. + +"I'm in!" he heard the English youth sing out. + +Shooting out a foot Dave kicked off the wheel brake release. Then he +grabbed hold of the "Dep" wheel control stick with his right hand and +reached for the throttle with his left and gingerly eased it forward. +The B.M.W. engine instantly started to roar up in a song of power. Dave +opened the throttle more and pushed the Dep stick forward to get the +tail up as the Arado started forward. + +"Hurry up, Dave!" came Freddy's wild yell above the roar of the engine. +"They've seen us! They're running out of the house. They're shooting at +us with rifles, Dave!" + +Freddy could have saved his breath on the last. The sharp bark of rifle +fire came plainly to Dave's ears as he hunched forward over the +controls. And almost in the same instant he heard the blood chilling +whine of nickel-jacketed lead messengers of death streaking past not +very high above his head. Impulsively he ducked lower in the pit, and +shoved the throttle wide open. The plane was already bouncing over the +ground on its wheels, with the tail up, and then added gas fed to the +engine caused the ship practically to leap forward like a high strung +race horse quitting the barrier. + +The sudden burst of speed flung Dave back in the seat, and for one +horrible instant his hands were almost torn from the Dep wheel, and his +feet yanked free of the rudder pedals. He caught himself in the nick of +time, however, swerved the plane clear of a sudden dip in the surface of +the field, and then gently hauled the Dep wheel back toward his stomach. + +For a long moment the wheels of the plane seemed to cling to the ground. +Then they lifted clear and the Arado went nosing up toward the golden +washed blue sky. Clamped air burst from Dave's lungs like an exploding +shell. He coughed, and shook sweat from his face, and held the ship at +the correct angle of climb. The engine in the nose sang such a sweet +song of power that for a moment or so it was in tune with the song of +wild joy in Dave's heart. The Arado, as he had rightly guessed, was a +cinch to handle. It was light as a feather and responded instantly to a +touch on the control wheel, or on the rudder pedals. + +As the plane climbed upward he twisted around in the seat and looked at +Freddy. The English youth was staring down back at the field they had +just left. Dave followed his look and saw the twenty or thirty figures +garbed in German military uniforms on the field. At least half of them +were firing furiously with rifles. The others were shaking their fists, +and making angry gestures for the plane to return and land. Dave grinned +and shook his head. + +"You can just bet we won't come back!" he shouted into the roar of the +engine. "We're not _that_ crazy!" + +Freddy heard him and turned front. The English youth's eyes danced with +excitement. He grinned at Dave, and then suddenly seemed to remember the +little scene last night after Dave had removed the screws from the +window frame. He clasped both hands above his head and shook them +vigorously. His lips moved, and Dave just barely heard the words. + +"Well done!" + +Dave returned the grin and then twisted around front. The dash +instruments, of course, were all marked in German, but he knew enough of +that language to read them. The altimeter needle was quivering close to +the six thousand foot mark. He decided that was high enough and leveled +off the climb onto even keel. Then he took a moment or so to glance down +at the ground below to try and get his bearings. The first thing he saw +was a small village off to his left. One look at it and his heart leaped +over in his chest. He saw the hill and the single main street along +which trucks and armored cars and motorized units of artillery were +passing in a steady, endless stream. The town of Estalle? It seemed to +be almost directly under him. The truth made him shiver and lick his +lower lip. + +If that was Estalle and he was positive it was, he and Freddy couldn't +have traveled more than eight or nine miles toward the north during +their wild flight last night. Maybe twice that number of miles going +around in circles, but certainly not more than ten miles in the +direction they wanted to go. + +A rap on his shoulder turned him around in the seat. Freddy was pointing +at the village of Estalle and pursing his lips in a silent whistle. Dave +got the idea and nodded, and wiped make believe sweat from his forehead +with his free hand. Then he turned front and glanced at the sun in an +effort to decide which direction was due west. Of course there was a +compass on the instrument panel but something was obviously wrong with +it. The needle was spinning around the balanced card dial. + +That fact didn't worry him in the slightest, though. He remembered a tip +a First World War flying ace had once given him about finding your +direction in Europe when you were lost and your compass was out of +whack. It was very simple, too. In the morning, if you could see the +sun, all you had to do was keep the sun on your tail and you would be +sure to be flying west. And so Dave applied the rudder until the sun +was mostly on his tail, and gave his attention to the spread of ground +ahead. + +What he saw made him suck air sharply into his lungs. Rather, it was a +case of what he didn't see. The entire western horizon seemed to be one +huge cloud of dirty grey smoke streaked here and there with tongues of +livid red and orange and yellow flame. It was as though the whole of +Belgium was on fire. Closer to him was a long even-banked river that cut +down across the countryside from the northwest to the southeast. He was +staring hard at it thinking it was a very peculiar looking river when he +suddenly felt Freddy hitting him on the shoulder again. + +"That's the famous Prince Albert Canal!" the English youth shouted above +the roar of the engine. "It's very strongly fortified. A sort of Belgian +Maginot Line. The Germans can't possibly have crossed it, yet. If we can +just get by there, Brussels is not very far off. We could land there." + +"Germans not crossing it?" Dave yelled and pointed. "Look down there to +the left. They're swarming across it like bees. Gee, there must be a +million pontoon bridges thrown across that canal. And, gosh, look at all +those Stuka dive bombers!" + +It was all too true. Hitler's relentlessly advancing forces had smashed +the Albert Canal defenses to smoking rubble, thus forcing the Belgian +army to retreat to the south side of the Canal. And now as German +troops, and their swiftly striking Panzer division were rushing across +pontoon bridges to strike more blows at the Belgians, hundreds of Stuka +dive bombers were blasting death and destruction into the ranks of the +enemy. The sight of it all made Dave's heart turn to ice in his chest. +History, terrible History was being written down there by the Albert +Canal, and his heart was on fire with an even more blazing desire to do +something for the cause of justice and civilization. + +But first he had another job to do, and he lifted his gaze and peered at +the smoke and flame filled sky ahead. Besides smoke and flame there were +countless numbers of planes streaking and darting around in all +directions. The air was practically filled with them. There was layer +after layer of planes reaching from low down over the battle grounds +right up to the sun. And insofar as he could tell at the distance not a +single one of them was of Allied design. They were all German. + +At that moment Freddy pounded on his shoulder for the third time. And +the voice that screamed in his ear rang with fright and alarm. + +"More speed, Dave! Look behind us. There's a plane, a Messerschmitt. I +think it's chasing us. They might even try to shoot us down. What'll we +do, Dave?" + +"What'll we do?" Dave echoed and glanced back at the sleek needle shaped +plane with its low monoplane wing. "We'll keep on going. They may not +try to shoot at us. Once we get on the other side of the Canal, we'll be +safe. We'll go down and land." + +But even as Dave spoke the words to give good cheer to Freddy his own +heart was pounding with fear. The other plane was drawing up on them as +an express train overtakes a slow freight. He could see now that it was +a Messerschmitt One-Ten. A moment later he saw the gunner-observer in +the rear pit shove back his bullet proof glass cockpit hatch and stand +up and wave signals with both his arms. Those signals plainly said for +them to go down and land at once, but Dave pretended that he hadn't +seen. He rammed the palm of his free hand hard against the already wide +open throttle, as though if in so doing he might get increased speed out +of the plane. + +It was no more than a futile gesture, however. In the matter of seconds +the Messerschmitt had pulled right up along side them. Dave turned and +looked across the air space that separated the two planes. His heart +zoomed up his throat so fast it almost bumped up against his back +teeth. The German observer was still sending signals to land, but not +with his arms and hands, now. He was doing it with the aerial machine +gun fixed to the swivel mounting that circled the rim of his cockpit. He +was pointing the gun at them and then tilting it down toward the ground +as he nodded his helmeted head vigorously. + +Dave stared at the gun as though hypnotized. The blood pounded in his +temples, and his whole body was on fire one instant and icy cold the +next. There was death staring straight at him, and he could hardly force +his brain to think. He knew he couldn't just keep on flying. He had to +do something or the German would open fire and turn their plane into a +blazing inferno. On the other hand, his fighting heart refused to +surrender and go back and face the ugly wrath of that Colonel Stohl. For +this Messerschmitt had unquestionably been sent out after them at the +Colonel's orders. Who knew? Perhaps Colonel Stohl had been the German he +had seen climb out of the observer's pit of this very Arado he was now +trying to fly to safety behind the Belgian lines. It would have been +very easy for the German to phone the nearest air field and have a plane +sent out after them. + +_Tac-a-tac-a-tac-a-tac!_ + +Jetting tongues of flame leaped out from the muzzle of the machine gun +in the other plane. The savage yammer sound smashed against Dave's ears +even as he saw the wavy trails of tracer smoke cut across in front of +the nose of his plane. The yammer of the gun snapped him into action and +sent his eyes darting to the cowled nose of the Arado. His heart seemed +to cry out when he saw that the plane carried no guns. On impulse he +twisted his head around to Freddy's pit, but there, too, disappointment +mocked him. The plane was not armed! It was probably just a courier +plane used far behind the lines on safe missions only. + +As he looked into Freddy's eyes he saw reflected there his own bitter +thoughts. They were completely at the mercy of that Messerschmitt flying +along wing to wing with them. Unskilled and untrained though they were +in aerial combat, it was heartrending not to be able to put up some kind +of a battle for their lives. + +"It was a good try, Dave!" he heard Freddy call out. "But I guess it's +no use, now. The beggars have us on the spike for fair. There's nothing +we can do but go down and land, as they want us to." + +As though the German in the other plane had actually heard the English +youth's words, a second warning burst of shots rattled out to streak +across in front of the Arado's nose. Unconsciously Dave nodded his head, +and reached out his hand to haul back the throttle. His hand froze in +mid air, instead. At that moment he had glanced down at the ground below +and ahead. What he saw made fierce, frenzied determination explode in +his heart! + +They were almost directly over the Albert Canal. He could clearly see +the Belgian troops digging in on the south side, wheeling guns into +position, and throwing out rear guard action units. Not a mile, not even +a half mile from safety. It was too much for Dave. The fighting American +spirit of Lexington and Concord flamed up in his chest. He wouldn't do +it! He wouldn't give in without a try. He'd fool those Germans in the +Messerschmitt One-Ten even if it was the last thing he ever did. Let +them try to shoot him down. Just let them try! There were German planes +all around, now. And that fact alone was to his advantage. The +Messerschmitt gunner would have to take care not to hit one of his own. + +"Dave! He means it this time! We've got to turn back!" + +He heard Freddy's voice as though it came from a thousand miles away. +But he didn't pay the slightest bit of attention. Didn't so much as +shake his head. His whole body was cold and numb with fear of what he +was about to attempt. But in his brain there was but one thought; one +great overwhelming determination of purpose. + +He whipped out his hand and eased back the throttle and let the nose +drop. At the same time he applied stick and rudder as though he was +going to send the plane around and down in a gliding turn that would +take them back east. As the plane started to turn he shot a quick side +glance at the Messerschmitt. His heart was ready to explode with joy. +The German observer had seen the movement of the Arado and wrongly +guessed its meaning! The man nodded his head, and let go of his gun and +sank down on his seat. + +The instant Dave saw the German sink down on the seat he belted the +throttle wide open again and shoved the stick forward until the Arado +was prop howling down in an almost vertical dive. + +"Hold fast!" he shouted at Freddy without turning his head. "They +haven't got us yet, and they won't get us if I've got anything to say +about it." + +Bracing himself against the speed of the dive, and keeping his mouth +open so that his eardrums would not snap and perhaps break, he held +himself hunched forward over the controls, and fixed both eyes on the +flame and smoke smeared ground below. The smoke and flames seemed to +leap up toward him at rocket speed. Out of the corner of his eye he +caught flash glimpses of Stuka dive bombers cutting through the air at +terrific speed. Then from up in back of him he heard the deadly chatter +of German aerial machine guns. + +He didn't bother to look back to see if the Messerschmitt was on his +tail. That would be but a waste of effort. Instead he jammed hard on the +left rudder and sent the Arado swerving crazily off to the side. The +guns above him continued to hammer and snarl, but he heard no bullets +snicking past his ears. He could hear only the thunderous roar of his +own B.M.W. engine. + +Then suddenly the Prince Albert Canal flashed by under his nose and was +gone from view. He was safely across it and right over the Belgian +troops! However, it was simply a case of roaring out of one danger zone +into another. He completely forgot he was flying a plane with German +markings. Naturally, when the Belgian soldiers saw the Swastika painted +plane streaking down at them they let go at it with everything they had. + +Perhaps it was one of those freak things of war, or perhaps the gods +were truly smiling upon Dave Dawson and Freddy Farmer. At any rate not +a single Belgian bullet hit the diving Arado, and a moment later Dave +hauled the ship out of its mad dive and went streaking along to the rear +of the Belgian lines. But before he had traveled more than a couple of +miles he once more heard the snarl of aerial machine gun fire behind +him. And this time there was more to it than just the sound! + +The Arado suddenly bucked and quivered as though it had been smashed by +the fist of some huge invisible giant of the skies. The vicious movement +of the plane tore Dave's hands from the controls and flung him over so +hard he cracked his head on the cockpit rim and saw stars for a brief +instant or so. Then as his senses cleared again and he grabbed hold of +the controls once more, the engine in the nose coughed and sputtered and +shot out a cloud of black smoke ... and died cold. + +Realization and action were one for Dave, and so the first thing he did +was to yank back the throttle and cut off the ignition. When that was +done he shoved the nose down and peered hopefully at the ground no more +than five hundred feet below him. A groan of despair rose out of his +throat to spill off his lips. He couldn't see a smooth patch of ground +down there big enough for a fly to sit down on. True there were lots of +fields, but they were pock marked from one end to the other with shell +and bomb craters. There was one spot where he might possibly land +without crashing too badly. But crash he would. That was certain. There +was nothing to do but try it ... and pray! + +"A crash coming, Freddy!" he yelled back over his shoulder. "Hold +everything, and hang on hard!" + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + +_Fighting Hearts_ + + +As Dave glided the crippled Arado down toward the bomb and shell marked +field the icy fingers of fear were curled tightly about his heart. He +had made one or two forced landings in his short flying career, but they +had been like setting down a plane on a gigantic billiard table compared +to the task he now faced. If he under-shot the patch of ground he was +aiming at he would go plowing straight into a battery of Belgian +artillery guns hurling shells across the Albert Canal into the +on-rushing German hordes. And if he over-shot the field or swerved too +much to the right or left he would go crashing into a maze of shell +blasted tree stumps which would tear the plane to shreds and snuff out +his life, and Freddy's, as easily as one snuffs out the flame of a +candle. + +His only hope lay in hitting the field in the center and checking the +forward roll of the plane so that when it did slide over and down into +one of the bomb craters the crash impact wouldn't be too violent. In +his heart he knew that he stood but one chance in a thousand of coming +out of the crash uninjured. But there was no other way out, the die had +been cast. The engine had been hit and was dead. There was only one way +to go, and that was down. + +On impulse he jerked his head around and looked back. It seemed as +though he had not heard Freddy's voice in a year or more, and sudden +panic swept through him. Was Freddy all right? Had he been hit, and was +that why he had not spoken? In the brief instant it took to jerk his +head around and look back, Dave died a hundred agonizing deaths. + +Luck, however, was still riding the cockpits with them. The English +youth was still alive, and very much so, too. His lips were drawn back +in a tight grin even though his face was white, and there was a sort of +glazed, glassy look in his eyes. Being a pilot, himself, Freddy knew +exactly what it was all about. He had sense enough not to try any back +seat driving in the emergency. He was leaving everything to Dave, and +trusting in his friend's judgment. He sat perfectly still in the seat, +his arms half raised and ready to throw them across his face when they +hit in order to protect himself as much as possible. + +Sitting still and showing his faith in Dave by the tight grin on his +lips. That realization gave Dave new courage as he turned front again. +The ground was just under his wheels, now. He would not under-shoot the +field, nor would he over-shoot it either. He had proved his flying skill +thus far. The rest was ... was in the lap of the gods! + +Ten feet off! Nine feet, eight ... seven ... six! He was hugging the Dep +wheel now all the way back against his stomach to bring the nose up just +a few more inches before the ship stalled and dropped. His whole body +sensed that moment of stalling; that moment when the lift of the wings +was absolutely nil. He sensed it now and instantly let go of the stick, +buried his head in his arms, and let his whole body go limp. + +For two seconds, or perhaps it was for two long years, the Arado seemed +to hang motionless in the air. Then suddenly it dropped belly first like +a rock. The wheels hit hard and the ship was bounced back up into the +air again. It hit again, and bounced again. It hit once more and Dave +felt the tail wheel catch on something and send the ship plunging +crazily off to the right. He jammed hard on the left rudder to +counteract the movement, but it was too late. Fate had placed a huge +German bomb crater in the way. The plane slithered over the lip of the +crater and charged dizzily downward. + +Memory of a wild ride on a Coney Island roller coaster streaked through +Dave's brain. And then the plane careened up on its side, and half up on +its nose. It swayed there with its tail pointing up at the sky. It +twisted twice around and then fell over on its back with a jarring thud. +An invisible giant reached out a fist and punched Dave hard on the +chest. The air in his lungs whistled out through his mouth, and for +horrible seconds colored lights whirled around in his brain, and the +entire universe was filled with roaring, crashing thunder. + +The spell passed in a moment, and he found himself hanging head downward +on his safety harness. His first thought was for Freddy, and he +struggled to twist around and look back, but he couldn't make it. + +"Freddy!" he yelled in a choking voice. "Are you all right?" + +A heart chilling instant of silence greeted his question, and then came +Freddy's faint reply. + +"Not hurt a bit, Dave! But the blasted safety harness broke, and I'm +down here in a beastly puddle of mud. Can you give me a hand?" + +Reaction set in and Dave laughed hysterically, and tore at his safety +belt buckles. He got them unfastened and grabbed hold of the sides of +the cockpit before he went plunging down into the muddy bottom of the +bomb crater, himself. He twisted over and landed feet first. It was +then he had his first look at Freddy. The English lad was plopped down +on the seat of his pants in a good eight inches of mud. And there was +mud from the top of his head all the way down. He had obviously landed +square on his head but had managed to squirm around and sit up before +the sticky yellow ooze suffocated him. Right at the moment he was pawing +the stuff off his face so he could see. + +Dave plowed around to him and caught him under the armpits, and heaved. +Freddy's body coming up out of the mud sounded like somebody pulling a +cork from a bottle. Still hanging onto him, Dave ducked under a section +of the crumpled wing and hauled and tugged them both up out of the +crater on to firm dry ground. Then he dug a handkerchief from his pocket +and started wiping off Freddy's face. + +"Boy, do you look a sight, Freddy!" he chuckled. Then in a more serious +tone, "I'm darn sorry, Freddy. That sure was a rotten landing. I guess I +thought I was too good. I should have let you do the flying." + +Freddy snorted and squinted at him out of one eye. + +"Rotten landing?" he gasped. "Good grief, they can't fly any better than +that in the R.A.F., Dave. I thought sure we'd both be killed. And +neither of us has so much as a scratch. You couldn't have done it any +better, Dave. Honest!" + +"Thanks," Dave grinned. "But it was all luck. And I was scared stiff. +Thank goodness those Messerschmitt guys were such punk shots. Now, wipe +some more off, and we'll...." + +Dave cut off the rest short and spun around. A squad of Belgian infantry +men was racing across the field toward them. The bayonets on their +rifles glistened in the sun, and the cries of wild men were bursting +from their lips. The truth hit Dave in the flick of an eye. Those +Belgians took them for two members of the Nazi Air Force, and they were +racing over to get vengeance for what those Stuka dive bombers had been +doing to them. Even as the truth came to Dave one of the running +soldiers threw his rifle up to his shoulder and fired. The bullet cut +past Dave's face so close he could almost feel its heat. He leaped in +front of Freddy who was still wiping his face and flung up both hands. + +"Don't shoot, don't shoot!" he yelled in French. "We're not Germans! +America! England! Don't shoot! _Vive les Alliés!_" + +The Belgian soldiers rushed up to him and leveled their rifles at his +stomach. They were a vicious looking lot, but they had been made that +way by the fury of war hurled down on them for the last seventy-two +hours or more. Their eyes were bloodshot, and their faces were caked +with dried blood and dirt. Their beards were sodden messes, and their +uniforms were torn and ripped to rags. Their rifles were the only clean +thing about them. + +One of them with corporal chevrons on his tattered tunic sleeve stepped +forward until the tip of his wicked looking bayonet was within an inch +of Dave's neck. + +"You are Boches!" he shouted and nodded at the wrecked plane. "We saw +you dive down on us. Well, you will not dive again. We shall...." + +"Wait, wait!" Dave shouted in wild alarm. "I tell you we are not German. +He's English, and I'm an American. We have just escaped from Germany. We +were prisoners there. We have to get to Allied Headquarters at once. We +have valuable information." + +The Belgian corporal hesitated and looked puzzled. His men obviously did +not believe Dave. They made snarling sounds in their throats and +shuffled forward a bit. Dave opened his mouth to explain some more, but +Freddy beat him to the punch. The young English boy suddenly stepped +forward and a stream of words poured from his thin lips. He had lived +many years on the Continent and he knew how to deal with either the +French or the Belgians. + +"Listen to me, you lugger heads!" he ranted at them. "My friend speaks +the truth. We have just escaped from Germany, and we have important +information. Take us to your commanding officer at once, do you hear? Do +we look like Germans? Of course not! Where are your heads, your brains? +Have you not seen us risk our lives trying to reach this side of the +lines? Take us to your commanding officer. He may even recommend you for +a medal. You hear me? Take us to your commanding officer or I shall make +a personal complaint to the Commander in Chief of British Army Staff, +General Caldwell. Attention, at once! Take us to your commanding +officer, _now!_" + +Grins slowly appeared on the faces of the battle wearied Belgian +soldiers. The corporal chuckled and lowered his bayonet from Dave's +throat. + +"The little one spits fire when he speaks," he murmured and nodded his +head. "No, I do not believe now that you are Germans. But you had a very +lucky escape, my two little ones. We do not feel very pleased today. Nor +will we be happy for a long time to come, I am afraid. It looks bad, +very bad. Come! I will take you to my Lieutenant." + +"It looks bad?" Freddy asked quickly. "Can't you hold them? Aren't the +British and the French helping?" + +The Belgian corporal shrugged and wiped his tired eyes with a dirt and +mud smeared hand. + +"It is possible," he grunted. "I do not know. We hear very little except +the guns and those cursed bombs. But, there are no British or French +here. Only Belgians. And we cannot stop them. We have not the men, or +the guns, or the tanks. And planes? Where are all our planes? Look at +the sky! It is filled with nothing but Boche planes. Yes, my little one, +it looks very bad. But we are not afraid to die. No!" + +The soldier shrugged again, then nodded with his head and started +trudging back across the field, trailing his rifle as though it weighed +a ton instead of a few pounds or so. Freddy and Dave dropped into step +with the others and went along. Nobody spoke. Nobody but the bombs and +the shells but a few miles away, and rapidly drawing closer. Dave leaned +toward Freddy. + +"Boy, can you dish out their language!" he breathed. "But I don't blame +them. They must have been through something terrible. It's a wonder they +didn't shoot and ask questions afterward." + +"Yes," Freddy said in a dull voice. "I wonder where the French and the +British are? I hope they can get here in time." + +Dave didn't attempt to answer the question. He suddenly felt very tired, +and old. His strength had been sapped to the limit, and his spirits were +staggering under a crushing weight. The picture of those German hordes +pouring across the Albert Canal and virtually beating the Belgians right +down into the ground was still clear as crystal in his brain. It was +like a mighty tidal wave hurtling forward with nothing but a picket +fence in the way to stop it. + +At the far end of the field the Belgians turned left on a winding narrow +dirt road. They went down this for some fifty yards or so, then left the +road and entered some woods. In the heart of the woods several companies +of Belgian troops were frantically building up machine gun emplacements, +stringing out barbwire, and moving light field pieces into place to bear +on the winding dirt road. The corporal stopped before a young lieutenant +and saluted smartly. Dave and Freddy stopped and waited while the +corporal spoke to the officer. + +In a moment or so the lieutenant came over and stared at them both out +of bleak, dead tired eyes. + +"What is all this?" he demanded briskly. + +Dave let Freddy do the talking as he had the language down perfect. The +young Englishman talked a steady stream for two or three moments, giving +a brief account of their movements since the day the Nazi armies broke +through into Belgium and the Low Countries. The Belgian officer listened +in silence, and when Freddy finished he took a map from his pocket and +spread it out on the ground. + +"Where were some of those pins and flags you saw on that map?" he asked. + +Dave still let Freddy do the talking, and simply watched while the +English youth pointed out various points on the map. The Belgian nodded +his head from time to time, and presently folded the map and got quickly +to his feet. + +"I am positive you have seen a map of great importance!" he said. "I +will see that you are taken to Belgian G.H.Q. at once. You will tell +them all you know, and they will communicate with the Allied High +Command. You are very brave boys, you know?" + +Freddy flushed and looked uncomfortable. + +"We only want to do everything we can to help," he said quietly. + +The Lieutenant's tired lips twisted back in a wistful smile as he +glanced from Freddy to Dave. + +"I would feel very happy if I had a million like you under my command," +he murmured. "If only half what you say is true, it is enough. +Sergeant!" + +A huge bearded non-com putting a machine gun in working order got to his +feet and lumbered over. He ran his bloodshot eyes over Freddy and Dave, +and then fixed them on his officer. + +"My Lieutenant?" he grunted. + +"These two, Sergeant," the Lieutenant said with a jerk of his head. +"They are to be taken to General Boulard's headquarters at once. You +will take one of the light scouting cars and drive them there. That is +all." + +The big sergeant blinked and looked dubious. + +"I will try, of course, my Lieutenant," he said. "But we may meet with +difficulty. A runner has arrived only a moment ago at the Fortieth +Company. The Boche tanks have cut the road to Namur. They seek to get +around in back of us. The Boche planes are also bombing the entire road. +It will be difficult but I will attempt it, my Lieutenant." + +Dave saw the Belgian officer's face pale under its coating of blood and +dirt. The man clenched his fists in a helpless gesture, and something +akin to tears of bitter rage glistened in his haggard eyes. At that +exact moment the whole world was filled with a terrifying eerie scream. +The Belgians fell flat on their faces. The Lieutenant dragged Freddy and +Dave down with him, and tried to cover them with his own body. + +Dave knew the meaning of that awful sound. He had heard it along that +road packed with terror stricken refugees. He had heard it as he dragged +an old woman to the flimsy protection of an ox cart. His heart stood +still in his chest. The blood ceased to surge through his veins. His +lungs became locked with air, and his brain became numb and useless as +he waited those terrible few seconds. The diving Stuka's death load hit +on the far side of the road. Half of Belgium seemed to fountain up into +the sky, and what was left rocked and swayed crazily. Thunderous sound +swept over Dave and seemed actually to shove him down into the ground. +In a crazy sort of way he wondered if he was dead. Then the next thing +he realized the Belgian lieutenant was helping him up onto his feet. + +"It is only the direct hits that matter," the officer said in a gentle +voice, and smiled. + +"That was plenty direct enough for me!" Dave said and gulped. + +"Yes, quite!" Freddy breathed and clenched his hands to stop his fingers +trembling. + +"When they dive several at a time, then it is not pleasant," the Belgian +infantry officer said. "But one can only pray. That is the way with +war. But, about this trip to General Boulard's headquarters. You heard +what the Sergeant said? It may be very dangerous. Perhaps you would care +to wait awhile, and rest?" + +Something in the officer's tone made Dave jerk his head up. + +"Hey, I wasn't _that_ scared!" he blurted out. "We're ready to start +right now. Okay, Freddy?" + +"Of course," the English youth replied instantly. "Let's start at once. +The sooner we get there, the better." + +"You are good soldiers, and I salute you," the officer murmured. "Very +well, then. And all my good wishes. After all, perhaps it is not best to +wait here. Soon we shall be very busy, here. Yes, very busy. Sergeant! +You have your orders." + +The tired Belgian officer clicked his heels and saluted the two boys. +They returned the salute and as Dave looked into the Belgian's eyes he +saw a look there he would never forget as long as he lived. That officer +knew what was coming toward him from the Albert Canal. He knew that he +would stay where he was and face it. And he also knew that he would +probably never live to see another sunrise. In a few words he had told +of all that was in his thoughts. He had simply said, "Soon we shall be +very busy, here." + +The Belgian's loyalty and great courage stirred Dave to the depths of +his soul. He impulsively reached out and grasped the officer's hand and +shook it. + +"I hope you beat the stuffing out of them. Lieutenant," he said in a +rush of words. "Freddy and I will be rooting for you, and how!" + +"You bet we will!" the English youth echoed. "I jolly well hope you +chase them all the way back to Berlin!" + +The Belgian officer made no reply. He smiled at them sadly and saluted +again. The boys turned away and followed the big Sergeant through the +patch of woods to the far side where a unit of small tanks and scouting +cars was parked in under the trees. The Sergeant climbed in behind the +wheel of the nearest scouting car and motioned the two youths to get in +back. A couple of moments later the engine was doing its work and the +Sergeant was skillfully tooling the car across open fields toward the +southwest. + +For a few moments Dave stared at the frenzied activity of the Belgian +troops that were all around them. Inexperienced though he was in +military technique, and so forth, he instinctively knew that the brave +Belgians were making feverish preparations for a last ditch stand +against the Germans. And with the picture of the Albert Canal crossing +still fresh in his memory he knew in his heart that all he saw would be +just a waste of gallant effort. Those German hordes, protected by their +swarms of planes, would go right through as though the Belgians weren't +there at all. It actually made his heart hurt to watch them and so he +slumped down in the seat of the car, and let his body sway with the +bumps, and stared moodily at the back of the driver's neck. + +Presently Freddy reached over and placed a hand on his knee and pressed +it. + +"Chin up, Dave!" he heard Freddy say. "We'll get through all right, you +wait and see." + +Dave shook his head and sat up a bit and grinned. + +"Sure we'll make it," he said. "I'm not worrying about that. I was just +thinking." + +"About what?" Freddy asked. + +"Well, just then I was thinking about that Arado I cracked up," Dave +said. "I sure feel rotten about that. I wish I could have brought it +down all in one piece." + +"Good grief, forget it!" Freddy gasped. "It was wonderful of you to get +it down at all. I would have killed us both, for fair. I can tell you, +now, that I was very scared when you took off. I didn't know then how +well you could fly, but I do, now. You're a little bit of all right, +Dave. I mean that, really!" + +"You're swell to say that, anyway," Dave grinned. "I'm still sorry, +though, I had to go and crack it up. I don't know ... Well, I guess +a plane to me is something like what his horse is to a cow puncher. +It's ... it's almost something human." + +"I know what you mean, Dave." + +"Do you, Freddy?" Dave echoed. "Well, that's the way it is. And I'll +tell you something, but you'll probably think I'm nuts. I made an awful +punk landing when I made my first solo. Cracked up the ship. I busted a +wing and wiped the undercarriage right off, and didn't get a scratch. +But do you know? I felt so bad about it I busted right out bawling like +a kid. My instructor was scared stiff. He thought something awful had +happened to me. But when I finally cut it out he was swell about the +whole thing. He said it was the normal reaction of a fellow who could +really go for flying. It made me feel better anyway. Yeah, I sure feel +pretty punk for busting up that Arado, even though it was a German +crate." + +Freddy started to speak but Dave didn't even hear the first word. The +car had bounced out of a field and was being swung onto a road when the +landscape on all four sides suddenly blossomed up with spouting geysers +of brilliant red flame and towering columns of oily black smoke. +Thunderous sound rushed at them and seemed to lift the small scouting +car straight up into the air. + +"Shrapnel barrage!" the Sergeant screamed and slammed on the brakes. +"Take cover under the car at once!" + + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE + +_In the Nick of Time_ + + +Huddled together like sardines under the car, the Belgian Sergeant and +the two boys pressed fingers to their ears while all about them a whole +world went mad with shot and shell. Never in all his life had Dave heard +such a bellowing roar of crashing sound. For the first few seconds his +entire body had been paralyzed with fear, but when he didn't die at once +his brain grew kind of numb, and the roaring thunder didn't seem to have +so much effect upon him. It wasn't because of a greater courage coming +to his rescue. And it wasn't a lack of fear, either. It was simply that +in the midst of a furious bombardment the minds of human beings are too +stunned by the sound to register any kind of emotion. + +And so the three of them just lay there under the car while the German +gunners far back expended their wrath in the form of screaming steel, +and mountains of flame and rolling thunder. In ten minutes it was all +over. The range of the guns was changed and the barrage moved onward to +some other objective. Yet neither of the three moved a muscle. It was as +though each was waiting for the other to make the first move. + +Eventually Dave could stand the suspense no longer. He jerked up his +head without thinking and cracked it hard on the underside of the car. +He let out a yelp of pain, and the sound of his voice seemed to release +whatever was holding Freddy Farmer and the Belgian Sergeant. All three +of them crawled out from under the car and got to their feet and looked +around. Dave and Freddy gasped aloud. The Belgian Sergeant shrugged +indifferently and muttered through his teeth. There just wasn't any road +any more. It was completely lost in a vast area of smoking shell holes +that seemed to stretch out in all directions as far as the eye could +see. Blackened jagged stumps marked what had once been trees. Fields +where spring grass had been growing up were now brown acres of piled up +dirt and stones. And a spot where Dave had last seen a farm house was as +bare as the palm of his hand. + +"By the Saints, you two are a lucky charm!" the Sergeant suddenly +exploded and bobbed his big head up and down vigorously. "If you could +stay by my side always I would come out of this war alive without any +trouble at all. By the Saints of Notre Dame, yes! Look at the car. It +has not even been scratched! It is a miracle, nothing else!" + +It was true! The small scouting car was bathed in dust and dirt but +there wasn't so much as a scratch on it. The engine was even idling as +smooth as could be. The Belgian Sergeant stared at it almost as though +he were staring at a ghost. Then shaking his head and muttering through +his big buck teeth, he climbed in behind the wheel. + +"Nothing can possibly be as bad as that," he said. "Let us proceed at +once while the Good Lady still smiles upon us. Name of all things +wonderful, I can hardly believe I am still alive. _En avant, mes +enfants!_" + +With a sudden contempt for the shell blasted ground, that made Dave and +Freddy grin in spite of the harrowing experience through which they had +just past, the Sergeant sent the car scooting in and out around the +craters with the careless ease of driving along a wide boulevard. In +less time than it takes to tell about it he had driven clear out of the +barrage area and was skirting around a patch of woods toward another and +as yet untouched road. And to show the kind of stuff he was made of the +man began singing joyfully at the top of his voice. + +For the next half hour the war seemed to fade far away. True there were +signs of it on all sides, and above their heads, but a certain feeling +of security came to the boys as the Sergeant bumped them along roads and +across fields skirting around shell holes, artillery batteries, and +reserve troops being rushed up to the Front. Yet somehow all that didn't +touch them, now. A few hours ago they had been hiding in enemy +territory, two hunted prisoners of war. But now they were well behind +the Belgian lines and speeding toward headquarters where they would +deliver enemy position information that would be of great value to the +Allies. Two youths, sixteen and seventeen, had beaten the Germans at +their own game. Instead of revealing information of value to the +Germans, they had escaped with German information valuable to the +Allies. + +Dave leaned his head back and sighed restfully. It sure made a fellow +feel good to have been of some help. And it made him feel twice as good +to have a pal like Freddy Farmer along with him. Freddy had certainly +proved his mettle in the tight corners. And regardless of what he'd +said, Freddy probably would have done a better job of flying that Arado, +too. At every turn the English youth popped up with a new side to him. +He sure was glad Freddy and his ambulance had come along when they had. +And, gee, just how long ago was that, anyway? Three days, or three +years? It had been plenty long ago anyway. + +At that moment Freddy suddenly sat forward and tapped the Sergeant on +the shoulder. + +"Why are we heading east?" he asked and pointed at the last rays of the +setting sun. "If you're trying to get to Namur, you're going in the +wrong direction." + +"That is so," the Sergeant called back. "But, it is necessary. The +Boches have cut the road, and we must go around them. Soon it will be +dark. It will not be so hard when it is dark. Do not worry, my little +one, we shall get there." + +Freddy started to argue but seemed to think better of it. He sank back +on the seat scowling thoughtfully at the setting sun. Dave looked at him +a moment, and then spoke. + +"What gives, Freddy?" he asked. "Do you think the Sergeant doesn't know +what he's doing?" + +"No, he's probably right," the English youth said. "If the Namur road +has been cut by the Germans we've got to go around them, of course. But +I've spent several summers in this part of Belgium, and...." + +Freddy stopped short and leaned forward once more. + +"Why can't we circle around them on the west, Sergeant?" he shouted. +"Can't you cut over and take the road leading south from Wavre?" + +The Belgian let out a yell of consternation and stopped the car so +suddenly he almost pitched the two boys right over the back of the front +seat. + +"The brain of a cat I have!" he shouted and thumped a big fist against +his forehead. "But, of course, of course, my little one! Those bombs and +shells! They must have made scrambled eggs out of what I have in my +head!" + +Taking his foot off the brake the Belgian shifted back into low gear and +got the car underway again. At a crossroads some hundred yards ahead he +turned sharp right and fed gas to the engine. A moment later a machine +gun yammered savagely behind them. Dave twisted around in the seat and +saw an armored car bearing German army insignia racing for the turn-off +they had taken, but from the opposite direction. There was a machine gun +mounted on the car and a helmeted German soldier was striving to get +them in his range. + +The Belgian Sergeant took one quick glance back over his shoulder and +instantly gave the engine all the gas it could take. + +"A lucky charm you are indeed!" he shouted and hunched forward over the +wheel. "If you had not put sense in my head, and I had not turned off +on to this road, we would have run right into them. And that would have +been bad, very bad. Name of the Saints, the Lieutenant will reduce me to +a corporal when he hears of this!" + +Neither Dave nor Freddy bothered to make any comment. To tell the truth +they were too busy hanging on tight and trying to stay in the car as it +rocketed forward seeming virtually to leap across shell holes in the +road. The Sergeant perhaps did not have very many brains but he +certainly knew how to handle that small scouting car. He skipped across +shell holes, dodged and twisted about trees blown down across it, and +roared right through scattered wreckage of bombed supply trucks and the +like as though they weren't even there. And all the time the machine gun +farther back snarled and yammered out its song of death. + +The pursuing Germans had swung on to their road and were now striving +desperately to overtake them. Dave stuck his head up to see if they had +gained, but before he could see anything Freddy grabbed him around the +waist and practically threw him down onto the floor of the car. + +"Stay down, Dave!" the English youth shouted above the roar of the +little car's powerful engine. "We've ducked enough bullets for one day. +Don't be crazy!" + +Dave grinned sheepishly and nodded. + +"That was dumb!" he said. "You're right, and thanks!" + +As the last left his lips a burst of bullets whined low over the car. +Dave gulped and ducked his head. + +"Thanks, and how!" he yelled. "Boy, those were close. If I'd been +looking back they might ... _Hey!_" + +At that moment the little car turned sharply to the right and seemed to +zoom right up into the air. It came down with a crashing jolt. A shower +of bush branches slithered down on the boys and they were tossed around +in the back of the car like two peas in a pod. Puffing and panting, they +struggled to brace themselves before they were pitched out head over +heels. No sooner would they get a firm hold on something than the scout +car would careen up on its side and go darting off in another direction, +and they would be bounced around again. + +For a good ten minutes they tore through the darkening twilight first +this way and then that way. Then suddenly the violent jolting ceased +abruptly, and the car ran along on an even keel. Covered with bumps and +bruises from head to toe, the two boys scrambled up off the floor of +the car and flopped down on the seat. The Belgian Sergeant pushed on the +brake and brought the car to a halt under the shelter of over-hanging +tree branches. He switched the engine off and turned around and smiled +at them triumphantly. + +"We have lost the Boches!" he announced. "Everything is all right, now. +When it gets dark we will continue. You, my little lucky charm, I must +thank you for putting sense in my head." + +"That's quite, all right," Freddy said and fingered a lump behind his +right ear. "That was a fine bit of driving, Sergeant, even though you +came close to breaking our necks. Next time, though, please let us know +in time." + +"You said it!" Dave gasped and nursed a barked shin. "And when you do, +I'm going to jump out. Boy, talk about your wild rides!" + +The Belgian Sergeant laughed and gestured with his big hands. + +"But that was nothing!" he protested, "These little cars, they can go up +the side of a cliff. That German thing? Bah! It creeps along like a +snail. You should have been with me and the Lieutenant yesterday. Ah, +that was a ride! For a whole hour, mind you. And they were shooting at +us from all sides. But we got through without a scratch. It was +wonderful. You should have been there!" + +"I think I'm glad I wasn't," Freddy said, and smiled so the Belgian +would not feel hurt. "But what, now? Where are we?" + +Before he would reply the Belgian stuck a dirty cigarette between his +lips and lighted up. + +"We wait for the darkness, and that will not be long," he finally said. +Then pointing across the field to the left, he continued, "One mile in +that direction and we strike a road that will lead us straight into the +Wavre-Namur road. Two hours at the most and we shall be there." + +"Unless the Germans have cut it, too," Freddy murmured. + +The Belgian looked at him and snorted. + +"Impossible!" he said in a decisive voice. "They cannot have advanced +that far. Don't worry, _mes enfants_, I will get you to Namur in no time +at all. I ... _Sacré!_ Those are German tank guns!" + +The pounding of guns had suddenly broken out from behind them and to the +left. Not the deep booming sound of long range pieces, but the sharp +bark of small caliber guns. The sergeant pinched out his cigarette and +stuck it in his pocket and slid out of the car. He stood motionless for +a moment, head cocked on one side and listening intently to the guns. +Dave listened, too, trying to tell if they were coming closer. A strip +of woods broke up the sound, and it was impossible for him to tell. + +He glanced at the sergeant and was startled to see the worried look on +the man's face. Worry and astonishment, as though the Belgian was trying +to convince himself that the truth was false. In the fast fading light +the lines of his face deepened until it became a face of shadows. +Suddenly he muttered something under his breath and pulled a Belgian +army pistol from the holster at his side. + +"Remain here!" he ordered in a hard voice. "This is most strange, and I +must investigate. Those cannot be German guns, but perhaps so. I will go +and look, and return at once. Remain here, and wait!" + +Without waiting for either of them to say a word, the Belgian glided +swiftly away from the car and was almost at once swallowed up in the +shadows cast by the trees. Dave looked at Freddy. + +"What do you think?" he asked. "If that's Germans coming this way, we're +crazy to stick around. Don't you think so?" + +"Yes, I do," the English youth said bluntly. "But let's wait a little +bit. They may not be, and it wouldn't be quite fair dashing off and +leaving the Sergeant to walk back, you know." + +"Okay, we'll wait, then," Dave agreed. "Boy, but wasn't that some wild +ride! And it sure was lucky you spoke to him when you did. What I mean, +you saved us from a tough spot. Hey, what's that?" + +The tank guns had gone silent, but the yammer of a machine gun took up +the song. It sang a few notes and then became suddenly silent. Freddy +jumped out of the car and beckoned to Dave. + +"We'd better take a look, Dave," he said in a worried voice. "If they +are really close we wouldn't have a chance in the car. Our best bet +would be to hide out in the woods until they've passed." + +Dave jumped down and looked into Freddy's eyes. + +"You mean?" he asked in a strained voice. "You think the Sergeant bumped +into them, and they killed him?" + +"I'm afraid so," Freddy nodded and swallowed. "We'd better make sure, +though. Don't you think so?" + +"Okay by me," Dave said, though he didn't feel so inside. "Lead on, +Freddy. I'm right with you." + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN + +_Bombs For Namur_ + + +With the English youth picking the way, the two boys crept forward +through the woods toward the spot from whence had come the sharp burst +of machine gun fire. Before they had traveled a hundred yards a shout in +German stopped them in their tracks. + +"Just a Belgian dog!" the voice called out. "He was probably deserting, +so it is well that we shot him!" + +Dave's heart became icy cold in his chest yet at the same time bitter +resentment toward the Nazis flamed up in his brain. Then he suddenly +realized that Freddy was creeping forward on all fours, so he dropped to +the ground himself and followed. At the end of a few yards they came to +a break in the trees that gave them a view of a large field in the +distance. Three light German tanks were parked in the field. A helmeted +figure, probably an officer, was standing up in the gun turret of each. +Some sixty yards in front of the tanks two German soldiers were bending +over a motionless figure on the ground. It was now too dark for Dave to +get a good view of the crumpled figure on the ground. But he knew he +didn't need a clear view. That Belgian Sergeant would never drive them +to Namur, now. + +"The dirty rotters, the swine!" he heard Freddy's hoarse whisper at his +side. "Three light tanks against one poor Belgian sergeant. He was a +decent chap, too. Blast Hitler, I say!" + +"The same for the whole bunch of them!" Dave breathed angrily. "Boy, I +wish I had a machine gun right now. I'd give them plenty!" + +"Not against tanks, I fancy," Freddy said. "Well, that cooks it. We've +got to go it alone. Look! They're starting off again. Now, if they just +head...!" + +The English youth let his voice trail off, but he didn't have to finish +the sentence as far as Dave was concerned. He had the same thought. If +the tanks turned off to the right the scouting car would not be +discovered and they could continue their journey in it. But if the tanks +turned to the left, toward the woods in which they crouched, it would be +good-bye scouting car. The tanks would spot it for sure, and blow it to +bits with their armor piercing guns if they didn't take it for their own +use. + +Dave's heart seemed to stop beating, and he held his breath, as the +tank engines clattered up into life and the metal clad ground bugs +started to move forward. Then suddenly he wanted to yell with relief. +The farthest tank from them wheeled around on its treads to the right. +The second tank in line followed suit, and then the third. Making a +racket that echoed and reechoed back and forth across the war swept +countryside, the squadron of tanks moved out of the field, rumbled down +over the lip of a slope in the ground and were soon lost to view. Dave +let the air out of his lungs and whistled softly. + +"Boy, is that a break for us!" he grunted. "We can use that scouting +car, now." + +"You're jolly well right we can!" Freddy cried and leaped to his feet. +"It's a Renault, too, and I've driven Renaults lots." + +"Then you're elected," Dave said. "So let's go!" + +In less than a minute they were back in the scouting car and Freddy was +kicking the engine into life. The instant it roared up he shifted into +gear and sent the car rolling around to the left in the direction the +dead Belgian Sergeant had indicated. + +"I hope he knew what he was talking about!" Freddy yelled above the +sound of the clashing of gears. "After that crazy ride I'm not sure at +all where we are. But, I'll recognize that Namur road when we come to +it. One of the few decent roads in Belgium. Well, we're off!" + +The English youth punctuated the last by ramming the car into high and +stepping on the gas. Dave's head snapped back and he grabbed wildly for +a hold and found one. + +"Gosh, you and that Sergeant!" he gasped. "But, it's okay, now. Let her +rip, Freddy. Say! It's plenty different riding in the front seat of one +of these things, isn't it?" + +It was different, too. It was much easier on the bones and tender spots +of the human body. Though the car was racing across a rough uneven +surface, Dave didn't get half the bouncing around sitting up front. But +suddenly when a group of trees came rushing at them and Freddy yanked +down on the wheel and swerved past with but a couple of feet to spare, +Dave felt his hair stand up straight on his head. + +"It's fun driving one of these things!" he heard Freddy shout. "A +Renault's a good bus. My father has one." + +"Sure, but I'm the passenger, don't forget!" Dave shouted back. "How +about some lights? It's getting pretty dark." + +"I guess we'd better," Freddy replied and flicked up a switch on the +dashboard. + +Two pale beams of light swept out in front of the car. They helped some, +but they were considerably dimmed so as not to be easily spotted from +the air. And they most certainly didn't put Dave much at ease. Dark +objects continued to whip into view and then go slipping by as Freddy +skillfully wrenched the wheel this way or that. And then suddenly they +bounced out of a field onto a dirt road. They had actually turned on to +the road and were tearing along it toward the west before Dave realized +they were on it. + +"Holy smokes, you're good, and no fooling!" he cried. "You sure know how +to drive. Well, the Sergeant was right about this road anyway. Wonder +how far it is to the main road? Hey, what's the idea of stopping?" + +Freddy had suddenly slammed on the brakes, swung to the side of the +road, and switched off the lights. + +"Planes," he said. "Hear them? They might see our lights. Thought so. +They're German, and low, too!" + +"And coming right toward us!" Dave said as he twisted around in the +seat. "Gee, you've got ears, too!" + +Throbbing, pulsating thunder was rolling toward them out of the sky. The +planes were not more than a couple of thousand feet up in the sky, and +from the sound there were at least a couple of squadrons of them. The +two boys squinted up at the now dark sky, and then suddenly they saw +the armada of wings sweeping forward against the stars. They showed no +lights, but it was easy to pick them out by the bluish glow of the +engine exhaust plumes trailing backward. + +"Gee, there's a hundred of them, at least!" Dave breathed. "They look +like Heinkels to me. Wonder where they're headed? Gosh, look at them, +Freddy. Aren't they something?" + +Freddy didn't reply. He sat peering up at the death armada as it winged +by, and Dave suddenly saw the frown on his friend's face. + +"What are you frowning about?" he asked. + +"I'm wondering," Freddy replied. "Unless I'm mistaken those chaps are +heading for the same place we are. Namur. Yes, I'm almost sure of it!" + +"So what?" Dave murmured. + +"So I fancy there'll be very little of it left," Freddy said. "I'll bet +you five pounds they know Belgian G.H.Q. is at Namur, and they're going +over there to knock it out. Well, all we can do is keep on going, I +guess." + +The roar of the bombers was fading away to the south. Freddy started the +car again and switched on the lights. At the end of five minutes or so +they suddenly came upon a well paved broad highway. + +"That poor Belgian Sergeant was right, bless him!" Freddy shouted +happily and turned south on the road. + +"Yes, but look!" Dave yelled and pointed ahead. "Look at that red glow +way down there. Gee, it looks like the whole horizon is on fire. And, +hey! Hear that? Hear those sounds. I bet that's those planes dropping +bombs." + +"And I bet that's Namur!" Freddy cried and speeded up the car. "Blast +it, we're too late I'm afraid, Dave. Belgian H.Q. has probably cleared +out long ago. We'll never find them there, if that's Namur!" + +For the next few minutes neither of the boys spoke. They both sat tense +in the seat staring at the ever increasing red glow that mounted higher +and higher up into the horizon sky. A red glow that was mixed with +streaks of yellow, and flashes of vivid orange. And all the time the +_br-r-ump! br-r-ump! br-r-ump_ of detonating high explosive bombs came +to them above the roar of the scouting car's engine. In a weird sort of +way it reminded Dave of a movie he had once seen. He couldn't remember +the title but it was a movie about the world coming to an end. The +scenic effects had been like what he was witnessing now. Only they +hadn't been half so vivid nor so heart chilling as this. That had been a +movie. This was real war. Way off there in the distance a city was +probably dying. The bombs of war-making maniacs were smashing a living +city into powdery ruins. It was like a horrible nightmare. And it was, +because it was true! + +Freddy suddenly slowing down the car made Dave tear his eyes from the +terrifying spectacle in the distance. He looked at his friend in sudden +alarm. + +"What's the matter, Freddy?" he asked. + +The English youth pointed down the highway. + +"Lights coming our way," he said. "We'd better pull over and see what's +what. I was going to stop, anyway. There's something strange about this, +Dave." + +"Yes, and I know what you mean, too!" Dave said as he suddenly realized. +"The highway's been empty ever since we came onto it. We haven't passed +a thing, or met anything." + +"Right you are," Freddy nodded. "I've been wondering about that. But, +we're meeting something, now. I say, that's not a car. The lights aren't +together. They must be motorcycles." + +"They are!" Dave said. "Hear their motors? Boy, are they stepping +along." + +"Phew!" Freddy suddenly cried out. "Supposing they're German? We'd +better hop out and...." + +"Too late, now!" Dave cried as the lights swerved toward their side of +the road. "They've seen our lights. And, here they are, too!" + +The last word had no more than left Dave's lips than two army +motorcycles roared up beside the car and brakes screamed to a halt. Dave +saw two shadowy figures vault from the saddles and then the white beam +of a flashlight flung straight into his face blinded him. The blood +running out of his face felt like cold water. He tried to shout that +they were not soldiers but the words would not come. Then he almost +sobbed aloud as a sharp voice spoke in French. + +"Who are you? What is this? _Nom de Dieu!_ Two boys in a scouting car. +Well, have you lost your tongues? What is all this, I ask?" + +"We are trying to reach General Boulard's headquarters," Freddy said +before Dave could open his mouth. "We have important information. Will +you please take that light out of my eyes? We are not armed, as you can +see." + +The bright light was lowered but it was several seconds before the boys +could adjust their eyes to the sudden change from brilliant light to +almost pitch darkness. Then they saw two Belgian corporals with dispatch +rider brassards fastened about the left sleeve of their tunics. Each had +his army pistol drawn and held ready for use. + +"General Boulard?" one of them grunted. "Why do you wish to see him, +eh? And what are you doing in this scouting car? So you stole it, yes? +And I suppose you were planning to take it to your family and fill it +with your family's furniture? Well...." + +"Nuts!" Dave suddenly yelled at them. "We're not Belgians. He's English, +and I'm American. We've escaped from Germany with valuable information. +A Belgian lieutenant gave us this car, and with a sergeant to drive it. +He's back there dead. We almost bumped into three German tanks, and...." + +"German tanks?" one of the dispatch riders broke in excitedly. "Where?" + +"Back over there a ways," Dave said and pointed in the general direction +from whence they had come. "Is General Boulard's headquarters still in +Namur?" + +The dispatch riders didn't answer at once. They looked at each other, +shrugged, and looked quite alarmed. + +"If these infants saw Boche tanks," one of them murmured, "then it must +be a flanking movement to cut us off from Brussels. We must continue on +at once!" + +"At once!" his partner agreed and turned to his motorcycle. + +"I say there, wait!" Freddy shouted angrily. "Is General Boulard at +Namur?" + +"There is nothing at Namur, except death and the cursed Boches!" one of +the dispatch riders shouted. "We go to the General's new headquarters, +now. Follow us and we will show you the way. But, hurry! If you did see +tanks where you say, then we are practically surrounded by the swine. +There is not a moment to lose, unless you care to be shot or at best +taken prisoner by the butchers!" + +As though to give emphasis to their words the dispatch riders vaulted +onto their saddles and opened up their motorcycle engines in a roar of +sound that seemed to bounce clear up to the stars and back again. They +were off like a shot and over a hundred yards ahead before Freddy could +turn the small scouting car around. But once he had it turned around the +young English youth didn't waste any time. He fairly flew after the two +motorcycles while Dave clung fast to the side of the car and silently +marveled some more at Freddy's masterful driving. + +The Belgians roared a mile up the road, then swerved off to the left +onto a road that led toward the northwest. + +"They're heading for Brussels, I'm pretty sure!" Freddy shouted as the +wind howled past the car. "That Sergeant was right when he said it looks +bad. It not only looks, but _is_!" + +"The Germans sure must be pretty deep into the country," Dave agreed. +"They.... Hey, Freddy! Gosh ... look! The whole road is exploding! +_Freddy_...!" + +The road ahead had suddenly burst open to spout a sea of blinding light +and crashing sound. The two dispatch riders seemed to melt into it and +disappear. Invisible hands grabbed hold of the small scouting car and +tossed it straight up into the air. From a million miles away Dave heard +Freddy screaming his name. Then he had the feeling of spinning end over +end off through space that was filled with white hot fire and billowing +thick black smoke. A hundred million wild, crazy thoughts whirled around +in his brain, and then everything turned black, and became as silent as +the grave. + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN + +_Orders From Headquarters_ + + +It was a kindly face, and the smile was warm and friendly, yet somehow +Dave Dawson couldn't keep it in focus. It would be close to him one +moment and seem very real. Then a cloud would pass across in front of it +and the face would fade out completely. He felt as though he had been +trying to hold that face in his vision for years and years. He knew that +the mouth was talking to him, too, but he couldn't hear a word. + +Everything was so still and quiet about him, and so white. Everything +that his eyes could see was white ... except that kind looking face. +He'd stare at it hard, trying to bold it in focus, and then his eyes +would become so heavy, and his brain would become so sleepy. He guessed +that was the trouble; why he couldn't keep seeing that face for very +long at a time. He'd fall off to sleep. + +Or was he actually asleep all the time and was this a dream? But why was +he sleeping? He shouldn't be sleeping. He remembered, now! He and +Freddy were following those two Belgian dispatch riders toward General +Boulard's headquarters. Something funny, though, had happened. What +could it have been? Surely he hadn't just fallen off to sleep while +Freddy stuck to the wheel. _No_, of course not! More of it was coming +back! There had been a terrific explosion in the road ahead, and the two +dispatch riders had disappeared right into it. Yes, he remembered now +what had happened. But, where was he? Why was everything white? Why was +that kind looking, smiling face fading away from him so often? And why +couldn't he hear those words the moving lips were saying? Was he dead? +Was this what it was like when you died? And Freddy! Where was his pal, +Freddy Farmer? He tried to find suitable answers in his brain, but his +head ached so, and looking at that fading face made him so sleepy ... so +sleepy.... + +And then after a long time the face suddenly stopped fading away into +the depths of foggy mist. It stayed right where it was, and when the +lips moved he actually heard what they said. + +"How do you feel, my lad?" they said. "Does your head hurt very much?" + +His head? Why should those lips ask if his head hurt? His head didn't +hurt at all! As a matter, of fact, nothing about him hurt. He felt +fine. He felt swell. What was going on, anyway? Holy smokes! He was in a +bed. Under sheets and blankets, and everything. He pushed himself up on +his elbow as easy as pie, and looked around. He saw that he was in a +hospital. There was a long line of beds down each side of the huge room +painted so white it almost hurt your eyes. And there was a man, a +soldier in every bed because he could see the uniforms hanging on the +hooks on the wall. And that face! It belonged to a captain in the +British Army. The medical corps! The insignia was on the lapels of his +tunic. + +"Steady, my lad!" the officer cautioned in a soothing voice. "Tell me, +how's the head feel? The pain gone, sonny?" + +Dave blinked and was somehow a little startled to realize that he could +talk. He vaguely remembered something about trying to talk a little +while ago but being unable to utter a word. + +"My head's okay, sir," he said. "I feel great. Where am I, anyway? And +what's it all about? This is a hospital, isn't it?" + +The medical officer let out a great sigh as though he had been holding +his breath for a long time. + +"Good, splendid!" he finally said. "You're out of it at last. You'll be +all right, now, my lad. But you jolly well had a close one, I can tell +you! Might have remained in a coma for weeks, and months. A ticklish +thing, concussion shock. Want something to eat?" + +"Sure, sure," Dave replied absently. "But, hey, I remember, now. Where's +my pal? Where's Freddy Farmer? He was with me when that road exploded!" + +"Road exploded, eh?" the medical officer said and raised an eyebrow. "A +land mine, probably. So your friend's name is Freddy Farmer? An English +lad, isn't he?" + +"And the very best!" Dave said with feeling. "But where is he? Gosh, +sir, please tell me! I've got to know. He's ... he's all right?" + +The officer leaned down and patted his shoulder. + +"Your little friend's quite all right," he said and pointed to Freddy +Farmer asleep in the next bed. "He came out of it for the last time a +few hours ago, but he started raving about a lot of crazy things, so I +gave him something to make him sleep some more. He'll be fit as a fiddle +when he wakes up. Now, what about this land mine ... or the road +exploding, as you say?" + +"I don't know exactly," Dave said. "Freddy was driving the Belgian +scouting car, and we were following a couple of dispatch riders to +General Boulard's headquarters. We had just turned off the Wavre-Namur +road, I guess it was, when _blamm_! Everything went dark. But how'd we +get here? Somebody picked us up last night? Hey, what's so funny about +that?" + +The officer wiped a broad smile from his lips. + +"I wasn't laughing at you, my lad," he said. "It's amusing, though, to +witness the final effects of concussion shock. My boy, you weren't +picked up last night. You've been here in this British military +hospital, at Lille, for eight days!" + +Dave was speechless. His eyes widened in blank amazement. He just +couldn't believe he had heard correctly. Surely his ears must be playing +him tricks. _Eight days?_ + +"That's right, my lad," the medical officer said, reading Dave's +bewildered thoughts. "It's exactly eight days this morning, since they +brought you two in here." + +"But eight days?" Dave cried. "But ... but I'm not even hurt! There are +no bandages on me, and I don't ache any place. How could I have been +here for eight days?" + +"I'll not give you the medical explanation, because you wouldn't +understand, probably," the officer said with a smile. "But what +happened, was something like this. The concussion shock of that +explosion, whatever it was, temporarily paralyzed certain nerve centers +in your body and in your head. Why you didn't receive physical injury +is just one of those mysterious things that happen often in war. A shell +can blow every strip of clothing off a soldier's back, blow off his +shoes, and toss him fifty yards, but not mark him with a single scratch. +That's what must have happened to you and your friend. Perhaps, too, +being in the scouting car protected you from things flying around. But, +certain nerve centers were paralyzed. There's little we can do for that +outside of a few injections. It's up to the patient's make-up, his +constitution, and such. You probably don't remember waking up several +times, do you?" + +Dave shook his head. + +"No sir," he said. "But I sort of half remember something about seeing a +face that kept fading out, and seeing lips move, but I couldn't hear the +words." + +"Yes, that's the way it is usually," the medical officer said and +nodded. "That was just parts of the nerve system returning to normal. +You could see a little but you couldn't hear. Or you could feel but +still not have the power to speak. The medical term for that has +thirty-six letters, I believe. I don't even think I could pronounce it +correctly now, anyway. But, you're fit now, my lad. I'll have the nurse +bring you in something to eat." + +"Gosh!" Dave gasped as a sudden thought struck him. "Have I gone eight +days without eating?" + +"Hardly," the other said with a laugh. "No, several times you both woke +up enough to take food, though of course you don't remember it. The rest +of the time we gave you injections. But, my word, the things you two +raved about! You insisted, rather your friend insisted on seeing General +Caldwell, Chief of Staff. You claimed you had been prisoners in Germany, +and had seen a very important map. Your friend was very annoyed when we +refused to summon the General at once, and gave him something to put him +to sleep, instead. Really...!" + +"But that's true, that's true!" Dave burst out. "We were prisoners, and +we saw a map of the German plan of invasion. We escaped to the Belgian +lines in a plane we stole. Then the sergeant driving us to Namur was +killed. We met some Belgian dispatch riders and they were showing us the +way to General Boulard's headquarters when the whole road exploded. It's +true, sir!" + +The medical captain's eyes were now the size of saucers. He stood +staring down at Dave in confounded amazement. + +"I say, my lad, go a bit easy," he began. "I guess you're not yet out of +that coma. Now, just lie back, and...." + +"I'm fine, I'm okay!" Dave shouted excitedly. "Honest! It's all true, +sir." + +The officer continued to stare at him in puzzled bewilderment, and then +Freddy's voice from the next bed caused them both to look his way. + +"I say, hello, Dave!" the English youth cried. "They said you were all +right, and then I guess I fell asleep again. Good grief, this is a +hospital, isn't it? By George, it all comes back to me now! That road +blowing up. But how in the world did we get here?" + +The medical officer didn't bother to answer the question. He hurried +over to Freddy's bedside and took a good look at him. Freddy gave him a +puzzled frown, then his face suddenly lighted up. + +"I say, I've seen you before, haven't I, sir?" he asked. + +"This morning," the medical man nodded. "Then you're all ship shape, +too? But, listen, my lad, do you two still insist upon seeing General +Caldwell, Chief of British Staff?" + +Asking the question was like turning a magic key in Freddy. The English +youth became very excited at once, and breathlessly explained everything +in more detail than had Dave. + +"Yes sir," he finished up. "We have some valuable information, I'm +sure. If you could loan us a car, sir, and tell us where we can find the +General, we'll go at once." + +"You two will go nowhere just now!" the officer said sternly. "Bless my +soul, after what you've been through? Certainly not! However, there may +be something to all this. I'll get the General on the wire and tell him +about you two. His headquarters are not far away. He'll send one of his +Staff, or perhaps come himself. This whole thing is almost fantastic! +You're sure you're not trying to pull my leg, fool me?" + +"Word of honor, sir," Freddy said solemnly. + +The medical officer scowled and hesitated a moment. Then he shrugged and +hurried out of the ward. + +Dave looked at Freddy and grinned happily. + +"Boy, am I glad to see you!" he exclaimed. "According to the Doc we +should be dead, by rights, or something. Instead, we just got our nerve +centers knocked haywire. Say, do you know how long we've been here? Did +he tell you when you woke up last time?" + +"I guess he didn't have the chance," the English youth said with a wry +grin. "I started yelling for them to take us to the General, and they +thought I was completely off my topper. Stuck a needle in me and I +popped off like a kitten. We've been here last night or since this +morning, haven't we? And where the dickens are we, anyway?" + +"Hold your hat, Freddy, here it comes," Dave said with a chuckle. "We've +been here eight days, he told me." + +Freddy's jaw dropped and his eyes bugged out so far you could have +knocked them off like marbles on sticks. Then he flushed and laughed +scornfully. + +"Come off it, Dave!" he protested. "Don't give me any of that kind of +tosh. My word! Eight days, my hat!" + +"No kidding, that's what he said," Dave insisted. And then he started to +give Freddy the medical officer's description of what had happened to +them, and their unknown, to them, actions during the eight day period. + +He had almost finished when the medical captain came hurrying back into +the ward. At his heels were two male orderlies in hospital white. Dave +broke off what he was saying and stared questioningly. The medical +officer looked very much excited, and also very much impressed. + +"Take them to my receiving office," he said to the orderlies and stepped +to the side. + +Neither Dave nor Freddy had the chance to ask the questions that hovered +on their lips. The orderlies took hold of their beds and started +wheeling them down the aisle to the double doors at the end. They passed +through another ward and then were wheeled into a fair sized room that +was fitted up more as an office than a hospital room. + +"That's fine," the captain said. "Return to your wards now." + +The orderlies retreated and the captain looked at Dave and Freddy in +surprise and admiration. + +"Well, bless me!" he exclaimed. "I certainly didn't know I had two young +heroes under my charge. I had thought you were just two lads caught up +in the rush of things. General Caldwell is rushing over here, now, by +car. He has heard about you two." + +"About us?" Dave gasped. "But, heck, how could he have heard about us?" + +"Yes!" Freddy exclaimed in a tone of awed wonder. "How could he have +heard of us?" + +"Through the Belgian High Command, I believe," the captain said. "It +seems that Belgian infantry lieutenant reported your little flying +incident to his commander. Also what you had told him. It was passed on +up until it reached General Boulard. General Boulard, it seems, +contacted General Caldwell to see if you lads had gotten through to him. +The lieutenant, of course, did not know what had happened to you after +you drove off in the scouting car with the Sergeant. But, I can tell +you, General Caldwell is most anxious to meet you. By jove, he almost +broke my ear drums with his shouting. Yes, I fancy that you two chaps +are rather famous, now, you know?" + +"Rot, sir," Freddy said with true British modesty. "I fancy any one +could have done it. And a much better job of it, too. Is it true, sir, +that we've been here eight days?" + +"And nights, as well," the medical officer nodded. "But don't look +alarmed, my lad. That sort of thing is not unusual. And you're both +safely out of it, now. A day or two of rest, and all the food you can +eat, and you'll be like new again." + +"I'm okay, right now," Dave said stoutly. "But there's something you +didn't explain, sir, How did we get here? Who found us, and what?" + +"It's a bit sketchy," the medical officer said with a frown. "As far as +I could learn a Belgian ambulance driver came across you and saw that +you both weren't dead, and put you in his bus. His own hospital was +being evacuated because of shell fire, and so he continued on westward. +He reached a receiving station of ours and dumped his load there. You +two, and three Belgian gunners. Anyway, from that point you were brought +here to me. And here you are. It was something like that, anyway. +Doubtless you'll never know the real facts. But, I certainly shouldn't +worry about that, if I were you. Simply bless your lucky stars, and let +it go at that." + +"Jeepers!" Dave breathed softly. "Lucky stars? I must have a million of +them, I guess. You, too, Freddy. Right?" + +"Quite!" The English youth nodded. "Dashed if it isn't like some fairy +tale one of those writer chaps would think up." + +"And how!" Dave grunted and shook his head. "My gosh! A Stuka bomb drops +on me and I wake up hours later and miles away. Then a land mine, or +something, blows up in my face, and I wake up _eight days_ later, and +gosh knows _how_ far away. I sure do get around." + +"Well, better not make a habit of it, my lad," the medical officer +chuckled. "The third time, you know?" + +"Hey, those eight days!" Dave suddenly exclaimed. "What's been +happening? Who's winning? Are the Allies beating up the Germans? Gee, I +sure hope so!" + +The smile fled from the medical officer's face and he became very grave. +He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it abruptly. At that moment the +office door swung open and a group of five tired eyed British officers +entered the room. A big man, with coal black hair and steel grey eyes, +led the party. Even without looking at his uniform with its rows of +decoration ribbons, and high rank insignia, Dave knew at once that the +man was General Caldwell, chief of British Staff. The captain swung +around and clicked his heels. + +"Ah, there you are, sir," he greeted the General. "And here, sir, are +your two young lads. This is the American chap, Dave Dawson. And this is +one of our own lads. Freddy Farmer. Boys, General Caldwell, chief of +British Staff. You'd like me to retire, sir?" + +"No, no, of course not, Captain," General Caldwell said in a brisk tone. +Then turning his steel grey eyes on the boys he smiled faintly. "So, you +are the two, eh?" he said. "I've heard quite a bit about you. Now, who +wants to talk first? I want to hear everything." + +"You tell him about it, Freddy," Dave said promptly. "You remembered +more things on that map than I did, anyway." + +Freddy flushed and looked embarrassed. The General smiled and perched +himself on a corner of the bed, while his officers gathered around. + +"All right, Freddy," he said. "Freddy Farmer, isn't it? Oh yes, of +course. All right, Freddy, let's have it, eh?" + +"Yes sir," the English youth said, and began talking in a low but clear +voice. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN + +_Belgium Gives Up!_ + + +As Freddy recounted their experiences one by one Dave checked them in +his own mind. Presently, though, he only half listened to his pal. He +became fascinated looking at the British Chief of Staff. Many times he +had seen General Caldwell's picture in the papers back home. And he had +read a lot of the General's reputation as a fighter and leader of men. +It thrilled him through and through to see the great man sitting just a +few feet from him. It was another great experience he would remember +always. + +The one thing that pleased Dave most about the famous general was that +he looked exactly like what Dave had always believed a general should +look like. Tall, strong looking, and a face that could be stern and hard +as rock. Right now the General could indeed be made entirely of solid +rock. He didn't so much as blink an eye as Freddy talked. Not a muscle +in his face moved. And his steel grey eyes instead of looking into +Freddy's, looked at Freddy's lips as though to draw the words out. He +remained that way right up until Freddy had spoken his last word. Then +General Caldwell took his eyes off Freddy's lips and stared unblinkingly +at the opposite wall. + +"Well done, lads," he suddenly said, speaking in a soft voice that +seemed strange coming from his stern looking face. "I'll certainly see +that others hear of this, you can mark my words. And you, America! Dave +Dawson, can you add anything to the story?" + +Dave furrowed his brows in thought for a moment, then shook his head. + +"No, guess not, General," he said. "Except that Freddy didn't tell you +half of the things he did to get us out of jams. He...." + +"Rot!" Freddy snorted. "Who got us out of that room? And who flew that +plane and didn't break our necks, I'd like to know?" + +"Yeah?" Dave grinned at him. "Well, who stopped the sergeant from +running us smack into those Germans? And who stopped those wild Belgians +from stabbing us with their bayonets? And who drove that scouting car +when the sergeant had been killed? And who...?" + +"All right, all right, boys!" General Caldwell broke it up. "You both +did splendid jobs, and that's fine. And now, about that map. Let's go +back to that. Just a minute." + +The General turned and looked at one of his officers. + +"Let's have that map, Saunders," he said. + +A major whipped a rolled map from under his arm and passed it over. +Another officer got a table and moved it between the two beds. A third +officer dug up thumb tacks some place, and the General unrolled the map +and tacked it flat on the table. + +"Now," he said in his soft voice and leaned over the map. "This little +town here. It's named Spontin. Do you remember if there was a colored +pin there?" + +The boys bent over and peered at the place on the map where the General +had put a finger tip. Freddy answered first. + +"Yes sir," he said. "There was a blue pin there. In fact, sir, there +were three blue pins all in a line. About a quarter of an inch apart. I +remember that distinctly." + +"I see," the General murmured. "And do you recall if there was a date +printed under those pins?" + +"Yes, there was!" Dave cried. "Wait a minute. Yes, it was May Sixteenth. +I'll bet on it!" + +"No need of that, my boy," General Caldwell said quietly, and moved his +finger. "Now, here. At Vervins, in France. What about that?" + +"A blue pin also, sir," Freddy spoke up. "And the date marked under it +was May Eighteenth." + +"And here at Guise?" General Caldwell asked and moved his finger across +the map again. + +"Check on the blue pin!" Dave said. + +"And I'm pretty sure that date was May Nineteenth, sir," Freddy said. + +General Caldwell didn't move his finger any more. He straightened up and +looked around at his officers. They all nodded together and looked very +grave. A little bit of panic raced through Dave. + +"We're all wet, General?" he blurted out. "You think we've just made all +this up? So help me, honest, we...." + +Dave cut himself off short as the Chief of Staff shook his head and gave +him the ghost of a smile. + +"On the contrary, not at all, my boy," he said. "As they would say in +the States, I was just checking up. You two most certainly saw the +German plan of invasion attack and execution." + +"We could be a bit mistaken about the dates, sir," Freddy said in a +hesitating voice. "But I'm pretty sure those we gave you were correct." + +"They were," the General said, and there was a faint ironic edge to his +voice. "You saw what the Germans _planned_ to do. We saw them _do_ it! +They occupied Spontin on the Sixteenth, Vervins on the Eighteenth, and +Guise on the Nineteenth. That's a matter of history, now." + +"Good grief!" Freddy exclaimed with a sob in his voice. "They've gained +that much, sir?" + +"And much more," General Caldwell said grimly and took a little box from +his tunic pocket. "Now, I have a very important job for you two. Very +important! A whole lot depends on your memories, so sharpen them up +well. Here is a box of pins. I want you two lads to try and put a pin in +this map for every pin you saw in that Intelligence map. Colors don't +matter. These here are all the same. All white, as you see. Now, study +this map and shake up your memories well. And here's a couple of +pencils, too. Write down all the dates you can remember. And put them +under the right pins, of course." + +"Gosh, there must have been a couple of hundred pins on that map, sir!" +Dave said in a weak voice. + +"Just stick in the pins you remember," General Caldwell said quietly. +"And the dates, too. All right, let's get at it, shall we?" + +It was well over an hour later when Freddy and Dave leaned back from the +map well nigh mentally exhausted. + +"Anything else would be just a wild guess, sir," Freddy said. "I +wouldn't be sure of it at all." + +"Me too," Dave said. "I'd just get all balled up. Those are all I can +remember." + +General Caldwell seemed not even to hear them. Once again he was like +something made out of solid rock. He sat forward a little, an elbow on +the edge of the table and his broad chin cupped in the palm of his hand. +His eyes were fixed on the map, moving from pin to pin. The other +officers, and the medical captain stood like statues, almost not daring +to breathe. The silence that hung over the office was so charged that +Dave was filled with the crazy desire to let out a yell, just to see +what would happen. But, of course, he didn't so much as let out a peep. +Like the others, he waited motionless for the General to speak. + +Presently the General raised his head and smiled at them. + +"Yes, I most certainly will make it a point that others be told about +you two," he said. "I know His Majesty King George will certainly be +interested to hear it. You have done a splendid job, boys. I'm proud of +you. All England will be proud of you, too. And, as you know, Freddy, +England never forgets." + +"But, sir," Freddy began as his face got red with embarrassment. "But, +sir, if the Germans have advanced so far what good is the information +we've given you? We've given it to you too late." + +"In war it's never too late," General Caldwell said quietly. "True, if I +could have seen the map the day you did, why, perhaps things might now +be different. But even at that you can't tell. No, lad, the information +has not come to me too late. In fact, it has come to me just in time. I +think, boys, that this information will save a considerable part of the +British Army in France and Belgium." + +The General suddenly got to his feet, and Dave gulped as he saw the +fiery look that leaped into the officer's eyes. + +"It depends a lot on the King of the Belgians," he said as though he +were talking to himself. "If he lets us down, exposes our left flank, it +will be bad. But, without this information I have now, it could well be +twice as bad." + +"Then there's something to that rumor, sir?" the medical officer spoke +up. "The Belgians may quit?" + +"It's more than rumor," General Caldwell said in a hard voice. "But I +pray to God they don't. Saunders! Bring this map along, will you? And +Freddy, and you, Dave, it was a job well done. I'm proud of you. Very +proud. You'll hear more of this, later, mark you." + +As the two boys stared wide eyed and open mouthed, General Caldwell and +his Staff officers clicked their heels and saluted smartly. The boys +were still in their Seventh Heaven trance when the medical officer +returned after seeing the General and his officers to their cars +outside. + +"A red letter day for you two, what?" he beamed. + +Dave gulped for air and slowly came back to earth. + +"Boy oh boy!" he breathed. "What do you know! A salute from a General! +Gosh! Say, Captain, could we have some food, and our clothes, now, +maybe?" + +"All the food you can put in your stomachs," the medical officer said. +"But jolly well no clothes. You two young heroes stay in bed for a few +more days, at least. Mind you, now, that's an order. I may not be a +general, but I'm jolly well in charge of this hospital!" + +And the medical captain meant exactly what he said. Both Dave and Freddy +begged and pleaded to be allowed to get up. They had found that the +hospital was terribly short handed, and they were both anxious to do +what they could to help. Besides, staying in bed thinking and talking, +and talking and thinking was slowly driving them crazy. Regardless of +what the General had said each nursed the tiny fear that they had +arrived too late with their information. They now knew how far the +German hordes really had smashed through toward the coast of France and +Belgium, and even to their untrained minds it held horrible and terrible +significance. + +But the medical captain stuck to his order, and would not let them go. +On the second day after the visit by General Caldwell they were allowed +to get up and wander about the hospital wards at will. It was then they +discovered that every one in the hospital had learned of their brave and +courageous work, and the wounded soldiers heaped praises upon them from +all sides. Yet, underneath the praise and the attempts by the soldiers +to be cheerful, there was a note of worry, and strain, and a sort of +breathless waiting. Dave and Freddy caught the feeling at once and it +served to add to the doubt and fears in their own minds that all they +had done, and all they had suffered had gone for nought. + +Everybody was waiting, waiting. Waiting for what, they did not know. Or +if they did they kept it to themselves. News of the battles sifted +gradually into the hospital wards. Some of it was true, and a lot of it +was false. But all of it rasped nerves and cut deep into the tortured +minds of men. + +And then, on the third day, it happened! + +The news flew from lip to lip, and a pall of misery and bitterness hung +over the entire hospital. Belgium has quit! The Belgians have thrown +down their guns and given up! The whole left side of the British Army is +now exposed to the Germans racing down out of Holland! On the south the +French and the British have been split by a German wedge driven straight +across France to Abbeville on the Channel coast. The entire British +Army, and part of the French, is surrounded on three sides. There is +only one door of escape left open. That door is Dunkirk! + +The instant they heard the news Dave and Freddy rushed to the office of +the medical captain. They found there a very worried and very harassed +man. He was just hanging up on the telephone when they burst in. He saw +them, started to wave them outside, but suddenly checked the motion. + +"Come in, you two," he called to them. "How do you feel?" + +"Swell," Dave said. + +"Very fit, sir," Freddy said. + +The medical officer nodded and then stared at them a moment or two and +drummed nervous fingers on the top of his desk. + +"You've heard the news?" he suddenly asked. + +They nodded, and waited. + +"It puts us in a tight corner," the officer said. "And it puts me in a +_very_ tight corner. I've just received orders from G.H.Q. to evacuate +this hospital at once. There are over five hundred wounded men here, and +only a dozen ambulances. We're to evacuate to the Base Hospital at St. +Omer. Now ... You chaps told me the truth, eh? You _do_ feel fit?" + +"Gee, yes!" Dave exclaimed. "We came in here to see if there wasn't +something we could do to help. We feel swell, honest." + +"That's right, sir," Freddy nodded. "And there _is_ something we can +do?" + +"There is," the medical officer said. "I haven't enough ambulance +drivers, and we've got to get these wounded men out of here at once. +Before tonight, in fact. I'll tell you the truth, boys. At the speed the +Germans are advancing, now that the Belgians have given up, they'll be +here in Lille, tonight!" + +"Gee!" Dave breathed softly. "Right here in this place, tonight?" + +The medical officer nodded and held up a hand. + +"Hear those guns?" he said gravely. "They are not more than twenty miles +away, and they are German. We've got to work fast, boys. Every man we +have to leave here will become a German prisoner of war. I wouldn't ask +you, except that the situation is desperate. By rights, you two should +go along with the wounded, instead of driving them. But it is a grave +emergency, and every one who can, _must_ help." + +"We're ready, sir," Freddy said quietly. "What are your orders?" + +A smile of deep gratitude flickered across the officer's face. + +"Get into your regular clothes, first," he said with a smile. "Then +report to Lieutenant Baker in the ambulance parking lot by the south +wing. And, thank you, boys. We'll meet again at St. Omer." + +The two boys grinned, then turned on their heels and raced back to the +ward for their clothes. The wounded soldiers suspected that something +was up, and a hundred questions were hurled at them. They didn't bother +to answer any of them. They simply piled into their clothes and hurried +outside and around to the parking lot by the south wing. + +"Gee, Freddy!" Dave panted as they raced along side by side. "I was +afraid I was going to stay in that hospital for the rest of the war, and +not get another chance to do anything." + +"A bit worried, myself," Freddy said. "I was afraid that we'd done our +job, and that it was all over as far as we were concerned. But, I have a +feeling, Dave, that perhaps it's really just beginning for us." + +And Freddy Farmer never spoke a truer word in his life, as they were +both soon to realize! + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN + +_Fate Laughs At Last_ + + +"Right you are, lad, off you go, and good luck!" + +The voice of the Lille hospital orderly came to Dave as though from a +thousand miles away. It came to him like a voice awakening him from a +sound sleep. He lifted his head and mechanically reached for the brake +lever of the Daimler built ambulance and stared out of bloodshot eyes at +a scene that had become as familiar to him as his own face when he +looked into a mirror. It was the dirt road that wound away from the +Lille Hospital, curved about the small pond and then disappeared from +view in some woods a half mile to the east. + +How many times had he driven over that road today? He didn't know, and +he didn't even bother to guess. Probably a hundred. Fifty at least. His +brain had stopped thinking about things hours ago. For hours his actions +had all been mechanical. A mechanical routine over and over again. Help +fill the ambulance at the Lille Hospital. Get in behind the wheel and +start the engine, and take off the brake, and shift into first. Start +down the winding road and shift into second, and then into high. A +stretch of brown road always in front of him. Driving, driving, always +driving forward. Skirting shell and bomb craters. Pulling in under the +nearest group of trees whenever he heard the deadly drone of Stuka dive +bombers. Sitting crouched at the wheel while death whistled down from +the sky to explode in the ground and spray slivers of screaming steel +into all directions. + +Climbing in back to put a slipping bandage back in place. Lighting a +cigarette for some poor wounded soldier who couldn't use his hands. +Giving them all a grin to cheer them up. Saying, "We'll be there in a +couple of shakes," a million times. Starting on again. Stopping again. +And then finally pulling into the St. Omer Hospital court. Helping to +unload, and then the wild ride alone back to Lille for another load of +wounded. Fifty trips? A hundred trips? He had no idea. Maybe this was +his one thousandth trip. Was he asleep or awake? He wasn't sure of that, +either. His body had stopped protesting against the aches and pains long +ago. He simply didn't feel anything any more; didn't think anything. He +only acted. He drove ... and drove ... and drove. Nothing else +mattered. Nothing else mattered but doing his share to make sure that +not a single helpless wounded soldier was captured by the hordes of Nazi +troops streaming across northern France and Belgium in a mad race to cut +off the British from the last open Channel port, Dunkirk. + +As he took off the emergency brake he became conscious of somebody +climbing into the seat beside him. He turned his head to stare into +Freddy Farmer's haggard, dirt streaked face. + +"What's the matter, Freddy?" he mumbled. "What are you doing here?" + +"Start her off, Dave," came the dull answer. "This is the last load. I'm +riding with you. The Captain and his staff are using my ambulance. Man, +but I'm tired!" + +"Check," Dave grunted and shifted into first. "The last load, huh? And +it's just getting dark. Well, anyway, we licked 'em. The Nazis won't +find anything there. Lean back and try to get a nap, Freddy." + +"And you perhaps fall asleep at that wheel, and tip us into a ditch?" +Freddy said with a forced chuckle. "No thanks. I'll stay awake and try +to keep you that way, too. By the by, though, Dave. You've made more +trips than anybody. Want me to drive this one?" + +"Not a chance!" Dave said and suddenly realized that he was laughing +for the first time in hours. "I still remember that ride you gave me in +that Belgian scouting car. Nix. I'll do the driving. You just relax, +Freddy. But, boy, will I be glad when this trip is over!" + +"I'll be jolly well pleased, myself, you can bet!" Freddy murmured and +stretched out his legs. "I think I shall sleep for another eight days, +and not care a darn what the blasted Nazis do about it." + +For the next twenty minutes that was the last spoken between the two. +They were both too tired even to talk. Besides, there was little to talk +about save the experiences they had had on the road. Those they could +save until another day. And after all there was still this trip to +complete. And so they rode along in silence. The sun slid down over the +western lip of the world, and night and the Germans came sweeping up +from the east. Dave kept his head lights switched off until it was too +dangerous to continue further without them. Perhaps it had just been +chance, or perhaps Goering's pilots had found out that the Lille +Hospital cases were being evacuated over that road. Anyway, the Stukas +and the light Heinkels had given it a terrific pounding all day long, +and it was now well spotted with craters. To try to drive along it in +the dark would be exactly the same as driving the ambulance over the +edge of a cliff. It would be suicide, to say the least. + +Dave hesitated a moment, though, with his hand on the switch and +listened intently. Behind him there was the incessant dull rumble of the +guns, punctuated every now and then by the loud thunder of a land mine +going off. In the sky there was the drone of wings, but the droning was +not close. + +"Keep an eye peeled, will you, Freddy?" Dave said and turned the switch. +"I've got to have lights or we'll go right into a shell hole. If you +hear something coming, yell, and I'll switch off these things." + +"Right-o!" Freddy called wearily and stuck his head out the door window +and looked up. "All clear, now, though. None of the blighters near us. I +say, what's up, now?" + +Dave didn't bother to answer. He, too, had spotted the waving flashlight +just up the road. He slipped the car out of gear, steered it around the +rim of a yawning bomb crater and let it roll to a stop. A British +infantry officer, with a Military Police band on his tunic sleeve, ran +up to Dave's side of the ambulance and flashed his light in Dave's eyes +for a second. + +"Where are you headed, lad?" he asked. + +"St. Omer," Dave said. "We've got the last load of wounded from the +Lille hospital." + +"Well, you can't take them to St. Omer," the officer said. "A mile up +ahead there's a road to the right. Take it and keep going until you're +stopped. Whoever stops you will give you further directions. All right, +off with you. Good luck." + +"But, hey, why not St. Omer?" Dave blurted out. "We've been taking them +there all day." + +"I know," the officer said in a half angry and half bored voice. "But +they've all been evacuated again. To Dunkirk. Hitler's lads are in St. +Omer, now. Better hop it. They may be here, soon." + +Dave slammed the ambulance into gear and started off. Raging anger +surged up within him. He gripped the bucking wheel until his hands hurt. +Nazis are here! Nazis are there! Nazis are every place! Even thinking of +the name made him want to start screaming and shouting at the top of his +voice. He turned his head slightly and took a quick side glance at +Freddy. The English youth's chin was firm, and there was the same +defiant look in his eyes. However, the droop of his shoulders spoke +plainly of the bitter thoughts that were sweeping through his mind. +Impulsively Dave let go a hand from the wheel for a second and slapped +Freddy on the knee. + +"Don't let it get you down, Freddy," he said. "They'll trim the +stuffing out of Hitler before it's over." + +"Of course," Freddy said in a heavy voice. "I wasn't thinking of that. +If we could only have reached General Caldwell sooner." + +"Gosh, we did our best!" Dave exploded. "And, besides, the General told +us it helped plenty. Gee, I hope he just wasn't kidding us. I don't +think so, though. A man like General Caldwell doesn't kid, I bet. Well, +here's the road. Wonder where it'll take us." + +They had reached the turn off. So had some Stukas a couple of hours +before and they had marked it well with a cluster of bomb craters. Dave +had to detour through a field to make the turn but he managed to get +back onto the road. To his vast relief he found it hardly touched by +bombs and he was able to speed up the ambulance. The good road helped +his spirits, too. It boosted them up considerably and a lot of his +fatigue fell away from him. The same was true with Freddy. The English +youth continued to stare fixedly through the windshield at the glow of +the headlights on the road, but his body seemed to straighten up, and +there was a less depressed air about him. + +However, it was as though it all had been planned by the fates +controlling the war and the immediate destinies of these two brave +gallant youths. It was as though it was planned for them to be lifted +up in spirit, and in strength, so that they might have something left +with which to face the next misfortune of the conflict to befall them. + +The first indication that there was more trouble ahead came as they +roared around a bend in the road, and then the road straightened out +like an arrow. + +"My gosh, look!" Dave cried and pointed. "Like an earthquake had hit it +or something!" + +Both sides of the road, as far as they could see in the glow of the +headlights, were strewn with heaped up piles of war equipment wreckage. +Guns from machine gun size to heavy howitzers lay scattered about. +Ammunition wagons were over on their sides, their contents spilled on +the ground like sand from a box. Shell blasted tanks rested in soft +ground at crazy angles, some of them blown wide open, and all of them of +no more use to anybody. + +"Gosh, like driving through a junk yard!" Dave grunted and unconsciously +slowed down the ambulance. "What do you suppose happened? Gee, that's +English stuff, too. See the markings?" + +"Yes," Freddy replied. "And I think I can guess what happened. A +retreating British column was caught here by the bombers, I think. You +can see where the craters were filled in so the rest of them could carry +on. What equipment they couldn't take, they destroyed so that the +Germans wouldn't get it. Look, Dave! There's another flashlight chap up +ahead. And he's English! I can see him clearly, now." + +"Right," Dave nodded as he too caught sight of the khaki clad figure, +with an M.P. band on his arm, standing in the middle of the road. + +He slipped the ambulance out of gear and let it roll to a stop and stuck +his head out the door window. + +"We've got wounded here!" he said as the officer moved forward. "They +turned us off onto this road, back a few miles. Said the next officer we +met would give us instructions." + +"More wounded?" the officer echoed in an exasperated voice. "I seriously +doubt if there'll be room. But get along. First turn left, and two miles +straight. A railroad junction there, and still working, I certainly +hope! They'll take your men. Now, chase along with you!" + +"What happened here?" Dave asked and reached for the gear shift lever. + +"The worst!" the officer snapped, and gestured with his hand. "Stukas +caught a whole battalion. Nasty business! Now, chase, do you hear?" + +Dave didn't wait to argue about that. He sent the car rolling forward +and kept his eyes open for the turn to the left. He came to it presently +and turned off. It was also more or less untouched by bombs so he could +keep his speed steady. In almost no time they came upon a whole army of +British soldiers. They jammed the road and overflowed on both sides. +Hundreds of pairs of eyes were turned their way as their headlights cut +through the night. A soldier with sergeant's chevrons on his sleeves +rushed up to them. + +"Shut off those blasted lights, you fool!" he roared. "You want the +Jerry planes to ... Good grief, a couple of _kids!_ What's this?" + +"Ambulance with wounded from Lille, Sergeant," Freddy called out to him. +"The officer back there told us to take them to the rail junction. How +far is it?" + +"Wounded, eh?" the sergeant grunted. "Well, that's a sight different. +Keep going. You're practically there, mates." + +The sergeant stepped back and cupped big hands to his mouth. + +"Make way!" he thundered at the road choked mass of British troops. +"Ambulance! Make way there, you chaps! Ambulance! Give them the horn, +lad. That'll make 'em jump." + +The sergeant barked the last at Dave as the ambulance started forward. +Dave got the car in high then held his hand on the horn. Freddy got out +on the running board and started shouting, "Make way for an ambulance!" +at the top of his voice. For two or three awful seconds Dave was afraid +that the soldiers were going to refuse to move. But the shouted word, +"Ambulance!" finally did the trick. They shuffled off to both sides and +left a path down the middle of the road. Driving with one hand and +keeping his other on the horn, Dave steered the ambulance down that path +until a bomb shattered railroad bridge stopped him. There was no need of +going farther anyway. + +They had reached the rail junction, or at least what was left of it. +Eastward from the bridge the track was just so much twisted steel, but +westward from the bridge it had not been touched, by some strange +miracle. There was a long train of some twenty cars on the track with an +engine at the far end. Dimmed lights were moving around all over the +place like fire-flies on a muggy night. The murmur of many voices filled +the air, and as Dave got his eyes accustomed to the scene he saw that +long lines of battle weary soldiers were climbing into the cars. And +then out of nowhere a squad of soldiers with white bands on their tunic +sleeves swooped down on the ambulance. + +"Shut off your motor, mate!" a voice shouted. "You won't be needing it +any more. Step lively, you lads. Easy with the poor blighters, now. +That's the way." + +Before Dave and Freddy could climb stiff legged down from the ambulance +the white banded group of soldiers had the rear doors open and were +gently but swiftly lifting out the wounded on stretchers and carrying +them to the train. Nobody talked. Even the wounded made no sound. +Everybody seemed to realize that all that counted was speed, and they +were concentrating on that alone. Dave watched for a minute or so and +then went up to the soldier who had given the orders. + +"Where's the train going?" he asked. + +"Dunkirk, unless the Jerry fliers stop us," the soldier replied without +looking at him. "Any more of these chaps coming along in back of you?" + +"This is the last load from Lille," Dave said. "I don't know about any +others." + +"Lille?" the soldier gasped and seemed startled. "I thought the Jerries +were there!" + +"I fancy they are, now," Freddy spoke up. "I say, will there be room +enough for us on that train, do you think?" + +"Always room for two more on anything," the soldier grunted and watched +the stretchers disappear into the maze of moving lights. "You chaps +just follow me, and I'll...." + +The soldier never finished the rest of that sentence. At any rate, if he +did, the boys didn't hear him. At that moment there came the faint drone +of engines high in the sky and to the east. Instantly it seemed as +though a thousand men put whistles to their lips and all blew them at +the same time. + +"Bombers!" roared one fog horn voice. + +"Everybody aboard!" bellowed another. + +"Never mind your kit, you men, get aboard!" thundered a third. + +"All lights out!" a fourth voice carried above all the others. + +In the wink of an eye the moving lights stopped moving and went out. All +was plunged into darkness. A darkness filled with grunting sounds on the +ground, and the throbbing beat of approaching airplanes overhead. +Instinctively Dave and Freddy grabbed hands and started moving toward +the train. No sooner had they taken a dozen steps than they ran smack +into a wall of solid flesh. They tried to force their way through but it +was as futile as trying to push a tidal wave to one side. They alone +were not the only ones trying to get aboard that train. A few hundred +others had the same idea. + +Suddenly the shrill whistle of the engine cut through all other sound. A +moment later the angry roar from hundreds of throats told Dave and +Freddy that the train was moving. They stopped trying to push forward, +and simply stood there listening to the angry shouting of the troops who +could not get aboard, and the sound of the train as it picked up speed +and went racing off toward the east. + +"Here they are! Everybody scatter!" + +Perhaps it was the same fog horn voice, and perhaps it wasn't. Anyway, +everybody heard the command and started moving. A moment later the air +became filled with the howl of diving wings. Further orders were not +necessary. In a flash Dave thought of the bomb blasted bridge. The road +had once dipped down under it, but now it was no more than a cave made +out of jagged chunks of stone with twisted steel rails and splintered +ties for roof shingling. He grabbed Freddy by the arm and spun them both +around. + +"That busted bridge!" he shouted in his friend's ear. "We can crawl down +under it. We should be safe." + +"Just thinking of that, myself!" Freddy shouted back as they both broke +into a run. "Those blasted Stukas! Will we never hear the last of them!" + +As though to punctuate that sentence the leading bomber swooped low, +dumped its load and went screaming up into the night sky. Its bomb +struck a hundred yards away but the concussion seemed to lift both of +the boys off their feet. It put wings on their feet as well. They dashed +madly through the roaring darkness, missed turned-over trucks and hunks +of the bombed station by inches, and finally scrambled down under the +bridge and into the cave-like hole blown out of one of the supporting +walls. They crawled back over the broken stones as far as they could and +sat huddled together listening to the world blow apart over their heads. + +"Well, at least we got our load of wounded aboard!" Dave shouted as +there came a lull in the bedlam of thunderous sound. "That's something, +I guess." + +"Yes, we didn't let them down," Freddy's voice came faintly. "Phew, but +I'm tired. Stukas or no Stukas, I don't think I can keep awake another +minute." + +The words seemed to touch something inside Dave. He too became suddenly +listless in both mind and body. He felt Freddy sagged against him and he +battled to keep his eyes open; to keep a look-out in case they might +have to change their place of shelter. But ton weights hung on his eye +lids, and it was impossible to keep them open any longer. Above them +worlds exploded sound and flame. Underneath them worlds shook and +trembled as each devastating blow was struck. None of it, however, +reached the two boys. Young strong bodies had taken an awful beating for +hours on end, and they needed rest. Time might cease, and the world +could come to an end, but it would have no effect on Dave Dawson and +Freddy Farmer, for they were both sound asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + +_Thunder In The West_ + + +The cold, clammy air of early dawn finally pried Dave's eye lids open +and brought him back to the conscious world. For a moment he stared +dully at the mass of grey shadows all around him. Then gradually he +realized that the shadows, most of them, were rocks and huge chunks of +cement, and that light was filtering down through cracks and holes +between them. That realization brought back memory of where he was. Then +swiftly followed recollection of all that had happened and why he was +there. He started to get to his feet, and his movements awakened Freddy +Farmer slumped against him. The English youth groaned, opened his eyes +and stared blankly around for a moment. Then they cleared as fragments +of memory came racing back to him, too. He sat up and gingerly flexed +his arms and legs. + +"Gee, it's morning!" he exclaimed. + +"And the Stukas have gone, thank goodness," Dave said. "Lets get out of +here. Maybe the train's back and we can get aboard it this time. Gosh! +I'm stiff as a board." + +"I can hardly move!" Freddy moaned and got slowly to his feet. "Man, I +never thought a chap could fall asleep while bombs were falling. My +father told me that he once slept through a ten hour bombardment in +front of Amiens, in Nineteen Seventeen. I aways thought he was pulling +my leg, but now blessed if I don't believe him. I say, what's that?" + +Dave cocked his head and listened to the sudden strange sound. + +"Troops marching!" he breathed. "That's what it is. Troops marching. The +train must be back. Come on, Freddy!" + +Dave scrambled forward and started crawling up out of the cave and +between the rocks to firm ground. He suddenly stopped short as he +glanced through a crack that gave him a clear view of the road that ran +along in back of the bomb shattered station. His heart leaped up into +his throat, and for a second or two he couldn't utter a word. Freddy, +scrambling up behind, bumped into him and started an exclamation. Dave +whirled and put a silencing hand to his lips. + +"Pipe down!" he hissed. "Freddy! For gosh sakes, take a look through +that crack. Gee! What do you know about that?" + +The English youth squirmed past him and peered out through the crack. +His young body stiffened, and there was the sharp sound of sucking air +into his lungs. He turned around and stared wide eyed at Dave and licked +his lower lip. + +"Germans!" he whispered. "The beggars are all over the place. We've been +left behind, Dave. Our boys must have moved on when the Stukas went +away. But we were asleep." + +"Yeah, I guess that was it," Dave said and nodded. "Holy smokes, Freddy, +what shall we do?" + +"I don't know, except to stay where we are," the English youth replied +in a tight voice. "If we show our heads they're sure to grab us. There +must be thousands of them!" + +"Millions, it looks like!" Dave said with a gulp. "Yes, the best thing +to do is stay right here and hope they don't find us. Maybe they'll move +off after awhile, then we can beat it. Gosh! I had all I want of a being +a German prisoner. Sure, let's stay right here." + +"At least we won't starve, no matter how long they take marching +through," Freddy said. "We both have plenty of chocolate bars we got at +the hospital. And I didn't have to give any of the water in my canteen +to the wounded I carried. Did you?" + +"Not a drop, it's full," Dave said, and patted the canteen at the end of +the strap hooked over his shoulder. "You're right, we won't go hungry or +thirsty. But gosh, I hope they don't stick around too long, or we'll +never get out of this place. Maybe we were crazy to duck in here, huh?" + +"And maybe we would have been crazier to have gone some place else," +Freddy murmured and pulled a bar of chocolate from his pocket. "At least +no bombs hit us here." + +"That's right," Dave agreed. Then with a stiff grin, "And it's a cinch +that none are going to hit us, either, while those Germans are out +there. But I sure hope all those British troops got away. I guess they +did, though, or we'd hear fighting right now. Gee! Can you beat it?" + +"Beat what?" Freddy asked through a mouthful of crunched chocolate bar. +"What's the matter?" + +"I was just thinking, and maybe it isn't so funny," Dave said. "We sort +of started all this business behind the German lines, and here we are +again. I sure hope we don't end it that way! Wonder how long we'll have +to wait? Until it's dark, I guess." + +Freddy didn't answer. He crawled up the stones and peered through the +crack again. When he came down his dust and dirt smeared face looked +most unhappy. + +"Until it's dark, at least," he said with a sad shake of his head. "And +more war music, too. I just saw them wheeling some guns into position in +back of the railroad station. Yes, I'm afraid the blasted beggars are +planning to stay here a bit, too." + +"Well, when it gets dark we get out of here," Dave said grimly. "Guns or +no guns." + +"You bet," Freddy said and fell silent. + +As though their silence was a signal to the gunners above, the earth and +the sky once more began to shake and tremble as the gun muzzles belched +out their sheets of flame and steel-clad missiles of death and +destruction that went screaming far off to the east. To get away from +the shuddering, hammering pounding as much as possible, the two boys +crawled far back into the wall cave and tried to make themselves +comfortable. + +Seconds clicked by to add up to minutes, and minutes ticked by to add up +to an hour. Then eventually it was two hours, then three, then four. And +still the guns hammered and snarled and pounded away at their distant +objectives. It seemed as though it would never end. Try as they did to +steel themselves against the perpetual thunder, and the constant shaking +and heaving of the earth under them, it was right there with them every +second of the time. Their eardrums ached, and seemed ready to snap +apart. They tore off little pieces of their shirts and used them as +plugs to stuff in their ears. That helped some, but it made speech +between them impossible. + +Roaring, barking thunder all morning, and all afternoon. But along +toward evening it died down considerably. And when the shadows of night +started creeping up it ceased altogether. The two boys crawled forward +and up the bomb-made rock steps and peered through the crack between the +stones. The hopes that had been born in them when the guns stopped +seemed to explode in their brains. The guns were not being hooked onto +the tractors. Nor were the swarms of troops climbing into the long lines +of motorized Panzer trucks. On the contrary, mess wagons were being +rolled forward, and flare lights were being set about all over the +place. Even as Dave and Freddy crouched there watching with sinking +spirits two flare lights sputtered into being directly above their +heads. With sudden terror gripping their hearts they scuttled back deep +into their hiding place. + +"No soap, I guess," Dave said bitterly. "We'd stick out like a couple of +sore thumbs. What do you think, Freddy?" + +"The same as you," the English youth said unhappily. "We'd be fools to +budge an inch. I most certainly wish we had blankets. These are the +hardest rocks I ever felt." + +"You said it," Dave muttered and ran his hand over the hard surface that +was unquestionably going to serve as his bed for another night of +terror. "Maybe, though, they'll pull out before dawn. Or maybe in the +morning, for sure." + +If the gods of war heard Dave Dawson's words they must have laughed loud +and with fiendish glee, for they knew how false his hopes were. The +Germans did not leave during the night. Nor did they leave in the +morning. As soon as it was dawn they started their devastating +bombardment again. And for another whole day the boys huddled together +in their hiding place and struggled with every bit of their will power +to stop from going stark, raving mad from the thunder of the guns. + +Then, suddenly, when there was still an hour of daylight left, the guns +went silent for keeps, and instead there were all kinds of sounds of +feverish activity. Harsh orders flew thick and fast. Men shouted and +cursed. Tractor engines roared into life. Truck transport gears were +meshed in nerve rasping grinding sound, and as the boys watched through +their look-out crack they saw the Germans move slowly off down a road +leading toward the southwest. Neither of them spoke until the last truck +had passed out of view. And by then it was pitch dark, save for a +shimmering red glow to the east and to the south. + +"Boy, I thought it would never happen!" Dave said in a shaky voice. +"Come on! Let's get going before others arrive here. Which way do you +think we'd better head?" + +"The railroad track, I think," Freddy said after a moment of silence. +"It must have been blown all to bits by those Stukas, or else there +would have been a train come up to take those Germans away. Instead, +though, they headed down the road to the southwest." + +"Check," Dave said. "And that track is supposed to lead to Dunkirk. +Gosh, I hope the British are still there." + +"They must be there," Freddy said firmly. "You can still hear the guns +up ahead, so there must be somebody besides Germans around. I say, look +at that fog, or is it fog? Yes, it is. And it's beginning to rain, too. +Well, thank goodness for that. We won't be seen or heard so easily. +Right-o, Dave. Let's get on with it. Like the chaps in the R.A.F. say, +Tally-ho!" + +"Tally-ho!" Dave echoed happily and started scrambling up out of the +cave. + +Walking side by side, and gripping hands to hold up the other fellow in +case he slipped and started tumbling into a bomb crater, the two boys +struck out boldly along the single line of track. Before they had +traveled a hundred yards the railroad tracks stopped being what they +were supposed to be. They became a long stretch of twisted steel and +pulverized ties. But though the road bed was constantly pock marked with +bomb craters it served as a guide eastward for their crunching +footsteps. + +Layers of fog came rolling in from the east, and with every step a fine +chilling rain sprayed down upon them. But rather than being annoyed and +uncomfortable, they were buoyed up by the miserable weather. It gave +them added protection from any German patrols in the neighborhood. It +hid them from the rest of the world of dull constant sound, and the +shimmering glow of red to the east and to the south. There was more +sound, and a more brilliant glow of red to the south, and as they heard +it and saw it their hearts became even lighter. If there was all that +sound to the south it must mean that the Germans had not been able to +cut off the retreating armies at Dunkirk. And of course that was true, +for as they trudged and stumbled along the bomb blasted strip of spur +railroad track some fifty thousand do or die British soldiers were +holding back the savagely attacking German hordes at Douai, and at the +Canal de Bergues, so that some three hundred and thirty thousand of +their comrades might escape the trap from Dunkirk and reach England in +safety. + +Of course Dave and Freddy didn't know _that_ at the time. Yet, perhaps +they sensed it unconsciously, for their step did become faster, their +hearts lighter, and the hope they would get through somehow mounted +higher and higher in their thoughts. And so on and on they went. A +thousand times they stumbled over things in the darkness; went pitching +together down into bomb craters, or barked their shins and raised lumps +on their tough bodies. Always forward, though. They stopped talking to +conserve their energy, for they had no idea how many miles of bomb +blasted roadbed lay ahead of them. The fog and the rain dulled the sound +of the guns so that they couldn't tell if they were drawing nearer or +actually heading away from them. And although they looked at it a +million times apiece the dull red glow ahead of them seemed always to +remain the same. It never once brightened up or faded down. It got so +that it seemed as though they were walking on a treadmill. Walking, +walking, yet never seeming to get any place. Never seeing anything +different to give them proof they had covered ground. Every piece of +twisted track they stumbled over was the same as the last. A bomb crater +into which they fell sprawling was no different from all the others. And +the darkness, the fog, the rain, the boom of the guns, and the +shimmering red glow were always the same in the next second, in the next +minute, and in the next hour. + +Grit, courage, and a fighting spirit resolved never to give up, forced +them forward foot after foot, yard after yard, and mile after mile. Even +thoughts ceased to stir in their brains, and there was nothing there but +the fierce burning flame that drove their tired legs and bodies forward. + +Then, suddenly, their separate worlds seemed to shatter before their +eyes in an explosion of sound. To Dave it seemed close to an eternity +before the sound made sense in his dulled brain. Then in a flash he +realized that nothing had exploded. A loud voice not three feet in front +of them had bellowed out the challenge. + +"_Halt!_" + +Even then neither of the boys could grasp its true meaning. The voice +shattered their hopes, gripped their hearts with fingers of ice, and +seemed to drain every drop of blood from their bodies. Fate was having +the big laugh on them at last. The worst, the one thing they had +dreaded had come to pass. They had stumbled headlong into a nest of +Germans! + +"Halt, you blighters, 'fore I run this through your bellies!" + +Then truth crashed home, and the boys let out a gurgling cry of relief +as they realized the voice was _speaking in English!_ + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN + +_Wings Of Doom_ + + +"Hold it!" Dave heard his own voice cry out in the darkness. "We're not +Germans!" + +"No!" Freddy choked out. "We're English and American! Are we near +Dunkirk?" + +There was a startled exclamation in the rain and fog, then the tiny beam +of a buglight caught them in its glow. The light shook and there was a +gasp of dumbfounded amazement. + +"Strike me pink!" exclaimed the voice in back of the light. "What are +you two young nippers doing here? And where'd you come from?" + +The buglight was lowered and the two boys saw the dim outline of a +British Tommie. His gas mask and ration kit were slung over his +shoulder, and in his hands he carried a rifle with a wicked looking +bayonet. + +"We're trying to reach Dunkirk," Freddy spoke up. "We've been hiding for +the last two days at a railway junction called, Niort, I think it was. +Part of the sign had been blown away but I think that's what it was." + +"Niort?" the British soldier gasped. "Come off it, now, me lad! If you +were at Niort how'd you get here? I suppose by a blinking train, eh?" + +"No, we walked," Dave said. "Along what was left of the railroad. We +missed the last train two nights ago. It pulled out when some Stukas +arrived." + +The British soldier whistled through his teeth, and flashed his buglight +on them just to make sure he wasn't talking to a couple of ghosts. + +"Well, can you beat that!" he ejaculated. "So you were left behind with +the others, eh? I was on that blinking train, thank my lucky stars! The +lads that were left had to march it all the way, and with Jerry throwing +everything he had at them, too. Strike me pink! You know what you two +nippers have done?" + +"Sure," Dave said. "Walked about a million miles, the way we feel." + +"It's closer to eighteen or nineteen, lad," the Tommie said. "But that +ain't the half of it. You've walked _right through_ the blessed German +line, that's what you've done! Right through their blinking lines, and +them not knowing about it! By George, will I have a tale to tell the +lads at the pub if I ever get back home!" + +"But how far are we from Dunkirk?" Freddy asked. "And is there any way +to get there besides walking? I don't think I can go another step." + +The soldier jerked a thumb over his shoulder. + +"See them flames?" he said. "That's Dunkirk. About two miles it is. And +it's time for me to go in from my patrol anyway. I got a motor-bike and +sidecar over there, yonder. You two can ride in the car. But we'd better +hop it. It's getting toward dawn and the Stukas will be coming over to +raise merry Ned. But, wait a minute, mates. Who are you and what were +you doing at Niort? Why, you ain't even in uniform." + +"This is Dave Dawson, an American," Freddy said. "And my name is Freddy +Farmer. We've been trying to get back to England for days, and...." + +"_What's that?_" the soldier cut in excitedly. "Dawson and Farmer? The +couple of American and English nippers, that stole a plane and all the +rest of it? Blimey! Why didn't you say so? Why you lads are heroes! The +whole blinking army's been talking of what you nippers did. Come along! +If there's two lads that's going to get a boat ride back home, it's +you. Yes, by George! I'm that anxious to get back home so's to tell the +lads, I'm fair ready to swim the blinking Channel, orders or no orders. +Come along!" + +Without waiting for either of the boys to so much as open their mouths +the soldier grabbed them each by the arm and hurried them off through +the dark to the right. He must have known the way well, for they didn't +bump into a single thing. Presently he let go of them and dived into +some bushes. He was out in almost no time pushing an army motorcycle and +sidecar. He slung his rifle over his shoulder and straddled the seat. + +"Hop in, lads!" he barked as he kicked his engine into life. "And hang +on for your lives. The beach where they're taking them off onto the +ships ... and man, they're bringing over anything that can float ... is +on the far side of town. But the blinking town's afire, and we have to +go right through it. Here we go, and a double-double to the blasted +Jerries!" + +Though the two boys had wedged themselves down tight in the sidecar, the +soldier tore off in such a rush that he practically rode right out from +under them. Yelling any complaints would have been just a waste of +breath. Besides, the soldier wouldn't have heard them in the roar of his +engine. So the boys simply concentrated on trying to stay in the +sidecar, and breathed a prayerful hope that the soldier was an expert +driver. + +He was more than that. He was a miracle man on a motorcycle. He raced +through the darkness without slackening his speed the fraction of a +mile. The rain slithered down and the street glistened in the faint glow +of his dimmed light. It looked like so much slippery black ice, and a +hundred times Dave closed his eyes and waited for the sickening crash +that never came. When, he dared open them again they were still hurtling +forward making as much noise as a whole division of tanks. + +The two miles to the ancient Channel city of Dunkirk was covered in just +about as many minutes. In the last hundred yards the fog seemed to come +to an end, and the rain to pass on behind them. Dave looked ahead and +caught his breath sharply. Dunkirk looked like one gigantic +horizon-to-horizon wall of licking tongues of flame and billowing smoke +that towered high up into the sky. It was as though he had walked out of +a dark room straight into the open mouth of a blast furnace. He +impulsively cast a quick side glance at the soldier astride the +motorcycle seat expecting to see an expression of alarm and dismay pass +across the lean unshaven face. But no such thing did he see. The +soldier simply lowered his head a bit, and the corners of his eyes +tightened. + +"Hang on, lads!" he bellowed without taking his eyes off the road. "Here +comes the first of it, and it ain't no ice box!" + +No sooner had the last left his lips than the heat of the flaming +buildings seemed to charge forward right into their faces. Dave and +Freddy ducked their heads as the soldier had done, and in the matter of +split seconds they had the sensation of hurtling straight across the +mouth of a boiling volcano that shot up tongues of flame on all sides. + +"Lean to the right, we're turning that way!" came the soldier's yell. + +They leaned together and the motorcycle and sidecar went careening +around the corner of a street. It seemed to hesitate halfway around and +start to slide. But the driver skillfully checked the slide with a +vicious motion on the wheel, and they went roaring up a smoke filled +street. A moment or two later the driver yelled for them to lean again. +They did. In fact they did it no less than a dozen times during the next +few minutes. And all the while the heat of the flames beat in at them +from all sides, and the crash of falling walls, or of delayed action +bombs going off, was constant heart freezing thunder in their ears. + +Then suddenly they shot right through the middle of one final wall of +fire and burst out onto a stretch of hard packed sand. It was several +seconds before the heat left them and they felt rain soaked salt air +strike against their faces. They gulped it into their lungs, and then +both cried out in alarm as a squad of British soldiers seemed to rise +right out of the sand in front of them. Their driver instantly stood up +on his foot plates and roared above the sound of his engine. + +"Out of the way!" he bellowed. "A couple of young heroes to get boat +tickets from his nibs, the Commandant!" + +Perhaps the group of soldiers heard him, or perhaps they just naturally +didn't want to run the risk of being bowled over by the on-rushing +motorcycle. Anyway they leaped to the side and the driver and the two +boys went banging on by without a single check in the speed. After +another moment or so the soldier cut his engine, slammed on his brake +and slid around to a full stop as his tires sent a shower of wet sand +into the air. + +"There you are, nippers!" he cried and vaulted from the seat. "How was +that for a bit of a joy-ride, eh? She's a good little motor bike, she +is. A bit slow, but she'll do. Now, wait half a minute while I go see if +the Commandant's about. Sit tight. I'll be right back." + +He flung the last back over his shoulder as he went racing off to the +left. Neither Dave nor Freddy said anything. They were too busy fighting +to get their breath back, and to unwedge themselves from the sidecar. +Eventually they were out on the sand and feeling themselves all over +just to make sure no arms or legs or anything had been left behind. + +"Jeepers, jeepers!" Dave finally broke the silence. "You and that +Belgian sergeant are just beginners compared to that guy. My gosh! I +know darn well he must have gone right through some of those buildings, +instead of around them. Gee, Freddy! Look at those flames! No wonder you +could see them for miles. The whole town's going up in smoke." + +"Yes, but look there, Dave!" Freddy cried and grabbed his arm as he +pointed with his other hand. "There on the beach. It's the British army. +Look! They're even wading out in the water to the boats! It must be too +shallow for them to get in any closer. Gee, Dave, _gee!_" + +Dave couldn't speak as he stared at the sight. The words were all too +choked up inside of him to come out. The whole beach was practically +covered with row after row of British and French soldiers. They stood in +long columns of ten and twelve men across, and those columns stretched +from high up on the beach far out into the shallow water. In some +places cars, and tanks, and trucks, anything on wheels had been driven +out into the water and parked side by side, parked hub to hub and planks +laid across the tops of them to form a makeshift pier that could reach +out into deeper water. But there were only a few of such piers. Most of +the columns of men were wading out into the water until it came up to +their chests, and even up to their necks. + +And out there looking weird and grotesque in the glow of the burning +Channel port were boats of every conceivable description. There were row +boats, and yachts. Fishing smacks and pleasure yawls. Coastal vessels +and ferry boats. Motor boats and canoes. Barges and British destroyers. +Anything and everything that could float had been brought over to help +in the evacuation. No, it wasn't the British Navy taking the British +Army home. It was all England come to rescue her fighting men. + +Dave and Freddy stood rooted in their tracks staring wide eyed at the +historic event that will live forever in the minds of men. Their eyes +soaked up the scene, and their ears soaked up the conglomeration of +sound. Oddly enough, practically all of the sounds came from off shore. +The blast of whistles, the blowing of signal horns, the purr and the +roar of engines, and the shouts of the appointed and of the self-made +skippers and crews of the fantastic rescue fleet. The troops hardly made +any sound at all. Perhaps they were too tired. Perhaps the roar of +battle still ringing in their ears momentarily stilled their tongues. Or +perhaps they were content just to follow the next man ahead and pray +silently that they would be taken aboard some kind of a boat and sailed +away before daylight and the Stukas arrived once again. But the real +reason for their strange silence, probably, was because most of them had +been there for days waiting their turn, and dodging Stuka bombs and +bursting shells. And after such an ordeal they were too stunned to know +or even care about talking. Each had a single, all important goal. A +boat of some kind. And they slogged and sloshed toward it, numb to all +that was going on about them. + +"It's ... it's almost as though it isn't real!" Dave heard himself +whisper aloud. "It's like being at a movie, and seeing something you +know was just made up. Gosh, there's thousands of them. Thousands! I +wonder how many have got away already? And...." + +The last froze on Dave's lips. At that moment above the crackling and +sullen roar of the flames devouring the city there came the dreaded +sound. It was like the drumming moan of night wind in the trees, only +it wasn't. It was a sound that chilled the blood of every man on shore +and off shore. It was Goering's Stukas and Heinkels and Messerschmitts +coming up with the rising dawn. For a long second Dave and Freddy heard +it, and then it was drowned out by the mounting groans and curses that +welled up from the throats of those thousands of soldiers on the beach. +Yet as Dave stared at them, unable to move, he saw that not a man broke +ranks. Everybody stayed in his place, as though they were on a parade +ground instead of on a beach strewn with their own dead. Rifles and +portable machine guns were grabbed up and pointed toward the fast +lightening heavens, but no man gave up his place in line. + +And then the winged vultures under Goering's command came howling down +out of the sky. Their noise drowned out all other noises, including the +noise of the guns that greeted them. It was as though some mighty giant +were tearing the roof right off the top of the world. It wasn't a +scream, and it wasn't an earth trembling wail. Nor was it a continual +thunderous roar. It was just a sound that had never been heard before, +and, perhaps, will never be heard again. A mighty collection of all +sounds in the whole world blended into one mighty inferno of noise. + +As Dave and Freddy stood transfixed it didn't so much as even occur to +either of them to run for some kind of shelter. Their feet were lumps of +lead and the ground was one great magnet that held them fast. Something +spewed up orange and red flame a couple of hundred yards away from them. +It was a bomb exploding, but they couldn't even hear the sound. Another +fountain of flame, and sand showering down over everything, but no +individual sound of the bomb going off. A part of the sky overhead +turned into a great raging ball of red fire. It tore their eyes upward +in time to see a Heinkel bomber outlined in livid flame. Then it was +engulfed by that flame and came hurtling down to hit the water off-shore +and disappear as though by magic. + +It was then, and then only they realized that not all of the planes +overhead were German. It was then they saw British Hurricanes, and +Spitfires, and Defiants slash down out of the dawn sky in groups of +three and pounce upon the German planes in a relentless, furious attack +that set them to shouting wildly at the top of their voices. The Royal +Air Force. The R.A.F., the saviors of Dunkirk! Outnumbered by the German +planes, but so far above them in fighting heart, in spirit, and in real +flying ability that there wasn't even any room left for comparison. A +British plane against five Germans, against ten, or against fifty! What +did it matter? There were gallant troops to be evacuated back home. +There were fleet after fleet of Goering's vultures with orders to shoot +down the British troops like cattle. Never! Never in all God's world as +long as there was an R.A.F. plane left, and an R.A.F. pilot alive to fly +it! + +Suddenly Dave became conscious of a great pain in his right arm. He +looked down to see Freddy gripping it tightly with one hand and pounding +it with his other fist. The light of a mad man was in the English +youth's eyes. When he had Dave's attention he stopped pounding and +pointed to the left and beyond a short line of bomb blasted wharves. + +"Look, look, Dave!" came his shrill scream faintly. "Look off that first +wharf. There's a motor boat. It was trying to get in close, but a +Messerschmitt came down and sprayed the chap at the wheel. See! He's +trying to get up. And there's the Messerschmitt again. Dave! The tide +will carry that boat up against those rocks, and smash in its bottom. +Dave! Can you swim? We've got to reach that boat before it hits the +rocks. Look! The Messerschmitt is shooting again. He's got the poor +chap. He's got him this time!" + +As Freddy screamed in his ear Dave looked out at the boat. It was a +long slinky looking power boat, but it wasn't even slinking along, now. +The lone figure had fallen across the engine hood, and a diving +Messerschmitt was hammering more bullets into his body. And a running +tide was carrying the craft broadside toward some jagged rocks that +stuck up out of the water not two hundred yards away. + +Dave was looking at it. And then suddenly he realized that his feet were +pounding across the beach. That he was racing madly down the beach +toward the water's edge. And that Freddy Farmer was close at his heels. + + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN + +_The White Cliffs!_ + + +By the time they reached the water they had stripped off their hospital +jackets, torn free their water canteens, and flung them away. Shoulder +to shoulder they splashed out as far as they could, then dived in. They +broke surface together and struck out for the helpless craft being +carried toward its doom by the tide. Above them raged another mighty +battle of the air. Bombs fell close and when one struck the water and +went off, a thousand fists seemed to hammer against their chests. Behind +them the flames of Dunkirk leaped high, and the glow turned the waters +through which they swam to the color of blood. And there ahead of them +was the sleek-looking motorboat, like a highly polished brown log +drifting on the crest of a shimmering red sea. + +A great fire burned in Dave's lungs, and his arms became like bars of +lead that required every remaining ounce of his strength to lift up and +cut down into the water again. But he fought back the aches, and the +pains, and the gnawing fatigue. And so did Freddy Farmer there by his +side. They kept their eyes fixed on that drifting motorboat and they +didn't take them off it until after what seemed like years they were +alongside it and hooking an arm over the gunwale. For a moment they just +hung there panting and gulping for air. Then at an unspoken signal they +each shifted their grip to the small brass rail that ran along each side +from stem to stern, and hauled themselves into the boat. + +Not even then did they speak a word, for words were unnecessary, now. +There was a job to do, and a job to be done fast. The rocks weren't more +than sixty yards away. Shaking water from his face, Dave leaped toward +the engine hood, lifted up the motionless bullet riddled body and +lowered it gently to the deck. At the same time Freddy caught up an oar +and rushed toward the bow to fend off the craft should it reach the +rocks. + +Lifting the engine hood Dave took one look inside and gulped with +relief. Messerschmitt bullets had not touched the American built engine. +A quick glance down at the priming can in the dead man's stiff hand told +Dave he had been trying to start the engine when the Messerschmitt first +dived. Perhaps he had throttled too much, and stalled the engine. There +was no way of knowing that, and no time to wonder about it. If there was +something else wrong, and the priming can didn't do the trick, then he +and Freddy could at least save the boat from being slammed up against +the rocks. + +It was time for Lady Luck to smile again, however. Dave primed the +engine, and stepped on the starter pedal, and the engine roared up +instantly in full throated song. He leaped for the wheel, yanked back +the throttle, and then swung the wheel over hard. The rudder bit into +the water, and the power boat slid by the jagged rocks with but a few +feet to spare and glided out toward deep water. + +"Made it!" Dave shouted wildly. + +"Right-o!" Freddy yelled back from the bow. "This is one Herr Hitler +doesn't get, by gosh. Not if _I_ can help it! Oh, Dave, let's...." + +"Me too!" Dave interrupted him. "I know what you're going to say. Let's +go over and pick up as many of those fellows as we can! You're doggone +right! Here we go!" + +At that exact moment, however, the fates of war changed their plans. At +that moment a steel fish made in Nazi land slid past the watchful eyes +of a destroyer and let go a single torpedo straight into the maze of +craft hovering off shore beneath the raging sky battle above. True, +only one torpedo. And even as it streaked out from its tube the eyes +aboard the destroyer saw it, and the destroyer's guns spoke ... and +there was one U-boat less. However, one torpedo was on its way. And it +slammed into the bow of a sturdy coastal vessel plodding out to the +center of the Channel. + +In the blaze of light that spewed up from the side of the vessel Dave +saw the decks crowded with khaki clad soldiers. Then they were lost to +view as the vessel heeled way over and was engulfed in a mighty cloud of +smoke. No sooner had what his eyes seen registered oh his brain than he +hauled down hard on the wheel and pulled the motor boat's bow away from +the shore and out toward that floating cloud of smoke and dull red +flame. + +Other boats did the same thing, but Dave and Freddy were closer than any +of the others, and they reached there first. Killing his speed as much +as possible Dave worked the craft inch by inch toward the cluster of +heads that were now bobbing out from under the edge of the cloud of +smoke. Then when he was real close he throttled all the way back and let +go of the wheel and raced with Freddy to the stern of the boat. They +grabbed the first hand stretched up toward them and pulled the dripping +figure into the boat. No sooner was he in than they let him shift for +himself and grabbed for the next outstretched hand. Then another, and +another, and another, until there were no more bobbing heads close to +them. + +By then other craft had arrived and were picking up survivors from that +doomed vessel. As Dave straightened up he stared out across the water +just in time to see the last bit of the vessel's bow slide down below +the waves and disappear. One look and then he was pushing through the +soldiers he and Freddy had rescued, to the wheel at the bow bulkhead. +Cheers and praise filled his ears but he was too all in to even so much +as grin. And, also, memory of that U-boat was still fresh in his mind. +If one slipped past, why not two, or even three? Dunkirk was behind him, +and a sky battle was raging high above him, but he did not know what +might be lurking in the waters under him. The sooner he got the boat +away, the better it would be for all concerned. + +He reached the wheel at the same time Freddy did. And hardly realizing +it, both grabbed hold. Dave shot out his other hand and opened up the +throttle. Together, as one man, they guided the power boat in and around +the other rescue craft until they were clear and heading straight out +into the Channel. Once there was nothing but open water ahead of them +they both relaxed, looked into each other's eyes and grinned. + +"Well, that _must_ be the last surprise, Freddy," Dave said. "There just +isn't anything else that could happen that would startle me." + +"Nor me, either!" Freddy breathed. "The excitement's all over for us, +now. In another hour we'll be in England." + +And then suddenly a hand was clapped down on each of them, and a hoarse +voice boomed, + +"Well, of all things! You two!" + +They both spun around, then stopped dead and gasped in bewildered +amazement. There standing in his water-soaked uniform was General +Caldwell, Chief of British Staff. His piercing black eyes bored into +theirs, and his teeth showed white in a broad smile. + +"Good heavens, you, General!" Dave finally managed to gulp out. "Why, I +didn't even know we'd hauled you aboard!" + +"But you did, and thank God for that!" the General said fervently. "And +do you know, it's the strangest thing ever! I was telling the captain of +that boat about how you stole that plane, when the blasted torpedo +struck. By gad, it's incredible. But how in the world did you get here? +and in this boat, too!" + +"Later, sir, if you don't mind," Freddy spoke up and put a hand on the +General's sleeve. "Please tell us the truth. We've got to know. The +information we gave you wasn't any help? You got it too late?" + +General Caldwell stared at him hard, and then shook his head. + +"You're dead wrong, Freddy, if you think that," he said in his oddly +soft voice. "I spoke the truth to you in the Lille hospital. Look back +there, both of you." + +They turned and with their eyes followed the General's finger pointing +at the beach at Dunkirk. + +"That's the last of the British Army to leave France," he spoke again. +"We've been getting them out for days, and against terrific odds. The +only reason I was on that boat that was torpedoed, instead of being back +there to be the last man to leave, was because I had my orders to return +at once and start getting things reorganized. But they will all be in +England before this fog gives the Stukas the chance they want. And +praise to dear God for the fog and the rain he has sent us in these days +of heroic effort. But, what I am trying to say to you, is this. Had I +not received your information in time, thousands upon thousands of those +brave chaps would never have been able to reach Dunkirk in time to be +taken off. They would now be trapped in France and in Belgium. No, boys, +it was not too late. And to you two England owes a debt she will never +be able to repay." + +"I'm glad," Freddy whispered softly. "I'm glad it was not too late." + +"Gosh, me too," Dave mumbled, and tried to say more but the words +wouldn't come. + +And so the three of them: two boys and the General stood there with +their faces turned toward England while the boat cut through the +dawn-greyed swells and the light fog. And then after a long time the fog +lifted and they saw it there ahead. + +"Dover!" Freddy said in a choked voice, and tears trickled down his +cheeks. "The chalk cliffs of Dover. England!" + +"Yes, the chalk cliffs of Dover, and England," General Caldwell murmured +huskily. "We've taken a pretty bad beating, but it's far from being all +over. We may even take some more beatings. Perhaps several of them. But +in the end we will win. We must win, for there will always be an +England. Always!" + + * * * * * + +Three days after the world-thrilling evacuation of Dunkirk, Dave Dawson +sat in the living-room of Freddy Farmer's house in Baker Street in +London. Freddy was there, of course, and so was his dad. And so was +Dave's father. Within an hour after touching English soil the British +War Office had contacted Dave's dad in Paris where he had gone hoping to +pick up the trail of his missing son. And, now, the four of them were +waiting because of a phone call from General Caldwell. A phone call +stating that the Chief of Staff was on his way there, and for them all +please to wait. + +"Boy, I wish he'd get here!" Dave exclaimed for the umpteenth time. + +"He didn't say why he wanted to see us?" Freddy asked his father for the +umpteenth time, too. + +"No, Freddy," the senior Farmer replied patiently. "He didn't say a word +about it." + +"Gee, do I hope, do I hope, _do I hope!_" Dave breathed and pressed his +two clenched fists together. "Do I hope he has fixed it for us to get +into the R.A.F., even though we are a bit under age. He said he'd do +everything he could. And, Dad?" + +Dave turned and looked into his father's face. + +"Yes, Dave?" + +"I sure hope it really _is_ okay with you," Dave said. "I mean getting +into the R.A.F., if I possibly can. It's.... Well, it's just that +nothing else seems important now, except trimming the pants off the +Nazis. And I want to help, no matter _what_ kind of help it is." + +"I understand, perfectly, Dave," his father said with a smile. "I know +exactly how you feel, because I feel the same way. I'm staying over here +to help, too. In the government end of things." + +Dave's exclamation of surprise was cut short by the ringing of the door +bell. Freddy's father answered it and came back into the room with +General Caldwell. The Chief of Staff greeted them all and then handed +Dave and Freddy each a small package. + +"And with life-long gratitude from the bottom of my heart," he said +gravely. + +They opened the packages to find an expensive wrist watch in each. And +on the back of each watch was the inscription: + + To One Of The Two Finest And Bravest + Boys I Ever Met + General H. V. K. Caldwell + +"And, now, the real reason I came here," the General said before they +could even begin to blurt out their thanks and appreciation. "Their +Majesties, King George and Queen Elizabeth, are waiting to receive you +at Buckingham Palace. And your fathers, of course." + +"The King ... and the Queen?" Freddy said in a hushed voice. + +"Oh boy, meeting the King and Queen in Buckingham Palace!" Dave +breathed. And then he couldn't hold it any longer. "General Caldwell!" +the words rushed off his lips. "What Freddy and I asked you about? I +mean ... the R.A.F. Is there any chance?" + +The General tried to look stern, but he just couldn't keep the grin from +breaking through. + +"Among other things," he said in his soft voice, "Their Majesties wish +to be the first to congratulate their two new members of the Royal Air +Force. So, I suggest we do not keep them waiting, eh?" + +Dave and Freddy looked at each other without speaking, but their eyes +spoke volumes. The dream had come true. Or perhaps it was only +beginning. Either way, though, one thing was certain. Beginning with +this moment they would have the chance to do their share as pilots of +the Royal Air Force in the battle for Britain. And that chance was all +they asked. Nothing more. + + + ----THE END---- + + See next page. + + + + +_A Page from_ + +DAVE DAWSON WITH THE R.A.F. + +At that moment a short, savage burst from Flight Lieutenant +Barton-Woods' guns snapped Dave's eyes back to the Junkers. They were +still quite a ways off but the Green Flight leader had let go with a +challenging burst hoping that the Germans would give up thoughts of +escape and turn back to give battle. However, it was instantly obvious +that the Junkers pilots and their crews didn't want any truck with three +Spitfire pilots. The nose of each ship was pushed down a bit to add +speed to the get away attempt. And a moment later Dave saw the flash of +sunlight on bombs dropping harmlessly down into the rolling grey-green +swells where the Channel blends in with the North Sea. + +"Not this day, my little Jerries!" Flight Lieutenant Barton-Woods' voice +boomed over the radio. "Let's make the beggars pay for dropping bombs in +our Channel, Green Flight! Give it to them!" + +The last was more or less the signal that each pilot was on his own. +Dave waited until he saw his flight leader swerve off to slam in at the +Junkers to the right. Then he touched rudder, and with Freddy sticking +right with him, swerved off after the other German raider. + + + + Transcriber's Notes: + Page 73: Changed probaby to probably + Page 184: Changed fairly to fairy + Page 216: Changed aways to always + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dave Dawson at Dunkirk, by Robert Sydney Bowen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DAWSON AT DUNKIRK *** + +***** This file should be named 32440-8.txt or 32440-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/4/32440/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Roger L. Holda, Joseph R. Hauser +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/32440-8.zip b/32440-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..61f8498 --- /dev/null +++ b/32440-8.zip diff --git a/32440-h.zip b/32440-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f510cb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/32440-h.zip diff --git a/32440-h/32440-h.htm b/32440-h/32440-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0653bbd --- /dev/null +++ b/32440-h/32440-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6401 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook Dave Dawson at Dunkirk, by R. Sidney Bowen. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.toc {width: 50%; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} +.tocname {text-align: left;} +.tocpage {text-align: right;} + +.notes {background-color: #d3d3d3; color: #000000; + margin:auto; + width:60%;} + + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dave Dawson at Dunkirk, by Robert Sydney Bowen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dave Dawson at Dunkirk + +Author: Robert Sydney Bowen + +Release Date: May 19, 2010 [EBook #32440] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DAWSON AT DUNKIRK *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Roger L. Holda, Joseph R. Hauser +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 490px;"> +<img src="images/jacket.png" width="490" height="550" alt="Dust Jacket" title="Dust Jacket" /> +</div> + +<div><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 446px;"> +<img src="images/cover.png" width="446" height="550" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> + + +<h1> +DAVE DAWSON<br /> +AT<br /> +DUNKIRK</h1> + +<h3><i>by</i><br /> +R. SIDNEY BOWEN<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The War Adventure Series</span></h3> + +<div><br /><br /></div> + +<h2>THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY<br /> +AKRON, OHIO * NEW YORK</h2> + +<div><br /><br /></div> + +<h5>COPYRIGHT, 1941, BY CROWN PUBLISHERS<br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA<br /> +</h5> + + +<div><br /><br /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div><br /><br /></div> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + + +<div class="center"> +<table class="toc" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage"><small>CHAPTER</small></td> + <td></td> + <td class="tocpage"><small>PAGE</small></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">I</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_ONE">HITLER GIVES THE ORDER!</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">11</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">II</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_TWO">DIVING DOOM</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">21</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">III</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_THREE">DAVE MEETS FREDDY FARMER</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">34</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">IV</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_FOUR">PRISONERS OF WAR!</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">45</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">V</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_FIVE">IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">55</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">VI</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_SIX">THEY'LL NEVER BEAT US</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">66</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">VII</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_SEVEN">SHOOT!</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">77</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">VIII</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_EIGHT">ESCAPE!</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">88</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">IX</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_NINE">A DESPERATE MISSION</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">102</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">X</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_TEN">TRAPPED IN WAR SKIES!</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">115</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">XI</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_ELEVEN">FIGHTING HEARTS</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">130</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">XII</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_TWELVE">IN THE NICK OF TIME</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">148</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">XIII</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_THIRTEEN">BOMBS FOR NAMUR</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">160</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">XIV</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_FOURTEEN">ORDERS FROM HEADQUARTERS</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">172</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">XV</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_FIFTEEN">BELGIUM GIVES UP!</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">186</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">XVI</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_SIXTEEN">FATE LAUGHS AT LAST</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">199</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">XVII</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN">THUNDER IN THE WEST</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">215</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">XVIII</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_EIGHTEEN">WINGS OF DOOM</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">227</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocpage">XVIII</td> + <td class="tocname"><a href="#CHAPTER_NINETEEN">THE WHITE CLIFFS!</a></td> + <td class="tocpage">241</td> +</tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_ONE" id="CHAPTER_ONE"></a>CHAPTER ONE</h2> + +<h4><i>Hitler Gives The Order!</i></h4> + + +<p>The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination +clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed. He stared at it +sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see +it the very first thing when he opened his eyes. He knew there was some +reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.</p> + +<p>He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed +and glanced about the room. For one brief second the unfamiliar sight +startled him. Then he realized where he was and grinned broadly. Sure +enough! This was his room in the Hotel de Ney in Paris, France. This was +just a little part of the wonderful dream that had really come true!</p> + +<p>The "dream" had begun two weeks ago. It had begun with the thundering +roar of the <i>Dixie</i> Clipper's four engines that had lifted Dave and his +father from the waters of Port Washington Bay, Long Island, on the first +leg of the flight across the Atlantic to Lisbon, Portugal. His father +had been sent to Europe on a government mission, and after much coaxing +and pleading had consented to take Dave along. The thrill of a lifetime, +and during every minute of these last two weeks Dave Dawson had been +living in a very special kind of Seventh Heaven.</p> + +<p>To fly to a Europe at peace was something, but to fly to a Europe at war +was something extra special. It was a trip a fellow would remember all +the days of his life. It was an adventure that he'd tell his +grandchildren all about some day. The Clipper roaring to a landing at +Bermuda, then on to the Azores, and then farther eastward to Lisbon. The +train journey across Portugal to Spain, then up across Spain and over +the Pyrenees into France. Finally on to Paris and all the beautiful +things that beautiful city had to offer.</p> + +<p>Not all of the things, however, had been beautiful. There were lots of +things that were grim looking and made a fellow think a lot. The things +of war. True, the war was a long, long ways from Paris. It was far +eastward between the great Maginot Line of the French and the Siegfried +Line of Adolf Hitler's Nazi legions. There it had remained for eight +months, now, and people were saying that there it would remain. Hitler +would never dare attack the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> Maginot Line, and eventually the war would +just peter out.</p> + +<p>Yes, that was the talk you heard all over Paris, but the grim things +were there for you to see with your own eyes just the same. The +batteries of anti-aircraft guns strategically placed about the city. The +fat sausage balloons that could be sent up to great heights as a +barricade against raiding German bombers, should Hitler ever decide to +send them over. Then too there were the French Flying Corps planes that +patrolled almost constantly over the city day and night. The army +trucks, and small tanks that rumbled through the suburbs day after day. +The lorries filled with solemn eyed French troops going up to battle +stations. And at night ... the black out. No lights on the streets save +the tiny blue flashlights that the people carried. At first it made you +think of a crazy kind of fairyland. Then the faint <i>crump-crump</i> of a +distant anti-aircraft battery going into action, and the long shafts of +brilliant light stabbing the black skies, would remind you that France +was at war, and that danger might come to Paris, though as yet it had +not even come close. But....</p> + +<p>At that moment the musical chimes of the French alarm clock cut into his +thoughts. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was exactly fifteen +minutes of seven. He glanced at the cal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>endar, too, and it told him that +the date was May 10th, 1940.</p> + +<p>May Tenth! In a flash the elusive bit of memory came back to him. He let +out a whoop of joy and flung back the covers and leaped out of bed. May +Tenth, of course! Gee, to think that he had actually forgotten. Why, +today was doubly important, and how! For one thing, he was now exactly +seventeen years old. For the other, that swell French officer, +Lieutenant Defoe, of the 157th Infantry Regiment, was going to take Dad +and himself on a personally conducted tour of the famous Maginot Line! +The Lieutenant had said he would come by the hotel at seven thirty +sharp. That's why he had put the clock so close to his bed! To make sure +he would hear the alarm, in case his dad in the next room over-slept. +Heck, yes! Seventeen years old, and a trip to the Maginot Line!</p> + +<p>He danced a jig across the room to the tall mirror that reached from the +floor to the ceiling and took the stance of a fighter coming out of his +corner for the knock-out round. For a couple of minutes he shadow boxed +the reflection in the glass, then whipped over a crushing, finishing +right and danced back.</p> + +<p>"Boy oh boy, do I feel good!" he cried happily and tore off his pajamas. +"Bring on your Joe Louis. Hot diggity, the Maginot Line. Me!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> Oh boy!"</p> + +<p>In almost less time than it takes to tell about it he was bathed and +fully dressed and ready to go. He started for the door leading into his +father's room but checked himself as he saw the camera on the bureau. He +took a step toward it, then snapped his fingers as he remembered +Lieutenant Defoe had said that the Maginot Line was one place where even +the President of France could not take a camera. For a second he was +tempted to take one anyway, but sober judgment quickly squelched that +idea. He knew that Lieutenant Defoe had gone to a lot of trouble to get +permission for him and his father to visit that great string of +fortresses, and it would be pretty cheap to do anything that would get +the Lieutenant in wrong.</p> + +<p>So he left the camera where it was, caught up his hat, and went over to +the connecting door and knocked loudly.</p> + +<p>"Rise and shine in there, Mister!" he called out. "Big doings today, +remember? Are you up, Dad?"</p> + +<p>There was no sound save the echo of his own voice. He knocked again and +shouted, "Hey, Dad!" but there was still no sound from the room beyond. +He hesitated a moment, then grasped the knob and pushed the door open.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Dad, get...!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>An empty room greeted his amazed gaze. The bed hadn't been slept in. As +a matter of fact there was not a single sign that the room had been +occupied. There were no clothes in the closet, no toilet articles and +stuff on the dresser, and not even any traveling bags. The sudden shock +made his heart contract slightly, and for a long moment he could do +nothing but stare wide eyed at the vacant room.</p> + +<p>"Can I be dreaming?" he heard his own voice murmur. "This is Dad's room. +I said good night to him here last night. But, there's no one here. +Dad's gone, for cat's sake. <i>Hey, Dad!</i>"</p> + +<p>All that he got for his extra loud shout was a muffled voice protesting +violently in French, and an angry pounding on the floor of the room +above. He closed his Dad's door and went down the stairs three at a time +and straight across the lobby floor to the desk.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen my Father?" he asked the girlish looking man at the desk.</p> + +<p>The girlish looking man didn't hear. He was talking on the telephone. +Talking a blue streak with his hands as well as his mouth. In fact, in +order to make full use of both his hands the clerk had dropped the +receiver and was giving all of his attention to the mouth piece. He +looked like he was trying to do the Australian Crawl right into it and +down the wire to who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>ever was at the other end of the line.</p> + +<p>Dave grinned and stood watching the clerk. The words came out like a +string of machine gun bullets. Much, much too fast for Dave to line them +up in a sentence that made sense. He caught a word here and there, +however, and presently the grin faded from his face. He heard the name, +<i>Holland</i>, and <i>Belgium</i>. He heard <i>Nazi cows</i>. He heard <i>Maginot Line</i>, +and <i>Siegfried Line</i>. And a whole lot of the girlish looking clerk's +personal opinions of Hitler, and Goering, and Hess, and Goebbels, and +everybody else in Nazi Germany.</p> + +<p>He did not hear a lot, but he heard enough, and his eyes widened, and +his heart began to thump against his ribs in wild excitement. He banged +on the desk and shouted at the clerk, but he might just as well have +shouted at the moon. The clerk was far, far too busy trying to swim down +the telephone cord.</p> + +<p>Dave started to yell even louder but at that moment a hand took hold of +his arm and swung him around. He found himself staring into the flushed, +good looking face of Lieutenant Defoe. The French officer was breathing +hard and there was a strange look in his eyes that checked the happy +greeting on Dave's lips.</p> + +<p>"Hey, what's wrong, Lieutenant?" he asked instead. "That clerk acts like +he's going nuts.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> And, say, Dad isn't in his room. Not even any of his +things."</p> + +<p>"I know, <i>mon Capitaine</i>," Lieutenant Defoe said and held onto his arm. +"Come. First we shall have some breakfast, and then I will explain all."</p> + +<p>The fact that Defoe was there, and that the French officer had called +him by the kidding title of My Captain soothed the tiny worry that was +beginning to grow inside Dave.</p> + +<p>"Okay, Lieutenant, I am starved at that," he said as the officer led the +way to the breakfast room. "But, that clerk. He was shouting something +about the Germans in Holland and Belgium, and.... Hey, my gosh! Has +Hitler invaded the Lowlands?"</p> + +<p>"Early this morning," Defoe said gravely. "Another of his promises +broken, but we expected it, of course. Yes, <i>mon Capitaine</i>, now France +will truly go to war. Here, sit there. Let me order. They are perhaps +excited a little this morning, and I will get better results."</p> + +<p>Dave waited until the French officer had ordered for them both and put +the fear of the devil in the lumbering and thoroughly flustered +waitress. Then he leaned forward on the table.</p> + +<p>"What about Dad, Lieutenant?" he asked. "Is anything wrong? I mean, is +he all right?"</p> + +<p>The French officer nodded and wiped beads<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> of sweat from his face with a +huge colored handkerchief. It was then Dave saw how tired and weary the +man looked. His eyes were drawn and haggard. His funny little mustache +seemed even to droop from fatigue. Despite his natty uniform, and the +two rows of shiny medals, the Lieutenant looked as though he had not +slept for days.</p> + +<p>"Yes, your father is well, and safe," Defoe finally said through a +mouthful of hard roll. "He is in England."</p> + +<p>Dave spilled some of the water he was drinking.</p> + +<p>"England?" he gasped. "Dad is in England?"</p> + +<p>"In London," Defoe said and crammed more roll into his mouth. "It was +all very sudden. Be patient, <i>mon Capitaine</i>, and I shall try to +explain. First, a thousand pardons for not arriving sooner, but I was +delayed at the War Ministry. And there was not one of those cursed taxis +we have in Paris, so I was forced to run all the way. You were surprised +and alarmed to find your father gone, eh?"</p> + +<p>"I was knocked for a loop," Dave said with a grin. "But, look, tell me. +Why in thunder did Dad go to London? Because of the German invasion into +Holland and Belgium?"</p> + +<p>"No," Defoe said. "Some business with your American Ambassador there. +What, I do not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> know. We were in the lounge having a good night glass of +wine just after you had gone to bed. A wireless message arrived. Your +father said that he had to leave for London at once. An Embassy car took +him to Calais where he could embark on a destroyer. He said that he +would be gone for three days. You were asleep and he did not wish to +wake you. He asked me to take his room, and to be your companion until +he returned. He said he would write you from London. He said it was just +a quick business trip and nothing for you to worry about."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," Dave said, trying to keep his voice polite. "But what now?"</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Defoe gestured expressively with a butter knife in one hand +and a piece of roll in the other.</p> + +<p>"Now, everything is changed, <i>mon Capitaine</i>," he said. "In a few hours +you and I shall drive together to Calais. There I shall salute you and +bid you farewell. A British destroyer will take you to Dover. And from +there to London you shall travel by train. Your father will meet you at +the station in London. What you will do then, I do not know. Your father +did not honor me with the information."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWO" id="CHAPTER_TWO"></a>CHAPTER TWO</h2> + +<h4><i>Diving Doom</i></h4> + + +<p>The small but speedy Renault car scooted along the broad dusty French +road like a grey-brown bug fleeing for its life. The ride out of Paris +had both thrilled Dave and depressed him. It was exciting to streak past +the long lines of army cars and troops on the march. It gave him a kick +the way the simple showing of Lieutenant Defoe's military papers cleared +the way through barrier after barrier thrown up across the road. Those +papers were as a magic charm that made officers and men alike spring to +attention and salute. And in a way they <i>were</i> a magic charm. They had +not only been signed by the highest military authorities, but by the +President of France, himself.</p> + +<p>Yet with all that it made him a little sad to leave Paris. He felt as +though he were running away in the face of danger. He had had lots of +fun with his Dad and Lieutenant Defoe in Paris. Swell times, and now he +was rushing away from the city. Running away because dan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>ger might come +to Paris. True, he was only obeying his father's instructions, yet he +could not rid himself of the feeling that he was running away.</p> + +<p>From time to time he glanced at Lieutenant Defoe at the wheel of the +car. The laughter and gaiety had gone from the Frenchman's eyes. His +face was set and grim. He gripped the wheel tight with his big hands, +and every so often he flung an anxious look up into the sun filled blue +sky. Each time Dave followed his look but could see nothing. Eventually, +the question was forced from his lips.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Lieutenant?" he asked. "You look worried. You think +something's going to happen?"</p> + +<p>The French officer shrugged, and for the five hundredth time peered up +at the sky.</p> + +<p>"Something going to happen?" he murmured. "Of course not. My neck, it is +a little stiff. It feels better when I move my head, so."</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Defoe punctuated his words with a laugh, but that laugh did +not ring true in Dave's ears.</p> + +<p>"You're looking for German airplanes, aren't you?" he said straight out. +"And you are worried, too, about how the army is getting along. I saw +you talking with a colonel just before we left. Did you get any news?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>"We are holding the German cows," Lieutenant Defoe said through clenched +teeth. "The English and our gallant troops are now pouring into Belgium +by the thousands. We will throw the Boche back. Yes, he shall be taught +a lesson he will not forget for a long time."</p> + +<p>The French officer lifted one hand from the wheel, doubled it into a +rock hard fist and shook it savagely at an imaginary foe.</p> + +<p>"This time we shall teach them a lesson, once and for all!" he cried. +"We...!"</p> + +<p>The rest died on his lips. Rather it was changed into a cry of both +anger and surprise. At that moment the car had gone spinning around a +sharp bend in the road and there directly ahead was a scene that brought +both Defoe and Dave bolt upright in the seat. The road was black with +men, women, and children. A sea of people, and horses, and cows, and +goats, and dogs was sweeping toward them. There were wagons, and carts, +and even baby carriages piled high with household goods. And above it +all rose a constant unending babble of frightened tongues.</p> + +<p>"Good gosh, look at them!" Dave exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Defoe didn't say a word. He quickly slipped the car out of +gear and braked it to a stop. Then he climbed down onto the road and +Dave saw him slide his hand toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> his holstered gun. The swarm of men, +women, and children advanced relentlessly toward them. Lieutenant Defoe +flung up one hand.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" he bellowed at the top of his voice. "What is the meaning of +this?"</p> + +<p>Ten thousand tongues answered his question all in the same voice.</p> + +<p>"The Boche!" they screamed. "They have broken through. They have taken +everything. They are everywhere. They will slaughter us like cattle, if +they catch us. How far to Paris? We are tired. We have walked for hours. +Yes, for years!"</p> + +<p>"Enough!" Lieutenant Defoe roared. "The Boche will not break through. +The soldiers of France will not permit it. You are but frightened fools, +all of you. Go back to your homes. I command you to! Go back to your +homes where you will be safe. The Boche will not harm you!"</p> + +<p>An old, old woman clutching a bundle of clothing laughed wildly and +rushed up close to the French officer. She shook a gnarled fist in his +face and screamed at the top of her voice.</p> + +<p>"Our soldiers? Where are they? I will tell you. They are in retreat. +There are too many of the Boche. And they have airplanes, and, tanks, +and guns. With my own eyes I have seen them shoot down anybody, and +everybody. I ask<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> you, where is our army? And the English, where are +they? I will tell you, my Lieutenant, the Boche have killed them, killed +them all. Turn this thing around and flee for your lives. That is my +advice to you."</p> + +<p>"Silence, old woman!" Lieutenant Defoe thundered. "Enough of such talk! +Spies have filled you with such lies. That is what they wish to do. To +scare you, and frighten you, and to make you leave your homes, and +clutter up the roads this way. Listen to me! I...."</p> + +<p>The Frenchman roared with all the power of his lungs, but it was even +less than a faint cry in the wilderness. The long lines of terror +stricken refugees drowned him out. Like a gigantic black wave parted in +the middle they swept by on both sides of the car. The Frenchman's face +turned beet red with fury. He shouted, and ranted, and raved. But it was +all to no avail. His voice and his actions were but a waste of breath +and muscle energy. For a little while Dave tried to help him. He tried +to reason with the mass of terrified humanity sweeping by the car. He +begged, he pleaded, and he threatened, but it was as useless as +thundering at the sun to turn off its light. No one paid him any +attention. It is doubtful if anybody even heard him. Eventually he sank +down on the seat, his voice exhausted and his throat sore.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>He looked helplessly at Lieutenant Defoe. The French officer was a +picture of misery, and of burning anger. Tears were in his eyes, and he +was working his mouth though no sound came off his lips. In time he got +back in the car and sank dejectedly behind the wheel.</p> + +<p>"I am ashamed of my countrymen!" he shouted at Dave. "I am mortified +that you should see this. But this is the curse of war. The people are +like chickens when war comes. They do not stop to think or reason. They +think of nothing but fleeing for their lives. They ... they are like +children. I am ashamed."</p> + +<p>The utter sadness and remorse in the officer's voice touched Dave +deeply. He reached over and took hold of the Lieutenant's arm and +pressed hard.</p> + +<p>"That's okay, I understand, Lieutenant," he said. "Forget it. Look, +we'll be stuck here forever if we don't do something. Let's try and get +off to the side. I'll get out and push them aside, and you keep the car +in low gear. Okay, take it easy, Lieutenant."</p> + +<p>Some of the anger faded from the Frenchman's eyes and the corners of his +mouth tilted in a faint smile.</p> + +<p>"At your orders, <i>mon Capitaine</i>," he said. "Yes, you get out and warn +them away, and I shall drive the car to the side of the road."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>Dave returned his smile and slid out of the car. No sooner had his feet +touched the road than he felt as though his body had been caught in the +roaring torrent of a rampaging river. Like a chip of wood he was picked +up and swept along, and it was several seconds before he was able to +regain his footing and force his way back and around to the front of the +car. There he put out both his hands and started waving the steady +stream of babbling refugees to the left and to the right.</p> + +<p>It was tedious, heartbreaking effort, and a hundred times he came within +an ace of falling flat on the road under the crawling wheels of the +Renault. But for his young strong body pushing and shoving this way and +that Lieutenant Defoe would not have been able to move the car forward +an inch. As it was the car did not travel more than fifty yards in a +good half hour. By then Dave was drenched with his own sweat. His hat +was gone and his clothes were slowly but surely being torn from his +back.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he saw Lieutenant Defoe at his shoulder and heard the +Frenchman's voice shouting in his ear.</p> + +<p>"It is useless, <i>mon Capitaine</i>! It is madness. We will not get any +place with the car. The town of Beaumont is but a few <i>kilometres</i> +ahead. There is an army post there. I shall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> request a military car and +a driver. Ah me, I am desolate that this should happen. Here! Watch what +you are doing! You! Let go of me, my old one! <i>Attention!</i>"</p> + +<p>At that moment the French officer had been caught in the river of +people. He struggled and he fought but he was relentlessly swept along +and away from Dave's clutching hands. In almost the same moment Dave, +himself, was caught up by the moving mass. It was either a case of +moving along with the stream or stumbling to his hands and knees and +being trampled under foot, or being run over by the heavy wheel of an ox +cart or wagon. It was absolutely impossible, and an act of sheer +suicide, to buck that packed throng.</p> + +<p>And so Dave took the only course open to him. He moved along with the +stream of refugees and inch by inch worked his way to the edge of the +stream and into a clear space. There he paused for breath and strained +his eyes for a glimpse of Lieutenant Defoe, but the Frenchman was +nowhere to be seen. He had been virtually swallowed up by the stream of +humanity moving relentlessly and blindly forward. Dave thought of the +troops and the long lines of army cars he and Defoe had passed since +leaving Paris, and shuddered at the thought. When the army and the +populace met<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> what would happen? Who would give way, or would anybody? +In his mind's eye he pictured other French officers like Defoe striving +to force the refugees to abandon their mad flight and return home. It +was not a pretty picture to imagine. It was not a nice situation to +contemplate. Troops with tanks and guns moving forward to meet the enemy +but instead meeting thousands and thousands of their own flesh and +blood.</p> + +<p>"Please, God, put sense in the heads of these poor people!" Dave +breathed softly to himself. "Tell them what they should do for the sake +of France, and...."</p> + +<p>Dave Dawson never finished that prayer. At that moment there came to his +ears a new and entirely different sound. At first he could think only of +tons of brick sliding down a slanting tin roof. Then suddenly he knew +what it was, and in that same instant the rising hysterical scream of +the passing throngs echoed his own thought.</p> + +<p>"<i>Les Boches! Les Boches!</i> Take cover at once!"</p> + +<p>Like thousands upon thousands of stampeded cattle the refugees broke +ranks and went scattering madly and wildly in all directions. Carts and +wagons were left where they had come to a halt on the road with their +horses, or oxen,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> or dogs standing dumb eyed and drooping in their +tracks. Dave stayed where he was for an instant, not moving an inch, and +his eyes fixed upon the cluster of dots streaking down from the blue sky +high overhead. In the twinkling of an eye they ceased to be dots. They +became planes! German planes. Heinkels, and Messerschmitt 110's, and +Stuka dive bombers. Winged messengers of doom howling down upon the road +choked with wagons and carts, and countless numbers of helpless +refugees.</p> + +<p>Even as Dave saw them the leading ships opened fire. Tongues of jetting +red flame spat downward, and the savage yammer of the aerial machine +guns echoed above the blood chilling thunder of the engines. Tearing his +eyes from that horrible sight Dave glanced back at the road. It was +still filled with frantic men, women, and children, and at the spot +directly under the diving planes bullets were cutting down human lives +as swiftly as a keen edged scythe cuts down wheat.</p> + +<p>His feet rooted to the ground, Dave stared in horror. Then suddenly one +of the diving Stukas released its deadly bomb. The bomb struck the +ground no more than twenty feet from the edge of the road. Red, orange, +and yellow flame shot high into the air. A billowing cloud of smoke +filled with dirt, and dust, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> stones fountained upward. Then a mighty +roar akin to the sound of worlds colliding seemed to hammer straight +into his face. The next thing he realized he was flat on his back on the +ground gasping and panting for air while from every direction came the +screams of the wounded and the dying.</p> + +<p>The screams seemed to release a hidden spring inside of him and make it +possible for him to set himself into action. He scrambled to his feet, +stared wild eyed up at the diving planes and shook his fist in white +heat anger.</p> + +<p>"You'll pay for this!" he shouted. "You'll pay for this if it takes the +Allies a thousand years. And I'll do my share in helping them too!"</p> + +<p>As the last left his lips he suddenly saw an old woman, almost bowed +down by bundles, trying feebly to get away from the road and out from +under the roaring armada of diving death. She took a few faltering steps +and then stumbled to her knees. One withered hand was stretched out in +mute appeal to the others to help her up, but no one paused to give her +aid. Stark fear had them all in its grasp and none could be bothered +about the misfortunes of the other.</p> + +<p>The old woman was only one in thousands and thousands, but Dave had +witnessed her sad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> plight and so his movements were instinctive. He +leaped forward and went dashing to her side. With one hand he grabbed +her bundles and the other hand he put under her arm.</p> + +<p>"I'll help you, Madam," he said. "Just lean on me. I'll get you to a +safe place. Don't worry."</p> + +<p>He had spoken in English and of course the old woman didn't understand +his words. She understood his actions, however, and there was deep +gratitude in the lined and tired face she turned toward him.</p> + +<p>"<i>Merci, Monsieur, merci</i>," she whispered and started forward leaning +heavily on Dave's arm.</p> + +<p>And then down out of the blue it came! Dave heard the eerie sound above +the general din but of course he didn't see the dropping bomb. He didn't +even taken the time to glance upward. He simply acted quickly. He +grabbed the old woman about the waist and hauled her to the scanty +protection of a standing wagon. There he pushed her down and bent over +her so that his body served as partial protection against what he knew +was coming.</p> + +<p>It came! A terrific crash of sound that seemed to split the very earth +wide open. Every bone in Dave's body seemed to turn to jelly. The entire +universe became one huge ocean of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> flashing light and fire. The ground +rocked and trembled under his feet. Unseen hands seemed to grab hold of +him and lift him straight upward to hover motionless in a cloud of +licking tongues of colored flame. Then suddenly all became as dark as +the night, and as silent as a tomb, and he knew no more.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THREE" id="CHAPTER_THREE"></a>CHAPTER THREE</h2> + +<h4><i>Dave Meets Freddy Farmer</i></h4> + + +<p>When Dave again opened his eyes it was night. He was lying on his back +under some trees and staring up through bomb shattered branches at the +canopy of glittering and twinkling stars high overhead. For several +seconds he remained perfectly still, not moving a muscle. What had +happened? Where was he? Why was he out here under some trees in the +dark?</p> + +<p>Those and countless other questions crowded through his brain. Then, as +though somebody had pulled a curtain aside, memory came back to him and +he knew all the answers. Of course! A Stuka bomb. It had dropped close. +He had been trying to shelter that old woman. Yet, that had been on the +road by a cart, and here he was under some trees. How come? Had the +exploding bomb blown him under the trees? Was he wounded but still too +dazed to feel any pain? Good gosh, it was night now, so he must have +been here for hours!</p> + +<p>Thought and action became one. He put out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> his hands and pushed himself +up to a sitting position. Almost instantly he regretted the effort. A +hundred trip-hammers started going to work on the inside of his head. +The night and the stars began to whirl madly about him. He closed his +eyes tight, and clenched his teeth until things stopped spinning so +fast. That helped the pounding in his head, too. It simmered down to a +dull throbbing ache that he could stand without flinching.</p> + +<p>For a few moments he sat there on the grass feeling over his body and +searching for broken bones or any wounds he might have received. There +was nothing broken, however, and his only wound was a nice big goose egg +on the left side of his head. Thankful for the miracle wrought, he got +slowly to his feet, braved a hand against a tree trunk and peered about +him in the darkness.</p> + +<p>It was then one more little surprise came to him. He was in a field and +as far as he could tell there wasn't a road any place. No unending +stream of refugees, no wagons, no carts, and no road. It was as though +he had dropped down into the very middle of nowhere. Completely puzzled +by the strangeness of his surroundings, he glanced at the sky, found the +North Star and started walking northward. Way off in the distance there +was a faint rum<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>bling, like thunder far far away, but he knew at once it +was the roar of heavy guns. If he needed any proof he had only to stare +toward the northeast. There the faint glow of flames made a horizon line +between the night sky and the earth.</p> + +<p>"But where <i>am</i> I?" he asked himself aloud. "I couldn't have just been +blown away. I haven't even got a sprained ankle. Gosh! I wonder where +the Lieutenant is? And those poor refugees. I sure hope French planes +caught those Germans and gave them some of their own medicine. And...."</p> + +<p>He choked off the rest and started running. In the distance off to his +left he had suddenly seen a pair of moving lights. One look told him +that it must be some kind of a car on a road. He would stop it and at +least find out where he was. Perhaps he might even get a ride back to +Paris. He would be crazy to try and reach Calais, now. The best thing +for him to do was to get back to Paris as fast as he could and send word +to his father.</p> + +<p>"But how can I?" he gasped as sudden truth dawned on him. "I don't even +know where Dad's staying in London. He was to meet me at the station. I +didn't bother to ask Lieutenant Defoe where Dad was staying!"</p> + +<p>The seriousness of his plight added wings to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> his feet. He raced at top +speed toward the pair of moving dim lights. And with every step he took, +fear that he would not get to the road in time mounted in his breast. +But he had been the star half miler on the Boston Latin High School +track team, and finally he reached the edge of the road a good fifty or +sixty yards in front of the advancing pair of lights. Disregarding the +danger of being run down in the dark he stepped to the center of the +road and waved both his arms and shouted at the top of his voice. The +sound of the car's engine died down, brakes complained, and the car came +to a halt.</p> + +<p>"I say there, what's up?" shouted a voice from behind the lights. "I +jolly well came close to running you down, you know. Just spotted you in +the nick of time."</p> + +<p>Dave gulped with relief at the sound of an English speaking voice. He +trotted toward the lights and then around them to the driver's seat. It +was then he saw that the car was an ambulance. It was a nice brand new +one, and only a little dusty. Painted under the red cross on the side +were the words ... British Volunteer Ambulance Service.</p> + +<p>"I say, do you speak English?" the driver asked as Dave came close.</p> + +<p>Dave looked at him. The driver wasn't in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> uniform. He wore civilian +clothes, and he was about Dave's age. Perhaps a few months younger. In +the faint glow of the dashboard light his face held a sort of cherubic +expression. He wore no hat and sandy hair fell down over his forehead. +His eyes were clear blue, and he had nice strong looking teeth. One look +and Dave knew instantly that he could like this friendly English boy a +lot.</p> + +<p>"You bet I speak English," he said. "I'm an American. My name is Dave +Dawson."</p> + +<p>"Mine's Freddy Farmer," said the English boy. "I'm very glad to meet +you, America, but what in the world are you doing here? Good grief, look +at your clothes! Did a bomb fall on you?"</p> + +<p>"One came mighty close," Dave said with a grin. "I just came to a few +minutes ago, and saw your lights. I'm trying to get back to Paris. Is it +far?"</p> + +<p>"Paris?" young Freddy Farmer exclaimed. "Why, it's over a hundred miles +back. This is a part of Belgium. Didn't you know that? What happened +anyway? You say you were bombed? A nasty business, bombing."</p> + +<p>For a moment or so Dave was too surprised to speak. This was Belgium? +But it couldn't be! Freddy Farmer must be wrong. He was sure Defoe and +he had not been seventy miles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> from Paris when they'd met those +refugees. Belgium? Good gosh! Did that exploding bomb blow him over +thirty miles away? But that was crazy.</p> + +<p>"Come, get in and ride with me," the English lad broke into his +thoughts. "I can't take you back to Paris but Courtrai is just up ahead. +That's where I'm delivering this ambulance. Perhaps you can get +something there to take you back to Paris. Right you are, America. Now, +tell me all about it."</p> + +<p>As gears were shifted and the car moved forward Dave told of his +thrilling experiences since leaving Paris that morning. Young Freddy +Farmer didn't interrupt, but every now and then he took his eyes off the +road ahead to look at Dave in frank admiration.</p> + +<p>"Say, you did have a bit of a go, didn't you?" Freddy Farmer said when +Dave had finished. "That was mighty decent of you to try and help that +old woman. I hope she got through, all right. We heard that the Germans +were shooting and bombing the refugees. A very nasty business, but +that's the way Hitler wages war."</p> + +<p>"I hope he gets a good licking!" Dave exclaimed. "Those poor people +didn't have a chance. They were helpless. I don't see how he thinks he +can win the war that way."</p> + +<p>"Hitler won't win the war," the English boy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> said quietly. "He may have +us on the run for a bit, but in the end we'll win. Just like we did the +last time. That's part of his plan, shooting civilians on the road. I +heard a major and a colonel talking about it. You see, if his airplanes +can get the civilians to leave their homes and clog up the roads, why +then our troops have a hard time passing through. I saw some of that +sort of thing myself, today. It was awful, I can tell you. I couldn't +make any more than five miles in six hours. And it was all I could do to +stop them from taking my ambulance and using it for a bus. I wouldn't +let them, though."</p> + +<p>Dave looked sidewise and saw how tired the English lad was. His cheeks +were slightly pale from fatigue, and his eyelids were heavy. Dave +reached out and touched the wheel.</p> + +<p>"I've just had a pretty good sleep," he said with a laugh, "and you look +pretty much all in, Freddy. Want me to take the wheel for a spell? You +can tell me which way to go."</p> + +<p>The English boy turned his head and smiled at him, and somehow both +suddenly knew that a deep friendship between them had been cemented.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, awfully much, Dave," Freddy Farmer said, "but I'm not really +tired at all. Besides, there isn't far to go now. Only a few more miles, +I fancy. It's nice of you to ask,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> though."</p> + +<p>"It'll still be okay if you change your mind," Dave said. "Have you been +driving an ambulance long? Do you go out and help pick up the wounded, +and stuff? I guess you've seen a lot of battles, haven't you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, No, I'm not really an ambulance driver, Dave. You have to be +eighteen to get in this volunteer service, and I won't be seventeen +until next month. You see, I've been going to school just outside Paris +and my family decided I'd better come home to England. Well, yesterday +several of these ambulances arrived at the Paris headquarters of the +Service. They had been shipped clear to Paris through a mistake. The +French do funny things sometimes, you know. Anyway, they were needed in +Belgium and there were no regular drivers in Paris. Not enough, anyway. +I thought it would be good fun to drive one and then carry on to the +Channel and on home to England. We left Paris at midnight last night, +and soon lost track of each other. It's been fun, though. I'll be sorry +to have the trip end."</p> + +<p>"Jeepers, you've been driving since midnight?" Dave exclaimed. "You sure +can take it, Freddy, and how!"</p> + +<p>"Take it?" the English boy murmured with a puzzled frown. "I don't think +I know what you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> mean."</p> + +<p>Dave laughed. "That's American slang, Freddy," he said. "It means that +you've got a lot of courage, and stuff. It means that you're okay."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Dave," Freddy Farmer said. "But it really doesn't take any +courage. I'm very glad to do my bit, if it helps the troops any. We've +got to beat the Germans, you know. And we jolly well will, I can tell +you!"</p> + +<p>The two boys lapsed into silence and for the next two or three miles +neither of them spoke. During that time Dave stared at the dim red glow +of burning buildings in the distance and thought his thoughts about the +war that had apparently begun in earnest. He was an American and America +was neutral, of course. Yet after what he'd seen this day he was filled +with a burning desire to do something to help beat back Hitler and +defeat him. He knew that there had been a lot of boys his age who had +taken part in the last World War. He was big for his age, too, and +strong as an ox. He decided that when he got to London and found his +father he would ask Dad if there wasn't something he could do to help. +Nothing else seemed important, now. The important thing was to help stop +all this business that was taking place in Europe.</p> + +<p>At that moment Freddy Farmer suddenly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> slipped the car out of gear and +braked it to a stop.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Freddy?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I've got us into a bit of a mess, Dave," he said. "To be +truthful, we are lost. I really haven't the faintest where we are. You +must think me a fine mug for this. I'm frightfully sorry, really."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" Dave cried out. "Here comes a car. It sounds like a +truck. Gee, what a racket!"</p> + +<p>A pair of headlights was rapidly approaching along the road that led off +to the right. They bounced up and down because of the uneven surface, +and the banging noise of the engine made Dave think of a threshing +machine. On impulse he and Freddy Farmer moved out into the glow of the +ambulance's lights and began waving their arms. The truck or car, or +whatever it was, bore down upon them and finally came to a halt with the +grinding and clashing of gears.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Dave, we'll find out, now!" Freddy said and trotted into the +twin beams of light.</p> + +<p>Dave dropped into step at his side, and they had traveled but a few +yards when a harsh voice suddenly stopped them in their tracks.</p> + +<p>"Halt!"</p> + +<p>The two boys stood motionless, their eyes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> blinking into the light. Dave +heard Freddy Farmer catch his breath in a sharp gasp. He suddenly +realized that for some unknown reason his own heart was pounding +furiously, and there was a peculiar dryness in his throat. At that +moment he heard hobnailed boots strike the surface of the road. The +figure of a soldier came into the light. On his head was a bucket shaped +helmet, and in his hands was a wicked looking portable machine gun. He +moved forward in a cautious way, and then Dave was able to see his +uniform. His heart seemed to turn to ice in his chest, and his hands +suddenly felt very cold and damp.</p> + +<p>He was looking straight at a German soldier!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FOUR" id="CHAPTER_FOUR"></a>CHAPTER FOUR</h2> + +<h4><i>Prisoners Of War!</i></h4> + + +<p>"Good Grief, a German!"</p> + +<p>Freddy Farmer's whispered exclamation served to jerk Dave out of his +stunned trance. He blinked and swallowed hard and tried to stop the +pounding of his heart.</p> + +<p>"Hey, there, we're lost!" he suddenly called out. "Where are we anyway?"</p> + +<p>The advancing German soldier pulled up short and stopped. He stuck his +head forward and stared hard. There was a sharp exclamation behind him +and then a second figure came into the light. The second figure was a +German infantry officer. He kept one hand on his holstered Luger +automatic and came up to Dave and Freddy.</p> + +<p>"You are English?" he asked in a heavy nasal voice. "What are you doing +here? Ah, an ambulance, eh? So, you are trying to sneak back through our +advanced lines? It is good that I have found you just in time. Keep your +hands up, both of you! I will see if you have guns,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> yes!"</p> + +<p>"We're not armed, Captain!" Dave exclaimed. "We're not soldiers. We're +just lost."</p> + +<p>"I am not a captain, I am a lieutenant!" the German snapped and searched +Dave for a gun. "You will address me as such. Not soldiers, you tell me? +Then, why this ambulance? And why are you here?"</p> + +<p>"As you were just told," Freddy Farmer spoke up in a calm voice, +"because we are lost. Now, if you will be good enough to tell us the way +to Courtrai we will be off."</p> + +<p>The German officer snapped his head around.</p> + +<p>"Ah, so <i>you</i> are English, yes?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"And proud of it!" Freddy said stiffly. "And this chap, if you must +know, is an American friend of mine. Now, will you tell us the way to +Courtrai?"</p> + +<p>The German said nothing for a moment or two. There was a look of +disappointment on his sharp featured face. It was as though he was very +sad he had not found a pistol or an automatic on either of them. He +moved back a step and stood straddle legged with his bunched fists +resting on his hips.</p> + +<p>"American and English?" he finally muttered. "This is all very strange, +very unusual. You say you don't know where you are?"</p> + +<p>"That's right, Lieutenant," Dave said and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> choked back a hot retort. +"Where are we anyway? And what are you doing here? My gosh! Is this +Germany?"</p> + +<p>The German smiled and showed ugly teeth.</p> + +<p>"It is now," he said. "But that is all you need to know. I think you +have lied to me. Yes, I am sure of it. I will take you to the +<i>Kommandant</i>. He will get you to talk, I'm sure. <i>Himmel!</i> Our enemies +send out little boys to spy on us! The grown men must be too afraid. +But, you cannot fool us with your tricks!"</p> + +<p>"Tricks, nothing!" Dave blurted out in a burst of anger. "We told you +the truth. I was on my way to join my father in London...."</p> + +<p>"Don't waste your breath, Dave," Freddy Farmer said quietly. "I'm sure +he wouldn't understand, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Silence, you Englisher!" the German snarled and whirled on the boy. +"You will make no slurs at a German officer. Come! We will go to see the +<i>Kommandant</i> at once!"</p> + +<p>"We'd better do as he orders, Freddy," Dave said swiftly. "After we've +told our story to his commanding officer they'll let us go. They can't +keep us very long. If they do, I'll appeal to the nearest American +Consul. He'll straighten things out for us."</p> + +<p>"So?" the German muttered and gave Dave a piercing look. "Well, we shall +see. If you are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> spies it will go very hard with you, yes. Now, march +back to the car in front of me."</p> + +<p>The officer half turned his head and snapped something at the soldier +who had been standing in back of him. The soldier immediately sprang +into action. He hurried past and climbed into the front seat of the +ambulance. Dave impulsively took hold of Freddy's arm again.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, Freddy!" he whispered. "Everything, will come out all +right. You wait and see. Don't let these fellows even guess that we're +worried."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" the German suddenly thundered. "What's that you are +saying to him?"</p> + +<p>The officer had half drawn his Luger and the movement chilled Dave's +heart. He forced himself, though, to look the German straight in the +eye.</p> + +<p>"I was simply telling him the American Consul would fix things up for +us," he said evenly.</p> + +<p>The German snorted.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," he growled. "We shall see."</p> + +<p>Walking straight with their heads up and their shoulders back, the two +boys permitted themselves to be herded back to the car. When they passed +beyond the glow of the headlights they were plunged into darkness and +for a moment Dave could see nothing. Then his eyes became used to the +change and he saw that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> car was a combination car and truck. It was +actually an armored troop transport. Steel sheets protected the back and +the driver's seat, and instead of heavy duty tires on the rear wheels +there were tractor treads instead so that the army vehicle could travel +across country and through mud as well as along a paved road.</p> + +<p>In the back were some fifteen or twenty German soldiers each armed with +a small machine gun and completely fitted out for scouting work. They +peered down at Dave and Freddy as the officer motioned them to get into +the transport, but none of them spoke. They either did not understand +English, or else they were too afraid of the officer to speak. And so +Dave and Freddy climbed aboard in silence and sank down on the hard +plank that served as a seat. The officer got in beside the driver and +growled a short order.</p> + +<p>The engine roared up, gears clanked and crashed, and the transport +lunged forward. It traveled a few yards and swung off the road and +around in the direction from which it had obviously come. That direction +was to the east, and that caused Dave to swallow hard and press his knee +against Freddy's. The pressure that was returned told him that the +English boy had a good hold on himself, and wasn't going to do anything +foolish.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>Glad of that, Dave stared ahead over the shoulder of the driver at the +road. At various points the pavement had been torn up by a bomb or by a +shell and the transport's driver was forced to detour around such spots. +Presently, wrecked ammunition wagons, and light field artillery pieces +were to be seen, strewn along the side of the road. They were all +smashed almost beyond recognition, and close by them were the death +stilled figures of Belgian soldiers, and refugees who had been unable to +escape the swiftly advancing German hordes.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the sound of airplane engines lifted Dave's eyes up to the +skies. He could not see the planes, they were too high. However the +pulsating beat of the engines told him they were Hitler's night bombers +out on patrol. Impulsively he clenched his two fists and wished very +much he was up there in a swift, deadly pursuit or fighter plane. He had +taken flying lessons back home, and had even made his first solo. But he +had not been granted his private pilot's license yet because of his age.</p> + +<p>"But I'd like to be up there in a Curtis P-Forty!" he spoke aloud. "I +bet I could do something, or at least try!"</p> + +<p>His words stiffened Freddy Farmer at his side. The English boy leaned +close.</p> + +<p>"Are you a pilot, Dave?" he whispered. "Do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> you fly?"</p> + +<p>"Some," Dave said. "I've gone solo, anyway. I hope some day to get +accepted for the Army Air Corps. I think flying is the best thing yet. +There's nothing like it. Hear those planes up there? Boy!"</p> + +<p>"They're German," Freddy said. "Heinkel bombers, I think. Or perhaps +they are Dorniers, I can't tell by the sound. I'm crazy about flying, +too. I joined an aero club back in England. I've got a few hours solo to +my credit. When war broke out I tried to enlist in the Royal Air Force, +but they found out about my age and it was no go, worse luck. But, some +day I'm going to wear R.A.F. wings. At least, I hope and pray so. I...."</p> + +<p>"Silence!" the German officer's harsh voice grated against their +eardrums once more. "You will not speak!"</p> + +<p>"A rum chap, isn't he?" Freddy breathed out the corner of his mouth.</p> + +<p>"Sure thinks he's a big shot," Dave breathed.</p> + +<p>And then as the transport continued to rumble and roll eastward Nature +took charge of things as far as the boys were concerned. Strong and +healthy though they were, they had been through a lot since dawn. It had +been more than enough to wear down a full grown man. And soon they fell +sound asleep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>The rasping and clanging of gears and the shouting of voices in German +eventually dragged Dave out of his sound slumber. It was still dark but +he could see the first faint light of a new dawn low down in the east. +The motorized transport had come to a stop in the center of a small +village. Dave could see that here, too, shells and bombs had been at +work, but lots of the buildings remained untouched. There were German +soldiers in all kinds of uniforms all over the place. A hand was slapped +against his shoulder and he looked up to stare into the small bright +eyes of the German lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Wake up your friend!" the German snapped, "We are here. Get out, both +of you!"</p> + +<p>"Where are we?" Dave asked and gently shook Freddy Farmer who was fast +asleep on his shoulder. "What town is this, Lieutenant?"</p> + +<p>The German smiled slyly. Then annoyance flashed through his eyes. He +whipped out a hand and took a steel grip on Freddy's shoulder and shook +viciously.</p> + +<p>"Wake up, Englander!" he barked. "You have had enough sleep for the +present. Wake up, I say!"</p> + +<p>A smart slap across the cheek emphasized the last. The English lad woke +up instantly, and he would have lunged out with a clenched fist if Dave +had not caught hold of his arm.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>"Take it easy, Freddy!" he exclaimed. "This is the end of the line. +Here's where we get off. How do you feel?"</p> + +<p>Freddy shook his head and dug knuckles into his sleep filled eyes. That +seemed to do the trick. He was fully awake in an instant.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, I remember, now," he said. "Where are we, though? What's this +place?"</p> + +<p>The German threw back his head and laughed.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you," he said and waggled a finger in front of their faces. +"This is the Headquarters of the German Army Intelligence in the field. +I am taking you before the <i>Kommandant</i>. And now we shall learn all +about you two. Yes, you will be very wise to answer truthfully all the +questions <i>Herr Kommandant</i> asks."</p> + +<p>With a curt nod to show that he meant what he said the German climbed +down onto the street, and then motioned for Dave and Freddy to climb +down, too.</p> + +<p>"That building, there," he said and pointed. "March! And do not be so +foolish as to try and run away. I warn you!"</p> + +<p>Dave and Freddy simply shrugged and walked across the street to the +doorway of a solidly built stone building. A guard standing in front +clicked his heels and held his rifle at salute at the approach of the +officer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>"My compliments to <i>Herr Kommandant</i>," the officer said sharply. +"<i>Leutnant</i> Mueller reporting with two prisoners for questioning."</p> + +<p>The guard saluted again, then executed a smart about face and went in +through the door. Dave caught a flash glimpse of desks, and chairs, and +the part of a wall covered by a huge map, before the door was closed in +his face. He looked at Freddy and grinned, and then glanced up into the +small eyes of the German officer. Those small eyes seemed to bore right +back into his brain.</p> + +<p>"You will do well to tell the whole truth!" the German said without +hardly moving his lips. "Remember that!"</p> + +<p>At that moment the door was reopened and the guard was nodding at the +lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"<i>Herr Kommandant</i> will see you at once, <i>Herr Leutnant</i>," he said.</p> + +<p>"Good!" the officer grunted, and pushed Dave and Freddy in the back. +"Inside, at once!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIVE" id="CHAPTER_FIVE"></a>CHAPTER FIVE</h2> + +<h4><i>In the Enemy's Camp</i></h4> + + +<p>The first thing Dave saw as the Lieutenant pushed him through the open +doorway was a desk bigger than any other desk he had ever seen. It was a +good nine feet long and at least five feet wide. It took up almost one +whole side of the room and upon it were piled books, official papers, a +couple of portable short-wave radio sets, and at least a dozen +telephones. And seated at the desk was a huge red faced, bull necked +German in the uniform of a staff colonel.</p> + +<p>"My prisoners, <i>Herr Kommandant</i> Stohl," the Lieutenant said. "<i>Heil +Hitler!</i>"</p> + +<p>The big German Colonel lifted his gaze from some papers in front of him, +looked at Dave Dawson and Freddy Farmer and started violently. His eyes +widened and his jaw dropped in amazement. He got control of himself +almost instantly and whipped his eyes to the Lieutenant's face.</p> + +<p>"Is this a joke, <i>Herr Leutnant</i>?" he de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>manded in a booming voice that +shook the thick walls of the room. "What is the charge against these two +peasant urchins? Look, the clothes of that one, there, are in rags!"</p> + +<p>The high ranking officer lifted a finger the size of a banana and jabbed +it at Dave. The lieutenant flushed and made gurgling sounds in his +throat.</p> + +<p>"They are not urchins, not peasants, <i>Herr Kommandant</i>," he explained +hastily. "This one of the brown hair claims he is an American. And this +one of the light hair is an Englisher. I caught them trying to sneak +past our advance units with an ambulance. They stated that they were +lost, and wanted to know the way to Courtrai. When I caught them they +were a good forty miles southeast of that city. I did not believe their +stories so I escorted them here at once."</p> + +<p>"And the ambulance?" the German asked slowly. "There were wounded +soldiers in it, perhaps?"</p> + +<p>"No, <i>Herr Kommandant</i>," the Lieutenant said with a shake of his head. +"There was nothing. It was completely empty. It has never been used. +That, also, added to my suspicions of these two. I shall give it a +better examination at your orders, sir."</p> + +<p>"Do so at once, now," the senior officer said and made a wave of +dismissal with one hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>"At once, <i>Herr Kommandant</i>," the Lieutenant said in a magpie voice. +"<i>Heil Hitler!</i>"</p> + +<p>The German Colonel waited until he had left, then focussed his eyes on +Dave and Freddy, and smiled faintly.</p> + +<p>"And now, boys," he said in a kindly voice, "what is all this about? How +did you happen to get so far behind our lines?"</p> + +<p>"We told the lieutenant the truth, sir," Freddy Farmer spoke up. "I was +lost. It was all my fault. I had no idea where I was. You have no right +to hold us as prisoners. We have done nothing except get lost, and it +was all my fault."</p> + +<p>The German's smile broadened and his shoulders shook.</p> + +<p>"So, I have no right, eh?" he chuckled. "You are not in your England +now, my boy. But suppose you tell me all about it?"</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," Freddy said in a quiet dignified voice. "And you can +take my word for its being the truth, too."</p> + +<p>The English youth paused a moment and then told the story of leaving the +Paris headquarters of the British Volunteer Ambulance Service, becoming +separated from the others, and after many hours picking up Dave Dawson.</p> + +<p>"And so there you are, sir," he finished up. "A very unfortunate +incident, but I've already told you it was my fault."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>The big German, shrugged, started to speak but checked himself and +swiveled around in his chair to peer at the well marked map that took up +most of the wall in back of him. Presently he turned front again and +fixed his eyes on Dave.</p> + +<p>"And you?" he grunted. "Where were you forced to leave your car? And +where is this French Army lieutenant your friend mentioned?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know where he is," Dave said. "When the German planes started +shooting and bombing those refugees I...."</p> + +<p>"One moment!" the Colonel grated harshly. "Our pilots do not shoot or +bomb helpless civilians. Those were undoubtedly French planes, or +British ones, made to look like German planes. Go on."</p> + +<p>Anger rose up in Dave Dawson. He had seen those planes with his own +eyes. And he knew enough about foreign planes to know that they were +neither French nor British. They were German, and there were no two ways +about that. He opened his mouth to hurl the lie back in the German's +face, but suddenly thought better of it.</p> + +<p>"The spot was about seventy miles north of Paris, I think," he said. "I +know that a few minutes before, we had passed through a small vil<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>lage +named Roye. And I remember looking at my watch. It was a little after +one this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"I see," murmured the German, and an odd look seeped into his eyes. "And +when you awoke it was night? You saw the ambulance of this English +boy's, and he picked you up?"</p> + +<p>"That's right, sir," Dave said with a nod.</p> + +<p>"And so?" the German said in the same murmuring tone. "So from a little +after one this afternoon until your friend picked you up you traveled +over thirty miles ... <i>while unconscious</i>? You expect me to believe +that?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not telling a lie!" Dave said hotly. "You can believe what you darn +well like. It's still the truth, just the same. I don't know how I got +there. Maybe some passing car picked me up, and then dumped me out +thinking that I was dead. Maybe somebody took me along to rob me because +of my American clothes. They might have thought I had some money, +and...."</p> + +<p>Dave slopped short at the sudden thought and started searching the +pockets of his torn clothes. All he could find was a handkerchief, a +broken pencil, and a bent American Lincoln penny that he carried as a +lucky piece. Everything else was gone. His wallet, his money, his +passport ... everything. He looked at the Colonel in angry triumph.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>"That's what happened!" he cried. "Somebody picked me up and robbed me, +and then left me in that field under the trees. Good gosh! I'm broke, +and I'll need money to get to England. I...."</p> + +<p>Dave stopped short again as he saw the smile on the Colonel's face. This +time it was a different kind of smile. There was nothing pleasant or +fatherly about it. It was a cold, tight lipped smile, and Dave shivered +a bit in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>"You are not going to England ... yet!" the German said slowly. "There +is something very funny about all this, and I mean to find out what it +is. Yes, it is rather strange, I think."</p> + +<p>"For cat's sake, why?" Dave blurted out. "We simply got lost in the +dark, and that's all there is to it!"</p> + +<p>"Exactly!" Freddy Farmer spoke up. "It is the truth. We are not even old +enough to be soldiers ... unfortunately."</p> + +<p>The German officer scowled so that his heavy black brows formed a solid +line across the lower part of his forehead.</p> + +<p>"Your sharp tongue may get you into more trouble than you think, my +little Englisher!" he growled. "You had best take care. Now, we will ask +some more questions. You both left Paris this morning, eh? You saw +troops and tanks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> and things on the march?"</p> + +<p>"Millions of them!" Freddy Farmer said quickly. "And airplanes, too. I +never saw so many soldiers, or so much military equipment."</p> + +<p>"So?" the German breathed. "You saw which way they were heading, of +course?"</p> + +<p>"Naturally," Freddy said. "They were going into Belgium, of course. And +not just French troops with tanks and guns, either. There were thousands +of British and Canadians. And there were more thousands from Australia +and New Zealand, and South Africa. And the sky was filled with R.A.F. +and French planes. And...."</p> + +<p>The German's booming laughter stopped Freddy. The big man shook like +jelly and he was forced to blow his nose before he could speak.</p> + +<p>"I must say I admire you, my young Englander," he said. "I suppose now +we should become very frightened and order a general retreat at once, +eh?"</p> + +<p>"You will be forced to, shortly," Freddy said stiffly.</p> + +<p>The laughter faded from the German's face and his eyes became brittle +and hard.</p> + +<p>"Germans never hear such an order, for it is never given!" he snapped. +"But, I see you want to treat this all as a little joke, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Do you expect us to give away military in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>formation?" Dave demanded.</p> + +<p>"It would help you a lot, boys," the officer said slyly. "You two want +to get to England, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Not that way, we don't!" Dave said, standing up to him. "You'll get no +military information out of either of us, even if we had any to give."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Dave!" Freddy said in a low voice. "He can't make dirty +traitors out of us."</p> + +<p>Heads up and shoulders back the two of them stared defiantly at the +officer. He glared back at them for a moment and then as quick as the +blink of an eye his big face broke out all smiles.</p> + +<p>"Good, good, boys!" he cried. "I like you all the more for refusing. I +wouldn't tell anything either if I should happen to be captured. All +right, we will speak no more about that. But, I must make out a report. +Give me your names, and addresses. I will send word through the Red +Cross to your families so they will know where you are."</p> + +<p>"But I live in America!" Dave cried. "I'm on a trip with my father. He's +in London, as I told you, but I don't know where!"</p> + +<p>"What is his name?" the officer said and picked up a pencil. "I will +have word sent to the hotel where you stopped in Paris. It will be +forwarded to him wherever he is. Well?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>Dave hesitated a moment, then decided there wasn't anything else to be +done about it.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Richard C. Dawson," he said. "My name is David. Hotel de Ney, +Twenty-One Rue Passey, Paris. But, wait! He went to see the American +Ambassador in London. You can send word there."</p> + +<p>That bit of information seemed to startle the German. He gave Dave a +long piercing look, then nodded and scribbled on a piece of paper in +front of him. In a minute he glanced up at Freddy.</p> + +<p>"And you, Englisher?" he grunted.</p> + +<p>"My name is Frederick Covington Farmer," Freddy said. "I live at +Sixty-Four Baker Street, London, England. But, see here, sir! You don't +really intend to keep us prisoners, do you? I mean, after all, you +know!"</p> + +<p>The officer laughed and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Keep you prisoners?" he echoed. "Of course not. But I can't very well +let you go until I get proof who you are, now can I? In a very short +time I shall learn if you've told me the truth. And then, if you have, I +will have you put in a car and passed through the Belgian lines. Just as +simple as that, see?"</p> + +<p>"We have told you the truth," Freddy said grimly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>"You bet we have!" Dave said.</p> + +<p>"Then there is nothing for you to worry about," the big German chuckled. +"And now, you must be hungry, eh? Well, I shall at once see that you are +taken care of and given something to eat."</p> + +<p>The German reached out one of his big hands and jabbed a desk button +with a thick finger. As though by magic a side door swung open and a +German soldier with a Staff Orderly's arm band about his tunic sleeve +popped into the room. The officer fired words at him so fast that Dave +couldn't catch a single one of them. The orderly saluted and then +motioned for Dave and Freddy to walk out ahead of him. When he had +closed the door he pointed toward a flight of stairs, and then up. He +stopped them on the second landing, pushed open a door and waved them +inside. There were two army cots with a blanket for each, a couple of +broken chairs, and nothing else. A single window was at the rear of the +room and its sill was a good five feet up from the floor. It was thick +with dust and cobwebs and looked as if it hadn't been opened in years.</p> + +<p>The two boys glanced at the room in dismay. Then the click of the door +latch, and the grating sound of a bolt being shot home, spun them both +around. Dave leaped for the door and grasped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> hold of the knob. It +turned in his hand, but the door refused to open. He gulped and glanced +back at Freddy. The English youth's face had paled a bit, but his eyes +were grimly defiant.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SIX" id="CHAPTER_SIX"></a>CHAPTER SIX</h2> + +<h4><i>They'll Never Beat Us!</i></h4> + + +<p>"Keep the old chin up, Freddy," said Dave. "They can't do anything to +us. They wouldn't dare! Don't let it get you, fellow."</p> + +<p>Freddy lifted his face and smiled wryly. There was the faintest +suggestion of tears in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid of them!" he said scornfully. "I'm mad at myself. I +could kick me all around this room. Through my own stupidity I've gone +and lost our boys a perfectly good ambulance. That's what I can't get +over. I could chew nails when I think of it falling into the hands of +the blasted Germans. I'm just no good, Dave."</p> + +<p>Dave laughed and doubled up a fist and put it under the other's chin.</p> + +<p>"Hey, none of that!" he cried. "You're my pal, and I don't let people +say crazy things about my pals. Gee whiz, you were swell downstairs, +Freddy. You talked right up to him when I was all the time quaking in my +boots. You bet! Don't worry about that ambulance. Maybe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> we'll get it +back. Heck! Maybe we can figure out some way to steal it back."</p> + +<p>Bright hope flickered in the English youth's eyes.</p> + +<p>"You think so, Dave?" he whispered. "You think there's a chance we might +steal it away from them?"</p> + +<p>"We can sure try," Dave replied with a vigorous nod. "You just keep +everything under control, and.... Sh-h-h! I think somebody's coming up +the stairs. Come on, Freddy! Let's not let them get the idea we're +worried at all."</p> + +<p>"Right-o!" Freddy whispered back and gave Dave's hand a quick squeeze. +"Count on me to hold up my end, Dave!"</p> + +<p>Footsteps were now just outside the door. They heard the outside bolt +slap back and then the door was pushed open. The German guard stood in +the hallway outside. In one hand he carried a battered tray containing +food, and tucked under the other arm was a bundle of old clothes. Just +behind him stood Colonel Stohl. The big German's face was beaming like a +full moon.</p> + +<p>"Did you think I had forgotten you, boys?" he boomed and strode into the +room. "But of course not. Here is food for you. And take off your +clothes and put on these things. I will have what you're wearing mended +and cleaned up.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> So!"</p> + +<p>"That's very kind of you, Colonel," Freddy said in a faintly mocking +tone. "You're going to be frightfully disappointed, you know."</p> + +<p>"Disappointed?" the German officer mumbled and gave him a puzzled look.</p> + +<p>"Quite so," Freddy said and started peeling off his dust and dirt caked +clothes. "I can assure you you'll find no secret messages or maps sewed +into the lining. No matter what you suspect, we really aren't spies, you +know."</p> + +<p>The German laughed loudly but there was a look in his eye that did not +mean laughter to Dave. The Intelligence officer didn't like the idea of +a sixteen year old English boy seeing right through him as though he +were made of glass.</p> + +<p>"Why that's ridiculous!" the Colonel cried. "Of course you aren't spies. +I just want to have your clothes cleaned. We Germans take good care of +the people we have to protect. You will do well to think of that when +you return to your homelands. Now, get into these clean clothes and then +eat your food. There, that is better, yes!"</p> + +<p>The officer waited until the guard had gathered up the boys' clothes, +then he smiled at them and went out the door followed by the guard. Dave +and Freddy waited until the bolt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> was jammed home and then, being half +starved, they fell upon the tray of food. The very first mouthful was a +delightful surprise to them both. The food was excellent and there was a +lot of it. They wolfed it down for a moment or so and then Dave put a +restraining hand on Freddy's.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" he said in a low voice. "I think this is another part +of the trick he thinks he's playing on us."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" Freddy whispered and stopped eating at once. "Good +grief! You think there is something in this food? I once heard a story +about the Germans using some kind of a drug that makes a prisoner talk. +But I'm starved, Dave!"</p> + +<p>"Me, too," Dave nodded. "I don't mean that. I'm sure the food's okay. +That's the point. It's swell! I bet the troops don't get this kind of +food. Look, Freddy! I've got a hunch he wants to make a hit with us. +Feed us up good and then get us to talk about the French and British +military units we saw yesterday. You know, they're always after +information that will give them a line on what's in front of them."</p> + +<p>"Then he is a fool, if he thinks filling my stomach with good food will +make me tell him anything!" Freddy snorted in disgust.</p> + +<p>"Check and double check for both of us!" Dave agreed. "But here's what I +mean. I think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> we'd be wise not to eat all of this. Let's save some. +This bread, at least. We might need it later, and bad."</p> + +<p>"You're right, Dave!" Freddy said, realizing instantly what his American +friend had in mind. "When we do escape from here we'll certainly need +some food to take along. And I think that's what we'll have to do ... +escape somehow."</p> + +<p>Dave nodded but didn't speak. There was a queer feeling inside of him, +and the back of his neck was beginning to tingle a little. That was a +sure sign with him that there was trouble ahead. And it had proven to be +true more than a couple of times during his young life. No, the German +colonel wasn't fooling him at all. Perhaps they puzzled the Intelligence +officer, but Dave felt pretty sure he didn't really believe they were +spies. Yet, you never could tell. One thing seemed certain, however. The +German hoped to pump them for what little they could tell him. He was +going to keep them prisoners until he was satisfied. And perhaps he +would keep them prisoners even after that. This thing worked two ways. +Would the Intelligence officer let them pass safely through the Belgian +lines knowing full well they'd tell the authorities what they'd seen on +the German side?</p> + +<p>No, that wasn't at all likely, and Dave suddenly didn't feel very +hungry. He got up and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> walked over to the rear window. The sill came +only to his chin for he was close to six feet tall, so he could see out +without any trouble. That is, after he had wiped away some of the dust +and cobwebs. What he saw, however, brought no joy to his heart. The +window looked out on a tree studded hill that blocked out everything +beyond. Another fine day was well on its way and as Dave screwed his +head around so that he could look high up into the blue sky he saw +cluster after cluster of planes in line and in V formation. And all of +them were moving swiftly westward. By straining his ears he could just +barely catch the throbbing beat of German engines. Even as their sound +came to him he heard louder and more thunderous sounds farther to the +west. He did not need two guesses to know that German bombers were once +again dropping their loads of death and destruction upon the soldiers +and civilians of the countries Adolf Hitler desired to crush under his +iron heel.</p> + +<p>He turned from the window and stood staring flint eyed at nothing at +all. Yesterday he had reached seventeen years of age. But today? Today +he somehow felt a dozen years older than that. What he had seen since +leaving Paris had added years to his way of thinking, if not to his +body. A fierce anger at the injustices wrought had sprung up within him. +He wanted to do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> something about it. What, he did not know. But today +there had been born in him a blazing desire to do what he could to spare +Europe, and perhaps the whole world, from the bullets and bombs and the +tyranny of the Nazi legions.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking of, Dave?"</p> + +<p>Freddy's quiet voice at his elbow jerked him from his thought trance. He +turned and stared into the clear blue eyes of his new found friend and +ally in the face of danger.</p> + +<p>"A lot of things, Freddy," he said. "Maybe I'm crazy, but I want nothing +better than the chance to do something. A chance to get back at these +Germans for what I've seen them do. We may be kids and not old enough to +enlist, Freddy, but there must be <i>something</i> we can do to help. And, +believe me, I sure want to do it. Listen, Freddy, have you any idea +where we are? I've never been in Belgium in my life. And I guess this is +still Belgium, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I could tell from the looks of the buildings, and some of the +townsfolk I saw when we arrived," the English youth said. "But what town +this is, I haven't the faintest idea. I ... Wait!"</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" Dave asked.</p> + +<p>"That map in the colonel's office downstairs!" Freddy whispered +excitedly. "Did you see it, and see how it was marked with those little +pins<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> and tiny flags?"</p> + +<p>"Sure, I saw it," Dave said with a nod. "But I didn't pay much attention +to it."</p> + +<p>"Nor I," Freddy said. "But I'll bet you something, Dave. This is an +Intelligence headquarters, and I'll bet those little pins and flags mark +the points of advance by the German forces. Do you see what I mean, +Dave? If we could get a good look at that map, and remember some of the +things it tells, and then get away from here, why...."</p> + +<p>The English youth stopped. He was shaking too much from eager excitement +to continue. Dave nodded and gripped him by both arms.</p> + +<p>"You're right, Freddy!" he whispered. "It might help a lot if we could +tell the Allied commanders where some of the German units are, and what +places they seem to be heading for. Let me think. How in heck can we get +another look at that map?"</p> + +<p>"We could pound on the door," Freddy said, "and tell him we're willing +to tell all that we know, if he'll let us go. He'd probably take us down +to his office to hear what we have to say."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," Dave said with a frown. "But I think it's a little too soon to +make him think we're scared and giving in. And, besides, he may not be +tricking us. Maybe he really is going to just check on us and then let +us go."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>"Let us go back and tell what we've seen behind the German lines?" +Freddy scoffed. "Not a bit of it, Dave. You must be off your topper!"</p> + +<p>"Yeah, I'd thought of that, myself," Dave said sadly. "It's a cinch he's +not going to let us go no matter what he thinks about us. Well, the way +I see it there's only one thing we can do. We can't try an escape now in +broad daylight, so we've got to wait. Let's put on these clothes and +catch up on some sleep. The only thing we can do is wait for awhile. +Wait to see if he makes any move."</p> + +<p>"I hate waiting," Freddy said and started pulling on the old clothes the +guard had brought with their breakfast. "But of course you're right, +Dave. There's nothing else we can do, right now."</p> + +<p>"But plenty later on!" Dave said determinedly and flung himself down on +one of the cots. "You wait and see, Freddy. It's a promise!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Later that afternoon, the Colonel did make the next move. A guard came +up to the boys' cell, woke them from a deep sleep and ushered them down +to the Colonel's office.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, boys," he said and circled around to in back of his huge +desk. "I want to have a talk with you."</p> + +<p>Dave and Freddy exchanged quick looks,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> then sat down as ordered.</p> + +<p>"Now," the Colonel said and clasped his big hands together on the edge +of his desk. "Our Leader is a man of peace. He <i>loves</i> peace, and would +gladly give his life for peace among nations. You, my little Englisher! +Did the Fuehrer declare war on your country, or on France? No! They +declared war on him, on Germany. Listen to me! Don't you want peace?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly,"' Freddy replied. Then he added, "At the right time."</p> + +<p>"No, peace as soon as possible," the German said. "Now is the best time. +Before there is more bloodshed. You two boys can help bring this war to +an early end. You will be doing a favor to Germany's foes. Now, why not +be good boys and tell me the truth? Then everything will be fine."</p> + +<p>Neither of the boys said a word. As for Dave, it all sounded as though +he were listening to a broken phonograph record. "Tell me the truth.... +Tell me the truth.... Tell me the truth!" It was like the title of a +song. He sat silent and kept his eyes fixed on the huge map on the wall. +He stared at it hard and tried to memorize the dates he could read +there, and the names of the towns and cities, and the locations of the +pins and flags. One town on the map was well smudged by finger and thumb +marks. It was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> named Estalle and was close to the Belgian-German +frontier. He suddenly had a hunch that that was where they were. At +Estalle, close to the German frontier, but how far behind the advanced +German lines? He thought of the long ride in the motored transport last +night and his heart sank down toward his boots.</p> + +<p>"Well, for the last time!" the German Colonel suddenly thundered. "Do +you tell me the truth?"</p> + +<p>"For Heaven's sakes, we already have!" Freddy shouted at him. "We've +told you nothing but the truth a dozen times. What must we do to get you +to believe us?"</p> + +<p>The German didn't answer at once. He slammed both hands down flat on the +desk, hoisted his huge bulk forward, and glared at them.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he said. "I have tried to be gentle and kind with you, +because you are only young boys. But, you refuse my kindness. So, I +shall treat you as grown men. I shall have you both <i>shot</i>!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SEVEN" id="CHAPTER_SEVEN"></a>CHAPTER SEVEN</h2> + +<h4><i>Shoot!</i></h4> + + +<p>If the roof had suddenly fallen down on top of his head Dave Dawson +could have not been more astonished or surprised. Shot? He gaped at the +German officer half expecting to see the man burst out laughing. Colonel +Stohl did not laugh, however. He remained leaning forward over the desk +and raking them with eyes that looked like twin cubes of ice.</p> + +<p>"Shot?" Dave heard himself speak the word. "You can't shoot us. We +haven't done anything! Gee whiz, why do you want to shoot us?"</p> + +<p>"Of course we haven't done anything!" Freddy Farmer spoke up loudly. "I +think this is all just a bluff!"</p> + +<p>"A bluff?" the German snarled. "Do you take me for a fool? I do not +bluff at a time like this. Take a look at this that I hold in my hand, +so! Ah, you recognize it, eh?"</p> + +<p>The officer had suddenly whipped up something off the desk. Dave took a +good look and saw that it was a rolled up map.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>"It's a map," he said, "but I never saw it before."</p> + +<p>"Nor have I," Freddy said stoutly.</p> + +<p>"It was found hidden under the seat of the ambulance," the German said +in a flat voice that made Dave shiver inwardly. "There are certain marks +on it. Numbers and figures written in pencil near the names of towns you +passed through before you were caught. So you told me the truth, eh? No, +you lied. This map contains information that would be very useful to +Germany's enemies. You thought you could protect yourselves by driving +an ambulance ... but you can't. But ... and listen to what I say ... you +<i>can</i> save your lives!"</p> + +<p>Dave tried to speak but his tongue was sticking to the roof of his +mouth. He felt his knees go weak, and it was all he could do to force +himself to stand upright. He had the feeling that this was all a crazy +dream, a nightmare. In a few moments he would probably wake up and find +himself safe and sound in bed in his room at the Hotel de Ney. He didn't +know anything about a map. He'd never even seen it before.</p> + +<p>He half turned and looked at Freddy Farmer. The English youth's face was +a little paler, but his chin was firm, and his eyes were filled with +scornful defiance.</p> + +<p>"I haven't any idea what you are talking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> about, sir," Freddy said to +the colonel. "I was not trying to protect myself, or my friend, from +anything. I was simply delivering the ambulance to Courtrai. And, for +the hundredth time, <i>I lost my way</i>!"</p> + +<p>The German made a movement with his hand as though brushing the words to +one side.</p> + +<p>"Enough of that!" he said. "This is a serious business. I am not saying +that you collected the information about our advance units I find here +on this map. Perhaps you were only taking it to somebody else. Yes, +perhaps you did not even know you were being used for such work. Let us +say that is the truth. We Germans do not make war with boys, but.... But +this information <i>was found on you</i>, and that is most serious. Answer +the questions I ask you, and I promise that you will not be treated as +spies. I also promise you that you will be made comfortable until +arrangements can be made to send you home. Now!"</p> + +<p>"What are the questions?" Freddy asked.</p> + +<p>The stern look fled the German's face, and he smiled.</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is better!" he said and spread the map on the desk. "Now, here +you have marked a line showing the route you traveled from Paris. Each +town you passed through is marked. Those towns are French troop and +equipment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> garrisons. This town here, close to the Belgian border, what +did you see there? French troops? British troops? And what was their +equipment? Tanks? Big ones, or small ones? Were there motorized +anti-aircraft batteries? Were...?"</p> + +<p>The German suddenly stopped and looked up from the map.</p> + +<p>"You are not listening?" he said softly.</p> + +<p>Freddy's face seemed actually to grow thin as Dave looked at him. The +English boy licked his lips just once and then put his shoulders back a +little more.</p> + +<p>"Certainly I'm listening," he said. "But I won't answer a single one of +your questions even though you do shoot me!"</p> + +<p>Dave felt like throwing his arms about young Farmer and hugging him. +Here was the kind of cool, calm courage for which the British were +famous the world over. Instead, Dave turned his head and looked at the +German.</p> + +<p>"We're not saying a thing!" he shouted. "I demand that we be permitted +to see the nearest American Consul!"</p> + +<p>The German officer ignored Dave's outburst as though he had not spoken. +He looked steadily at Freddy for a moment and then sighed heavily and +raised both hands in a gesture of despair.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he said. "That is all for now. I will give you until +tomorrow morning to think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> it over ... and change your mind. Guard!"</p> + +<p>The side door popped open and in popped the guard. Colonel Stohl pointed +a finger.</p> + +<p>"Take them back," he said, "and stand guard outside the door. If either +of them attempts to escape ... <i>shoot!</i>"</p> + +<p>The Colonel gave them an angry stare and a curt nod, and then busied +himself with some papers on the desk. Two minutes later the boys were +back in their prison room. The door was closed and bolted, and they +could hear the boots of the guard pacing up and down the hallway +outside. Freddy sat down on a cot and started to shiver violently. Dave +went over to him instantly and put a friendly arm about his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Steady, Freddy!" he whispered. "We'll get out somehow. He was only +bluffing. He wouldn't dare shoot us. I'll make him let me see the +nearest American Consul. I'll ... I'll make him let me telephone the +American Ambassador in Brussels."</p> + +<p>"I hope you do for your sake, Dave," Freddy whispered. "But England is +at war, and I'm an Englishman. And, Dave ... that map was mine. I used +it and marked my route until it got too dark."</p> + +<p>Fingers of ice clutched at Dave's heart and pressed hard. He sucked air +sharply into his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> lungs.</p> + +<p>"Holy smokes!" he breathed. "Then you did put down all that stuff he was +talking about?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no, not that!" the English youth said and shook his head vigorously. +"I just penciled in the route I had taken until it got too dark. +Besides, I lost my pencil when I tried to do it in the glow of the dash +light. The rest of the things he must have marked in."</p> + +<p>Dave gave a shake of his head and looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"I don't get it!" he murmured. "Why?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you see?" Freddy said. "It's really very simple, Dave. They did +it to frighten me, to make me answer their questions. They'll hold a +military court and use that map as evidence. There'll be an awful row. +They'll make one, hoping to scare me into talking. I knew a Jewish boy +in England who escaped with his family from the German Gestapo and he +told me about the tricks they play to scare you into telling them +things. That's what he plans to do with me. But, I won't tell him a +thing, not a thing! It's my map all right, but they're not going to +frighten me into telling anything that would hurt the Allies. They can't +make me!"</p> + +<p>"You bet they can't, pal!" Dave said. "And they won't get anything out +of me, either."</p> + +<p>"I don't think he means any harm toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> you, Dave," Freddy said after a +long pause. "You just insist on seeing the American Consul and I think +he'll let you. When you spoke of your father's trip to London he seemed +surprised. You're an American, Dave. You'll be all right."</p> + +<p>"But what about you, Freddy?" Dave exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I won't tell them a thing, no matter what they do," the English youth +said determinedly. "Never!"</p> + +<p>Dave started to speak, checked himself, and stepped back a pace.</p> + +<p>"So that's the kind of a pal you are, huh?" he grunted. "You just up and +let me down!"</p> + +<p>Freddy jerked his head up in blank amazement. Tears were dangerously +close to his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Let you down, Dave?" he gasped. "But, Dave...!"</p> + +<p>"Sure, let me down," Dave snapped at him. "I thought we were pals? I +thought we were going to see this through together?"</p> + +<p>"But, Dave, you...!"</p> + +<p>"Me walk out and leave you behind?" Dave interrupted the English youth's +speech. "Quit a pal just because I'm American and he's English? Not a +chance. We're sticking together. You can't toss me off like that!"</p> + +<p>"But I was only thinking of you, Dave,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> Freddy protested. "After all I +really got you into this, you know."</p> + +<p>Dave suddenly stopped acting hurt and angry. He bent down and grinned +broadly.</p> + +<p>"So what?" he whispered. "So I'll get you <i>out</i>. We've got until +tomorrow morning to think things over. That's what he said. Well, we're +not going to think things, we're going to <i>do</i> things. Are you game, +Freddy?"</p> + +<p>For an answer Freddy put out his hand, and the two clasped hands warmly. +The color came back into the English youth's face, and that made Dave +feel almost happy.</p> + +<p>"Okay, Freddy," he whispered. "I saw something besides airplanes out the +window awhile ago. Come over and I'll show you."</p> + +<p>For a couple of seconds Dave stood still listening to the footsteps of +the guard outside, then he motioned to Freddy and tiptoed over to the +window.</p> + +<p>"Look out, and down," he breathed in Freddy's ear. "See? The bottom half +of this building sticks out. See the roof? It's not more than six feet +below this window. And it's not more than ten feet from the edge of the +roof to the back yard. Think you could jump it?"</p> + +<p>"Easy!" Freddy whispered. "But what about this window, here? It's +screwed in."</p> + +<p>"Got that all figured, too," Dave said and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> pulled an army canteen spoon +from the pocket of the old clothes he wore. "Swiped this from the +breakfast tray," he said. "A hunch made me stick it in my pocket. A +spoon makes a swell screw driver sometimes. I found that out once when I +was a kid. I used one of my Mother's to open an old chest I found up in +the attic. I got a licking for it because I marked up the wood pretty +bad. But the spoon did the trick. Now, here's what you do."</p> + +<p>Dave paused and slipped the tip of the spoon handle into the groove of +the nearest screw head and applied pressure with both hands. He turned +the screw a sixteenth of an inch or so and then stopped.</p> + +<p>"Hot dog!" he whispered. "I was scared for a minute the darn things +would be so rusted with age they wouldn't budge. But, it's okay. Now, +you go over to the door and start talking to me. Talk about anything. +Sure, let's talk about baseball."</p> + +<p>"But I don't know anything about baseball!" Freddy whispered.</p> + +<p>"That's swell!" Dave said. "You can ask me questions and I'll give you +the answers. But keep an ear open for that guard. If he starts to open +the door you ask me, What's a home run? See? That'll give me time to get +away from this window. Okay, got it?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>"Yes, I understand," Freddy said and nodded eagerly. "Gee, you're a +great friend, Dave!"</p> + +<p>"You too, Freddy," Dave said and gave him a push. "Now, get over there +and start asking questions. Thank goodness this window is dirty and +nobody can see me from outside."</p> + +<p>The instant Freddy went over near the door Dave gave his attention to +the first screw. The English youth asked question after question and +Dave answered them without half thinking. Every second of the time he +worked feverishly with the spoon on the screws. There were eight of them +and he guessed it was well over an hour before he had seven of them out +and the eighth well loosened. That one he let stay partly in so that the +window would remain in place. The last thing he did was to cover the +screw holes with bits of cobweb so they wouldn't be noticed. Then he +walked over to the cot and sat down.</p> + +<p>"Okay, that's enough baseball talk!" he said in a loud voice and winked +at Freddy. "Gee, how you can ask questions. Well, it looks like we're +not going to get anything to eat. So I'm going to try and get some +sleep."</p> + +<p>Stretching out on the cot Dave pointed at the window and grinned. Then +clasping his hands together he put them over his head and shook them +like a prize fighter being introduced to the fight fans. Freddy looked +puzzled for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> moment, then realized what Dave meant, and went through +the hand-shaking motions himself.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess I might as well try to get a little sleep, myself," he +said loudly and walked to the other cot.</p> + +<p>A moment later the two boys listened to the sound of the guard's +footsteps outside and looked at the gradually fading light of day +outside the dust and cobweb smeared window.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_EIGHT" id="CHAPTER_EIGHT"></a>CHAPTER EIGHT</h2> + +<h4><i>Escape!</i></h4> + + +<p>Somewhere in the distance a church clock tolled the hour of ten. Dave +absently counted the strokes, and then slowly sat up on the army cot. +All was pitch dark inside as well as outside. For a couple of minutes he +sat perfectly still listening to the various sounds that came to him +faintly. He heard the guard outside in the hallway cough and then strike +a match. He heard the muffled sounds of hobnailed boots marching along +in the street outside, and the clanking sound of tank and scout car +tractor treads on the stones. Somewhere in the distance a whistle was +blown. He heard the occasional dull boom of heavy guns, or of bombs +exploding. And once a flight of planes droned by high up in the night +sky.</p> + +<p>He held his breath and listened to all those various sounds. He listened +to another sound, too, A sound he could feel as well as hear. It was the +pounding of his own heart. His chest ached from the pounding, and his +throat and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> mouth were bone dry from the excitement and the suspense. +For almost five hours he and Freddy had remained stretched out +motionless on the cots. Every second had seemed like a minute, every +minute like an hour, and every hour like an eternity. A hundred times it +had been all he could do to restrain himself from leaping to his feet +and shouting at the top of his voice. Anything to give release to the +charged emotion pent up within him.</p> + +<p>Four times the guard had opened the door and played the beam of his +flashlight on them. The first time Colonel Stohl had been with the +guard, for Dave had heard the German officer's voice. He had muttered +something about "making them sing a different tune in the morning," and +then had gone clumping down the stairs.</p> + +<p>Five long hours, and now Dave couldn't stand the waiting any more. Every +fiber of his entire being screamed for action. He had waited long enough +to make their captors believe they were done in for the night. The guard +had taken another look at them only a couple of minutes ago. It would be +awhile before he looked in again. It was now, or never. It had to be!</p> + +<p>He slipped silently off the cot and crept over to Freddy's cot. He held +one hand ready to clap it over the English boy's mouth in case he woke +up with a startled yell, and put his lips close to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> Freddy's ear.</p> + +<p>"Freddy, wake up!" he breathed, and shook the youth gently with his +other hand.</p> + +<p>"I'm awake, Dave," came the whispered reply. "Shall we try it now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Dave said. "The guard just took another look at us. He won't +again for awhile. Have you been asleep?"</p> + +<p>"Not a wink, Dave. I couldn't, possibly. Look, Dave. You don't want to +change your mind and have a go at it alone? I'll understand. You might +get to an American Consul before they caught you. They'll come looking, +you know."</p> + +<p>"That's out!" Dave hissed. "Pipe down! Take off your shoes. We can't +risk making a single sound. That guard may have big ears. Okay, Freddy, +let's go!"</p> + +<p>Taking hold of the English youth's hand Dave led the way across the room +to the window. There he let go, and took out his spoon screw driver and +went to work on the one remaining screw. The instant it was out he +started to pry out the frame with his fingers. It wouldn't budge. He +sucked air into his aching lungs and then worked the end of the spoon +into the side crack and used it as a lever. The window still didn't +move, and Dave's heart sank as he felt the spoon bending under his hand. +He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> groaned softly.</p> + +<p>"The darn thing's stuck!" he whispered. "Swollen tight by the weather, I +guess. But.... Gee!"</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Dave?" Freddy asked in a tight whisper.</p> + +<p>Dave fumbled for his arm in the darkness and pressed it reassuringly.</p> + +<p>"There's a nail, here at the bottom," he said. "I didn't see it, but I +can feel it, now. Am I dumb! Hold everything while I bend it down flat. +It's a thin one. Then I think the window will slide over it."</p> + +<p>Two long minutes later Dave had the nail pressed flat on the base board +of the sill. Then he applied pressure with the spoon again, and the +window began to move. His face was wet with nervous sweat, and his whole +body was trembling. He fought back his rising fear and nervousness and +stuck doggedly to his task. Eventually he had worked the window out +enough so that he could get his fingers under one corner. After that it +was simple. But, as he finally pulled the whole frame clear a corner of +it caught on a splintered sliver of the sill. The sliver snapped off +with a sound that was as loud as a pistol shot in Dave's ears. He froze +stiff, ears straining for sounds of the guard in the hallway.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>There was no click of the bolt or rattling of the latch. The sliver of +wood snapping had not been heard. Dave slowly released the cramped air +from his lungs and gently lowered the window frame down onto the floor +and to the side where they would be sure not to hit it when they climbed +out the window. Then he took hold of Freddy in the dark.</p> + +<p>"You first, because you're shorter, Freddy," he whispered. "I'll make a +fireman's step with my hands. Put your foot in it and I'll boost you up. +But for Pete's sake, be careful. If we make any sound we're sunk. Okay, +give me your foot."</p> + +<p>Dave crouched slightly and laced the fingers of his two hands together +with the palms facing upward to form a step. Freddy put one stockinged +foot on it, and one hand on Dave's shoulder to steady himself.</p> + +<p>"Okay," he whispered.</p> + +<p>Bracing his feet Dave slowly boosted the English youth up the wall. As +soon as Freddy had half his body through the open window he released the +pressure of his foot on Dave's locked hands and squirmed the rest of the +way up like a snake.</p> + +<p>"Get your feet out and then let yourself down by your hands," Dave +cautioned. "The roof shouldn't be more than a few inches under your +toes. But, watch out. The darn thing slants<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> down a bit, you know."</p> + +<p>"I'll make it, all right," Freddy said and twisted around on the sill so +that he was hanging on his stomach. "Can you make it alone, though?"</p> + +<p>"A cinch!" Dave whispered. "Don't wait for me. Sneak down the roof and +drop to the ground. I'll be right behind you. Go ahead, Freddy."</p> + +<p>Dave waited until he heard the soft thud of the English boy's feet +touching the roof, then he grabbed hold of the sill with his hands and +swiftly and silently hoisted his body upward. For a brief instant he sat +poised on the sill grinning back into the darkened room. Then he +swiveled over and lowered himself down. In almost no time he had +cat-crawled down the gently sloping roof to its lip. He pressed flat on +his stomach and stuck his head over the edge of the roof. Below him was +nothing but a sea of inky darkness. For some crazy reason a twinge of +panic shot through him.</p> + +<p>"Freddy!" he whispered.</p> + +<p>"Here, Dave," came the welcomed reply. "I'm on the ground and to your +left. It's all clear down here. The ground's soft. Come on down."</p> + +<p>"Here I come!" Dave said, and twisted over and let himself lightly down +onto the ground.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>No sooner had his feet touched than Freddy had a hand on his arm.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's the first part!" the English youth breathed excitedly. +"Now, what's the next move?"</p> + +<p>"Our shoes," Dave said and pulled the other down onto the ground. "Then +we head straight up that hill, there, and keep going north."</p> + +<p>"North?" Freddy said in a puzzled whisper. "Why not west toward the +Belgian lines? We want to get there as fast as we can. I got a good look +at that map, Dave. I think this town, here, is called Estalle. And...."</p> + +<p>Freddy cut off his words and both boys froze back against the rear wall +of the building as a shaft of yellow light suddenly cut the darkness of +night. Dave's heart rose up to clog in his throat as he waited with fear +in his heart for the shaft of light to sweep over to reveal them in its +glow.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly truth dawned and he was almost overcome with an insane, +crazy desire to burst out with hysterical laughter. His taut nerves +twanged like plucked fiddle strings and his whole body seemed to melt +with relief. A light had suddenly been turned on in the building against +which they crouched, and the shaft of light had simply been the inside +light flooding out through a rear window. When it didn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> move where it +struck the bottom of the hill slope a dozen yards or so away Dave +realized the truth. And so did Freddy a moment later.</p> + +<p>"Good grief, that scared me!" the English boy breathed.</p> + +<p>"We'll talk later," Dave said. "Right now we're making tracks away from +here. Got your shoes on?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Freddy replied. "You lead, Dave. I'll stick right at your heels. +Mind your step, though."</p> + +<p>"You're telling me!" Dave grunted and started creeping along the rear of +the building to the right.</p> + +<p>When he reached the corner he stopped and cautiously peered around it. +Luck was with him. He had half expected to find himself looking down an +alley to the street out in front. But it wasn't an alley. It was just a +small court that connected with the next building. A high fence at the +front blocked off a view of the street. He couldn't see the street, but +the point was that when they started up the hill slope no passing +soldiers in the street could see them and give chase if for no other +reason than curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Stick close, Freddy!" Dave whispered over his shoulder. "First stop is +the top of the hill. Here we go!"</p> + +<p>Bent over low Dave turned sharp left and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> went scuttling across some +thirty feet of bare ground, and then into the scrub brush that fringed +the base of the hill. Hands out in front of him to prevent barging +straight into a tree, he started up the slope as fast as caution would +permit. By the time he was half way up his breath was coming in sobbing +gasps, and his legs felt like two withered sticks that might snap in two +at most any second.</p> + +<p>He gritted his teeth and called upon every ounce of strength in his +strong young body. It was mighty hard going. From the prison room window +the hill slope had looked not at all steep, but now climbing up it in +the dark, dodging around tree trunks and jutting rocks, it seemed almost +to rise right straight up in front of him. Every so often he half +twisted around to make sure Freddy was still with him. And each time +that was exactly the case. Freddy was right there at his heels, puffing +and panting, but sticking like glue.</p> + +<p>The English youth's courage and stick-to-itiveness made Dave doggedly +refuse to permit himself to rest even for a moment. Freddy wasn't +complaining, and if Freddy could take it then he could, too. Freddy +might be younger, and a bit shorter, and weigh less, but there was no +difference in the quality of his fighting spirit, or of the courage in +his heart. And so Dave kept<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> on climbing upward, and upward through the +black night until finally ... and it seemed as though a thousand years +had passed by ... he finally reached the crest. He staggered along the +flat crest for a few yards and then sank wearily down on the soft earth. +Freddy dropped down beside him, and for a long time there was no sound +between them save the sounds of their labored breathing.</p> + +<p>Eventually, Dave pushed himself up to a sitting position, wiped his +dripping face on the sleeve of his shirt, and let out a long sigh.</p> + +<p>"Gee, am I out of condition for track!" he breathed. "That was plenty +tough. I thought we'd never make it. You okay, Freddy?"</p> + +<p>The English youth groaned softly as he sat up.</p> + +<p>"I guess so," he murmured and sucked in great gulps of cool night air. +"But I certainly hope we don't have to do that often. You can't see very +much from here, can you? I guess they're not taking chances on showing +many lights in case our bombers come over. I'd like very much to see a +big bomb drop on that Colonel Stohl, though. He deserves one!"</p> + +<p>Dave chuckled and instantly felt much better. Freddy might be dead on +his feet, but he still had the old fight.</p> + +<p>"Two, one for me," he said and stared down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> at the town.</p> + +<p>In all there were not more than two dozen lights showing, and at least +half of them were the shaded lights of army cars and trucks moving along +the one main street of the town. If there were others they were blotted +out by the trees.</p> + +<p>"About that map, Freddy," Dave said presently in a low voice. "I think +this is Estalle, myself, but that's not much of a help. I mean, I +couldn't figure how far we are from the Belgian lines. I guess it can't +be very far, though. They only started the invasion yesterday morning, +so they can't have gone very deep into the country."</p> + +<p>"I don't agree with that, Dave," Freddy said. "The German blitzkrieg in +Poland made as much as eighty and ninety miles in a day. Besides, my +father taught me a lot about marking army maps. Of course I don't know +what <i>all</i> of those markings meant on the Colonel's map, but I'm pretty +sure those little yellow pins represented their advanced armored +scouting units."</p> + +<p>"But good gosh, they were as far west as Brussels and Charleroi!" Dave +gasped. "That's miles away. What about the Belgian frontier forts, and +the forts of Liege, and such big places? Wouldn't they hold them back?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Freddy said. "But I suspect the Germans are doing the +same thing they did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> in the Polish campaign. Their light fast mobile +units scoot right on past the heavily fortified centers and capture +small positions in the rear. Then the bombers and the heavy attack +tanks, and such, go at the big forts. It's as I heard my father say +shortly after the Polish invasion. You don't have trench warfare any +more. It's blitzkrieg nowadays. Lightning attack with small fast units, +with the main body moving up behind and concentrating on main points of +defense. And don't forget Hitler's air force, Dave. It cleared the way +for him in Poland, and in Denmark, and Norway. They're probably doing +the same against the Belgians. At least until the British stop them. And +we'll jolly well stop them, don't worry."</p> + +<p>"Gee, you talk like a regular military expert," Dave said in admiration. +"I guess your Dad taught you a lot. War certainly isn't what it used to +be, I guess. But, look, there were some blue pins on that map, and +beside each one was a date. I saw dates a week and two weeks from now. +And there were blue pins all the way across Belgium to the English +Channel. I ... Holy smokes! It just struck me. The yellow pins show +where the Germans are today, and the blue pins mark places they expect +to capture on certain days! Could that be true, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," Freddy said. "I'm pretty sure,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> Dave, that we've seen +something the Allied High Command would give a million pounds to see. +Five million, or more! That was an Intelligence map of the whole German +plan of invasion, Dave. I'm sure of it!"</p> + +<p>"My gosh, then let's get going!" Dave cried, and leaped to his feet. +"We've got to get through to Allied High Command, wherever it is. We +can't show them the map, but between us we should be able to remember +enough about it to help them plenty. We...."</p> + +<p>A wild yell from down at the base of the hill, and three pistol shots in +rapid succession, cut off Dave's words like a knife. He shot a quick +look down the hill and saw a cluster of lights suddenly spring into +being. He wasn't sure but he felt pretty certain they were from the +building where he and Freddy had been held prisoners.</p> + +<p>A second later when more shots and more shouting drifted up to him, he +was sure. The guard had probably taken another look, and found out they +had escaped. Now the alarm was being given. Bitter anger for wasting +time talking flashed through him and was gone. He reached down quickly +and pulled Freddy up onto his feet.</p> + +<p>"They've discovered our escape!" he cried. "We've got to start moving, +and fast. Stick close to me. We'll still head north."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>"But why north?" Freddy protested. "We should go west if we want to +reach the Belgian outposts as soon as possible, and get them to take us +to Allied G.H.Q., Dave!"</p> + +<p>"No, north!" Dave said. "They'll guess we're trying to get to the +Belgians, you see? So they'll start hunting toward the west, and sending +word ahead. If we go north we'll be fooling them for awhile ... I hope. +Anyway, it's our best bet. See? There go a couple of their cars racing +down the road toward the west. Come on!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_NINE" id="CHAPTER_NINE"></a>CHAPTER NINE</h2> + +<h4><i>A Desperate Mission</i></h4> + + +<p>Dawn was a little over an hour away and Dave Dawson couldn't drag his +body forward another step. For hours he and Freddy Farmer had trudged +across strange country through the darkness striving to put more and +more ground between them and the pursuing Germans. A dozen times they +had almost stumbled headlong into roving German mop-up patrols. And once +they had crouched for a solid hour in a road ditch while a long line of +tanks, and motorized artillery units had rumbled by heading westward.</p> + +<p>But now he just couldn't go another step. He didn't care if the whole +German Army was right at their heels. He had to stop and rest. There is +a limit to the endurance of even the strongest of men, and Dave and +Freddy had most certainly proved themselves to be men, not just mere +boys, during those hours of mad flight across enemy held ground. Where +they were Dave didn't know, nor did he care much right<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> at the moment. +The North Star had been his guide all the way, but they had been forced +to change their direction in order to skirt bomb blasted villages filled +with German troops, and roads clogged with parts of the mighty Nazi war +machine, so it was impossible even to guess how far they had traveled, +or in what general direction.</p> + +<p>Now, though, as he came to the outer edge of some woods and saw the +shadowy shapes of barren fields beyond, Dave flung himself down under +some bushes and gave his body over to the utter fatigue and weariness +which had been trying to drag him down for the last several miles. His +throat was dry and craving for water, and his stomach was screaming for +some of the bread and the hunk of cheese he and Freddy had so wisely +saved from that huge breakfast, and had stuffed inside their shirts +before crawling out the window. Yes, food and water would go fine, but +later. He was too dead tired now to so much as move a muscle. In a dull +sort of way he was conscious of Freddy flopping down beside him, and +then a moment later he felt himself slip away into blissful peace.</p> + +<p>A soothing warmth on his back eventually woke him up. He started to move +but the sudden aches and pains in his body brought a stifled groan to +his lips. He stayed where he was for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> moment with his face buried in +his crossed over arms, soaking up the soothing warmth on his back. Then +he rolled over on his back and stared up through the bush branches at +the sky. It was another perfect spring day and the sun was well up on +high. That realization finally filtered into his tired brain and brought +him sitting bolt upright.</p> + +<p>"Gee, it must be close to noon!" he heard his own voice whisper. "And +we've still got a heck of a ways to go. But where, and in what +direction, I wonder?"</p> + +<p>He turned and put out his hand to shake Freddy sleeping close beside +him. But when he saw the pale drawn face of his friend he let his hand +drop back into his lap. He just didn't have the heart to wake up Freddy. +The English youth was positively dead to the world, and one look at the +completely exhausted expression on Freddy's face told Dave the youth +wouldn't be fit to travel even if he were awakened. True, it might be +very dangerous for them to remain where they are. German soldiers might +stumble about them at 'most any moment. Just the same a strange sense of +responsibility took possession of Dave. He was the older of the two, and +the stronger. By more or less mutual consent he had become the leader. +As the leader he should use his head. And it would <i>not</i> be using his +head to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> wake up Freddy and force the poor kid to continue on.</p> + +<p>"No, it's best to stick here, at least until dark," he argued with +himself. "We're pretty well hidden under these bushes. And ... and, +gosh, I just haven't the heart to wake him up!"</p> + +<p>His decision made, he put his hand inside his shirt and pulled out the +very much crushed half loaf of bread and the hunk of cheese. He ate a +little of each and then made himself put the rest back inside his shirt. +It helped his stomach a little, but it only served to aggravate his +thirst. He'd rather have a glass of water right now than be standing in +the middle of Piccadilly Circus, in London, with his father.</p> + +<p>He lay back on the ground again and started thinking about his father in +an effort to forget his thirst. But after no more than five or six +seconds it just wasn't any use. He sat up again and peered around. It +was then he saw the farm house and the sheds about half a mile away. +Smoke was coming from the farm house chimney, and he could see figures +moving about in the yard. Because of the sun in his eyes he couldn't +tell if they were German troops or not. Off to the right he suddenly saw +a moving cloud of dust. He knew at once it was a car traveling along a +road. And presently the car came into view from behind a string of +trees. It traveled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> up to the farm house and came to a stop. Four +figures climbed out and hurried into the farm house. A faint hope that +had been flowering in Dave died out at once. His straining eyes had made +out the bucket shaped helmets and the tight-fitting field-grey uniforms +of German officers.</p> + +<p>Approaching the farm house was out of the question, now. He had hoped +there might just be peasant farmers there, passed by by the Germans. But +that obviously wasn't so. The place was alive with Hitler's soldiers. +Fighting back his momentary defeat, he got slowly to his feet, took a +make-sure look at the sleeping Freddy Farmer, and then crept off into +the woods in search of a brook or a small pond.</p> + +<p>Remembering his Boy Scout training, he broke branches off bushes every +now and then so that he would be sure to find his way back to the +sleeping Freddy. As a matter of fact, though, there really wasn't any +need of his doing that. At the end of a quarter of a mile the ground +sloped down into a shallow valley, and there was a small brook trickling +through the middle. With a low cry of joy Dave rushed down to it, flung +himself flat, and buried his face in the icy cold water. Never, never in +all his life had anything felt so good, so completely satisfying as the +coolness of that brook. Cupping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> his hands he drank until he couldn't +hold another drop. Then tearing off part of his shirt sleeve he used it +to wash his face and his neck. Finally, feeling almost like a new man, +he got up and retraced his steps to his hiding place.</p> + +<p>Freddy was awake when he got back, and when the English youth spotted +him a look of fear and utter misery was instantly banished by joyful +relief.</p> + +<p>"Phew, what a fright you gave me!" Freddy choked out. "When I woke up I +couldn't remember if we'd come to this spot together, or if we'd lost +each other last night. I came jolly close to yelling for you and then I +sighted those German blighters over at that farm house. Where have you +been, and I wonder where we are?"</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew," Dave said. "But I've got some good news, anyway. Go +straight back about a quarter of a mile and you'll find a brook. Bet you +could do with a nice long drink of water, couldn't you?"</p> + +<p>"I should say so!" Freddy cried and sprang to his feet. "My throat feels +completely filled up with dust."</p> + +<p>"Then hop to it," Dave grinned and pointed. "Straight back. You'll see +branches broken off the bushes. I'll wait here and try to figure our +next move."</p> + +<p>"Be right back," Freddy said and hurried off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> into the woods.</p> + +<p>When the English youth left Dave sat down on the ground and fixed +frowning eyes on the farm house. Last night in that prison room his +brain had concentrated on but one problem. The problem of getting out of +the room. Well, they had done that, and they had put considerable +distance behind them. That was all, however. Now, there were more +problems to confront, and consider. Number one, was to find out where +they were. Number two, was to decide whether or not it was safe yet to +start heading west, or to continue north, and number three, was the +problem of food. Whether they went north, south, east, or west they had +a long road facing them, and their bread and cheese was not going to +last forever. They would have to get food some place. And that farm +house....</p> + +<p>Dave let his thoughts trail off and stop as Freddy came up and sat down +beside him. The English boy looked like an entirely different person. +His eyes were clear and not heavy with fatigue. There was a lot of color +back in his face, and there was a happy and contented smile on his lips.</p> + +<p>"I'll remember that brook all the rest of my life," he said. "Gee, +nothing ever seemed so good. Well, have you thought up a plan? I fancy, +though, we'd better stay here until it's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> dark. We're bound to be +stopped in daylight. That colonel chap has probably radioed a +description of us all over the place."</p> + +<p>"Gee whiz, you think so?" Dave ejaculated. "Just to catch a couple of +fellows like us?"</p> + +<p>"I fancy so," Freddy said in a sober adult voice. "He'll be hopping mad +that we escaped. And besides pricking his pride it will probably add to +his silly ideas about us. Yes, I think the blighter will go to all ends +to catch us. So, we'd better keep a watchful eye out even if we are in a +hurry. What do you make of that farm house?"</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking about it," Dave grunted. "There are Germans there, +of course, but there must be food, too. If we could only manage to swipe +some food I'd feel a lot better about starting out again. It's going to +be a long walk, and it's a cinch we won't be able to do any hitch-hiking +with German tanks and armored cars all over the place."</p> + +<p>"True," Freddy murmured. "But we might have to walk for days, and days. +Then the information we have might not be of any use to the Allied High +Command. We've got to get back quickly, Dave, and I'm afraid we can't do +that by walking all the way."</p> + +<p>"No, I guess not," Dave said unhappily. "But we'd be taking a heck of a +chance trying to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> thumb a ride. Maybe, though, if we moved over close to +that road over there, an empty truck or something might come by and we +could slip aboard it for a little ways, anyway. Gosh, it seems a hundred +years since I left Paris!"</p> + +<p>"Two hundred," Freddy said with a sigh. "I certainly never even dreamed +that anything like this would ever happen to me."</p> + +<p>"Me, too," Dave said and gave a little half shake of his head. "Boy, +what I'll have to tell the fellows when I get back home!"</p> + +<p>"We're not back home, yet," Freddy said grimly. "Let's talk some more +about what we should do."</p> + +<p>It was as though Lady Luck or the Good Fairy had been waiting for that +exact moment. From up in the sky to the east came the throbbing drone of +a German plane. The two boys swiveled around at once, shielded their +eyes with their hands and peered upward. The plane was down fairly low +and coming straight toward them. A moment of panic seized hold of Dave +and he unconsciously grabbed hold of Freddy and pulled them both down +under the bushes.</p> + +<p>"Gosh!" he exclaimed excitedly. "Maybe they've got planes out looking +for us. Don't move a muscle and they won't see us. Gee, it's a biplane, +but it's got the swastika marking on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> the tail. I thought all the German +ships were monoplane design."</p> + +<p>Freddy didn't answer for a moment. He sat crouched low under the +protecting bush branches and squinting his eyes up at the plane.</p> + +<p>"That's a German plane, right enough," he said presently. "I recognize +it, now. It's an Arado AR-95. It's a two seater, and was built as a +torpedo plane. They use it off airplane carriers, but it's a pretty old +type. Look, Dave! The pilot has cut his engine. He's gliding down. I +say, let's get out of here! The observer in back has probably spotted +us!"</p> + +<p>"Now, wait!" Dave hissed and shot out a hand to stop Freddy from leaping +to his feet and dashing back into the woods. "If they have spotted us +we'd not get far before we'd be caught. Besides, I don't think they've +seen us. Look! He's going into a gliding turn. Freddy! I'll bet you a +million dollars he's going to land in that smooth field over there. Yes, +sir, that's what he's going to do!"</p> + +<p>"You're right, Dave!" Freddy breathed. "And some of the Germans in that +farm house are running out to meet them. But I don't like this, Dave. +They may be landing to tell them where we are."</p> + +<p>"Nope," Dave said doggedly. "They wouldn't land. They'd either drop a +message, or use their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> radio If they have one. They'd stay up to see +which way we headed. Nope. That's some kind of a headquarters over +there, Freddy. I bet the plane is bringing them a message."</p> + +<p>"I hope you're right," Freddy said in an uncertain voice, as his clear +blue eyes clouded with doubt. "There! He's down on the ground, now, and +braking to a stop."</p> + +<p>"That sure is a sweet looking ship!" Dave breathed softly. "An Arado +AR-95, huh? Oh, sure, now I remember seeing pictures of that design. It +has a B.M.W. radial engine. (<i>Bavarian Motor Works</i>). The Germans used +it a lot in training their pilots. It's not so fast as the other war +planes, and it's a cinch to fly, they say. <i>Freddy!</i>"</p> + +<p>Dave almost shouted the name, and his fingers still gripping the English +youth's arm bit deep into the flesh.</p> + +<p>"Ouch, my arm!" Freddy protested, "What's the matter, Dave? What's up?"</p> + +<p>Dave didn't reply. He watched the German plane come to a stop. The pilot +and observer jumped down onto the ground and walked toward the group of +Germans advancing from the farm house. They met and appeared to talk for +a moment or two. Then all of them turned and went back to the farm +house. When they passed inside Dave took a quick look over at the Arado<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +with its prop ticking over, then swung around to face Freddy.</p> + +<p>"Maybe that solves our problem, Freddy!" he said in a strained whisper. +"That plane!"</p> + +<p>"The plane?" Freddy echoed with a frown. "What about it? Good grief, you +surely don't mean...."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Dave countered. "I made my first solo on a better ship than +that. I'll bet you anything you like I can handle it. What do you say, +Freddy?"</p> + +<p>The English youth gulped and looked most undecided. Dave took the moment +of silence to press home his point.</p> + +<p>"It's the best bet we could possibly have!" he argued. "Gee, in that +ship we could be behind the Allied defenses in no time. I say let's try +it, anyway. Gee whiz, Freddy, we might be stuck here for months. There's +no telling what we might run into. What do you say? Are you game to try +it with me?"</p> + +<p>The English youth was already smiling and nodding his head.</p> + +<p>"Right you are, Dave, I'm game," he said quietly. "Anything's better +than just sitting here. And between us we ought to make a go of it. +Right-o, Dave, if you like."</p> + +<p>"That's the stuff!" Dave said and slapped him on the back. "They're all +inside the farm house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> now, and if we keep back of that field wall, +there, we can get right up close without being seen. When I give you the +sign, run like the dickens for the ship. Gee! We've got to make it, +Freddy. <i>We've just got to!</i>"</p> + +<p>The two boys looked at each other, nodded, and then started crawling out +from under the bushes on all fours.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TEN" id="CHAPTER_TEN"></a>CHAPTER TEN</h2> + +<h4><i>Trapped In War Skies!</i></h4> + + +<p>Hugging the ground at the extreme end of the field wall, Dave and Freddy +stared at the German plane not thirty yards away. The idling propeller +filled the air with a purring sound that struck right to their hearts +and sent the blood surging through their veins in wild excitement. The +feeling of fatigue and body weariness had completely fled them, now. The +thrill of the dangerous adventure ahead filled them with a renewed sense +of strength, and fired them with grim determination.</p> + +<p>Dave slowly rose up onto one knee like a track star on his mark at the +starting line. He cast a quick glance back over his shoulder at Freddy, +and nodded.</p> + +<p>"Now!" he whispered sharply, and went streaking around the end of the +field wall.</p> + +<p>He reached the plane a dozen steps ahead of the English boy, and +practically leaped into the pilot's cockpit forward. No sooner was he +seated and snapping the safety belt buckle than Freddy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> was scrambling +into the observer's cockpit.</p> + +<p>"I'm in!" he heard the English youth sing out.</p> + +<p>Shooting out a foot Dave kicked off the wheel brake release. Then he +grabbed hold of the "Dep" wheel control stick with his right hand and +reached for the throttle with his left and gingerly eased it forward. +The B.M.W. engine instantly started to roar up in a song of power. Dave +opened the throttle more and pushed the Dep stick forward to get the +tail up as the Arado started forward.</p> + +<p>"Hurry up, Dave!" came Freddy's wild yell above the roar of the engine. +"They've seen us! They're running out of the house. They're shooting at +us with rifles, Dave!"</p> + +<p>Freddy could have saved his breath on the last. The sharp bark of rifle +fire came plainly to Dave's ears as he hunched forward over the +controls. And almost in the same instant he heard the blood chilling +whine of nickel-jacketed lead messengers of death streaking past not +very high above his head. Impulsively he ducked lower in the pit, and +shoved the throttle wide open. The plane was already bouncing over the +ground on its wheels, with the tail up, and then added gas fed to the +engine caused the ship practically to leap forward like a high strung +race horse quitting the barrier.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>The sudden burst of speed flung Dave back in the seat, and for one +horrible instant his hands were almost torn from the Dep wheel, and his +feet yanked free of the rudder pedals. He caught himself in the nick of +time, however, swerved the plane clear of a sudden dip in the surface of +the field, and then gently hauled the Dep wheel back toward his stomach.</p> + +<p>For a long moment the wheels of the plane seemed to cling to the ground. +Then they lifted clear and the Arado went nosing up toward the golden +washed blue sky. Clamped air burst from Dave's lungs like an exploding +shell. He coughed, and shook sweat from his face, and held the ship at +the correct angle of climb. The engine in the nose sang such a sweet +song of power that for a moment or so it was in tune with the song of +wild joy in Dave's heart. The Arado, as he had rightly guessed, was a +cinch to handle. It was light as a feather and responded instantly to a +touch on the control wheel, or on the rudder pedals.</p> + +<p>As the plane climbed upward he twisted around in the seat and looked at +Freddy. The English youth was staring down back at the field they had +just left. Dave followed his look and saw the twenty or thirty figures +garbed in German military uniforms on the field. At least half of them +were firing furiously with rifles.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> The others were shaking their fists, +and making angry gestures for the plane to return and land. Dave grinned +and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"You can just bet we won't come back!" he shouted into the roar of the +engine. "We're not <i>that</i> crazy!"</p> + +<p>Freddy heard him and turned front. The English youth's eyes danced with +excitement. He grinned at Dave, and then suddenly seemed to remember the +little scene last night after Dave had removed the screws from the +window frame. He clasped both hands above his head and shook them +vigorously. His lips moved, and Dave just barely heard the words.</p> + +<p>"Well done!"</p> + +<p>Dave returned the grin and then twisted around front. The dash +instruments, of course, were all marked in German, but he knew enough of +that language to read them. The altimeter needle was quivering close to +the six thousand foot mark. He decided that was high enough and leveled +off the climb onto even keel. Then he took a moment or so to glance down +at the ground below to try and get his bearings. The first thing he saw +was a small village off to his left. One look at it and his heart leaped +over in his chest. He saw the hill and the single main street along +which trucks and armored cars and motorized units of artillery were +passing in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> steady, endless stream. The town of Estalle? It seemed to +be almost directly under him. The truth made him shiver and lick his +lower lip.</p> + +<p>If that was Estalle and he was positive it was, he and Freddy couldn't +have traveled more than eight or nine miles toward the north during +their wild flight last night. Maybe twice that number of miles going +around in circles, but certainly not more than ten miles in the +direction they wanted to go.</p> + +<p>A rap on his shoulder turned him around in the seat. Freddy was pointing +at the village of Estalle and pursing his lips in a silent whistle. Dave +got the idea and nodded, and wiped make believe sweat from his forehead +with his free hand. Then he turned front and glanced at the sun in an +effort to decide which direction was due west. Of course there was a +compass on the instrument panel but something was obviously wrong with +it. The needle was spinning around the balanced card dial.</p> + +<p>That fact didn't worry him in the slightest, though. He remembered a tip +a First World War flying ace had once given him about finding your +direction in Europe when you were lost and your compass was out of +whack. It was very simple, too. In the morning, if you could see the +sun, all you had to do was keep the sun on your tail and you would be +sure to be flying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> west. And so Dave applied the rudder until the sun +was mostly on his tail, and gave his attention to the spread of ground +ahead.</p> + +<p>What he saw made him suck air sharply into his lungs. Rather, it was a +case of what he didn't see. The entire western horizon seemed to be one +huge cloud of dirty grey smoke streaked here and there with tongues of +livid red and orange and yellow flame. It was as though the whole of +Belgium was on fire. Closer to him was a long even-banked river that cut +down across the countryside from the northwest to the southeast. He was +staring hard at it thinking it was a very peculiar looking river when he +suddenly felt Freddy hitting him on the shoulder again.</p> + +<p>"That's the famous Prince Albert Canal!" the English youth shouted above +the roar of the engine. "It's very strongly fortified. A sort of Belgian +Maginot Line. The Germans can't possibly have crossed it, yet. If we can +just get by there, Brussels is not very far off. We could land there."</p> + +<p>"Germans not crossing it?" Dave yelled and pointed. "Look down there to +the left. They're swarming across it like bees. Gee, there must be a +million pontoon bridges thrown across that canal. And, gosh, look at all +those Stuka dive bombers!"</p> + +<p>It was all too true. Hitler's relentlessly ad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>vancing forces had smashed +the Albert Canal defenses to smoking rubble, thus forcing the Belgian +army to retreat to the south side of the Canal. And now as German +troops, and their swiftly striking Panzer division were rushing across +pontoon bridges to strike more blows at the Belgians, hundreds of Stuka +dive bombers were blasting death and destruction into the ranks of the +enemy. The sight of it all made Dave's heart turn to ice in his chest. +History, terrible History was being written down there by the Albert +Canal, and his heart was on fire with an even more blazing desire to do +something for the cause of justice and civilization.</p> + +<p>But first he had another job to do, and he lifted his gaze and peered at +the smoke and flame filled sky ahead. Besides smoke and flame there were +countless numbers of planes streaking and darting around in all +directions. The air was practically filled with them. There was layer +after layer of planes reaching from low down over the battle grounds +right up to the sun. And insofar as he could tell at the distance not a +single one of them was of Allied design. They were all German.</p> + +<p>At that moment Freddy pounded on his shoulder for the third time. And +the voice that screamed in his ear rang with fright and alarm.</p> + +<p>"More speed, Dave! Look behind us. There's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> a plane, a Messerschmitt. I +think it's chasing us. They might even try to shoot us down. What'll we +do, Dave?"</p> + +<p>"What'll we do?" Dave echoed and glanced back at the sleek needle shaped +plane with its low monoplane wing. "We'll keep on going. They may not +try to shoot at us. Once we get on the other side of the Canal, we'll be +safe. We'll go down and land."</p> + +<p>But even as Dave spoke the words to give good cheer to Freddy his own +heart was pounding with fear. The other plane was drawing up on them as +an express train overtakes a slow freight. He could see now that it was +a Messerschmitt One-Ten. A moment later he saw the gunner-observer in +the rear pit shove back his bullet proof glass cockpit hatch and stand +up and wave signals with both his arms. Those signals plainly said for +them to go down and land at once, but Dave pretended that he hadn't +seen. He rammed the palm of his free hand hard against the already wide +open throttle, as though if in so doing he might get increased speed out +of the plane.</p> + +<p>It was no more than a futile gesture, however. In the matter of seconds +the Messerschmitt had pulled right up along side them. Dave turned and +looked across the air space that separated the two planes. His heart +zoomed up his throat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> so fast it almost bumped up against his back +teeth. The German observer was still sending signals to land, but not +with his arms and hands, now. He was doing it with the aerial machine +gun fixed to the swivel mounting that circled the rim of his cockpit. He +was pointing the gun at them and then tilting it down toward the ground +as he nodded his helmeted head vigorously.</p> + +<p>Dave stared at the gun as though hypnotized. The blood pounded in his +temples, and his whole body was on fire one instant and icy cold the +next. There was death staring straight at him, and he could hardly force +his brain to think. He knew he couldn't just keep on flying. He had to +do something or the German would open fire and turn their plane into a +blazing inferno. On the other hand, his fighting heart refused to +surrender and go back and face the ugly wrath of that Colonel Stohl. For +this Messerschmitt had unquestionably been sent out after them at the +Colonel's orders. Who knew? Perhaps Colonel Stohl had been the German he +had seen climb out of the observer's pit of this very Arado he was now +trying to fly to safety behind the Belgian lines. It would have been +very easy for the German to phone the nearest air field and have a plane +sent out after them.</p> + +<p><i>Tac-a-tac-a-tac-a-tac!</i></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>Jetting tongues of flame leaped out from the muzzle of the machine gun +in the other plane. The savage yammer sound smashed against Dave's ears +even as he saw the wavy trails of tracer smoke cut across in front of +the nose of his plane. The yammer of the gun snapped him into action and +sent his eyes darting to the cowled nose of the Arado. His heart seemed +to cry out when he saw that the plane carried no guns. On impulse he +twisted his head around to Freddy's pit, but there, too, disappointment +mocked him. The plane was not armed! It was probably just a courier +plane used far behind the lines on safe missions only.</p> + +<p>As he looked into Freddy's eyes he saw reflected there his own bitter +thoughts. They were completely at the mercy of that Messerschmitt flying +along wing to wing with them. Unskilled and untrained though they were +in aerial combat, it was heartrending not to be able to put up some kind +of a battle for their lives.</p> + +<p>"It was a good try, Dave!" he heard Freddy call out. "But I guess it's +no use, now. The beggars have us on the spike for fair. There's nothing +we can do but go down and land, as they want us to."</p> + +<p>As though the German in the other plane had actually heard the English +youth's words, a second warning burst of shots rattled out to streak<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +across in front of the Arado's nose. Unconsciously Dave nodded his head, +and reached out his hand to haul back the throttle. His hand froze in +mid air, instead. At that moment he had glanced down at the ground below +and ahead. What he saw made fierce, frenzied determination explode in +his heart!</p> + +<p>They were almost directly over the Albert Canal. He could clearly see +the Belgian troops digging in on the south side, wheeling guns into +position, and throwing out rear guard action units. Not a mile, not even +a half mile from safety. It was too much for Dave. The fighting American +spirit of Lexington and Concord flamed up in his chest. He wouldn't do +it! He wouldn't give in without a try. He'd fool those Germans in the +Messerschmitt One-Ten even if it was the last thing he ever did. Let +them try to shoot him down. Just let them try! There were German planes +all around, now. And that fact alone was to his advantage. The +Messerschmitt gunner would have to take care not to hit one of his own.</p> + +<p>"Dave! He means it this time! We've got to turn back!"</p> + +<p>He heard Freddy's voice as though it came from a thousand miles away. +But he didn't pay the slightest bit of attention. Didn't so much as +shake his head. His whole body was cold and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> numb with fear of what he +was about to attempt. But in his brain there was but one thought; one +great overwhelming determination of purpose.</p> + +<p>He whipped out his hand and eased back the throttle and let the nose +drop. At the same time he applied stick and rudder as though he was +going to send the plane around and down in a gliding turn that would +take them back east. As the plane started to turn he shot a quick side +glance at the Messerschmitt. His heart was ready to explode with joy. +The German observer had seen the movement of the Arado and wrongly +guessed its meaning! The man nodded his head, and let go of his gun and +sank down on his seat.</p> + +<p>The instant Dave saw the German sink down on the seat he belted the +throttle wide open again and shoved the stick forward until the Arado +was prop howling down in an almost vertical dive.</p> + +<p>"Hold fast!" he shouted at Freddy without turning his head. "They +haven't got us yet, and they won't get us if I've got anything to say +about it."</p> + +<p>Bracing himself against the speed of the dive, and keeping his mouth +open so that his eardrums would not snap and perhaps break, he held +himself hunched forward over the controls,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> and fixed both eyes on the +flame and smoke smeared ground below. The smoke and flames seemed to +leap up toward him at rocket speed. Out of the corner of his eye he +caught flash glimpses of Stuka dive bombers cutting through the air at +terrific speed. Then from up in back of him he heard the deadly chatter +of German aerial machine guns.</p> + +<p>He didn't bother to look back to see if the Messerschmitt was on his +tail. That would be but a waste of effort. Instead he jammed hard on the +left rudder and sent the Arado swerving crazily off to the side. The +guns above him continued to hammer and snarl, but he heard no bullets +snicking past his ears. He could hear only the thunderous roar of his +own B.M.W. engine.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly the Prince Albert Canal flashed by under his nose and was +gone from view. He was safely across it and right over the Belgian +troops! However, it was simply a case of roaring out of one danger zone +into another. He completely forgot he was flying a plane with German +markings. Naturally, when the Belgian soldiers saw the Swastika painted +plane streaking down at them they let go at it with everything they had.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was one of those freak things of war, or perhaps the gods +were truly smiling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> upon Dave Dawson and Freddy Farmer. At any rate not +a single Belgian bullet hit the diving Arado, and a moment later Dave +hauled the ship out of its mad dive and went streaking along to the rear +of the Belgian lines. But before he had traveled more than a couple of +miles he once more heard the snarl of aerial machine gun fire behind +him. And this time there was more to it than just the sound!</p> + +<p>The Arado suddenly bucked and quivered as though it had been smashed by +the fist of some huge invisible giant of the skies. The vicious movement +of the plane tore Dave's hands from the controls and flung him over so +hard he cracked his head on the cockpit rim and saw stars for a brief +instant or so. Then as his senses cleared again and he grabbed hold of +the controls once more, the engine in the nose coughed and sputtered and +shot out a cloud of black smoke ... and died cold.</p> + +<p>Realization and action were one for Dave, and so the first thing he did +was to yank back the throttle and cut off the ignition. When that was +done he shoved the nose down and peered hopefully at the ground no more +than five hundred feet below him. A groan of despair rose out of his +throat to spill off his lips. He couldn't see a smooth patch of ground +down there big enough for a fly to sit down on. True there were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> lots of +fields, but they were pock marked from one end to the other with shell +and bomb craters. There was one spot where he might possibly land +without crashing too badly. But crash he would. That was certain. There +was nothing to do but try it ... and pray!</p> + +<p>"A crash coming, Freddy!" he yelled back over his shoulder. "Hold +everything, and hang on hard!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_ELEVEN" id="CHAPTER_ELEVEN"></a>CHAPTER ELEVEN</h2> + +<h4><i>Fighting Hearts</i></h4> + + +<p>As Dave glided the crippled Arado down toward the bomb and shell marked +field the icy fingers of fear were curled tightly about his heart. He +had made one or two forced landings in his short flying career, but they +had been like setting down a plane on a gigantic billiard table compared +to the task he now faced. If he under-shot the patch of ground he was +aiming at he would go plowing straight into a battery of Belgian +artillery guns hurling shells across the Albert Canal into the +on-rushing German hordes. And if he over-shot the field or swerved too +much to the right or left he would go crashing into a maze of shell +blasted tree stumps which would tear the plane to shreds and snuff out +his life, and Freddy's, as easily as one snuffs out the flame of a +candle.</p> + +<p>His only hope lay in hitting the field in the center and checking the +forward roll of the plane so that when it did slide over and down into +one of the bomb craters the crash impact<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> wouldn't be too violent. In +his heart he knew that he stood but one chance in a thousand of coming +out of the crash uninjured. But there was no other way out, the die had +been cast. The engine had been hit and was dead. There was only one way +to go, and that was down.</p> + +<p>On impulse he jerked his head around and looked back. It seemed as +though he had not heard Freddy's voice in a year or more, and sudden +panic swept through him. Was Freddy all right? Had he been hit, and was +that why he had not spoken? In the brief instant it took to jerk his +head around and look back, Dave died a hundred agonizing deaths.</p> + +<p>Luck, however, was still riding the cockpits with them. The English +youth was still alive, and very much so, too. His lips were drawn back +in a tight grin even though his face was white, and there was a sort of +glazed, glassy look in his eyes. Being a pilot, himself, Freddy knew +exactly what it was all about. He had sense enough not to try any back +seat driving in the emergency. He was leaving everything to Dave, and +trusting in his friend's judgment. He sat perfectly still in the seat, +his arms half raised and ready to throw them across his face when they +hit in order to protect himself as much as possible.</p> + +<p>Sitting still and showing his faith in Dave by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> the tight grin on his +lips. That realization gave Dave new courage as he turned front again. +The ground was just under his wheels, now. He would not under-shoot the +field, nor would he over-shoot it either. He had proved his flying skill +thus far. The rest was ... was in the lap of the gods!</p> + +<p>Ten feet off! Nine feet, eight ... seven ... six! He was hugging the Dep +wheel now all the way back against his stomach to bring the nose up just +a few more inches before the ship stalled and dropped. His whole body +sensed that moment of stalling; that moment when the lift of the wings +was absolutely nil. He sensed it now and instantly let go of the stick, +buried his head in his arms, and let his whole body go limp.</p> + +<p>For two seconds, or perhaps it was for two long years, the Arado seemed +to hang motionless in the air. Then suddenly it dropped belly first like +a rock. The wheels hit hard and the ship was bounced back up into the +air again. It hit again, and bounced again. It hit once more and Dave +felt the tail wheel catch on something and send the ship plunging +crazily off to the right. He jammed hard on the left rudder to +counteract the movement, but it was too late. Fate had placed a huge +German bomb crater in the way. The plane slithered over the lip of the +crater and charged dizzily downward.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>Memory of a wild ride on a Coney Island roller coaster streaked through +Dave's brain. And then the plane careened up on its side, and half up on +its nose. It swayed there with its tail pointing up at the sky. It +twisted twice around and then fell over on its back with a jarring thud. +An invisible giant reached out a fist and punched Dave hard on the +chest. The air in his lungs whistled out through his mouth, and for +horrible seconds colored lights whirled around in his brain, and the +entire universe was filled with roaring, crashing thunder.</p> + +<p>The spell passed in a moment, and he found himself hanging head downward +on his safety harness. His first thought was for Freddy, and he +struggled to twist around and look back, but he couldn't make it.</p> + +<p>"Freddy!" he yelled in a choking voice. "Are you all right?"</p> + +<p>A heart chilling instant of silence greeted his question, and then came +Freddy's faint reply.</p> + +<p>"Not hurt a bit, Dave! But the blasted safety harness broke, and I'm +down here in a beastly puddle of mud. Can you give me a hand?"</p> + +<p>Reaction set in and Dave laughed hysterically, and tore at his safety +belt buckles. He got them unfastened and grabbed hold of the sides of +the cockpit before he went plunging down into the muddy bottom of the +bomb crater, him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>self. He twisted over and landed feet first. It was +then he had his first look at Freddy. The English lad was plopped down +on the seat of his pants in a good eight inches of mud. And there was +mud from the top of his head all the way down. He had obviously landed +square on his head but had managed to squirm around and sit up before +the sticky yellow ooze suffocated him. Right at the moment he was pawing +the stuff off his face so he could see.</p> + +<p>Dave plowed around to him and caught him under the armpits, and heaved. +Freddy's body coming up out of the mud sounded like somebody pulling a +cork from a bottle. Still hanging onto him, Dave ducked under a section +of the crumpled wing and hauled and tugged them both up out of the +crater on to firm dry ground. Then he dug a handkerchief from his pocket +and started wiping off Freddy's face.</p> + +<p>"Boy, do you look a sight, Freddy!" he chuckled. Then in a more serious +tone, "I'm darn sorry, Freddy. That sure was a rotten landing. I guess I +thought I was too good. I should have let you do the flying."</p> + +<p>Freddy snorted and squinted at him out of one eye.</p> + +<p>"Rotten landing?" he gasped. "Good grief, they can't fly any better than +that in the R.A.F., Dave. I thought sure we'd both be killed. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +neither of us has so much as a scratch. You couldn't have done it any +better, Dave. Honest!"</p> + +<p>"Thanks," Dave grinned. "But it was all luck. And I was scared stiff. +Thank goodness those Messerschmitt guys were such punk shots. Now, wipe +some more off, and we'll...."</p> + +<p>Dave cut off the rest short and spun around. A squad of Belgian infantry +men was racing across the field toward them. The bayonets on their +rifles glistened in the sun, and the cries of wild men were bursting +from their lips. The truth hit Dave in the flick of an eye. Those +Belgians took them for two members of the Nazi Air Force, and they were +racing over to get vengeance for what those Stuka dive bombers had been +doing to them. Even as the truth came to Dave one of the running +soldiers threw his rifle up to his shoulder and fired. The bullet cut +past Dave's face so close he could almost feel its heat. He leaped in +front of Freddy who was still wiping his face and flung up both hands.</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot, don't shoot!" he yelled in French. "We're not Germans! +America! England! Don't shoot! <i>Vive les Alliés!</i>"</p> + +<p>The Belgian soldiers rushed up to him and leveled their rifles at his +stomach. They were a vicious looking lot, but they had been made that +way by the fury of war hurled down on them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> for the last seventy-two +hours or more. Their eyes were bloodshot, and their faces were caked +with dried blood and dirt. Their beards were sodden messes, and their +uniforms were torn and ripped to rags. Their rifles were the only clean +thing about them.</p> + +<p>One of them with corporal chevrons on his tattered tunic sleeve stepped +forward until the tip of his wicked looking bayonet was within an inch +of Dave's neck.</p> + +<p>"You are Boches!" he shouted and nodded at the wrecked plane. "We saw +you dive down on us. Well, you will not dive again. We shall...."</p> + +<p>"Wait, wait!" Dave shouted in wild alarm. "I tell you we are not German. +He's English, and I'm an American. We have just escaped from Germany. We +were prisoners there. We have to get to Allied Headquarters at once. We +have valuable information."</p> + +<p>The Belgian corporal hesitated and looked puzzled. His men obviously did +not believe Dave. They made snarling sounds in their throats and +shuffled forward a bit. Dave opened his mouth to explain some more, but +Freddy beat him to the punch. The young English boy suddenly stepped +forward and a stream of words poured from his thin lips. He had lived +many years on the Continent and he knew how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> to deal with either the +French or the Belgians.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, you lugger heads!" he ranted at them. "My friend speaks +the truth. We have just escaped from Germany, and we have important +information. Take us to your commanding officer at once, do you hear? Do +we look like Germans? Of course not! Where are your heads, your brains? +Have you not seen us risk our lives trying to reach this side of the +lines? Take us to your commanding officer. He may even recommend you for +a medal. You hear me? Take us to your commanding officer or I shall make +a personal complaint to the Commander in Chief of British Army Staff, +General Caldwell. Attention, at once! Take us to your commanding +officer, <i>now!</i>"</p> + +<p>Grins slowly appeared on the faces of the battle wearied Belgian +soldiers. The corporal chuckled and lowered his bayonet from Dave's +throat.</p> + +<p>"The little one spits fire when he speaks," he murmured and nodded his +head. "No, I do not believe now that you are Germans. But you had a very +lucky escape, my two little ones. We do not feel very pleased today. Nor +will we be happy for a long time to come, I am afraid. It looks bad, +very bad. Come! I will take you to my Lieutenant."</p> + +<p>"It looks bad?" Freddy asked quickly. "Can't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> you hold them? Aren't the +British and the French helping?"</p> + +<p>The Belgian corporal shrugged and wiped his tired eyes with a dirt and +mud smeared hand.</p> + +<p>"It is possible," he grunted. "I do not know. We hear very little except +the guns and those cursed bombs. But, there are no British or French +here. Only Belgians. And we cannot stop them. We have not the men, or +the guns, or the tanks. And planes? Where are all our planes? Look at +the sky! It is filled with nothing but Boche planes. Yes, my little one, +it looks very bad. But we are not afraid to die. No!"</p> + +<p>The soldier shrugged again, then nodded with his head and started +trudging back across the field, trailing his rifle as though it weighed +a ton instead of a few pounds or so. Freddy and Dave dropped into step +with the others and went along. Nobody spoke. Nobody but the bombs and +the shells but a few miles away, and rapidly drawing closer. Dave leaned +toward Freddy.</p> + +<p>"Boy, can you dish out their language!" he breathed. "But I don't blame +them. They must have been through something terrible. It's a wonder they +didn't shoot and ask questions afterward."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Freddy said in a dull voice. "I wonder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> where the French and the +British are? I hope they can get here in time."</p> + +<p>Dave didn't attempt to answer the question. He suddenly felt very tired, +and old. His strength had been sapped to the limit, and his spirits were +staggering under a crushing weight. The picture of those German hordes +pouring across the Albert Canal and virtually beating the Belgians right +down into the ground was still clear as crystal in his brain. It was +like a mighty tidal wave hurtling forward with nothing but a picket +fence in the way to stop it.</p> + +<p>At the far end of the field the Belgians turned left on a winding narrow +dirt road. They went down this for some fifty yards or so, then left the +road and entered some woods. In the heart of the woods several companies +of Belgian troops were frantically building up machine gun emplacements, +stringing out barbwire, and moving light field pieces into place to bear +on the winding dirt road. The corporal stopped before a young lieutenant +and saluted smartly. Dave and Freddy stopped and waited while the +corporal spoke to the officer.</p> + +<p>In a moment or so the lieutenant came over and stared at them both out +of bleak, dead tired eyes.</p> + +<p>"What is all this?" he demanded briskly.</p> + +<p>Dave let Freddy do the talking as he had the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> language down perfect. The +young Englishman talked a steady stream for two or three moments, giving +a brief account of their movements since the day the Nazi armies broke +through into Belgium and the Low Countries. The Belgian officer listened +in silence, and when Freddy finished he took a map from his pocket and +spread it out on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Where were some of those pins and flags you saw on that map?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Dave still let Freddy do the talking, and simply watched while the +English youth pointed out various points on the map. The Belgian nodded +his head from time to time, and presently folded the map and got quickly +to his feet.</p> + +<p>"I am positive you have seen a map of great importance!" he said. "I +will see that you are taken to Belgian G.H.Q. at once. You will tell +them all you know, and they will communicate with the Allied High +Command. You are very brave boys, you know?"</p> + +<p>Freddy flushed and looked uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>"We only want to do everything we can to help," he said quietly.</p> + +<p>The Lieutenant's tired lips twisted back in a wistful smile as he +glanced from Freddy to Dave.</p> + +<p>"I would feel very happy if I had a million<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> like you under my command," +he murmured. "If only half what you say is true, it is enough. +Sergeant!"</p> + +<p>A huge bearded non-com putting a machine gun in working order got to his +feet and lumbered over. He ran his bloodshot eyes over Freddy and Dave, +and then fixed them on his officer.</p> + +<p>"My Lieutenant?" he grunted.</p> + +<p>"These two, Sergeant," the Lieutenant said with a jerk of his head. +"They are to be taken to General Boulard's headquarters at once. You +will take one of the light scouting cars and drive them there. That is +all."</p> + +<p>The big sergeant blinked and looked dubious.</p> + +<p>"I will try, of course, my Lieutenant," he said. "But we may meet with +difficulty. A runner has arrived only a moment ago at the Fortieth +Company. The Boche tanks have cut the road to Namur. They seek to get +around in back of us. The Boche planes are also bombing the entire road. +It will be difficult but I will attempt it, my Lieutenant."</p> + +<p>Dave saw the Belgian officer's face pale under its coating of blood and +dirt. The man clenched his fists in a helpless gesture, and something +akin to tears of bitter rage glistened in his haggard eyes. At that +exact moment the whole world was filled with a terrifying eerie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> scream. +The Belgians fell flat on their faces. The Lieutenant dragged Freddy and +Dave down with him, and tried to cover them with his own body.</p> + +<p>Dave knew the meaning of that awful sound. He had heard it along that +road packed with terror stricken refugees. He had heard it as he dragged +an old woman to the flimsy protection of an ox cart. His heart stood +still in his chest. The blood ceased to surge through his veins. His +lungs became locked with air, and his brain became numb and useless as +he waited those terrible few seconds. The diving Stuka's death load hit +on the far side of the road. Half of Belgium seemed to fountain up into +the sky, and what was left rocked and swayed crazily. Thunderous sound +swept over Dave and seemed actually to shove him down into the ground. +In a crazy sort of way he wondered if he was dead. Then the next thing +he realized the Belgian lieutenant was helping him up onto his feet.</p> + +<p>"It is only the direct hits that matter," the officer said in a gentle +voice, and smiled.</p> + +<p>"That was plenty direct enough for me!" Dave said and gulped.</p> + +<p>"Yes, quite!" Freddy breathed and clenched his hands to stop his fingers +trembling.</p> + +<p>"When they dive several at a time, then it is not pleasant," the Belgian +infantry officer said.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> "But one can only pray. That is the way with +war. But, about this trip to General Boulard's headquarters. You heard +what the Sergeant said? It may be very dangerous. Perhaps you would care +to wait awhile, and rest?"</p> + +<p>Something in the officer's tone made Dave jerk his head up.</p> + +<p>"Hey, I wasn't <i>that</i> scared!" he blurted out. "We're ready to start +right now. Okay, Freddy?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," the English youth replied instantly. "Let's start at once. +The sooner we get there, the better."</p> + +<p>"You are good soldiers, and I salute you," the officer murmured. "Very +well, then. And all my good wishes. After all, perhaps it is not best to +wait here. Soon we shall be very busy, here. Yes, very busy. Sergeant! +You have your orders."</p> + +<p>The tired Belgian officer clicked his heels and saluted the two boys. +They returned the salute and as Dave looked into the Belgian's eyes he +saw a look there he would never forget as long as he lived. That officer +knew what was coming toward him from the Albert Canal. He knew that he +would stay where he was and face it. And he also knew that he would +probably never live to see another sunrise. In a few words he had told +of all that was in his thoughts. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> had simply said, "Soon we shall be +very busy, here."</p> + +<p>The Belgian's loyalty and great courage stirred Dave to the depths of +his soul. He impulsively reached out and grasped the officer's hand and +shook it.</p> + +<p>"I hope you beat the stuffing out of them. Lieutenant," he said in a +rush of words. "Freddy and I will be rooting for you, and how!"</p> + +<p>"You bet we will!" the English youth echoed. "I jolly well hope you +chase them all the way back to Berlin!"</p> + +<p>The Belgian officer made no reply. He smiled at them sadly and saluted +again. The boys turned away and followed the big Sergeant through the +patch of woods to the far side where a unit of small tanks and scouting +cars was parked in under the trees. The Sergeant climbed in behind the +wheel of the nearest scouting car and motioned the two youths to get in +back. A couple of moments later the engine was doing its work and the +Sergeant was skillfully tooling the car across open fields toward the +southwest.</p> + +<p>For a few moments Dave stared at the frenzied activity of the Belgian +troops that were all around them. Inexperienced though he was in +military technique, and so forth, he instinctively knew that the brave +Belgians were making feverish preparations for a last ditch stand +against<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> the Germans. And with the picture of the Albert Canal crossing +still fresh in his memory he knew in his heart that all he saw would be +just a waste of gallant effort. Those German hordes, protected by their +swarms of planes, would go right through as though the Belgians weren't +there at all. It actually made his heart hurt to watch them and so he +slumped down in the seat of the car, and let his body sway with the +bumps, and stared moodily at the back of the driver's neck.</p> + +<p>Presently Freddy reached over and placed a hand on his knee and pressed +it.</p> + +<p>"Chin up, Dave!" he heard Freddy say. "We'll get through all right, you +wait and see."</p> + +<p>Dave shook his head and sat up a bit and grinned.</p> + +<p>"Sure we'll make it," he said. "I'm not worrying about that. I was just +thinking."</p> + +<p>"About what?" Freddy asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, just then I was thinking about that Arado I cracked up," Dave +said. "I sure feel rotten about that. I wish I could have brought it +down all in one piece."</p> + +<p>"Good grief, forget it!" Freddy gasped. "It was wonderful of you to get +it down at all. I would have killed us both, for fair. I can tell you, +now, that I was very scared when you took off. I didn't know then how +well you could fly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> but I do, now. You're a little bit of all right, +Dave. I mean that, really!"</p> + +<p>"You're swell to say that, anyway," Dave grinned. "I'm still sorry, +though, I had to go and crack it up. I don't know ... Well, I guess +a plane to me is something like what his horse is to a cow puncher. +It's ... it's almost something human."</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean, Dave."</p> + +<p>"Do you, Freddy?" Dave echoed. "Well, that's the way it is. And I'll +tell you something, but you'll probably think I'm nuts. I made an awful +punk landing when I made my first solo. Cracked up the ship. I busted a +wing and wiped the undercarriage right off, and didn't get a scratch. +But do you know? I felt so bad about it I busted right out bawling like +a kid. My instructor was scared stiff. He thought something awful had +happened to me. But when I finally cut it out he was swell about the +whole thing. He said it was the normal reaction of a fellow who could +really go for flying. It made me feel better anyway. Yeah, I sure feel +pretty punk for busting up that Arado, even though it was a German +crate."</p> + +<p>Freddy started to speak but Dave didn't even hear the first word. The +car had bounced out of a field and was being swung onto a road when the +landscape on all four sides suddenly blos<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>somed up with spouting geysers +of brilliant red flame and towering columns of oily black smoke. +Thunderous sound rushed at them and seemed to lift the small scouting +car straight up into the air.</p> + +<p>"Shrapnel barrage!" the Sergeant screamed and slammed on the brakes. +"Take cover under the car at once!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWELVE" id="CHAPTER_TWELVE"></a>CHAPTER TWELVE</h2> + +<h4><i>In the Nick of Time</i></h4> + + +<p>Huddled together like sardines under the car, the Belgian Sergeant and +the two boys pressed fingers to their ears while all about them a whole +world went mad with shot and shell. Never in all his life had Dave heard +such a bellowing roar of crashing sound. For the first few seconds his +entire body had been paralyzed with fear, but when he didn't die at once +his brain grew kind of numb, and the roaring thunder didn't seem to have +so much effect upon him. It wasn't because of a greater courage coming +to his rescue. And it wasn't a lack of fear, either. It was simply that +in the midst of a furious bombardment the minds of human beings are too +stunned by the sound to register any kind of emotion.</p> + +<p>And so the three of them just lay there under the car while the German +gunners far back expended their wrath in the form of screaming steel, +and mountains of flame and rolling thunder. In ten minutes it was all +over. The range<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> of the guns was changed and the barrage moved onward to +some other objective. Yet neither of the three moved a muscle. It was as +though each was waiting for the other to make the first move.</p> + +<p>Eventually Dave could stand the suspense no longer. He jerked up his +head without thinking and cracked it hard on the underside of the car. +He let out a yelp of pain, and the sound of his voice seemed to release +whatever was holding Freddy Farmer and the Belgian Sergeant. All three +of them crawled out from under the car and got to their feet and looked +around. Dave and Freddy gasped aloud. The Belgian Sergeant shrugged +indifferently and muttered through his teeth. There just wasn't any road +any more. It was completely lost in a vast area of smoking shell holes +that seemed to stretch out in all directions as far as the eye could +see. Blackened jagged stumps marked what had once been trees. Fields +where spring grass had been growing up were now brown acres of piled up +dirt and stones. And a spot where Dave had last seen a farm house was as +bare as the palm of his hand.</p> + +<p>"By the Saints, you two are a lucky charm!" the Sergeant suddenly +exploded and bobbed his big head up and down vigorously. "If you could +stay by my side always I would come out of this war alive without any +trouble at all. By the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> Saints of Notre Dame, yes! Look at the car. It +has not even been scratched! It is a miracle, nothing else!"</p> + +<p>It was true! The small scouting car was bathed in dust and dirt but +there wasn't so much as a scratch on it. The engine was even idling as +smooth as could be. The Belgian Sergeant stared at it almost as though +he were staring at a ghost. Then shaking his head and muttering through +his big buck teeth, he climbed in behind the wheel.</p> + +<p>"Nothing can possibly be as bad as that," he said. "Let us proceed at +once while the Good Lady still smiles upon us. Name of all things +wonderful, I can hardly believe I am still alive. <i>En avant, mes +enfants!</i>"</p> + +<p>With a sudden contempt for the shell blasted ground, that made Dave and +Freddy grin in spite of the harrowing experience through which they had +just past, the Sergeant sent the car scooting in and out around the +craters with the careless ease of driving along a wide boulevard. In +less time than it takes to tell about it he had driven clear out of the +barrage area and was skirting around a patch of woods toward another and +as yet untouched road. And to show the kind of stuff he was made of the +man began singing joyfully at the top of his voice.</p> + +<p>For the next half hour the war seemed to fade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> far away. True there were +signs of it on all sides, and above their heads, but a certain feeling +of security came to the boys as the Sergeant bumped them along roads and +across fields skirting around shell holes, artillery batteries, and +reserve troops being rushed up to the Front. Yet somehow all that didn't +touch them, now. A few hours ago they had been hiding in enemy +territory, two hunted prisoners of war. But now they were well behind +the Belgian lines and speeding toward headquarters where they would +deliver enemy position information that would be of great value to the +Allies. Two youths, sixteen and seventeen, had beaten the Germans at +their own game. Instead of revealing information of value to the +Germans, they had escaped with German information valuable to the +Allies.</p> + +<p>Dave leaned his head back and sighed restfully. It sure made a fellow +feel good to have been of some help. And it made him feel twice as good +to have a pal like Freddy Farmer along with him. Freddy had certainly +proved his mettle in the tight corners. And regardless of what he'd +said, Freddy probably would have done a better job of flying that Arado, +too. At every turn the English youth popped up with a new side to him. +He sure was glad Freddy and his ambulance had come along when they had. +And,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> gee, just how long ago was that, anyway? Three days, or three +years? It had been plenty long ago anyway.</p> + +<p>At that moment Freddy suddenly sat forward and tapped the Sergeant on +the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Why are we heading east?" he asked and pointed at the last rays of the +setting sun. "If you're trying to get to Namur, you're going in the +wrong direction."</p> + +<p>"That is so," the Sergeant called back. "But, it is necessary. The +Boches have cut the road, and we must go around them. Soon it will be +dark. It will not be so hard when it is dark. Do not worry, my little +one, we shall get there."</p> + +<p>Freddy started to argue but seemed to think better of it. He sank back +on the seat scowling thoughtfully at the setting sun. Dave looked at him +a moment, and then spoke.</p> + +<p>"What gives, Freddy?" he asked. "Do you think the Sergeant doesn't know +what he's doing?"</p> + +<p>"No, he's probably right," the English youth said. "If the Namur road +has been cut by the Germans we've got to go around them, of course. But +I've spent several summers in this part of Belgium, and...."</p> + +<p>Freddy stopped short and leaned forward once more.</p> + +<p>"Why can't we circle around them on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> west, Sergeant?" he shouted. +"Can't you cut over and take the road leading south from Wavre?"</p> + +<p>The Belgian let out a yell of consternation and stopped the car so +suddenly he almost pitched the two boys right over the back of the front +seat.</p> + +<p>"The brain of a cat I have!" he shouted and thumped a big fist against +his forehead. "But, of course, of course, my little one! Those bombs and +shells! They must have made scrambled eggs out of what I have in my +head!"</p> + +<p>Taking his foot off the brake the Belgian shifted back into low gear and +got the car underway again. At a crossroads some hundred yards ahead he +turned sharp right and fed gas to the engine. A moment later a machine +gun yammered savagely behind them. Dave twisted around in the seat and +saw an armored car bearing German army insignia racing for the turn-off +they had taken, but from the opposite direction. There was a machine gun +mounted on the car and a helmeted German soldier was striving to get +them in his range.</p> + +<p>The Belgian Sergeant took one quick glance back over his shoulder and +instantly gave the engine all the gas it could take.</p> + +<p>"A lucky charm you are indeed!" he shouted and hunched forward over the +wheel. "If you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> had not put sense in my head, and I had not turned off +on to this road, we would have run right into them. And that would have +been bad, very bad. Name of the Saints, the Lieutenant will reduce me to +a corporal when he hears of this!"</p> + +<p>Neither Dave nor Freddy bothered to make any comment. To tell the truth +they were too busy hanging on tight and trying to stay in the car as it +rocketed forward seeming virtually to leap across shell holes in the +road. The Sergeant perhaps did not have very many brains but he +certainly knew how to handle that small scouting car. He skipped across +shell holes, dodged and twisted about trees blown down across it, and +roared right through scattered wreckage of bombed supply trucks and the +like as though they weren't even there. And all the time the machine gun +farther back snarled and yammered out its song of death.</p> + +<p>The pursuing Germans had swung on to their road and were now striving +desperately to overtake them. Dave stuck his head up to see if they had +gained, but before he could see anything Freddy grabbed him around the +waist and practically threw him down onto the floor of the car.</p> + +<p>"Stay down, Dave!" the English youth shouted above the roar of the +little car's power<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>ful engine. "We've ducked enough bullets for one day. +Don't be crazy!"</p> + +<p>Dave grinned sheepishly and nodded.</p> + +<p>"That was dumb!" he said. "You're right, and thanks!"</p> + +<p>As the last left his lips a burst of bullets whined low over the car. +Dave gulped and ducked his head.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, and how!" he yelled. "Boy, those were close. If I'd been +looking back they might ... <i>Hey!</i>"</p> + +<p>At that moment the little car turned sharply to the right and seemed to +zoom right up into the air. It came down with a crashing jolt. A shower +of bush branches slithered down on the boys and they were tossed around +in the back of the car like two peas in a pod. Puffing and panting, they +struggled to brace themselves before they were pitched out head over +heels. No sooner would they get a firm hold on something than the scout +car would careen up on its side and go darting off in another direction, +and they would be bounced around again.</p> + +<p>For a good ten minutes they tore through the darkening twilight first +this way and then that way. Then suddenly the violent jolting ceased +abruptly, and the car ran along on an even keel. Covered with bumps and +bruises from head to toe, the two boys scrambled up off the floor of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +the car and flopped down on the seat. The Belgian Sergeant pushed on the +brake and brought the car to a halt under the shelter of over-hanging +tree branches. He switched the engine off and turned around and smiled +at them triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"We have lost the Boches!" he announced. "Everything is all right, now. +When it gets dark we will continue. You, my little lucky charm, I must +thank you for putting sense in my head."</p> + +<p>"That's quite, all right," Freddy said and fingered a lump behind his +right ear. "That was a fine bit of driving, Sergeant, even though you +came close to breaking our necks. Next time, though, please let us know +in time."</p> + +<p>"You said it!" Dave gasped and nursed a barked shin. "And when you do, +I'm going to jump out. Boy, talk about your wild rides!"</p> + +<p>The Belgian Sergeant laughed and gestured with his big hands.</p> + +<p>"But that was nothing!" he protested, "These little cars, they can go up +the side of a cliff. That German thing? Bah! It creeps along like a +snail. You should have been with me and the Lieutenant yesterday. Ah, +that was a ride! For a whole hour, mind you. And they were shooting at +us from all sides. But we got through without a scratch. It was +wonderful. You should have been there!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>"I think I'm glad I wasn't," Freddy said, and smiled so the Belgian +would not feel hurt. "But what, now? Where are we?"</p> + +<p>Before he would reply the Belgian stuck a dirty cigarette between his +lips and lighted up.</p> + +<p>"We wait for the darkness, and that will not be long," he finally said. +Then pointing across the field to the left, he continued, "One mile in +that direction and we strike a road that will lead us straight into the +Wavre-Namur road. Two hours at the most and we shall be there."</p> + +<p>"Unless the Germans have cut it, too," Freddy murmured.</p> + +<p>The Belgian looked at him and snorted.</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" he said in a decisive voice. "They cannot have advanced +that far. Don't worry, <i>mes enfants</i>, I will get you to Namur in no time +at all. I ... <i>Sacré!</i> Those are German tank guns!"</p> + +<p>The pounding of guns had suddenly broken out from behind them and to the +left. Not the deep booming sound of long range pieces, but the sharp +bark of small caliber guns. The sergeant pinched out his cigarette and +stuck it in his pocket and slid out of the car. He stood motionless for +a moment, head cocked on one side and listening intently to the guns. +Dave listened, too, trying to tell if they were coming closer. A strip +of woods broke up the sound, and it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> impossible for him to tell.</p> + +<p>He glanced at the sergeant and was startled to see the worried look on +the man's face. Worry and astonishment, as though the Belgian was trying +to convince himself that the truth was false. In the fast fading light +the lines of his face deepened until it became a face of shadows. +Suddenly he muttered something under his breath and pulled a Belgian +army pistol from the holster at his side.</p> + +<p>"Remain here!" he ordered in a hard voice. "This is most strange, and I +must investigate. Those cannot be German guns, but perhaps so. I will go +and look, and return at once. Remain here, and wait!"</p> + +<p>Without waiting for either of them to say a word, the Belgian glided +swiftly away from the car and was almost at once swallowed up in the +shadows cast by the trees. Dave looked at Freddy.</p> + +<p>"What do you think?" he asked. "If that's Germans coming this way, we're +crazy to stick around. Don't you think so?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," the English youth said bluntly. "But let's wait a little +bit. They may not be, and it wouldn't be quite fair dashing off and +leaving the Sergeant to walk back, you know."</p> + +<p>"Okay, we'll wait, then," Dave agreed. "Boy, but wasn't that some wild +ride! And it sure was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> lucky you spoke to him when you did. What I mean, +you saved us from a tough spot. Hey, what's that?"</p> + +<p>The tank guns had gone silent, but the yammer of a machine gun took up +the song. It sang a few notes and then became suddenly silent. Freddy +jumped out of the car and beckoned to Dave.</p> + +<p>"We'd better take a look, Dave," he said in a worried voice. "If they +are really close we wouldn't have a chance in the car. Our best bet +would be to hide out in the woods until they've passed."</p> + +<p>Dave jumped down and looked into Freddy's eyes.</p> + +<p>"You mean?" he asked in a strained voice. "You think the Sergeant bumped +into them, and they killed him?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid so," Freddy nodded and swallowed. "We'd better make sure, +though. Don't you think so?"</p> + +<p>"Okay by me," Dave said, though he didn't feel so inside. "Lead on, +Freddy. I'm right with you."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTEEN" id="CHAPTER_THIRTEEN"></a>CHAPTER THIRTEEN</h2> + +<h4><i>Bombs For Namur</i></h4> + + +<p>With the English youth picking the way, the two boys crept forward +through the woods toward the spot from whence had come the sharp burst +of machine gun fire. Before they had traveled a hundred yards a shout in +German stopped them in their tracks.</p> + +<p>"Just a Belgian dog!" the voice called out. "He was probably deserting, +so it is well that we shot him!"</p> + +<p>Dave's heart became icy cold in his chest yet at the same time bitter +resentment toward the Nazis flamed up in his brain. Then he suddenly +realized that Freddy was creeping forward on all fours, so he dropped to +the ground himself and followed. At the end of a few yards they came to +a break in the trees that gave them a view of a large field in the +distance. Three light German tanks were parked in the field. A helmeted +figure, probably an officer, was standing up in the gun turret of each. +Some sixty yards in front of the tanks two German soldiers were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> bending +over a motionless figure on the ground. It was now too dark for Dave to +get a good view of the crumpled figure on the ground. But he knew he +didn't need a clear view. That Belgian Sergeant would never drive them +to Namur, now.</p> + +<p>"The dirty rotters, the swine!" he heard Freddy's hoarse whisper at his +side. "Three light tanks against one poor Belgian sergeant. He was a +decent chap, too. Blast Hitler, I say!"</p> + +<p>"The same for the whole bunch of them!" Dave breathed angrily. "Boy, I +wish I had a machine gun right now. I'd give them plenty!"</p> + +<p>"Not against tanks, I fancy," Freddy said. "Well, that cooks it. We've +got to go it alone. Look! They're starting off again. Now, if they just +head...!"</p> + +<p>The English youth let his voice trail off, but he didn't have to finish +the sentence as far as Dave was concerned. He had the same thought. If +the tanks turned off to the right the scouting car would not be +discovered and they could continue their journey in it. But if the tanks +turned to the left, toward the woods in which they crouched, it would be +good-bye scouting car. The tanks would spot it for sure, and blow it to +bits with their armor piercing guns if they didn't take it for their own +use.</p> + +<p>Dave's heart seemed to stop beating, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> held his breath, as the +tank engines clattered up into life and the metal clad ground bugs +started to move forward. Then suddenly he wanted to yell with relief. +The farthest tank from them wheeled around on its treads to the right. +The second tank in line followed suit, and then the third. Making a +racket that echoed and reechoed back and forth across the war swept +countryside, the squadron of tanks moved out of the field, rumbled down +over the lip of a slope in the ground and were soon lost to view. Dave +let the air out of his lungs and whistled softly.</p> + +<p>"Boy, is that a break for us!" he grunted. "We can use that scouting +car, now."</p> + +<p>"You're jolly well right we can!" Freddy cried and leaped to his feet. +"It's a Renault, too, and I've driven Renaults lots."</p> + +<p>"Then you're elected," Dave said. "So let's go!"</p> + +<p>In less than a minute they were back in the scouting car and Freddy was +kicking the engine into life. The instant it roared up he shifted into +gear and sent the car rolling around to the left in the direction the +dead Belgian Sergeant had indicated.</p> + +<p>"I hope he knew what he was talking about!" Freddy yelled above the +sound of the clashing of gears. "After that crazy ride I'm not sure at +all where we are. But, I'll recognize that Na<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>mur road when we come to +it. One of the few decent roads in Belgium. Well, we're off!"</p> + +<p>The English youth punctuated the last by ramming the car into high and +stepping on the gas. Dave's head snapped back and he grabbed wildly for +a hold and found one.</p> + +<p>"Gosh, you and that Sergeant!" he gasped. "But, it's okay, now. Let her +rip, Freddy. Say! It's plenty different riding in the front seat of one +of these things, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>It was different, too. It was much easier on the bones and tender spots +of the human body. Though the car was racing across a rough uneven +surface, Dave didn't get half the bouncing around sitting up front. But +suddenly when a group of trees came rushing at them and Freddy yanked +down on the wheel and swerved past with but a couple of feet to spare, +Dave felt his hair stand up straight on his head.</p> + +<p>"It's fun driving one of these things!" he heard Freddy shout. "A +Renault's a good bus. My father has one."</p> + +<p>"Sure, but I'm the passenger, don't forget!" Dave shouted back. "How +about some lights? It's getting pretty dark."</p> + +<p>"I guess we'd better," Freddy replied and flicked up a switch on the +dashboard.</p> + +<p>Two pale beams of light swept out in front of the car. They helped some, +but they were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> considerably dimmed so as not to be easily spotted from +the air. And they most certainly didn't put Dave much at ease. Dark +objects continued to whip into view and then go slipping by as Freddy +skillfully wrenched the wheel this way or that. And then suddenly they +bounced out of a field onto a dirt road. They had actually turned on to +the road and were tearing along it toward the west before Dave realized +they were on it.</p> + +<p>"Holy smokes, you're good, and no fooling!" he cried. "You sure know how +to drive. Well, the Sergeant was right about this road anyway. Wonder +how far it is to the main road? Hey, what's the idea of stopping?"</p> + +<p>Freddy had suddenly slammed on the brakes, swung to the side of the +road, and switched off the lights.</p> + +<p>"Planes," he said. "Hear them? They might see our lights. Thought so. +They're German, and low, too!"</p> + +<p>"And coming right toward us!" Dave said as he twisted around in the +seat. "Gee, you've got ears, too!"</p> + +<p>Throbbing, pulsating thunder was rolling toward them out of the sky. The +planes were not more than a couple of thousand feet up in the sky, and +from the sound there were at least a couple of squadrons of them. The +two boys<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> squinted up at the now dark sky, and then suddenly they saw +the armada of wings sweeping forward against the stars. They showed no +lights, but it was easy to pick them out by the bluish glow of the +engine exhaust plumes trailing backward.</p> + +<p>"Gee, there's a hundred of them, at least!" Dave breathed. "They look +like Heinkels to me. Wonder where they're headed? Gosh, look at them, +Freddy. Aren't they something?"</p> + +<p>Freddy didn't reply. He sat peering up at the death armada as it winged +by, and Dave suddenly saw the frown on his friend's face.</p> + +<p>"What are you frowning about?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm wondering," Freddy replied. "Unless I'm mistaken those chaps are +heading for the same place we are. Namur. Yes, I'm almost sure of it!"</p> + +<p>"So what?" Dave murmured.</p> + +<p>"So I fancy there'll be very little of it left," Freddy said. "I'll bet +you five pounds they know Belgian G.H.Q. is at Namur, and they're going +over there to knock it out. Well, all we can do is keep on going, I +guess."</p> + +<p>The roar of the bombers was fading away to the south. Freddy started the +car again and switched on the lights. At the end of five minutes or so +they suddenly came upon a well paved broad highway.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>"That poor Belgian Sergeant was right, bless him!" Freddy shouted +happily and turned south on the road.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but look!" Dave yelled and pointed ahead. "Look at that red glow +way down there. Gee, it looks like the whole horizon is on fire. And, +hey! Hear that? Hear those sounds. I bet that's those planes dropping +bombs."</p> + +<p>"And I bet that's Namur!" Freddy cried and speeded up the car. "Blast +it, we're too late I'm afraid, Dave. Belgian H.Q. has probably cleared +out long ago. We'll never find them there, if that's Namur!"</p> + +<p>For the next few minutes neither of the boys spoke. They both sat tense +in the seat staring at the ever increasing red glow that mounted higher +and higher up into the horizon sky. A red glow that was mixed with +streaks of yellow, and flashes of vivid orange. And all the time the +<i>br-r-ump! br-r-ump! br-r-ump</i> of detonating high explosive bombs came +to them above the roar of the scouting car's engine. In a weird sort of +way it reminded Dave of a movie he had once seen. He couldn't remember +the title but it was a movie about the world coming to an end. The +scenic effects had been like what he was witnessing now. Only they +hadn't been half so vivid nor so heart chilling as this. That had been a +movie. This was real war. Way off there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> in the distance a city was +probably dying. The bombs of war-making maniacs were smashing a living +city into powdery ruins. It was like a horrible nightmare. And it was, +because it was true!</p> + +<p>Freddy suddenly slowing down the car made Dave tear his eyes from the +terrifying spectacle in the distance. He looked at his friend in sudden +alarm.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Freddy?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The English youth pointed down the highway.</p> + +<p>"Lights coming our way," he said. "We'd better pull over and see what's +what. I was going to stop, anyway. There's something strange about this, +Dave."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I know what you mean, too!" Dave said as he suddenly realized. +"The highway's been empty ever since we came onto it. We haven't passed +a thing, or met anything."</p> + +<p>"Right you are," Freddy nodded. "I've been wondering about that. But, +we're meeting something, now. I say, that's not a car. The lights aren't +together. They must be motorcycles."</p> + +<p>"They are!" Dave said. "Hear their motors? Boy, are they stepping +along."</p> + +<p>"Phew!" Freddy suddenly cried out. "Supposing they're German? We'd +better hop out and...."</p> + +<p>"Too late, now!" Dave cried as the lights<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> swerved toward their side of +the road. "They've seen our lights. And, here they are, too!"</p> + +<p>The last word had no more than left Dave's lips than two army +motorcycles roared up beside the car and brakes screamed to a halt. Dave +saw two shadowy figures vault from the saddles and then the white beam +of a flashlight flung straight into his face blinded him. The blood +running out of his face felt like cold water. He tried to shout that +they were not soldiers but the words would not come. Then he almost +sobbed aloud as a sharp voice spoke in French.</p> + +<p>"Who are you? What is this? <i>Nom de Dieu!</i> Two boys in a scouting car. +Well, have you lost your tongues? What is all this, I ask?"</p> + +<p>"We are trying to reach General Boulard's headquarters," Freddy said +before Dave could open his mouth. "We have important information. Will +you please take that light out of my eyes? We are not armed, as you can +see."</p> + +<p>The bright light was lowered but it was several seconds before the boys +could adjust their eyes to the sudden change from brilliant light to +almost pitch darkness. Then they saw two Belgian corporals with dispatch +rider brassards fastened about the left sleeve of their tunics. Each had +his army pistol drawn and held ready for use.</p> + +<p>"General Boulard?" one of them grunted.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> "Why do you wish to see him, +eh? And what are you doing in this scouting car? So you stole it, yes? +And I suppose you were planning to take it to your family and fill it +with your family's furniture? Well...."</p> + +<p>"Nuts!" Dave suddenly yelled at them. "We're not Belgians. He's English, +and I'm American. We've escaped from Germany with valuable information. +A Belgian lieutenant gave us this car, and with a sergeant to drive it. +He's back there dead. We almost bumped into three German tanks, and...."</p> + +<p>"German tanks?" one of the dispatch riders broke in excitedly. "Where?"</p> + +<p>"Back over there a ways," Dave said and pointed in the general direction +from whence they had come. "Is General Boulard's headquarters still in +Namur?"</p> + +<p>The dispatch riders didn't answer at once. They looked at each other, +shrugged, and looked quite alarmed.</p> + +<p>"If these infants saw Boche tanks," one of them murmured, "then it must +be a flanking movement to cut us off from Brussels. We must continue on +at once!"</p> + +<p>"At once!" his partner agreed and turned to his motorcycle.</p> + +<p>"I say there, wait!" Freddy shouted angrily. "Is General Boulard at +Namur?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>"There is nothing at Namur, except death and the cursed Boches!" one of +the dispatch riders shouted. "We go to the General's new headquarters, +now. Follow us and we will show you the way. But, hurry! If you did see +tanks where you say, then we are practically surrounded by the swine. +There is not a moment to lose, unless you care to be shot or at best +taken prisoner by the butchers!"</p> + +<p>As though to give emphasis to their words the dispatch riders vaulted +onto their saddles and opened up their motorcycle engines in a roar of +sound that seemed to bounce clear up to the stars and back again. They +were off like a shot and over a hundred yards ahead before Freddy could +turn the small scouting car around. But once he had it turned around the +young English youth didn't waste any time. He fairly flew after the two +motorcycles while Dave clung fast to the side of the car and silently +marveled some more at Freddy's masterful driving.</p> + +<p>The Belgians roared a mile up the road, then swerved off to the left +onto a road that led toward the northwest.</p> + +<p>"They're heading for Brussels, I'm pretty sure!" Freddy shouted as the +wind howled past the car. "That Sergeant was right when he said it looks +bad. It not only looks, but <i>is</i>!"</p> + +<p>"The Germans sure must be pretty deep into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> the country," Dave agreed. +"They.... Hey, Freddy! Gosh ... look! The whole road is exploding! +<i>Freddy</i>...!"</p> + +<p>The road ahead had suddenly burst open to spout a sea of blinding light +and crashing sound. The two dispatch riders seemed to melt into it and +disappear. Invisible hands grabbed hold of the small scouting car and +tossed it straight up into the air. From a million miles away Dave heard +Freddy screaming his name. Then he had the feeling of spinning end over +end off through space that was filled with white hot fire and billowing +thick black smoke. A hundred million wild, crazy thoughts whirled around +in his brain, and then everything turned black, and became as silent as +the grave.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FOURTEEN" id="CHAPTER_FOURTEEN"></a>CHAPTER FOURTEEN</h2> + +<h4><i>Orders From Headquarters</i></h4> + + +<p>It was a kindly face, and the smile was warm and friendly, yet somehow +Dave Dawson couldn't keep it in focus. It would be close to him one +moment and seem very real. Then a cloud would pass across in front of it +and the face would fade out completely. He felt as though he had been +trying to hold that face in his vision for years and years. He knew that +the mouth was talking to him, too, but he couldn't hear a word.</p> + +<p>Everything was so still and quiet about him, and so white. Everything +that his eyes could see was white ... except that kind looking face. +He'd stare at it hard, trying to bold it in focus, and then his eyes +would become so heavy, and his brain would become so sleepy. He guessed +that was the trouble; why he couldn't keep seeing that face for very +long at a time. He'd fall off to sleep.</p> + +<p>Or was he actually asleep all the time and was this a dream? But why was +he sleeping? He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> shouldn't be sleeping. He remembered, now! He and +Freddy were following those two Belgian dispatch riders toward General +Boulard's headquarters. Something funny, though, had happened. What +could it have been? Surely he hadn't just fallen off to sleep while +Freddy stuck to the wheel. <i>No</i>, of course not! More of it was coming +back! There had been a terrific explosion in the road ahead, and the two +dispatch riders had disappeared right into it. Yes, he remembered now +what had happened. But, where was he? Why was everything white? Why was +that kind looking, smiling face fading away from him so often? And why +couldn't he hear those words the moving lips were saying? Was he dead? +Was this what it was like when you died? And Freddy! Where was his pal, +Freddy Farmer? He tried to find suitable answers in his brain, but his +head ached so, and looking at that fading face made him so sleepy ... so +sleepy....</p> + +<p>And then after a long time the face suddenly stopped fading away into +the depths of foggy mist. It stayed right where it was, and when the +lips moved he actually heard what they said.</p> + +<p>"How do you feel, my lad?" they said. "Does your head hurt very much?"</p> + +<p>His head? Why should those lips ask if his head hurt? His head didn't +hurt at all! As a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> matter, of fact, nothing about him hurt. He felt +fine. He felt swell. What was going on, anyway? Holy smokes! He was in a +bed. Under sheets and blankets, and everything. He pushed himself up on +his elbow as easy as pie, and looked around. He saw that he was in a +hospital. There was a long line of beds down each side of the huge room +painted so white it almost hurt your eyes. And there was a man, a +soldier in every bed because he could see the uniforms hanging on the +hooks on the wall. And that face! It belonged to a captain in the +British Army. The medical corps! The insignia was on the lapels of his +tunic.</p> + +<p>"Steady, my lad!" the officer cautioned in a soothing voice. "Tell me, +how's the head feel? The pain gone, sonny?"</p> + +<p>Dave blinked and was somehow a little startled to realize that he could +talk. He vaguely remembered something about trying to talk a little +while ago but being unable to utter a word.</p> + +<p>"My head's okay, sir," he said. "I feel great. Where am I, anyway? And +what's it all about? This is a hospital, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>The medical officer let out a great sigh as though he had been holding +his breath for a long time.</p> + +<p>"Good, splendid!" he finally said. "You're out of it at last. You'll be +all right, now, my lad.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> But you jolly well had a close one, I can tell +you! Might have remained in a coma for weeks, and months. A ticklish +thing, concussion shock. Want something to eat?"</p> + +<p>"Sure, sure," Dave replied absently. "But, hey, I remember, now. Where's +my pal? Where's Freddy Farmer? He was with me when that road exploded!"</p> + +<p>"Road exploded, eh?" the medical officer said and raised an eyebrow. "A +land mine, probably. So your friend's name is Freddy Farmer? An English +lad, isn't he?"</p> + +<p>"And the very best!" Dave said with feeling. "But where is he? Gosh, +sir, please tell me! I've got to know. He's ... he's all right?"</p> + +<p>The officer leaned down and patted his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Your little friend's quite all right," he said and pointed to Freddy +Farmer asleep in the next bed. "He came out of it for the last time a +few hours ago, but he started raving about a lot of crazy things, so I +gave him something to make him sleep some more. He'll be fit as a fiddle +when he wakes up. Now, what about this land mine ... or the road +exploding, as you say?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know exactly," Dave said. "Freddy was driving the Belgian +scouting car, and we were following a couple of dispatch riders to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +General Boulard's headquarters. We had just turned off the Wavre-Namur +road, I guess it was, when <i>blamm</i>! Everything went dark. But how'd we +get here? Somebody picked us up last night? Hey, what's so funny about +that?"</p> + +<p>The officer wiped a broad smile from his lips.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't laughing at you, my lad," he said. "It's amusing, though, to +witness the final effects of concussion shock. My boy, you weren't +picked up last night. You've been here in this British military +hospital, at Lille, for eight days!"</p> + +<p>Dave was speechless. His eyes widened in blank amazement. He just +couldn't believe he had heard correctly. Surely his ears must be playing +him tricks. <i>Eight days?</i></p> + +<p>"That's right, my lad," the medical officer said, reading Dave's +bewildered thoughts. "It's exactly eight days this morning, since they +brought you two in here."</p> + +<p>"But eight days?" Dave cried. "But ... but I'm not even hurt! There are +no bandages on me, and I don't ache any place. How could I have been +here for eight days?"</p> + +<p>"I'll not give you the medical explanation, because you wouldn't +understand, probably," the officer said with a smile. "But what +happened, was something like this. The concussion shock of that +explosion, whatever it was, temporarily paralyzed certain nerve centers +in your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> body and in your head. Why you didn't receive physical injury +is just one of those mysterious things that happen often in war. A shell +can blow every strip of clothing off a soldier's back, blow off his +shoes, and toss him fifty yards, but not mark him with a single scratch. +That's what must have happened to you and your friend. Perhaps, too, +being in the scouting car protected you from things flying around. But, +certain nerve centers were paralyzed. There's little we can do for that +outside of a few injections. It's up to the patient's make-up, his +constitution, and such. You probably don't remember waking up several +times, do you?"</p> + +<p>Dave shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No sir," he said. "But I sort of half remember something about seeing a +face that kept fading out, and seeing lips move, but I couldn't hear the +words."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the way it is usually," the medical officer said and +nodded. "That was just parts of the nerve system returning to normal. +You could see a little but you couldn't hear. Or you could feel but +still not have the power to speak. The medical term for that has +thirty-six letters, I believe. I don't even think I could pronounce it +correctly now, anyway. But, you're fit now, my lad. I'll have the nurse +bring you in something to eat."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>"Gosh!" Dave gasped as a sudden thought struck him. "Have I gone eight +days without eating?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly," the other said with a laugh. "No, several times you both woke +up enough to take food, though of course you don't remember it. The rest +of the time we gave you injections. But, my word, the things you two +raved about! You insisted, rather your friend insisted on seeing General +Caldwell, Chief of Staff. You claimed you had been prisoners in Germany, +and had seen a very important map. Your friend was very annoyed when we +refused to summon the General at once, and gave him something to put him +to sleep, instead. Really...!"</p> + +<p>"But that's true, that's true!" Dave burst out. "We were prisoners, and +we saw a map of the German plan of invasion. We escaped to the Belgian +lines in a plane we stole. Then the sergeant driving us to Namur was +killed. We met some Belgian dispatch riders and they were showing us the +way to General Boulard's headquarters when the whole road exploded. It's +true, sir!"</p> + +<p>The medical captain's eyes were now the size of saucers. He stood +staring down at Dave in confounded amazement.</p> + +<p>"I say, my lad, go a bit easy," he began. "I guess you're not yet out of +that coma. Now, just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> lie back, and...."</p> + +<p>"I'm fine, I'm okay!" Dave shouted excitedly. "Honest! It's all true, +sir."</p> + +<p>The officer continued to stare at him in puzzled bewilderment, and then +Freddy's voice from the next bed caused them both to look his way.</p> + +<p>"I say, hello, Dave!" the English youth cried. "They said you were all +right, and then I guess I fell asleep again. Good grief, this is a +hospital, isn't it? By George, it all comes back to me now! That road +blowing up. But how in the world did we get here?"</p> + +<p>The medical officer didn't bother to answer the question. He hurried +over to Freddy's bedside and took a good look at him. Freddy gave him a +puzzled frown, then his face suddenly lighted up.</p> + +<p>"I say, I've seen you before, haven't I, sir?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"This morning," the medical man nodded. "Then you're all ship shape, +too? But, listen, my lad, do you two still insist upon seeing General +Caldwell, Chief of British Staff?"</p> + +<p>Asking the question was like turning a magic key in Freddy. The English +youth became very excited at once, and breathlessly explained everything +in more detail than had Dave.</p> + +<p>"Yes sir," he finished up. "We have some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> valuable information, I'm +sure. If you could loan us a car, sir, and tell us where we can find the +General, we'll go at once."</p> + +<p>"You two will go nowhere just now!" the officer said sternly. "Bless my +soul, after what you've been through? Certainly not! However, there may +be something to all this. I'll get the General on the wire and tell him +about you two. His headquarters are not far away. He'll send one of his +Staff, or perhaps come himself. This whole thing is almost fantastic! +You're sure you're not trying to pull my leg, fool me?"</p> + +<p>"Word of honor, sir," Freddy said solemnly.</p> + +<p>The medical officer scowled and hesitated a moment. Then he shrugged and +hurried out of the ward.</p> + +<p>Dave looked at Freddy and grinned happily.</p> + +<p>"Boy, am I glad to see you!" he exclaimed. "According to the Doc we +should be dead, by rights, or something. Instead, we just got our nerve +centers knocked haywire. Say, do you know how long we've been here? Did +he tell you when you woke up last time?"</p> + +<p>"I guess he didn't have the chance," the English youth said with a wry +grin. "I started yelling for them to take us to the General, and they +thought I was completely off my topper. Stuck a needle in me and I +popped off like a kitten. We've been here last night or since this +morn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>ing, haven't we? And where the dickens are we, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Hold your hat, Freddy, here it comes," Dave said with a chuckle. "We've +been here eight days, he told me."</p> + +<p>Freddy's jaw dropped and his eyes bugged out so far you could have +knocked them off like marbles on sticks. Then he flushed and laughed +scornfully.</p> + +<p>"Come off it, Dave!" he protested. "Don't give me any of that kind of +tosh. My word! Eight days, my hat!"</p> + +<p>"No kidding, that's what he said," Dave insisted. And then he started to +give Freddy the medical officer's description of what had happened to +them, and their unknown, to them, actions during the eight day period.</p> + +<p>He had almost finished when the medical captain came hurrying back into +the ward. At his heels were two male orderlies in hospital white. Dave +broke off what he was saying and stared questioningly. The medical +officer looked very much excited, and also very much impressed.</p> + +<p>"Take them to my receiving office," he said to the orderlies and stepped +to the side.</p> + +<p>Neither Dave nor Freddy had the chance to ask the questions that hovered +on their lips. The orderlies took hold of their beds and started<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +wheeling them down the aisle to the double doors at the end. They passed +through another ward and then were wheeled into a fair sized room that +was fitted up more as an office than a hospital room.</p> + +<p>"That's fine," the captain said. "Return to your wards now."</p> + +<p>The orderlies retreated and the captain looked at Dave and Freddy in +surprise and admiration.</p> + +<p>"Well, bless me!" he exclaimed. "I certainly didn't know I had two young +heroes under my charge. I had thought you were just two lads caught up +in the rush of things. General Caldwell is rushing over here, now, by +car. He has heard about you two."</p> + +<p>"About us?" Dave gasped. "But, heck, how could he have heard about us?"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" Freddy exclaimed in a tone of awed wonder. "How could he have +heard of us?"</p> + +<p>"Through the Belgian High Command, I believe," the captain said. "It +seems that Belgian infantry lieutenant reported your little flying +incident to his commander. Also what you had told him. It was passed on +up until it reached General Boulard. General Boulard, it seems, +contacted General Caldwell to see if you lads had gotten through to him. +The lieutenant, of course, did not know what had happened to you after +you drove off in the scouting car with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> Sergeant. But, I can tell +you, General Caldwell is most anxious to meet you. By jove, he almost +broke my ear drums with his shouting. Yes, I fancy that you two chaps +are rather famous, now, you know?"</p> + +<p>"Rot, sir," Freddy said with true British modesty. "I fancy any one +could have done it. And a much better job of it, too. Is it true, sir, +that we've been here eight days?"</p> + +<p>"And nights, as well," the medical officer nodded. "But don't look +alarmed, my lad. That sort of thing is not unusual. And you're both +safely out of it, now. A day or two of rest, and all the food you can +eat, and you'll be like new again."</p> + +<p>"I'm okay, right now," Dave said stoutly. "But there's something you +didn't explain, sir, How did we get here? Who found us, and what?"</p> + +<p>"It's a bit sketchy," the medical officer said with a frown. "As far as +I could learn a Belgian ambulance driver came across you and saw that +you both weren't dead, and put you in his bus. His own hospital was +being evacuated because of shell fire, and so he continued on westward. +He reached a receiving station of ours and dumped his load there. You +two, and three Belgian gunners. Anyway, from that point you were brought +here to me. And here you are. It was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> something like that, anyway. +Doubtless you'll never know the real facts. But, I certainly shouldn't +worry about that, if I were you. Simply bless your lucky stars, and let +it go at that."</p> + +<p>"Jeepers!" Dave breathed softly. "Lucky stars? I must have a million of +them, I guess. You, too, Freddy. Right?"</p> + +<p>"Quite!" The English youth nodded. "Dashed if it isn't like some fairy +tale one of those writer chaps would think up."</p> + +<p>"And how!" Dave grunted and shook his head. "My gosh! A Stuka bomb drops +on me and I wake up hours later and miles away. Then a land mine, or +something, blows up in my face, and I wake up <i>eight days</i> later, and +gosh knows <i>how</i> far away. I sure do get around."</p> + +<p>"Well, better not make a habit of it, my lad," the medical officer +chuckled. "The third time, you know?"</p> + +<p>"Hey, those eight days!" Dave suddenly exclaimed. "What's been +happening? Who's winning? Are the Allies beating up the Germans? Gee, I +sure hope so!"</p> + +<p>The smile fled from the medical officer's face and he became very grave. +He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it abruptly. At that moment the +office door swung open and a group of five tired eyed British officers +entered the room.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> A big man, with coal black hair and steel grey eyes, +led the party. Even without looking at his uniform with its rows of +decoration ribbons, and high rank insignia, Dave knew at once that the +man was General Caldwell, chief of British Staff. The captain swung +around and clicked his heels.</p> + +<p>"Ah, there you are, sir," he greeted the General. "And here, sir, are +your two young lads. This is the American chap, Dave Dawson. And this is +one of our own lads. Freddy Farmer. Boys, General Caldwell, chief of +British Staff. You'd like me to retire, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, of course not, Captain," General Caldwell said in a brisk tone. +Then turning his steel grey eyes on the boys he smiled faintly. "So, you +are the two, eh?" he said. "I've heard quite a bit about you. Now, who +wants to talk first? I want to hear everything."</p> + +<p>"You tell him about it, Freddy," Dave said promptly. "You remembered +more things on that map than I did, anyway."</p> + +<p>Freddy flushed and looked embarrassed. The General smiled and perched +himself on a corner of the bed, while his officers gathered around.</p> + +<p>"All right, Freddy," he said. "Freddy Farmer, isn't it? Oh yes, of +course. All right, Freddy, let's have it, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes sir," the English youth said, and began talking in a low but clear +voice.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIFTEEN" id="CHAPTER_FIFTEEN"></a>CHAPTER FIFTEEN</h2> + +<h4><i>Belgium Gives Up!</i></h4> + + +<p>As Freddy recounted their experiences one by one Dave checked them in +his own mind. Presently, though, he only half listened to his pal. He +became fascinated looking at the British Chief of Staff. Many times he +had seen General Caldwell's picture in the papers back home. And he had +read a lot of the General's reputation as a fighter and leader of men. +It thrilled him through and through to see the great man sitting just a +few feet from him. It was another great experience he would remember +always.</p> + +<p>The one thing that pleased Dave most about the famous general was that +he looked exactly like what Dave had always believed a general should +look like. Tall, strong looking, and a face that could be stern and hard +as rock. Right now the General could indeed be made entirely of solid +rock. He didn't so much as blink an eye as Freddy talked. Not a muscle +in his face moved. And his steel grey eyes instead of looking into +Freddy's, looked at Freddy's lips as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> though to draw the words out. He +remained that way right up until Freddy had spoken his last word. Then +General Caldwell took his eyes off Freddy's lips and stared unblinkingly +at the opposite wall.</p> + +<p>"Well done, lads," he suddenly said, speaking in a soft voice that +seemed strange coming from his stern looking face. "I'll certainly see +that others hear of this, you can mark my words. And you, America! Dave +Dawson, can you add anything to the story?"</p> + +<p>Dave furrowed his brows in thought for a moment, then shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No, guess not, General," he said. "Except that Freddy didn't tell you +half of the things he did to get us out of jams. He...."</p> + +<p>"Rot!" Freddy snorted. "Who got us out of that room? And who flew that +plane and didn't break our necks, I'd like to know?"</p> + +<p>"Yeah?" Dave grinned at him. "Well, who stopped the sergeant from +running us smack into those Germans? And who stopped those wild Belgians +from stabbing us with their bayonets? And who drove that scouting car +when the sergeant had been killed? And who...?"</p> + +<p>"All right, all right, boys!" General Caldwell broke it up. "You both +did splendid jobs, and that's fine. And now, about that map. Let's go +back to that. Just a minute."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>The General turned and looked at one of his officers.</p> + +<p>"Let's have that map, Saunders," he said.</p> + +<p>A major whipped a rolled map from under his arm and passed it over. +Another officer got a table and moved it between the two beds. A third +officer dug up thumb tacks some place, and the General unrolled the map +and tacked it flat on the table.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said in his soft voice and leaned over the map. "This little +town here. It's named Spontin. Do you remember if there was a colored +pin there?"</p> + +<p>The boys bent over and peered at the place on the map where the General +had put a finger tip. Freddy answered first.</p> + +<p>"Yes sir," he said. "There was a blue pin there. In fact, sir, there +were three blue pins all in a line. About a quarter of an inch apart. I +remember that distinctly."</p> + +<p>"I see," the General murmured. "And do you recall if there was a date +printed under those pins?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there was!" Dave cried. "Wait a minute. Yes, it was May Sixteenth. +I'll bet on it!"</p> + +<p>"No need of that, my boy," General Caldwell said quietly, and moved his +finger. "Now, here. At Vervins, in France. What about that?"</p> + +<p>"A blue pin also, sir," Freddy spoke up. "And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> the date marked under it +was May Eighteenth."</p> + +<p>"And here at Guise?" General Caldwell asked and moved his finger across +the map again.</p> + +<p>"Check on the blue pin!" Dave said.</p> + +<p>"And I'm pretty sure that date was May Nineteenth, sir," Freddy said.</p> + +<p>General Caldwell didn't move his finger any more. He straightened up and +looked around at his officers. They all nodded together and looked very +grave. A little bit of panic raced through Dave.</p> + +<p>"We're all wet, General?" he blurted out. "You think we've just made all +this up? So help me, honest, we...."</p> + +<p>Dave cut himself off short as the Chief of Staff shook his head and gave +him the ghost of a smile.</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, not at all, my boy," he said. "As they would say in +the States, I was just checking up. You two most certainly saw the +German plan of invasion attack and execution."</p> + +<p>"We could be a bit mistaken about the dates, sir," Freddy said in a +hesitating voice. "But I'm pretty sure those we gave you were correct."</p> + +<p>"They were," the General said, and there was a faint ironic edge to his +voice. "You saw what the Germans <i>planned</i> to do. We saw them <i>do</i> it! +They occupied Spontin on the Sixteenth, Ver<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>vins on the Eighteenth, and +Guise on the Nineteenth. That's a matter of history, now."</p> + +<p>"Good grief!" Freddy exclaimed with a sob in his voice. "They've gained +that much, sir?"</p> + +<p>"And much more," General Caldwell said grimly and took a little box from +his tunic pocket. "Now, I have a very important job for you two. Very +important! A whole lot depends on your memories, so sharpen them up +well. Here is a box of pins. I want you two lads to try and put a pin in +this map for every pin you saw in that Intelligence map. Colors don't +matter. These here are all the same. All white, as you see. Now, study +this map and shake up your memories well. And here's a couple of +pencils, too. Write down all the dates you can remember. And put them +under the right pins, of course."</p> + +<p>"Gosh, there must have been a couple of hundred pins on that map, sir!" +Dave said in a weak voice.</p> + +<p>"Just stick in the pins you remember," General Caldwell said quietly. +"And the dates, too. All right, let's get at it, shall we?"</p> + +<p>It was well over an hour later when Freddy and Dave leaned back from the +map well nigh mentally exhausted.</p> + +<p>"Anything else would be just a wild guess, sir," Freddy said. "I +wouldn't be sure of it at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> all."</p> + +<p>"Me too," Dave said. "I'd just get all balled up. Those are all I can +remember."</p> + +<p>General Caldwell seemed not even to hear them. Once again he was like +something made out of solid rock. He sat forward a little, an elbow on +the edge of the table and his broad chin cupped in the palm of his hand. +His eyes were fixed on the map, moving from pin to pin. The other +officers, and the medical captain stood like statues, almost not daring +to breathe. The silence that hung over the office was so charged that +Dave was filled with the crazy desire to let out a yell, just to see +what would happen. But, of course, he didn't so much as let out a peep. +Like the others, he waited motionless for the General to speak.</p> + +<p>Presently the General raised his head and smiled at them.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I most certainly will make it a point that others be told about +you two," he said. "I know His Majesty King George will certainly be +interested to hear it. You have done a splendid job, boys. I'm proud of +you. All England will be proud of you, too. And, as you know, Freddy, +England never forgets."</p> + +<p>"But, sir," Freddy began as his face got red with embarrassment. "But, +sir, if the Germans have advanced so far what good is the informa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>tion +we've given you? We've given it to you too late."</p> + +<p>"In war it's never too late," General Caldwell said quietly. "True, if I +could have seen the map the day you did, why, perhaps things might now +be different. But even at that you can't tell. No, lad, the information +has not come to me too late. In fact, it has come to me just in time. I +think, boys, that this information will save a considerable part of the +British Army in France and Belgium."</p> + +<p>The General suddenly got to his feet, and Dave gulped as he saw the +fiery look that leaped into the officer's eyes.</p> + +<p>"It depends a lot on the King of the Belgians," he said as though he +were talking to himself. "If he lets us down, exposes our left flank, it +will be bad. But, without this information I have now, it could well be +twice as bad."</p> + +<p>"Then there's something to that rumor, sir?" the medical officer spoke +up. "The Belgians may quit?"</p> + +<p>"It's more than rumor," General Caldwell said in a hard voice. "But I +pray to God they don't. Saunders! Bring this map along, will you? And +Freddy, and you, Dave, it was a job well done. I'm proud of you. Very +proud. You'll hear more of this, later, mark you."</p> + +<p>As the two boys stared wide eyed and open<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> mouthed, General Caldwell and +his Staff officers clicked their heels and saluted smartly. The boys +were still in their Seventh Heaven trance when the medical officer +returned after seeing the General and his officers to their cars +outside.</p> + +<p>"A red letter day for you two, what?" he beamed.</p> + +<p>Dave gulped for air and slowly came back to earth.</p> + +<p>"Boy oh boy!" he breathed. "What do you know! A salute from a General! +Gosh! Say, Captain, could we have some food, and our clothes, now, +maybe?"</p> + +<p>"All the food you can put in your stomachs," the medical officer said. +"But jolly well no clothes. You two young heroes stay in bed for a few +more days, at least. Mind you, now, that's an order. I may not be a +general, but I'm jolly well in charge of this hospital!"</p> + +<p>And the medical captain meant exactly what he said. Both Dave and Freddy +begged and pleaded to be allowed to get up. They had found that the +hospital was terribly short handed, and they were both anxious to do +what they could to help. Besides, staying in bed thinking and talking, +and talking and thinking was slowly driving them crazy. Regardless of +what the General had said each nursed the tiny fear that they had +arrived too late with their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> information. They now knew how far the +German hordes really had smashed through toward the coast of France and +Belgium, and even to their untrained minds it held horrible and terrible +significance.</p> + +<p>But the medical captain stuck to his order, and would not let them go. +On the second day after the visit by General Caldwell they were allowed +to get up and wander about the hospital wards at will. It was then they +discovered that every one in the hospital had learned of their brave and +courageous work, and the wounded soldiers heaped praises upon them from +all sides. Yet, underneath the praise and the attempts by the soldiers +to be cheerful, there was a note of worry, and strain, and a sort of +breathless waiting. Dave and Freddy caught the feeling at once and it +served to add to the doubt and fears in their own minds that all they +had done, and all they had suffered had gone for nought.</p> + +<p>Everybody was waiting, waiting. Waiting for what, they did not know. Or +if they did they kept it to themselves. News of the battles sifted +gradually into the hospital wards. Some of it was true, and a lot of it +was false. But all of it rasped nerves and cut deep into the tortured +minds of men.</p> + +<p>And then, on the third day, it happened!</p> + +<p>The news flew from lip to lip, and a pall of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> misery and bitterness hung +over the entire hospital. Belgium has quit! The Belgians have thrown +down their guns and given up! The whole left side of the British Army is +now exposed to the Germans racing down out of Holland! On the south the +French and the British have been split by a German wedge driven straight +across France to Abbeville on the Channel coast. The entire British +Army, and part of the French, is surrounded on three sides. There is +only one door of escape left open. That door is Dunkirk!</p> + +<p>The instant they heard the news Dave and Freddy rushed to the office of +the medical captain. They found there a very worried and very harassed +man. He was just hanging up on the telephone when they burst in. He saw +them, started to wave them outside, but suddenly checked the motion.</p> + +<p>"Come in, you two," he called to them. "How do you feel?"</p> + +<p>"Swell," Dave said.</p> + +<p>"Very fit, sir," Freddy said.</p> + +<p>The medical officer nodded and then stared at them a moment or two and +drummed nervous fingers on the top of his desk.</p> + +<p>"You've heard the news?" he suddenly asked.</p> + +<p>They nodded, and waited.</p> + +<p>"It puts us in a tight corner," the officer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> said. "And it puts me in a +<i>very</i> tight corner. I've just received orders from G.H.Q. to evacuate +this hospital at once. There are over five hundred wounded men here, and +only a dozen ambulances. We're to evacuate to the Base Hospital at St. +Omer. Now ... You chaps told me the truth, eh? You <i>do</i> feel fit?"</p> + +<p>"Gee, yes!" Dave exclaimed. "We came in here to see if there wasn't +something we could do to help. We feel swell, honest."</p> + +<p>"That's right, sir," Freddy nodded. "And there <i>is</i> something we can +do?"</p> + +<p>"There is," the medical officer said. "I haven't enough ambulance +drivers, and we've got to get these wounded men out of here at once. +Before tonight, in fact. I'll tell you the truth, boys. At the speed the +Germans are advancing, now that the Belgians have given up, they'll be +here in Lille, tonight!"</p> + +<p>"Gee!" Dave breathed softly. "Right here in this place, tonight?"</p> + +<p>The medical officer nodded and held up a hand.</p> + +<p>"Hear those guns?" he said gravely. "They are not more than twenty miles +away, and they are German. We've got to work fast, boys. Every man we +have to leave here will become a German prisoner of war. I wouldn't ask +you, except that the situation is desperate. By rights,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> you two should +go along with the wounded, instead of driving them. But it is a grave +emergency, and every one who can, <i>must</i> help."</p> + +<p>"We're ready, sir," Freddy said quietly. "What are your orders?"</p> + +<p>A smile of deep gratitude flickered across the officer's face.</p> + +<p>"Get into your regular clothes, first," he said with a smile. "Then +report to Lieutenant Baker in the ambulance parking lot by the south +wing. And, thank you, boys. We'll meet again at St. Omer."</p> + +<p>The two boys grinned, then turned on their heels and raced back to the +ward for their clothes. The wounded soldiers suspected that something +was up, and a hundred questions were hurled at them. They didn't bother +to answer any of them. They simply piled into their clothes and hurried +outside and around to the parking lot by the south wing.</p> + +<p>"Gee, Freddy!" Dave panted as they raced along side by side. "I was +afraid I was going to stay in that hospital for the rest of the war, and +not get another chance to do anything."</p> + +<p>"A bit worried, myself," Freddy said. "I was afraid that we'd done our +job, and that it was all over as far as we were concerned. But, I have a +feeling, Dave, that perhaps it's really just beginning for us."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>And Freddy Farmer never spoke a truer word in his life, as they were +both soon to realize!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SIXTEEN" id="CHAPTER_SIXTEEN"></a>CHAPTER SIXTEEN</h2> + +<h4><i>Fate Laughs At Last</i></h4> + + +<p>"Right you are, lad, off you go, and good luck!"</p> + +<p>The voice of the Lille hospital orderly came to Dave as though from a +thousand miles away. It came to him like a voice awakening him from a +sound sleep. He lifted his head and mechanically reached for the brake +lever of the Daimler built ambulance and stared out of bloodshot eyes at +a scene that had become as familiar to him as his own face when he +looked into a mirror. It was the dirt road that wound away from the +Lille Hospital, curved about the small pond and then disappeared from +view in some woods a half mile to the east.</p> + +<p>How many times had he driven over that road today? He didn't know, and +he didn't even bother to guess. Probably a hundred. Fifty at least. His +brain had stopped thinking about things hours ago. For hours his actions +had all been mechanical. A mechanical routine over and over again. Help +fill the ambulance at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> Lille Hospital. Get in behind the wheel and +start the engine, and take off the brake, and shift into first. Start +down the winding road and shift into second, and then into high. A +stretch of brown road always in front of him. Driving, driving, always +driving forward. Skirting shell and bomb craters. Pulling in under the +nearest group of trees whenever he heard the deadly drone of Stuka dive +bombers. Sitting crouched at the wheel while death whistled down from +the sky to explode in the ground and spray slivers of screaming steel +into all directions.</p> + +<p>Climbing in back to put a slipping bandage back in place. Lighting a +cigarette for some poor wounded soldier who couldn't use his hands. +Giving them all a grin to cheer them up. Saying, "We'll be there in a +couple of shakes," a million times. Starting on again. Stopping again. +And then finally pulling into the St. Omer Hospital court. Helping to +unload, and then the wild ride alone back to Lille for another load of +wounded. Fifty trips? A hundred trips? He had no idea. Maybe this was +his one thousandth trip. Was he asleep or awake? He wasn't sure of that, +either. His body had stopped protesting against the aches and pains long +ago. He simply didn't feel anything any more; didn't think anything. He +only acted. He drove ...<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> and drove ... and drove. Nothing else +mattered. Nothing else mattered but doing his share to make sure that +not a single helpless wounded soldier was captured by the hordes of Nazi +troops streaming across northern France and Belgium in a mad race to cut +off the British from the last open Channel port, Dunkirk.</p> + +<p>As he took off the emergency brake he became conscious of somebody +climbing into the seat beside him. He turned his head to stare into +Freddy Farmer's haggard, dirt streaked face.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Freddy?" he mumbled. "What are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Start her off, Dave," came the dull answer. "This is the last load. I'm +riding with you. The Captain and his staff are using my ambulance. Man, +but I'm tired!"</p> + +<p>"Check," Dave grunted and shifted into first. "The last load, huh? And +it's just getting dark. Well, anyway, we licked 'em. The Nazis won't +find anything there. Lean back and try to get a nap, Freddy."</p> + +<p>"And you perhaps fall asleep at that wheel, and tip us into a ditch?" +Freddy said with a forced chuckle. "No thanks. I'll stay awake and try +to keep you that way, too. By the by, though, Dave. You've made more +trips than anybody. Want me to drive this one?"</p> + +<p>"Not a chance!" Dave said and suddenly real<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>ized that he was laughing +for the first time in hours. "I still remember that ride you gave me in +that Belgian scouting car. Nix. I'll do the driving. You just relax, +Freddy. But, boy, will I be glad when this trip is over!"</p> + +<p>"I'll be jolly well pleased, myself, you can bet!" Freddy murmured and +stretched out his legs. "I think I shall sleep for another eight days, +and not care a darn what the blasted Nazis do about it."</p> + +<p>For the next twenty minutes that was the last spoken between the two. +They were both too tired even to talk. Besides, there was little to talk +about save the experiences they had had on the road. Those they could +save until another day. And after all there was still this trip to +complete. And so they rode along in silence. The sun slid down over the +western lip of the world, and night and the Germans came sweeping up +from the east. Dave kept his head lights switched off until it was too +dangerous to continue further without them. Perhaps it had just been +chance, or perhaps Goering's pilots had found out that the Lille +Hospital cases were being evacuated over that road. Anyway, the Stukas +and the light Heinkels had given it a terrific pounding all day long, +and it was now well spotted with craters. To try to drive along it in +the dark would be exactly the same as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> driving the ambulance over the +edge of a cliff. It would be suicide, to say the least.</p> + +<p>Dave hesitated a moment, though, with his hand on the switch and +listened intently. Behind him there was the incessant dull rumble of the +guns, punctuated every now and then by the loud thunder of a land mine +going off. In the sky there was the drone of wings, but the droning was +not close.</p> + +<p>"Keep an eye peeled, will you, Freddy?" Dave said and turned the switch. +"I've got to have lights or we'll go right into a shell hole. If you +hear something coming, yell, and I'll switch off these things."</p> + +<p>"Right-o!" Freddy called wearily and stuck his head out the door window +and looked up. "All clear, now, though. None of the blighters near us. I +say, what's up, now?"</p> + +<p>Dave didn't bother to answer. He, too, had spotted the waving flashlight +just up the road. He slipped the car out of gear, steered it around the +rim of a yawning bomb crater and let it roll to a stop. A British +infantry officer, with a Military Police band on his tunic sleeve, ran +up to Dave's side of the ambulance and flashed his light in Dave's eyes +for a second.</p> + +<p>"Where are you headed, lad?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"St. Omer," Dave said. "We've got the last load of wounded from the +Lille hospital."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>"Well, you can't take them to St. Omer," the officer said. "A mile up +ahead there's a road to the right. Take it and keep going until you're +stopped. Whoever stops you will give you further directions. All right, +off with you. Good luck."</p> + +<p>"But, hey, why not St. Omer?" Dave blurted out. "We've been taking them +there all day."</p> + +<p>"I know," the officer said in a half angry and half bored voice. "But +they've all been evacuated again. To Dunkirk. Hitler's lads are in St. +Omer, now. Better hop it. They may be here, soon."</p> + +<p>Dave slammed the ambulance into gear and started off. Raging anger +surged up within him. He gripped the bucking wheel until his hands hurt. +Nazis are here! Nazis are there! Nazis are every place! Even thinking of +the name made him want to start screaming and shouting at the top of his +voice. He turned his head slightly and took a quick side glance at +Freddy. The English youth's chin was firm, and there was the same +defiant look in his eyes. However, the droop of his shoulders spoke +plainly of the bitter thoughts that were sweeping through his mind. +Impulsively Dave let go a hand from the wheel for a second and slapped +Freddy on the knee.</p> + +<p>"Don't let it get you down, Freddy," he said.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> "They'll trim the +stuffing out of Hitler before it's over."</p> + +<p>"Of course," Freddy said in a heavy voice. "I wasn't thinking of that. +If we could only have reached General Caldwell sooner."</p> + +<p>"Gosh, we did our best!" Dave exploded. "And, besides, the General told +us it helped plenty. Gee, I hope he just wasn't kidding us. I don't +think so, though. A man like General Caldwell doesn't kid, I bet. Well, +here's the road. Wonder where it'll take us."</p> + +<p>They had reached the turn off. So had some Stukas a couple of hours +before and they had marked it well with a cluster of bomb craters. Dave +had to detour through a field to make the turn but he managed to get +back onto the road. To his vast relief he found it hardly touched by +bombs and he was able to speed up the ambulance. The good road helped +his spirits, too. It boosted them up considerably and a lot of his +fatigue fell away from him. The same was true with Freddy. The English +youth continued to stare fixedly through the windshield at the glow of +the headlights on the road, but his body seemed to straighten up, and +there was a less depressed air about him.</p> + +<p>However, it was as though it all had been planned by the fates +controlling the war and the immediate destinies of these two brave +gallant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> youths. It was as though it was planned for them to be lifted +up in spirit, and in strength, so that they might have something left +with which to face the next misfortune of the conflict to befall them.</p> + +<p>The first indication that there was more trouble ahead came as they +roared around a bend in the road, and then the road straightened out +like an arrow.</p> + +<p>"My gosh, look!" Dave cried and pointed. "Like an earthquake had hit it +or something!"</p> + +<p>Both sides of the road, as far as they could see in the glow of the +headlights, were strewn with heaped up piles of war equipment wreckage. +Guns from machine gun size to heavy howitzers lay scattered about. +Ammunition wagons were over on their sides, their contents spilled on +the ground like sand from a box. Shell blasted tanks rested in soft +ground at crazy angles, some of them blown wide open, and all of them of +no more use to anybody.</p> + +<p>"Gosh, like driving through a junk yard!" Dave grunted and unconsciously +slowed down the ambulance. "What do you suppose happened? Gee, that's +English stuff, too. See the markings?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Freddy replied. "And I think I can guess what happened. A +retreating British column was caught here by the bombers, I think.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> You +can see where the craters were filled in so the rest of them could carry +on. What equipment they couldn't take, they destroyed so that the +Germans wouldn't get it. Look, Dave! There's another flashlight chap up +ahead. And he's English! I can see him clearly, now."</p> + +<p>"Right," Dave nodded as he too caught sight of the khaki clad figure, +with an M.P. band on his arm, standing in the middle of the road.</p> + +<p>He slipped the ambulance out of gear and let it roll to a stop and stuck +his head out the door window.</p> + +<p>"We've got wounded here!" he said as the officer moved forward. "They +turned us off onto this road, back a few miles. Said the next officer we +met would give us instructions."</p> + +<p>"More wounded?" the officer echoed in an exasperated voice. "I seriously +doubt if there'll be room. But get along. First turn left, and two miles +straight. A railroad junction there, and still working, I certainly +hope! They'll take your men. Now, chase along with you!"</p> + +<p>"What happened here?" Dave asked and reached for the gear shift lever.</p> + +<p>"The worst!" the officer snapped, and gestured with his hand. "Stukas +caught a whole battalion. Nasty business! Now, chase, do you hear?"</p> + +<p>Dave didn't wait to argue about that. He sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> the car rolling forward +and kept his eyes open for the turn to the left. He came to it presently +and turned off. It was also more or less untouched by bombs so he could +keep his speed steady. In almost no time they came upon a whole army of +British soldiers. They jammed the road and overflowed on both sides. +Hundreds of pairs of eyes were turned their way as their headlights cut +through the night. A soldier with sergeant's chevrons on his sleeves +rushed up to them.</p> + +<p>"Shut off those blasted lights, you fool!" he roared. "You want the +Jerry planes to ... Good grief, a couple of <i>kids!</i> What's this?"</p> + +<p>"Ambulance with wounded from Lille, Sergeant," Freddy called out to him. +"The officer back there told us to take them to the rail junction. How +far is it?"</p> + +<p>"Wounded, eh?" the sergeant grunted. "Well, that's a sight different. +Keep going. You're practically there, mates."</p> + +<p>The sergeant stepped back and cupped big hands to his mouth.</p> + +<p>"Make way!" he thundered at the road choked mass of British troops. +"Ambulance! Make way there, you chaps! Ambulance! Give them the horn, +lad. That'll make 'em jump."</p> + +<p>The sergeant barked the last at Dave as the ambulance started forward. +Dave got the car in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> high then held his hand on the horn. Freddy got out +on the running board and started shouting, "Make way for an ambulance!" +at the top of his voice. For two or three awful seconds Dave was afraid +that the soldiers were going to refuse to move. But the shouted word, +"Ambulance!" finally did the trick. They shuffled off to both sides and +left a path down the middle of the road. Driving with one hand and +keeping his other on the horn, Dave steered the ambulance down that path +until a bomb shattered railroad bridge stopped him. There was no need of +going farther anyway.</p> + +<p>They had reached the rail junction, or at least what was left of it. +Eastward from the bridge the track was just so much twisted steel, but +westward from the bridge it had not been touched, by some strange +miracle. There was a long train of some twenty cars on the track with an +engine at the far end. Dimmed lights were moving around all over the +place like fire-flies on a muggy night. The murmur of many voices filled +the air, and as Dave got his eyes accustomed to the scene he saw that +long lines of battle weary soldiers were climbing into the cars. And +then out of nowhere a squad of soldiers with white bands on their tunic +sleeves swooped down on the ambulance.</p> + +<p>"Shut off your motor, mate!" a voice shouted.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> "You won't be needing it +any more. Step lively, you lads. Easy with the poor blighters, now. +That's the way."</p> + +<p>Before Dave and Freddy could climb stiff legged down from the ambulance +the white banded group of soldiers had the rear doors open and were +gently but swiftly lifting out the wounded on stretchers and carrying +them to the train. Nobody talked. Even the wounded made no sound. +Everybody seemed to realize that all that counted was speed, and they +were concentrating on that alone. Dave watched for a minute or so and +then went up to the soldier who had given the orders.</p> + +<p>"Where's the train going?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Dunkirk, unless the Jerry fliers stop us," the soldier replied without +looking at him. "Any more of these chaps coming along in back of you?"</p> + +<p>"This is the last load from Lille," Dave said. "I don't know about any +others."</p> + +<p>"Lille?" the soldier gasped and seemed startled. "I thought the Jerries +were there!"</p> + +<p>"I fancy they are, now," Freddy spoke up. "I say, will there be room +enough for us on that train, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"Always room for two more on anything," the soldier grunted and watched +the stretchers disappear into the maze of moving lights. "You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> chaps +just follow me, and I'll...."</p> + +<p>The soldier never finished the rest of that sentence. At any rate, if he +did, the boys didn't hear him. At that moment there came the faint drone +of engines high in the sky and to the east. Instantly it seemed as +though a thousand men put whistles to their lips and all blew them at +the same time.</p> + +<p>"Bombers!" roared one fog horn voice.</p> + +<p>"Everybody aboard!" bellowed another.</p> + +<p>"Never mind your kit, you men, get aboard!" thundered a third.</p> + +<p>"All lights out!" a fourth voice carried above all the others.</p> + +<p>In the wink of an eye the moving lights stopped moving and went out. All +was plunged into darkness. A darkness filled with grunting sounds on the +ground, and the throbbing beat of approaching airplanes overhead. +Instinctively Dave and Freddy grabbed hands and started moving toward +the train. No sooner had they taken a dozen steps than they ran smack +into a wall of solid flesh. They tried to force their way through but it +was as futile as trying to push a tidal wave to one side. They alone +were not the only ones trying to get aboard that train. A few hundred +others had the same idea.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the shrill whistle of the engine cut through all other sound. A +moment later the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> angry roar from hundreds of throats told Dave and +Freddy that the train was moving. They stopped trying to push forward, +and simply stood there listening to the angry shouting of the troops who +could not get aboard, and the sound of the train as it picked up speed +and went racing off toward the east.</p> + +<p>"Here they are! Everybody scatter!"</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was the same fog horn voice, and perhaps it wasn't. Anyway, +everybody heard the command and started moving. A moment later the air +became filled with the howl of diving wings. Further orders were not +necessary. In a flash Dave thought of the bomb blasted bridge. The road +had once dipped down under it, but now it was no more than a cave made +out of jagged chunks of stone with twisted steel rails and splintered +ties for roof shingling. He grabbed Freddy by the arm and spun them both +around.</p> + +<p>"That busted bridge!" he shouted in his friend's ear. "We can crawl down +under it. We should be safe."</p> + +<p>"Just thinking of that, myself!" Freddy shouted back as they both broke +into a run. "Those blasted Stukas! Will we never hear the last of them!"</p> + +<p>As though to punctuate that sentence the leading bomber swooped low, +dumped its load and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> went screaming up into the night sky. Its bomb +struck a hundred yards away but the concussion seemed to lift both of +the boys off their feet. It put wings on their feet as well. They dashed +madly through the roaring darkness, missed turned-over trucks and hunks +of the bombed station by inches, and finally scrambled down under the +bridge and into the cave-like hole blown out of one of the supporting +walls. They crawled back over the broken stones as far as they could and +sat huddled together listening to the world blow apart over their heads.</p> + +<p>"Well, at least we got our load of wounded aboard!" Dave shouted as +there came a lull in the bedlam of thunderous sound. "That's something, +I guess."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we didn't let them down," Freddy's voice came faintly. "Phew, but +I'm tired. Stukas or no Stukas, I don't think I can keep awake another +minute."</p> + +<p>The words seemed to touch something inside Dave. He too became suddenly +listless in both mind and body. He felt Freddy sagged against him and he +battled to keep his eyes open; to keep a look-out in case they might +have to change their place of shelter. But ton weights hung on his eye +lids, and it was impossible to keep them open any longer. Above them +worlds exploded sound and flame. Underneath them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> worlds shook and +trembled as each devastating blow was struck. None of it, however, +reached the two boys. Young strong bodies had taken an awful beating for +hours on end, and they needed rest. Time might cease, and the world +could come to an end, but it would have no effect on Dave Dawson and +Freddy Farmer, for they were both sound asleep.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN" id="CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN"></a>CHAPTER SEVENTEEN</h2> + +<h4><i>Thunder In The West</i></h4> + + +<p>The cold, clammy air of early dawn finally pried Dave's eye lids open +and brought him back to the conscious world. For a moment he stared +dully at the mass of grey shadows all around him. Then gradually he +realized that the shadows, most of them, were rocks and huge chunks of +cement, and that light was filtering down through cracks and holes +between them. That realization brought back memory of where he was. Then +swiftly followed recollection of all that had happened and why he was +there. He started to get to his feet, and his movements awakened Freddy +Farmer slumped against him. The English youth groaned, opened his eyes +and stared blankly around for a moment. Then they cleared as fragments +of memory came racing back to him, too. He sat up and gingerly flexed +his arms and legs.</p> + +<p>"Gee, it's morning!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"And the Stukas have gone, thank goodness," Dave said. "Lets get out of +here. Maybe the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> train's back and we can get aboard it this time. Gosh! +I'm stiff as a board."</p> + +<p>"I can hardly move!" Freddy moaned and got slowly to his feet. "Man, I +never thought a chap could fall asleep while bombs were falling. My +father told me that he once slept through a ten hour bombardment in +front of Amiens, in Nineteen Seventeen. I aways thought he was pulling +my leg, but now blessed if I don't believe him. I say, what's that?"</p> + +<p>Dave cocked his head and listened to the sudden strange sound.</p> + +<p>"Troops marching!" he breathed. "That's what it is. Troops marching. The +train must be back. Come on, Freddy!"</p> + +<p>Dave scrambled forward and started crawling up out of the cave and +between the rocks to firm ground. He suddenly stopped short as he +glanced through a crack that gave him a clear view of the road that ran +along in back of the bomb shattered station. His heart leaped up into +his throat, and for a second or two he couldn't utter a word. Freddy, +scrambling up behind, bumped into him and started an exclamation. Dave +whirled and put a silencing hand to his lips.</p> + +<p>"Pipe down!" he hissed. "Freddy! For gosh sakes, take a look through +that crack. Gee! What do you know about that?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>The English youth squirmed past him and peered out through the crack. +His young body stiffened, and there was the sharp sound of sucking air +into his lungs. He turned around and stared wide eyed at Dave and licked +his lower lip.</p> + +<p>"Germans!" he whispered. "The beggars are all over the place. We've been +left behind, Dave. Our boys must have moved on when the Stukas went +away. But we were asleep."</p> + +<p>"Yeah, I guess that was it," Dave said and nodded. "Holy smokes, Freddy, +what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, except to stay where we are," the English youth replied +in a tight voice. "If we show our heads they're sure to grab us. There +must be thousands of them!"</p> + +<p>"Millions, it looks like!" Dave said with a gulp. "Yes, the best thing +to do is stay right here and hope they don't find us. Maybe they'll move +off after awhile, then we can beat it. Gosh! I had all I want of a being +a German prisoner. Sure, let's stay right here."</p> + +<p>"At least we won't starve, no matter how long they take marching +through," Freddy said. "We both have plenty of chocolate bars we got at +the hospital. And I didn't have to give any of the water in my canteen +to the wounded I carried. Did you?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>"Not a drop, it's full," Dave said, and patted the canteen at the end of +the strap hooked over his shoulder. "You're right, we won't go hungry or +thirsty. But gosh, I hope they don't stick around too long, or we'll +never get out of this place. Maybe we were crazy to duck in here, huh?"</p> + +<p>"And maybe we would have been crazier to have gone some place else," +Freddy murmured and pulled a bar of chocolate from his pocket. "At least +no bombs hit us here."</p> + +<p>"That's right," Dave agreed. Then with a stiff grin, "And it's a cinch +that none are going to hit us, either, while those Germans are out +there. But I sure hope all those British troops got away. I guess they +did, though, or we'd hear fighting right now. Gee! Can you beat it?"</p> + +<p>"Beat what?" Freddy asked through a mouthful of crunched chocolate bar. +"What's the matter?"</p> + +<p>"I was just thinking, and maybe it isn't so funny," Dave said. "We sort +of started all this business behind the German lines, and here we are +again. I sure hope we don't end it that way! Wonder how long we'll have +to wait? Until it's dark, I guess."</p> + +<p>Freddy didn't answer. He crawled up the stones and peered through the +crack again. When he came down his dust and dirt smeared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> face looked +most unhappy.</p> + +<p>"Until it's dark, at least," he said with a sad shake of his head. "And +more war music, too. I just saw them wheeling some guns into position in +back of the railroad station. Yes, I'm afraid the blasted beggars are +planning to stay here a bit, too."</p> + +<p>"Well, when it gets dark we get out of here," Dave said grimly. "Guns or +no guns."</p> + +<p>"You bet," Freddy said and fell silent.</p> + +<p>As though their silence was a signal to the gunners above, the earth and +the sky once more began to shake and tremble as the gun muzzles belched +out their sheets of flame and steel-clad missiles of death and +destruction that went screaming far off to the east. To get away from +the shuddering, hammering pounding as much as possible, the two boys +crawled far back into the wall cave and tried to make themselves +comfortable.</p> + +<p>Seconds clicked by to add up to minutes, and minutes ticked by to add up +to an hour. Then eventually it was two hours, then three, then four. And +still the guns hammered and snarled and pounded away at their distant +objectives. It seemed as though it would never end. Try as they did to +steel themselves against the perpetual thunder, and the constant shaking +and heaving of the earth under them, it was right there with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> them every +second of the time. Their eardrums ached, and seemed ready to snap +apart. They tore off little pieces of their shirts and used them as +plugs to stuff in their ears. That helped some, but it made speech +between them impossible.</p> + +<p>Roaring, barking thunder all morning, and all afternoon. But along +toward evening it died down considerably. And when the shadows of night +started creeping up it ceased altogether. The two boys crawled forward +and up the bomb-made rock steps and peered through the crack between the +stones. The hopes that had been born in them when the guns stopped +seemed to explode in their brains. The guns were not being hooked onto +the tractors. Nor were the swarms of troops climbing into the long lines +of motorized Panzer trucks. On the contrary, mess wagons were being +rolled forward, and flare lights were being set about all over the +place. Even as Dave and Freddy crouched there watching with sinking +spirits two flare lights sputtered into being directly above their +heads. With sudden terror gripping their hearts they scuttled back deep +into their hiding place.</p> + +<p>"No soap, I guess," Dave said bitterly. "We'd stick out like a couple of +sore thumbs. What do you think, Freddy?"</p> + +<p>"The same as you," the English youth said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> unhappily. "We'd be fools to +budge an inch. I most certainly wish we had blankets. These are the +hardest rocks I ever felt."</p> + +<p>"You said it," Dave muttered and ran his hand over the hard surface that +was unquestionably going to serve as his bed for another night of +terror. "Maybe, though, they'll pull out before dawn. Or maybe in the +morning, for sure."</p> + +<p>If the gods of war heard Dave Dawson's words they must have laughed loud +and with fiendish glee, for they knew how false his hopes were. The +Germans did not leave during the night. Nor did they leave in the +morning. As soon as it was dawn they started their devastating +bombardment again. And for another whole day the boys huddled together +in their hiding place and struggled with every bit of their will power +to stop from going stark, raving mad from the thunder of the guns.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, when there was still an hour of daylight left, the guns +went silent for keeps, and instead there were all kinds of sounds of +feverish activity. Harsh orders flew thick and fast. Men shouted and +cursed. Tractor engines roared into life. Truck transport gears were +meshed in nerve rasping grinding sound, and as the boys watched through +their look-out crack they saw the Germans move slowly off down a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> road +leading toward the southwest. Neither of them spoke until the last truck +had passed out of view. And by then it was pitch dark, save for a +shimmering red glow to the east and to the south.</p> + +<p>"Boy, I thought it would never happen!" Dave said in a shaky voice. +"Come on! Let's get going before others arrive here. Which way do you +think we'd better head?"</p> + +<p>"The railroad track, I think," Freddy said after a moment of silence. +"It must have been blown all to bits by those Stukas, or else there +would have been a train come up to take those Germans away. Instead, +though, they headed down the road to the southwest."</p> + +<p>"Check," Dave said. "And that track is supposed to lead to Dunkirk. +Gosh, I hope the British are still there."</p> + +<p>"They must be there," Freddy said firmly. "You can still hear the guns +up ahead, so there must be somebody besides Germans around. I say, look +at that fog, or is it fog? Yes, it is. And it's beginning to rain, too. +Well, thank goodness for that. We won't be seen or heard so easily. +Right-o, Dave. Let's get on with it. Like the chaps in the R.A.F. say, +Tally-ho!"</p> + +<p>"Tally-ho!" Dave echoed happily and started scrambling up out of the +cave.</p> + +<p>Walking side by side, and gripping hands to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> hold up the other fellow in +case he slipped and started tumbling into a bomb crater, the two boys +struck out boldly along the single line of track. Before they had +traveled a hundred yards the railroad tracks stopped being what they +were supposed to be. They became a long stretch of twisted steel and +pulverized ties. But though the road bed was constantly pock marked with +bomb craters it served as a guide eastward for their crunching +footsteps.</p> + +<p>Layers of fog came rolling in from the east, and with every step a fine +chilling rain sprayed down upon them. But rather than being annoyed and +uncomfortable, they were buoyed up by the miserable weather. It gave +them added protection from any German patrols in the neighborhood. It +hid them from the rest of the world of dull constant sound, and the +shimmering glow of red to the east and to the south. There was more +sound, and a more brilliant glow of red to the south, and as they heard +it and saw it their hearts became even lighter. If there was all that +sound to the south it must mean that the Germans had not been able to +cut off the retreating armies at Dunkirk. And of course that was true, +for as they trudged and stumbled along the bomb blasted strip of spur +railroad track some fifty thousand do or die British soldiers were +holding back the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> savagely attacking German hordes at Douai, and at the +Canal de Bergues, so that some three hundred and thirty thousand of +their comrades might escape the trap from Dunkirk and reach England in +safety.</p> + +<p>Of course Dave and Freddy didn't know <i>that</i> at the time. Yet, perhaps +they sensed it unconsciously, for their step did become faster, their +hearts lighter, and the hope they would get through somehow mounted +higher and higher in their thoughts. And so on and on they went. A +thousand times they stumbled over things in the darkness; went pitching +together down into bomb craters, or barked their shins and raised lumps +on their tough bodies. Always forward, though. They stopped talking to +conserve their energy, for they had no idea how many miles of bomb +blasted roadbed lay ahead of them. The fog and the rain dulled the sound +of the guns so that they couldn't tell if they were drawing nearer or +actually heading away from them. And although they looked at it a +million times apiece the dull red glow ahead of them seemed always to +remain the same. It never once brightened up or faded down. It got so +that it seemed as though they were walking on a treadmill. Walking, +walking, yet never seeming to get any place. Never seeing anything +different to give them proof<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> they had covered ground. Every piece of +twisted track they stumbled over was the same as the last. A bomb crater +into which they fell sprawling was no different from all the others. And +the darkness, the fog, the rain, the boom of the guns, and the +shimmering red glow were always the same in the next second, in the next +minute, and in the next hour.</p> + +<p>Grit, courage, and a fighting spirit resolved never to give up, forced +them forward foot after foot, yard after yard, and mile after mile. Even +thoughts ceased to stir in their brains, and there was nothing there but +the fierce burning flame that drove their tired legs and bodies forward.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, their separate worlds seemed to shatter before their +eyes in an explosion of sound. To Dave it seemed close to an eternity +before the sound made sense in his dulled brain. Then in a flash he +realized that nothing had exploded. A loud voice not three feet in front +of them had bellowed out the challenge.</p> + +<p>"<i>Halt!</i>"</p> + +<p>Even then neither of the boys could grasp its true meaning. The voice +shattered their hopes, gripped their hearts with fingers of ice, and +seemed to drain every drop of blood from their bodies. Fate was having +the big laugh on them at last. The worst, the one thing they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +dreaded had come to pass. They had stumbled headlong into a nest of +Germans!</p> + +<p>"Halt, you blighters, 'fore I run this through your bellies!"</p> + +<p>Then truth crashed home, and the boys let out a gurgling cry of relief +as they realized the voice was <i>speaking in English!</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_EIGHTEEN" id="CHAPTER_EIGHTEEN"></a>CHAPTER EIGHTEEN</h2> + +<h4><i>Wings Of Doom</i></h4> + + +<p>"Hold it!" Dave heard his own voice cry out in the darkness. "We're not +Germans!"</p> + +<p>"No!" Freddy choked out. "We're English and American! Are we near +Dunkirk?"</p> + +<p>There was a startled exclamation in the rain and fog, then the tiny beam +of a buglight caught them in its glow. The light shook and there was a +gasp of dumbfounded amazement.</p> + +<p>"Strike me pink!" exclaimed the voice in back of the light. "What are +you two young nippers doing here? And where'd you come from?"</p> + +<p>The buglight was lowered and the two boys saw the dim outline of a +British Tommie. His gas mask and ration kit were slung over his +shoulder, and in his hands he carried a rifle with a wicked looking +bayonet.</p> + +<p>"We're trying to reach Dunkirk," Freddy spoke up. "We've been hiding for +the last two days at a railway junction called, Niort, I think it was. +Part of the sign had been blown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> away but I think that's what it was."</p> + +<p>"Niort?" the British soldier gasped. "Come off it, now, me lad! If you +were at Niort how'd you get here? I suppose by a blinking train, eh?"</p> + +<p>"No, we walked," Dave said. "Along what was left of the railroad. We +missed the last train two nights ago. It pulled out when some Stukas +arrived."</p> + +<p>The British soldier whistled through his teeth, and flashed his buglight +on them just to make sure he wasn't talking to a couple of ghosts.</p> + +<p>"Well, can you beat that!" he ejaculated. "So you were left behind with +the others, eh? I was on that blinking train, thank my lucky stars! The +lads that were left had to march it all the way, and with Jerry throwing +everything he had at them, too. Strike me pink! You know what you two +nippers have done?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," Dave said. "Walked about a million miles, the way we feel."</p> + +<p>"It's closer to eighteen or nineteen, lad," the Tommie said. "But that +ain't the half of it. You've walked <i>right through</i> the blessed German +line, that's what you've done! Right through their blinking lines, and +them not knowing about it! By George, will I have a tale to tell the +lads at the pub if I ever get back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> home!"</p> + +<p>"But how far are we from Dunkirk?" Freddy asked. "And is there any way +to get there besides walking? I don't think I can go another step."</p> + +<p>The soldier jerked a thumb over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"See them flames?" he said. "That's Dunkirk. About two miles it is. And +it's time for me to go in from my patrol anyway. I got a motor-bike and +sidecar over there, yonder. You two can ride in the car. But we'd better +hop it. It's getting toward dawn and the Stukas will be coming over to +raise merry Ned. But, wait a minute, mates. Who are you and what were +you doing at Niort? Why, you ain't even in uniform."</p> + +<p>"This is Dave Dawson, an American," Freddy said. "And my name is Freddy +Farmer. We've been trying to get back to England for days, and...."</p> + +<p>"<i>What's that?</i>" the soldier cut in excitedly. "Dawson and Farmer? The +couple of American and English nippers, that stole a plane and all the +rest of it? Blimey! Why didn't you say so? Why you lads are heroes! The +whole blinking army's been talking of what you nippers did. Come along! +If there's two lads that's going to get a boat ride back home, it's +you.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> Yes, by George! I'm that anxious to get back home so's to tell the +lads, I'm fair ready to swim the blinking Channel, orders or no orders. +Come along!"</p> + +<p>Without waiting for either of the boys to so much as open their mouths +the soldier grabbed them each by the arm and hurried them off through +the dark to the right. He must have known the way well, for they didn't +bump into a single thing. Presently he let go of them and dived into +some bushes. He was out in almost no time pushing an army motorcycle and +sidecar. He slung his rifle over his shoulder and straddled the seat.</p> + +<p>"Hop in, lads!" he barked as he kicked his engine into life. "And hang +on for your lives. The beach where they're taking them off onto the +ships ... and man, they're bringing over anything that can float ... is +on the far side of town. But the blinking town's afire, and we have to +go right through it. Here we go, and a double-double to the blasted +Jerries!"</p> + +<p>Though the two boys had wedged themselves down tight in the sidecar, the +soldier tore off in such a rush that he practically rode right out from +under them. Yelling any complaints would have been just a waste of +breath. Besides, the soldier wouldn't have heard them in the roar of his +engine. So the boys simply con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>centrated on trying to stay in the +sidecar, and breathed a prayerful hope that the soldier was an expert +driver.</p> + +<p>He was more than that. He was a miracle man on a motorcycle. He raced +through the darkness without slackening his speed the fraction of a +mile. The rain slithered down and the street glistened in the faint glow +of his dimmed light. It looked like so much slippery black ice, and a +hundred times Dave closed his eyes and waited for the sickening crash +that never came. When, he dared open them again they were still hurtling +forward making as much noise as a whole division of tanks.</p> + +<p>The two miles to the ancient Channel city of Dunkirk was covered in just +about as many minutes. In the last hundred yards the fog seemed to come +to an end, and the rain to pass on behind them. Dave looked ahead and +caught his breath sharply. Dunkirk looked like one gigantic +horizon-to-horizon wall of licking tongues of flame and billowing smoke +that towered high up into the sky. It was as though he had walked out of +a dark room straight into the open mouth of a blast furnace. He +impulsively cast a quick side glance at the soldier astride the +motorcycle seat expecting to see an expression of alarm and dismay pass +across the lean unshaven face. But no such thing did he see. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +soldier simply lowered his head a bit, and the corners of his eyes +tightened.</p> + +<p>"Hang on, lads!" he bellowed without taking his eyes off the road. "Here +comes the first of it, and it ain't no ice box!"</p> + +<p>No sooner had the last left his lips than the heat of the flaming +buildings seemed to charge forward right into their faces. Dave and +Freddy ducked their heads as the soldier had done, and in the matter of +split seconds they had the sensation of hurtling straight across the +mouth of a boiling volcano that shot up tongues of flame on all sides.</p> + +<p>"Lean to the right, we're turning that way!" came the soldier's yell.</p> + +<p>They leaned together and the motorcycle and sidecar went careening +around the corner of a street. It seemed to hesitate halfway around and +start to slide. But the driver skillfully checked the slide with a +vicious motion on the wheel, and they went roaring up a smoke filled +street. A moment or two later the driver yelled for them to lean again. +They did. In fact they did it no less than a dozen times during the next +few minutes. And all the while the heat of the flames beat in at them +from all sides, and the crash of falling walls, or of delayed action +bombs going off, was constant heart freezing thunder in their ears.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>Then suddenly they shot right through the middle of one final wall of +fire and burst out onto a stretch of hard packed sand. It was several +seconds before the heat left them and they felt rain soaked salt air +strike against their faces. They gulped it into their lungs, and then +both cried out in alarm as a squad of British soldiers seemed to rise +right out of the sand in front of them. Their driver instantly stood up +on his foot plates and roared above the sound of his engine.</p> + +<p>"Out of the way!" he bellowed. "A couple of young heroes to get boat +tickets from his nibs, the Commandant!"</p> + +<p>Perhaps the group of soldiers heard him, or perhaps they just naturally +didn't want to run the risk of being bowled over by the on-rushing +motorcycle. Anyway they leaped to the side and the driver and the two +boys went banging on by without a single check in the speed. After +another moment or so the soldier cut his engine, slammed on his brake +and slid around to a full stop as his tires sent a shower of wet sand +into the air.</p> + +<p>"There you are, nippers!" he cried and vaulted from the seat. "How was +that for a bit of a joy-ride, eh? She's a good little motor bike, she +is. A bit slow, but she'll do. Now, wait half a minute while I go see if +the Commandant's about. Sit tight. I'll be right back."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>He flung the last back over his shoulder as he went racing off to the +left. Neither Dave nor Freddy said anything. They were too busy fighting +to get their breath back, and to unwedge themselves from the sidecar. +Eventually they were out on the sand and feeling themselves all over +just to make sure no arms or legs or anything had been left behind.</p> + +<p>"Jeepers, jeepers!" Dave finally broke the silence. "You and that +Belgian sergeant are just beginners compared to that guy. My gosh! I +know darn well he must have gone right through some of those buildings, +instead of around them. Gee, Freddy! Look at those flames! No wonder you +could see them for miles. The whole town's going up in smoke."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but look there, Dave!" Freddy cried and grabbed his arm as he +pointed with his other hand. "There on the beach. It's the British army. +Look! They're even wading out in the water to the boats! It must be too +shallow for them to get in any closer. Gee, Dave, <i>gee!</i>"</p> + +<p>Dave couldn't speak as he stared at the sight. The words were all too +choked up inside of him to come out. The whole beach was practically +covered with row after row of British and French soldiers. They stood in +long columns of ten and twelve men across, and those columns stretched +from high up on the beach far out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> into the shallow water. In some +places cars, and tanks, and trucks, anything on wheels had been driven +out into the water and parked side by side, parked hub to hub and planks +laid across the tops of them to form a makeshift pier that could reach +out into deeper water. But there were only a few of such piers. Most of +the columns of men were wading out into the water until it came up to +their chests, and even up to their necks.</p> + +<p>And out there looking weird and grotesque in the glow of the burning +Channel port were boats of every conceivable description. There were row +boats, and yachts. Fishing smacks and pleasure yawls. Coastal vessels +and ferry boats. Motor boats and canoes. Barges and British destroyers. +Anything and everything that could float had been brought over to help +in the evacuation. No, it wasn't the British Navy taking the British +Army home. It was all England come to rescue her fighting men.</p> + +<p>Dave and Freddy stood rooted in their tracks staring wide eyed at the +historic event that will live forever in the minds of men. Their eyes +soaked up the scene, and their ears soaked up the conglomeration of +sound. Oddly enough, practically all of the sounds came from off shore. +The blast of whistles, the blowing of signal horns, the purr and the +roar of engines, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> shouts of the appointed and of the self-made +skippers and crews of the fantastic rescue fleet. The troops hardly made +any sound at all. Perhaps they were too tired. Perhaps the roar of +battle still ringing in their ears momentarily stilled their tongues. Or +perhaps they were content just to follow the next man ahead and pray +silently that they would be taken aboard some kind of a boat and sailed +away before daylight and the Stukas arrived once again. But the real +reason for their strange silence, probably, was because most of them had +been there for days waiting their turn, and dodging Stuka bombs and +bursting shells. And after such an ordeal they were too stunned to know +or even care about talking. Each had a single, all important goal. A +boat of some kind. And they slogged and sloshed toward it, numb to all +that was going on about them.</p> + +<p>"It's ... it's almost as though it isn't real!" Dave heard himself +whisper aloud. "It's like being at a movie, and seeing something you +know was just made up. Gosh, there's thousands of them. Thousands! I +wonder how many have got away already? And...."</p> + +<p>The last froze on Dave's lips. At that moment above the crackling and +sullen roar of the flames devouring the city there came the dreaded +sound. It was like the drumming moan of night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> wind in the trees, only +it wasn't. It was a sound that chilled the blood of every man on shore +and off shore. It was Goering's Stukas and Heinkels and Messerschmitts +coming up with the rising dawn. For a long second Dave and Freddy heard +it, and then it was drowned out by the mounting groans and curses that +welled up from the throats of those thousands of soldiers on the beach. +Yet as Dave stared at them, unable to move, he saw that not a man broke +ranks. Everybody stayed in his place, as though they were on a parade +ground instead of on a beach strewn with their own dead. Rifles and +portable machine guns were grabbed up and pointed toward the fast +lightening heavens, but no man gave up his place in line.</p> + +<p>And then the winged vultures under Goering's command came howling down +out of the sky. Their noise drowned out all other noises, including the +noise of the guns that greeted them. It was as though some mighty giant +were tearing the roof right off the top of the world. It wasn't a +scream, and it wasn't an earth trembling wail. Nor was it a continual +thunderous roar. It was just a sound that had never been heard before, +and, perhaps, will never be heard again. A mighty collection of all +sounds in the whole world blended into one mighty inferno of noise.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>As Dave and Freddy stood transfixed it didn't so much as even occur to +either of them to run for some kind of shelter. Their feet were lumps of +lead and the ground was one great magnet that held them fast. Something +spewed up orange and red flame a couple of hundred yards away from them. +It was a bomb exploding, but they couldn't even hear the sound. Another +fountain of flame, and sand showering down over everything, but no +individual sound of the bomb going off. A part of the sky overhead +turned into a great raging ball of red fire. It tore their eyes upward +in time to see a Heinkel bomber outlined in livid flame. Then it was +engulfed by that flame and came hurtling down to hit the water off-shore +and disappear as though by magic.</p> + +<p>It was then, and then only they realized that not all of the planes +overhead were German. It was then they saw British Hurricanes, and +Spitfires, and Defiants slash down out of the dawn sky in groups of +three and pounce upon the German planes in a relentless, furious attack +that set them to shouting wildly at the top of their voices. The Royal +Air Force. The R.A.F., the saviors of Dunkirk! Outnumbered by the German +planes, but so far above them in fighting heart, in spirit, and in real +flying ability that there wasn't even any room left for comparison.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> A +British plane against five Germans, against ten, or against fifty! What +did it matter? There were gallant troops to be evacuated back home. +There were fleet after fleet of Goering's vultures with orders to shoot +down the British troops like cattle. Never! Never in all God's world as +long as there was an R.A.F. plane left, and an R.A.F. pilot alive to fly +it!</p> + +<p>Suddenly Dave became conscious of a great pain in his right arm. He +looked down to see Freddy gripping it tightly with one hand and pounding +it with his other fist. The light of a mad man was in the English +youth's eyes. When he had Dave's attention he stopped pounding and +pointed to the left and beyond a short line of bomb blasted wharves.</p> + +<p>"Look, look, Dave!" came his shrill scream faintly. "Look off that first +wharf. There's a motor boat. It was trying to get in close, but a +Messerschmitt came down and sprayed the chap at the wheel. See! He's +trying to get up. And there's the Messerschmitt again. Dave! The tide +will carry that boat up against those rocks, and smash in its bottom. +Dave! Can you swim? We've got to reach that boat before it hits the +rocks. Look! The Messerschmitt is shooting again. He's got the poor +chap. He's got him this time!"</p> + +<p>As Freddy screamed in his ear Dave looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> out at the boat. It was a +long slinky looking power boat, but it wasn't even slinking along, now. +The lone figure had fallen across the engine hood, and a diving +Messerschmitt was hammering more bullets into his body. And a running +tide was carrying the craft broadside toward some jagged rocks that +stuck up out of the water not two hundred yards away.</p> + +<p>Dave was looking at it. And then suddenly he realized that his feet were +pounding across the beach. That he was racing madly down the beach +toward the water's edge. And that Freddy Farmer was close at his heels.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +</div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_NINETEEN" id="CHAPTER_NINETEEN"></a>CHAPTER NINETEEN</h2> + +<h4><i>The White Cliffs!</i></h4> + + +<p>By the time they reached the water they had stripped off their hospital +jackets, torn free their water canteens, and flung them away. Shoulder +to shoulder they splashed out as far as they could, then dived in. They +broke surface together and struck out for the helpless craft being +carried toward its doom by the tide. Above them raged another mighty +battle of the air. Bombs fell close and when one struck the water and +went off, a thousand fists seemed to hammer against their chests. Behind +them the flames of Dunkirk leaped high, and the glow turned the waters +through which they swam to the color of blood. And there ahead of them +was the sleek-looking motorboat, like a highly polished brown log +drifting on the crest of a shimmering red sea.</p> + +<p>A great fire burned in Dave's lungs, and his arms became like bars of +lead that required every remaining ounce of his strength to lift up and +cut down into the water again. But he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> fought back the aches, and the +pains, and the gnawing fatigue. And so did Freddy Farmer there by his +side. They kept their eyes fixed on that drifting motorboat and they +didn't take them off it until after what seemed like years they were +alongside it and hooking an arm over the gunwale. For a moment they just +hung there panting and gulping for air. Then at an unspoken signal they +each shifted their grip to the small brass rail that ran along each side +from stem to stern, and hauled themselves into the boat.</p> + +<p>Not even then did they speak a word, for words were unnecessary, now. +There was a job to do, and a job to be done fast. The rocks weren't more +than sixty yards away. Shaking water from his face, Dave leaped toward +the engine hood, lifted up the motionless bullet riddled body and +lowered it gently to the deck. At the same time Freddy caught up an oar +and rushed toward the bow to fend off the craft should it reach the +rocks.</p> + +<p>Lifting the engine hood Dave took one look inside and gulped with +relief. Messerschmitt bullets had not touched the American built engine. +A quick glance down at the priming can in the dead man's stiff hand told +Dave he had been trying to start the engine when the Messerschmitt first +dived. Perhaps he had throttled too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> much, and stalled the engine. There +was no way of knowing that, and no time to wonder about it. If there was +something else wrong, and the priming can didn't do the trick, then he +and Freddy could at least save the boat from being slammed up against +the rocks.</p> + +<p>It was time for Lady Luck to smile again, however. Dave primed the +engine, and stepped on the starter pedal, and the engine roared up +instantly in full throated song. He leaped for the wheel, yanked back +the throttle, and then swung the wheel over hard. The rudder bit into +the water, and the power boat slid by the jagged rocks with but a few +feet to spare and glided out toward deep water.</p> + +<p>"Made it!" Dave shouted wildly.</p> + +<p>"Right-o!" Freddy yelled back from the bow. "This is one Herr Hitler +doesn't get, by gosh. Not if <i>I</i> can help it! Oh, Dave, let's...."</p> + +<p>"Me too!" Dave interrupted him. "I know what you're going to say. Let's +go over and pick up as many of those fellows as we can! You're doggone +right! Here we go!"</p> + +<p>At that exact moment, however, the fates of war changed their plans. At +that moment a steel fish made in Nazi land slid past the watchful eyes +of a destroyer and let go a single torpedo straight into the maze of +craft hovering off shore beneath the raging sky battle above. True,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +only one torpedo. And even as it streaked out from its tube the eyes +aboard the destroyer saw it, and the destroyer's guns spoke ... and +there was one U-boat less. However, one torpedo was on its way. And it +slammed into the bow of a sturdy coastal vessel plodding out to the +center of the Channel.</p> + +<p>In the blaze of light that spewed up from the side of the vessel Dave +saw the decks crowded with khaki clad soldiers. Then they were lost to +view as the vessel heeled way over and was engulfed in a mighty cloud of +smoke. No sooner had what his eyes seen registered oh his brain than he +hauled down hard on the wheel and pulled the motor boat's bow away from +the shore and out toward that floating cloud of smoke and dull red +flame.</p> + +<p>Other boats did the same thing, but Dave and Freddy were closer than any +of the others, and they reached there first. Killing his speed as much +as possible Dave worked the craft inch by inch toward the cluster of +heads that were now bobbing out from under the edge of the cloud of +smoke. Then when he was real close he throttled all the way back and let +go of the wheel and raced with Freddy to the stern of the boat. They +grabbed the first hand stretched up toward them and pulled the dripping +figure into the boat. No sooner was he in than they let him shift for +him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>self and grabbed for the next outstretched hand. Then another, and +another, and another, until there were no more bobbing heads close to +them.</p> + +<p>By then other craft had arrived and were picking up survivors from that +doomed vessel. As Dave straightened up he stared out across the water +just in time to see the last bit of the vessel's bow slide down below +the waves and disappear. One look and then he was pushing through the +soldiers he and Freddy had rescued, to the wheel at the bow bulkhead. +Cheers and praise filled his ears but he was too all in to even so much +as grin. And, also, memory of that U-boat was still fresh in his mind. +If one slipped past, why not two, or even three? Dunkirk was behind him, +and a sky battle was raging high above him, but he did not know what +might be lurking in the waters under him. The sooner he got the boat +away, the better it would be for all concerned.</p> + +<p>He reached the wheel at the same time Freddy did. And hardly realizing +it, both grabbed hold. Dave shot out his other hand and opened up the +throttle. Together, as one man, they guided the power boat in and around +the other rescue craft until they were clear and heading straight out +into the Channel. Once there was nothing but open water ahead of them +they both relaxed, looked into each other's eyes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> and grinned.</p> + +<p>"Well, that <i>must</i> be the last surprise, Freddy," Dave said. "There just +isn't anything else that could happen that would startle me."</p> + +<p>"Nor me, either!" Freddy breathed. "The excitement's all over for us, +now. In another hour we'll be in England."</p> + +<p>And then suddenly a hand was clapped down on each of them, and a hoarse +voice boomed,</p> + +<p>"Well, of all things! You two!"</p> + +<p>They both spun around, then stopped dead and gasped in bewildered +amazement. There standing in his water-soaked uniform was General +Caldwell, Chief of British Staff. His piercing black eyes bored into +theirs, and his teeth showed white in a broad smile.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, you, General!" Dave finally managed to gulp out. "Why, I +didn't even know we'd hauled you aboard!"</p> + +<p>"But you did, and thank God for that!" the General said fervently. "And +do you know, it's the strangest thing ever! I was telling the captain of +that boat about how you stole that plane, when the blasted torpedo +struck. By gad, it's incredible. But how in the world did you get here? +and in this boat, too!"</p> + +<p>"Later, sir, if you don't mind," Freddy spoke up and put a hand on the +General's sleeve. "Please tell us the truth. We've got to know.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> The +information we gave you wasn't any help? You got it too late?"</p> + +<p>General Caldwell stared at him hard, and then shook his head.</p> + +<p>"You're dead wrong, Freddy, if you think that," he said in his oddly +soft voice. "I spoke the truth to you in the Lille hospital. Look back +there, both of you."</p> + +<p>They turned and with their eyes followed the General's finger pointing +at the beach at Dunkirk.</p> + +<p>"That's the last of the British Army to leave France," he spoke again. +"We've been getting them out for days, and against terrific odds. The +only reason I was on that boat that was torpedoed, instead of being back +there to be the last man to leave, was because I had my orders to return +at once and start getting things reorganized. But they will all be in +England before this fog gives the Stukas the chance they want. And +praise to dear God for the fog and the rain he has sent us in these days +of heroic effort. But, what I am trying to say to you, is this. Had I +not received your information in time, thousands upon thousands of those +brave chaps would never have been able to reach Dunkirk in time to be +taken off. They would now be trapped in France and in Belgium. No, boys, +it was not too late. And to you two England owes a debt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> she will never +be able to repay."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad," Freddy whispered softly. "I'm glad it was not too late."</p> + +<p>"Gosh, me too," Dave mumbled, and tried to say more but the words +wouldn't come.</p> + +<p>And so the three of them: two boys and the General stood there with +their faces turned toward England while the boat cut through the +dawn-greyed swells and the light fog. And then after a long time the fog +lifted and they saw it there ahead.</p> + +<p>"Dover!" Freddy said in a choked voice, and tears trickled down his +cheeks. "The chalk cliffs of Dover. England!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the chalk cliffs of Dover, and England," General Caldwell murmured +huskily. "We've taken a pretty bad beating, but it's far from being all +over. We may even take some more beatings. Perhaps several of them. But +in the end we will win. We must win, for there will always be an +England. Always!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Three days after the world-thrilling evacuation of Dunkirk, Dave Dawson +sat in the living-room of Freddy Farmer's house in Baker Street in +London. Freddy was there, of course, and so was his dad. And so was +Dave's father. Within<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> an hour after touching English soil the British +War Office had contacted Dave's dad in Paris where he had gone hoping to +pick up the trail of his missing son. And, now, the four of them were +waiting because of a phone call from General Caldwell. A phone call +stating that the Chief of Staff was on his way there, and for them all +please to wait.</p> + +<p>"Boy, I wish he'd get here!" Dave exclaimed for the umpteenth time.</p> + +<p>"He didn't say why he wanted to see us?" Freddy asked his father for the +umpteenth time, too.</p> + +<p>"No, Freddy," the senior Farmer replied patiently. "He didn't say a word +about it."</p> + +<p>"Gee, do I hope, do I hope, <i>do I hope!</i>" Dave breathed and pressed his +two clenched fists together. "Do I hope he has fixed it for us to get +into the R.A.F., even though we are a bit under age. He said he'd do +everything he could. And, Dad?"</p> + +<p>Dave turned and looked into his father's face.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Dave?"</p> + +<p>"I sure hope it really <i>is</i> okay with you," Dave said. "I mean getting +into the R.A.F., if I possibly can. It's.... Well, it's just that +nothing else seems important now, except trimming the pants off the +Nazis. And I want to help, no matter <i>what</i> kind of help it is."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>"I understand, perfectly, Dave," his father said with a smile. "I know +exactly how you feel, because I feel the same way. I'm staying over here +to help, too. In the government end of things."</p> + +<p>Dave's exclamation of surprise was cut short by the ringing of the door +bell. Freddy's father answered it and came back into the room with +General Caldwell. The Chief of Staff greeted them all and then handed +Dave and Freddy each a small package.</p> + +<p>"And with life-long gratitude from the bottom of my heart," he said +gravely.</p> + +<p>They opened the packages to find an expensive wrist watch in each. And +on the back of each watch was the inscription:</p> + +<p class="center"> +To One Of The Two Finest And Bravest<br /> +Boys I Ever Met<br /> +General H. V. K. Caldwell<br /> +</p> + +<p>"And, now, the real reason I came here," the General said before they +could even begin to blurt out their thanks and appreciation. "Their +Majesties, King George and Queen Elizabeth, are waiting to receive you +at Buckingham Palace. And your fathers, of course."</p> + +<p>"The King ... and the Queen?" Freddy said in a hushed voice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>"Oh boy, meeting the King and Queen in Buckingham Palace!" Dave +breathed. And then he couldn't hold it any longer. "General Caldwell!" +the words rushed off his lips. "What Freddy and I asked you about? I +mean ... the R.A.F. Is there any chance?"</p> + +<p>The General tried to look stern, but he just couldn't keep the grin from +breaking through.</p> + +<p>"Among other things," he said in his soft voice, "Their Majesties wish +to be the first to congratulate their two new members of the Royal Air +Force. So, I suggest we do not keep them waiting, eh?"</p> + +<p>Dave and Freddy looked at each other without speaking, but their eyes +spoke volumes. The dream had come true. Or perhaps it was only +beginning. Either way, though, one thing was certain. Beginning with +this moment they would have the chance to do their share as pilots of +the Royal Air Force in the battle for Britain. And that chance was all +they asked. Nothing more.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<br /> +——THE END——<br /> +<br /> +See next page.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h4><i>A Page from</i></h4> +<h2>DAVE DAWSON WITH THE R.A.F.</h2> + +<p>At that moment a short, savage burst from Flight Lieutenant +Barton-Woods' guns snapped Dave's eyes back to the Junkers. They were +still quite a ways off but the Green Flight leader had let go with a +challenging burst hoping that the Germans would give up thoughts of +escape and turn back to give battle. However, it was instantly obvious +that the Junkers pilots and their crews didn't want any truck with three +Spitfire pilots. The nose of each ship was pushed down a bit to add +speed to the get away attempt. And a moment later Dave saw the flash of +sunlight on bombs dropping harmlessly down into the rolling grey-green +swells where the Channel blends in with the North Sea.</p> + +<p>"Not this day, my little Jerries!" Flight Lieutenant Barton-Woods' voice +boomed over the radio. "Let's make the beggars pay for dropping bombs in +our Channel, Green Flight! Give it to them!"</p> + +<p>The last was more or less the signal that each pilot was on his own. +Dave waited until he saw his flight leader swerve off to slam in at the +Junkers to the right. Then he touched rudder, and with Freddy sticking +right with him, swerved off after the other German raider.</p> + +<div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<p class="notes"> +Transcriber's Notes:<br /> +Page 73: Changed probaby to probably<br /> +Page 184: Changed fairly to fairy<br /> +Page 216: Changed aways to always<br /> +</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dave Dawson at Dunkirk, by Robert Sydney Bowen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DAWSON AT DUNKIRK *** + +***** This file should be named 32440-h.htm or 32440-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/4/32440/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Roger L. Holda, Joseph R. Hauser +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/32440-h/images/cover.png b/32440-h/images/cover.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..28a2ccb --- /dev/null +++ b/32440-h/images/cover.png diff --git a/32440-h/images/jacket.png b/32440-h/images/jacket.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e623655 --- /dev/null +++ b/32440-h/images/jacket.png diff --git a/32440.txt b/32440.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..beeb392 --- /dev/null +++ b/32440.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6171 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dave Dawson at Dunkirk, by Robert Sydney Bowen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dave Dawson at Dunkirk + +Author: Robert Sydney Bowen + +Release Date: May 19, 2010 [EBook #32440] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DAWSON AT DUNKIRK *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Roger L. Holda, Joseph R. Hauser +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + DAVE DAWSON + AT + DUNKIRK + + + _by_ + R. SIDNEY BOWEN + + + + + THE WAR ADVENTURE SERIES + + + + + THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY + AKRON, OHIO * NEW YORK + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1941, BY CROWN PUBLISHERS + + + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I HITLER GIVES THE ORDER! 11 + + II DIVING DOOM 21 + + III DAVE MEETS FREDDY FARMER 34 + + IV PRISONERS OF WAR! 45 + + V IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP 55 + + VI THEY'LL NEVER BEAT US! 66 + + VII SHOOT! 77 + + VIII ESCAPE! 88 + + IX A DESPERATE MISSION 102 + + X TRAPPED IN WAR SKIES! 115 + + XI FIGHTING HEARTS 130 + + XII IN THE NICK OF TIME 148 + + XIII BOMBS FOR NAMUR 160 + + XIV ORDERS FROM HEADQUARTERS 172 + + XV BELGIUM GIVES UP! 186 + + XVI FATE LAUGHS AT LAST 199 + + XVII THUNDER IN THE WEST 215 + + XVIII WINGS OF DOOM 227 + + XIX THE WHITE CLIFFS! 241 + + + + +CHAPTER ONE + +_Hitler Gives The Order!_ + + +The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination +clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed. He stared at it +sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see +it the very first thing when he opened his eyes. He knew there was some +reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember. + +He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed +and glanced about the room. For one brief second the unfamiliar sight +startled him. Then he realized where he was and grinned broadly. Sure +enough! This was his room in the Hotel de Ney in Paris, France. This was +just a little part of the wonderful dream that had really come true! + +The "dream" had begun two weeks ago. It had begun with the thundering +roar of the _Dixie_ Clipper's four engines that had lifted Dave and his +father from the waters of Port Washington Bay, Long Island, on the first +leg of the flight across the Atlantic to Lisbon, Portugal. His father +had been sent to Europe on a government mission, and after much coaxing +and pleading had consented to take Dave along. The thrill of a lifetime, +and during every minute of these last two weeks Dave Dawson had been +living in a very special kind of Seventh Heaven. + +To fly to a Europe at peace was something, but to fly to a Europe at war +was something extra special. It was a trip a fellow would remember all +the days of his life. It was an adventure that he'd tell his +grandchildren all about some day. The Clipper roaring to a landing at +Bermuda, then on to the Azores, and then farther eastward to Lisbon. The +train journey across Portugal to Spain, then up across Spain and over +the Pyrenees into France. Finally on to Paris and all the beautiful +things that beautiful city had to offer. + +Not all of the things, however, had been beautiful. There were lots of +things that were grim looking and made a fellow think a lot. The things +of war. True, the war was a long, long ways from Paris. It was far +eastward between the great Maginot Line of the French and the Siegfried +Line of Adolf Hitler's Nazi legions. There it had remained for eight +months, now, and people were saying that there it would remain. Hitler +would never dare attack the Maginot Line, and eventually the war would +just peter out. + +Yes, that was the talk you heard all over Paris, but the grim things +were there for you to see with your own eyes just the same. The +batteries of anti-aircraft guns strategically placed about the city. The +fat sausage balloons that could be sent up to great heights as a +barricade against raiding German bombers, should Hitler ever decide to +send them over. Then too there were the French Flying Corps planes that +patrolled almost constantly over the city day and night. The army +trucks, and small tanks that rumbled through the suburbs day after day. +The lorries filled with solemn eyed French troops going up to battle +stations. And at night ... the black out. No lights on the streets save +the tiny blue flashlights that the people carried. At first it made you +think of a crazy kind of fairyland. Then the faint _crump-crump_ of a +distant anti-aircraft battery going into action, and the long shafts of +brilliant light stabbing the black skies, would remind you that France +was at war, and that danger might come to Paris, though as yet it had +not even come close. But.... + +At that moment the musical chimes of the French alarm clock cut into his +thoughts. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was exactly fifteen +minutes of seven. He glanced at the calendar, too, and it told him that +the date was May 10th, 1940. + +May Tenth! In a flash the elusive bit of memory came back to him. He let +out a whoop of joy and flung back the covers and leaped out of bed. May +Tenth, of course! Gee, to think that he had actually forgotten. Why, +today was doubly important, and how! For one thing, he was now exactly +seventeen years old. For the other, that swell French officer, +Lieutenant Defoe, of the 157th Infantry Regiment, was going to take Dad +and himself on a personally conducted tour of the famous Maginot Line! +The Lieutenant had said he would come by the hotel at seven thirty +sharp. That's why he had put the clock so close to his bed! To make sure +he would hear the alarm, in case his dad in the next room over-slept. +Heck, yes! Seventeen years old, and a trip to the Maginot Line! + +He danced a jig across the room to the tall mirror that reached from the +floor to the ceiling and took the stance of a fighter coming out of his +corner for the knock-out round. For a couple of minutes he shadow boxed +the reflection in the glass, then whipped over a crushing, finishing +right and danced back. + +"Boy oh boy, do I feel good!" he cried happily and tore off his pajamas. +"Bring on your Joe Louis. Hot diggity, the Maginot Line. Me! Oh boy!" + +In almost less time than it takes to tell about it he was bathed and +fully dressed and ready to go. He started for the door leading into his +father's room but checked himself as he saw the camera on the bureau. He +took a step toward it, then snapped his fingers as he remembered +Lieutenant Defoe had said that the Maginot Line was one place where even +the President of France could not take a camera. For a second he was +tempted to take one anyway, but sober judgment quickly squelched that +idea. He knew that Lieutenant Defoe had gone to a lot of trouble to get +permission for him and his father to visit that great string of +fortresses, and it would be pretty cheap to do anything that would get +the Lieutenant in wrong. + +So he left the camera where it was, caught up his hat, and went over to +the connecting door and knocked loudly. + +"Rise and shine in there, Mister!" he called out. "Big doings today, +remember? Are you up, Dad?" + +There was no sound save the echo of his own voice. He knocked again and +shouted, "Hey, Dad!" but there was still no sound from the room beyond. +He hesitated a moment, then grasped the knob and pushed the door open. + +"Hey, Dad, get...!" + +An empty room greeted his amazed gaze. The bed hadn't been slept in. As +a matter of fact there was not a single sign that the room had been +occupied. There were no clothes in the closet, no toilet articles and +stuff on the dresser, and not even any traveling bags. The sudden shock +made his heart contract slightly, and for a long moment he could do +nothing but stare wide eyed at the vacant room. + +"Can I be dreaming?" he heard his own voice murmur. "This is Dad's room. +I said good night to him here last night. But, there's no one here. +Dad's gone, for cat's sake. _Hey, Dad!_" + +All that he got for his extra loud shout was a muffled voice protesting +violently in French, and an angry pounding on the floor of the room +above. He closed his Dad's door and went down the stairs three at a time +and straight across the lobby floor to the desk. + +"Have you seen my Father?" he asked the girlish looking man at the desk. + +The girlish looking man didn't hear. He was talking on the telephone. +Talking a blue streak with his hands as well as his mouth. In fact, in +order to make full use of both his hands the clerk had dropped the +receiver and was giving all of his attention to the mouth piece. He +looked like he was trying to do the Australian Crawl right into it and +down the wire to whoever was at the other end of the line. + +Dave grinned and stood watching the clerk. The words came out like a +string of machine gun bullets. Much, much too fast for Dave to line them +up in a sentence that made sense. He caught a word here and there, +however, and presently the grin faded from his face. He heard the name, +_Holland_, and _Belgium_. He heard _Nazi cows_. He heard _Maginot Line_, +and _Siegfried Line_. And a whole lot of the girlish looking clerk's +personal opinions of Hitler, and Goering, and Hess, and Goebbels, and +everybody else in Nazi Germany. + +He did not hear a lot, but he heard enough, and his eyes widened, and +his heart began to thump against his ribs in wild excitement. He banged +on the desk and shouted at the clerk, but he might just as well have +shouted at the moon. The clerk was far, far too busy trying to swim down +the telephone cord. + +Dave started to yell even louder but at that moment a hand took hold of +his arm and swung him around. He found himself staring into the flushed, +good looking face of Lieutenant Defoe. The French officer was breathing +hard and there was a strange look in his eyes that checked the happy +greeting on Dave's lips. + +"Hey, what's wrong, Lieutenant?" he asked instead. "That clerk acts like +he's going nuts. And, say, Dad isn't in his room. Not even any of his +things." + +"I know, _mon Capitaine_," Lieutenant Defoe said and held onto his arm. +"Come. First we shall have some breakfast, and then I will explain all." + +The fact that Defoe was there, and that the French officer had called +him by the kidding title of My Captain soothed the tiny worry that was +beginning to grow inside Dave. + +"Okay, Lieutenant, I am starved at that," he said as the officer led the +way to the breakfast room. "But, that clerk. He was shouting something +about the Germans in Holland and Belgium, and.... Hey, my gosh! Has +Hitler invaded the Lowlands?" + +"Early this morning," Defoe said gravely. "Another of his promises +broken, but we expected it, of course. Yes, _mon Capitaine_, now France +will truly go to war. Here, sit there. Let me order. They are perhaps +excited a little this morning, and I will get better results." + +Dave waited until the French officer had ordered for them both and put +the fear of the devil in the lumbering and thoroughly flustered +waitress. Then he leaned forward on the table. + +"What about Dad, Lieutenant?" he asked. "Is anything wrong? I mean, is +he all right?" + +The French officer nodded and wiped beads of sweat from his face with a +huge colored handkerchief. It was then Dave saw how tired and weary the +man looked. His eyes were drawn and haggard. His funny little mustache +seemed even to droop from fatigue. Despite his natty uniform, and the +two rows of shiny medals, the Lieutenant looked as though he had not +slept for days. + +"Yes, your father is well, and safe," Defoe finally said through a +mouthful of hard roll. "He is in England." + +Dave spilled some of the water he was drinking. + +"England?" he gasped. "Dad is in England?" + +"In London," Defoe said and crammed more roll into his mouth. "It was +all very sudden. Be patient, _mon Capitaine_, and I shall try to +explain. First, a thousand pardons for not arriving sooner, but I was +delayed at the War Ministry. And there was not one of those cursed taxis +we have in Paris, so I was forced to run all the way. You were surprised +and alarmed to find your father gone, eh?" + +"I was knocked for a loop," Dave said with a grin. "But, look, tell me. +Why in thunder did Dad go to London? Because of the German invasion into +Holland and Belgium?" + +"No," Defoe said. "Some business with your American Ambassador there. +What, I do not know. We were in the lounge having a good night glass of +wine just after you had gone to bed. A wireless message arrived. Your +father said that he had to leave for London at once. An Embassy car took +him to Calais where he could embark on a destroyer. He said that he +would be gone for three days. You were asleep and he did not wish to +wake you. He asked me to take his room, and to be your companion until +he returned. He said he would write you from London. He said it was just +a quick business trip and nothing for you to worry about." + +"Yes, yes," Dave said, trying to keep his voice polite. "But what now?" + +Lieutenant Defoe gestured expressively with a butter knife in one hand +and a piece of roll in the other. + +"Now, everything is changed, _mon Capitaine_," he said. "In a few hours +you and I shall drive together to Calais. There I shall salute you and +bid you farewell. A British destroyer will take you to Dover. And from +there to London you shall travel by train. Your father will meet you at +the station in London. What you will do then, I do not know. Your father +did not honor me with the information." + + + + +CHAPTER TWO + +_Diving Doom_ + + +The small but speedy Renault car scooted along the broad dusty French +road like a grey-brown bug fleeing for its life. The ride out of Paris +had both thrilled Dave and depressed him. It was exciting to streak past +the long lines of army cars and troops on the march. It gave him a kick +the way the simple showing of Lieutenant Defoe's military papers cleared +the way through barrier after barrier thrown up across the road. Those +papers were as a magic charm that made officers and men alike spring to +attention and salute. And in a way they _were_ a magic charm. They had +not only been signed by the highest military authorities, but by the +President of France, himself. + +Yet with all that it made him a little sad to leave Paris. He felt as +though he were running away in the face of danger. He had had lots of +fun with his Dad and Lieutenant Defoe in Paris. Swell times, and now he +was rushing away from the city. Running away because danger might come +to Paris. True, he was only obeying his father's instructions, yet he +could not rid himself of the feeling that he was running away. + +From time to time he glanced at Lieutenant Defoe at the wheel of the +car. The laughter and gaiety had gone from the Frenchman's eyes. His +face was set and grim. He gripped the wheel tight with his big hands, +and every so often he flung an anxious look up into the sun filled blue +sky. Each time Dave followed his look but could see nothing. Eventually, +the question was forced from his lips. + +"What's the matter, Lieutenant?" he asked. "You look worried. You think +something's going to happen?" + +The French officer shrugged, and for the five hundredth time peered up +at the sky. + +"Something going to happen?" he murmured. "Of course not. My neck, it is +a little stiff. It feels better when I move my head, so." + +Lieutenant Defoe punctuated his words with a laugh, but that laugh did +not ring true in Dave's ears. + +"You're looking for German airplanes, aren't you?" he said straight out. +"And you are worried, too, about how the army is getting along. I saw +you talking with a colonel just before we left. Did you get any news?" + +"We are holding the German cows," Lieutenant Defoe said through clenched +teeth. "The English and our gallant troops are now pouring into Belgium +by the thousands. We will throw the Boche back. Yes, he shall be taught +a lesson he will not forget for a long time." + +The French officer lifted one hand from the wheel, doubled it into a +rock hard fist and shook it savagely at an imaginary foe. + +"This time we shall teach them a lesson, once and for all!" he cried. +"We...!" + +The rest died on his lips. Rather it was changed into a cry of both +anger and surprise. At that moment the car had gone spinning around a +sharp bend in the road and there directly ahead was a scene that brought +both Defoe and Dave bolt upright in the seat. The road was black with +men, women, and children. A sea of people, and horses, and cows, and +goats, and dogs was sweeping toward them. There were wagons, and carts, +and even baby carriages piled high with household goods. And above it +all rose a constant unending babble of frightened tongues. + +"Good gosh, look at them!" Dave exclaimed. + +Lieutenant Defoe didn't say a word. He quickly slipped the car out of +gear and braked it to a stop. Then he climbed down onto the road and +Dave saw him slide his hand toward his holstered gun. The swarm of men, +women, and children advanced relentlessly toward them. Lieutenant Defoe +flung up one hand. + +"Halt!" he bellowed at the top of his voice. "What is the meaning of +this?" + +Ten thousand tongues answered his question all in the same voice. + +"The Boche!" they screamed. "They have broken through. They have taken +everything. They are everywhere. They will slaughter us like cattle, if +they catch us. How far to Paris? We are tired. We have walked for hours. +Yes, for years!" + +"Enough!" Lieutenant Defoe roared. "The Boche will not break through. +The soldiers of France will not permit it. You are but frightened fools, +all of you. Go back to your homes. I command you to! Go back to your +homes where you will be safe. The Boche will not harm you!" + +An old, old woman clutching a bundle of clothing laughed wildly and +rushed up close to the French officer. She shook a gnarled fist in his +face and screamed at the top of her voice. + +"Our soldiers? Where are they? I will tell you. They are in retreat. +There are too many of the Boche. And they have airplanes, and, tanks, +and guns. With my own eyes I have seen them shoot down anybody, and +everybody. I ask you, where is our army? And the English, where are +they? I will tell you, my Lieutenant, the Boche have killed them, killed +them all. Turn this thing around and flee for your lives. That is my +advice to you." + +"Silence, old woman!" Lieutenant Defoe thundered. "Enough of such talk! +Spies have filled you with such lies. That is what they wish to do. To +scare you, and frighten you, and to make you leave your homes, and +clutter up the roads this way. Listen to me! I...." + +The Frenchman roared with all the power of his lungs, but it was even +less than a faint cry in the wilderness. The long lines of terror +stricken refugees drowned him out. Like a gigantic black wave parted in +the middle they swept by on both sides of the car. The Frenchman's face +turned beet red with fury. He shouted, and ranted, and raved. But it was +all to no avail. His voice and his actions were but a waste of breath +and muscle energy. For a little while Dave tried to help him. He tried +to reason with the mass of terrified humanity sweeping by the car. He +begged, he pleaded, and he threatened, but it was as useless as +thundering at the sun to turn off its light. No one paid him any +attention. It is doubtful if anybody even heard him. Eventually he sank +down on the seat, his voice exhausted and his throat sore. + +He looked helplessly at Lieutenant Defoe. The French officer was a +picture of misery, and of burning anger. Tears were in his eyes, and he +was working his mouth though no sound came off his lips. In time he got +back in the car and sank dejectedly behind the wheel. + +"I am ashamed of my countrymen!" he shouted at Dave. "I am mortified +that you should see this. But this is the curse of war. The people are +like chickens when war comes. They do not stop to think or reason. They +think of nothing but fleeing for their lives. They ... they are like +children. I am ashamed." + +The utter sadness and remorse in the officer's voice touched Dave +deeply. He reached over and took hold of the Lieutenant's arm and +pressed hard. + +"That's okay, I understand, Lieutenant," he said. "Forget it. Look, +we'll be stuck here forever if we don't do something. Let's try and get +off to the side. I'll get out and push them aside, and you keep the car +in low gear. Okay, take it easy, Lieutenant." + +Some of the anger faded from the Frenchman's eyes and the corners of his +mouth tilted in a faint smile. + +"At your orders, _mon Capitaine_," he said. "Yes, you get out and warn +them away, and I shall drive the car to the side of the road." + +Dave returned his smile and slid out of the car. No sooner had his feet +touched the road than he felt as though his body had been caught in the +roaring torrent of a rampaging river. Like a chip of wood he was picked +up and swept along, and it was several seconds before he was able to +regain his footing and force his way back and around to the front of the +car. There he put out both his hands and started waving the steady +stream of babbling refugees to the left and to the right. + +It was tedious, heartbreaking effort, and a hundred times he came within +an ace of falling flat on the road under the crawling wheels of the +Renault. But for his young strong body pushing and shoving this way and +that Lieutenant Defoe would not have been able to move the car forward +an inch. As it was the car did not travel more than fifty yards in a +good half hour. By then Dave was drenched with his own sweat. His hat +was gone and his clothes were slowly but surely being torn from his +back. + +Suddenly he saw Lieutenant Defoe at his shoulder and heard the +Frenchman's voice shouting in his ear. + +"It is useless, _mon Capitaine_! It is madness. We will not get any +place with the car. The town of Beaumont is but a few _kilometres_ +ahead. There is an army post there. I shall request a military car and +a driver. Ah me, I am desolate that this should happen. Here! Watch what +you are doing! You! Let go of me, my old one! _Attention!_" + +At that moment the French officer had been caught in the river of +people. He struggled and he fought but he was relentlessly swept along +and away from Dave's clutching hands. In almost the same moment Dave, +himself, was caught up by the moving mass. It was either a case of +moving along with the stream or stumbling to his hands and knees and +being trampled under foot, or being run over by the heavy wheel of an ox +cart or wagon. It was absolutely impossible, and an act of sheer +suicide, to buck that packed throng. + +And so Dave took the only course open to him. He moved along with the +stream of refugees and inch by inch worked his way to the edge of the +stream and into a clear space. There he paused for breath and strained +his eyes for a glimpse of Lieutenant Defoe, but the Frenchman was +nowhere to be seen. He had been virtually swallowed up by the stream of +humanity moving relentlessly and blindly forward. Dave thought of the +troops and the long lines of army cars he and Defoe had passed since +leaving Paris, and shuddered at the thought. When the army and the +populace met what would happen? Who would give way, or would anybody? +In his mind's eye he pictured other French officers like Defoe striving +to force the refugees to abandon their mad flight and return home. It +was not a pretty picture to imagine. It was not a nice situation to +contemplate. Troops with tanks and guns moving forward to meet the enemy +but instead meeting thousands and thousands of their own flesh and +blood. + +"Please, God, put sense in the heads of these poor people!" Dave +breathed softly to himself. "Tell them what they should do for the sake +of France, and...." + +Dave Dawson never finished that prayer. At that moment there came to his +ears a new and entirely different sound. At first he could think only of +tons of brick sliding down a slanting tin roof. Then suddenly he knew +what it was, and in that same instant the rising hysterical scream of +the passing throngs echoed his own thought. + +"_Les Boches! Les Boches!_ Take cover at once!" + +Like thousands upon thousands of stampeded cattle the refugees broke +ranks and went scattering madly and wildly in all directions. Carts and +wagons were left where they had come to a halt on the road with their +horses, or oxen, or dogs standing dumb eyed and drooping in their +tracks. Dave stayed where he was for an instant, not moving an inch, and +his eyes fixed upon the cluster of dots streaking down from the blue sky +high overhead. In the twinkling of an eye they ceased to be dots. They +became planes! German planes. Heinkels, and Messerschmitt 110's, and +Stuka dive bombers. Winged messengers of doom howling down upon the road +choked with wagons and carts, and countless numbers of helpless +refugees. + +Even as Dave saw them the leading ships opened fire. Tongues of jetting +red flame spat downward, and the savage yammer of the aerial machine +guns echoed above the blood chilling thunder of the engines. Tearing his +eyes from that horrible sight Dave glanced back at the road. It was +still filled with frantic men, women, and children, and at the spot +directly under the diving planes bullets were cutting down human lives +as swiftly as a keen edged scythe cuts down wheat. + +His feet rooted to the ground, Dave stared in horror. Then suddenly one +of the diving Stukas released its deadly bomb. The bomb struck the +ground no more than twenty feet from the edge of the road. Red, orange, +and yellow flame shot high into the air. A billowing cloud of smoke +filled with dirt, and dust, and stones fountained upward. Then a mighty +roar akin to the sound of worlds colliding seemed to hammer straight +into his face. The next thing he realized he was flat on his back on the +ground gasping and panting for air while from every direction came the +screams of the wounded and the dying. + +The screams seemed to release a hidden spring inside of him and make it +possible for him to set himself into action. He scrambled to his feet, +stared wild eyed up at the diving planes and shook his fist in white +heat anger. + +"You'll pay for this!" he shouted. "You'll pay for this if it takes the +Allies a thousand years. And I'll do my share in helping them too!" + +As the last left his lips he suddenly saw an old woman, almost bowed +down by bundles, trying feebly to get away from the road and out from +under the roaring armada of diving death. She took a few faltering steps +and then stumbled to her knees. One withered hand was stretched out in +mute appeal to the others to help her up, but no one paused to give her +aid. Stark fear had them all in its grasp and none could be bothered +about the misfortunes of the other. + +The old woman was only one in thousands and thousands, but Dave had +witnessed her sad plight and so his movements were instinctive. He +leaped forward and went dashing to her side. With one hand he grabbed +her bundles and the other hand he put under her arm. + +"I'll help you, Madam," he said. "Just lean on me. I'll get you to a +safe place. Don't worry." + +He had spoken in English and of course the old woman didn't understand +his words. She understood his actions, however, and there was deep +gratitude in the lined and tired face she turned toward him. + +"_Merci, Monsieur, merci_," she whispered and started forward leaning +heavily on Dave's arm. + +And then down out of the blue it came! Dave heard the eerie sound above +the general din but of course he didn't see the dropping bomb. He didn't +even taken the time to glance upward. He simply acted quickly. He +grabbed the old woman about the waist and hauled her to the scanty +protection of a standing wagon. There he pushed her down and bent over +her so that his body served as partial protection against what he knew +was coming. + +It came! A terrific crash of sound that seemed to split the very earth +wide open. Every bone in Dave's body seemed to turn to jelly. The entire +universe became one huge ocean of flashing light and fire. The ground +rocked and trembled under his feet. Unseen hands seemed to grab hold of +him and lift him straight upward to hover motionless in a cloud of +licking tongues of colored flame. Then suddenly all became as dark as +the night, and as silent as a tomb, and he knew no more. + + + + +CHAPTER THREE + +_Dave Meets Freddy Farmer_ + + +When Dave again opened his eyes it was night. He was lying on his back +under some trees and staring up through bomb shattered branches at the +canopy of glittering and twinkling stars high overhead. For several +seconds he remained perfectly still, not moving a muscle. What had +happened? Where was he? Why was he out here under some trees in the +dark? + +Those and countless other questions crowded through his brain. Then, as +though somebody had pulled a curtain aside, memory came back to him and +he knew all the answers. Of course! A Stuka bomb. It had dropped close. +He had been trying to shelter that old woman. Yet, that had been on the +road by a cart, and here he was under some trees. How come? Had the +exploding bomb blown him under the trees? Was he wounded but still too +dazed to feel any pain? Good gosh, it was night now, so he must have +been here for hours! + +Thought and action became one. He put out his hands and pushed himself +up to a sitting position. Almost instantly he regretted the effort. A +hundred trip-hammers started going to work on the inside of his head. +The night and the stars began to whirl madly about him. He closed his +eyes tight, and clenched his teeth until things stopped spinning so +fast. That helped the pounding in his head, too. It simmered down to a +dull throbbing ache that he could stand without flinching. + +For a few moments he sat there on the grass feeling over his body and +searching for broken bones or any wounds he might have received. There +was nothing broken, however, and his only wound was a nice big goose egg +on the left side of his head. Thankful for the miracle wrought, he got +slowly to his feet, braved a hand against a tree trunk and peered about +him in the darkness. + +It was then one more little surprise came to him. He was in a field and +as far as he could tell there wasn't a road any place. No unending +stream of refugees, no wagons, no carts, and no road. It was as though +he had dropped down into the very middle of nowhere. Completely puzzled +by the strangeness of his surroundings, he glanced at the sky, found the +North Star and started walking northward. Way off in the distance there +was a faint rumbling, like thunder far far away, but he knew at once it +was the roar of heavy guns. If he needed any proof he had only to stare +toward the northeast. There the faint glow of flames made a horizon line +between the night sky and the earth. + +"But where _am_ I?" he asked himself aloud. "I couldn't have just been +blown away. I haven't even got a sprained ankle. Gosh! I wonder where +the Lieutenant is? And those poor refugees. I sure hope French planes +caught those Germans and gave them some of their own medicine. And...." + +He choked off the rest and started running. In the distance off to his +left he had suddenly seen a pair of moving lights. One look told him +that it must be some kind of a car on a road. He would stop it and at +least find out where he was. Perhaps he might even get a ride back to +Paris. He would be crazy to try and reach Calais, now. The best thing +for him to do was to get back to Paris as fast as he could and send word +to his father. + +"But how can I?" he gasped as sudden truth dawned on him. "I don't even +know where Dad's staying in London. He was to meet me at the station. I +didn't bother to ask Lieutenant Defoe where Dad was staying!" + +The seriousness of his plight added wings to his feet. He raced at top +speed toward the pair of moving dim lights. And with every step he took, +fear that he would not get to the road in time mounted in his breast. +But he had been the star half miler on the Boston Latin High School +track team, and finally he reached the edge of the road a good fifty or +sixty yards in front of the advancing pair of lights. Disregarding the +danger of being run down in the dark he stepped to the center of the +road and waved both his arms and shouted at the top of his voice. The +sound of the car's engine died down, brakes complained, and the car came +to a halt. + +"I say there, what's up?" shouted a voice from behind the lights. "I +jolly well came close to running you down, you know. Just spotted you in +the nick of time." + +Dave gulped with relief at the sound of an English speaking voice. He +trotted toward the lights and then around them to the driver's seat. It +was then he saw that the car was an ambulance. It was a nice brand new +one, and only a little dusty. Painted under the red cross on the side +were the words ... British Volunteer Ambulance Service. + +"I say, do you speak English?" the driver asked as Dave came close. + +Dave looked at him. The driver wasn't in uniform. He wore civilian +clothes, and he was about Dave's age. Perhaps a few months younger. In +the faint glow of the dashboard light his face held a sort of cherubic +expression. He wore no hat and sandy hair fell down over his forehead. +His eyes were clear blue, and he had nice strong looking teeth. One look +and Dave knew instantly that he could like this friendly English boy a +lot. + +"You bet I speak English," he said. "I'm an American. My name is Dave +Dawson." + +"Mine's Freddy Farmer," said the English boy. "I'm very glad to meet +you, America, but what in the world are you doing here? Good grief, look +at your clothes! Did a bomb fall on you?" + +"One came mighty close," Dave said with a grin. "I just came to a few +minutes ago, and saw your lights. I'm trying to get back to Paris. Is it +far?" + +"Paris?" young Freddy Farmer exclaimed. "Why, it's over a hundred miles +back. This is a part of Belgium. Didn't you know that? What happened +anyway? You say you were bombed? A nasty business, bombing." + +For a moment or so Dave was too surprised to speak. This was Belgium? +But it couldn't be! Freddy Farmer must be wrong. He was sure Defoe and +he had not been seventy miles from Paris when they'd met those +refugees. Belgium? Good gosh! Did that exploding bomb blow him over +thirty miles away? But that was crazy. + +"Come, get in and ride with me," the English lad broke into his +thoughts. "I can't take you back to Paris but Courtrai is just up ahead. +That's where I'm delivering this ambulance. Perhaps you can get +something there to take you back to Paris. Right you are, America. Now, +tell me all about it." + +As gears were shifted and the car moved forward Dave told of his +thrilling experiences since leaving Paris that morning. Young Freddy +Farmer didn't interrupt, but every now and then he took his eyes off the +road ahead to look at Dave in frank admiration. + +"Say, you did have a bit of a go, didn't you?" Freddy Farmer said when +Dave had finished. "That was mighty decent of you to try and help that +old woman. I hope she got through, all right. We heard that the Germans +were shooting and bombing the refugees. A very nasty business, but +that's the way Hitler wages war." + +"I hope he gets a good licking!" Dave exclaimed. "Those poor people +didn't have a chance. They were helpless. I don't see how he thinks he +can win the war that way." + +"Hitler won't win the war," the English boy said quietly. "He may have +us on the run for a bit, but in the end we'll win. Just like we did the +last time. That's part of his plan, shooting civilians on the road. I +heard a major and a colonel talking about it. You see, if his airplanes +can get the civilians to leave their homes and clog up the roads, why +then our troops have a hard time passing through. I saw some of that +sort of thing myself, today. It was awful, I can tell you. I couldn't +make any more than five miles in six hours. And it was all I could do to +stop them from taking my ambulance and using it for a bus. I wouldn't +let them, though." + +Dave looked sidewise and saw how tired the English lad was. His cheeks +were slightly pale from fatigue, and his eyelids were heavy. Dave +reached out and touched the wheel. + +"I've just had a pretty good sleep," he said with a laugh, "and you look +pretty much all in, Freddy. Want me to take the wheel for a spell? You +can tell me which way to go." + +The English boy turned his head and smiled at him, and somehow both +suddenly knew that a deep friendship between them had been cemented. + +"Thanks, awfully much, Dave," Freddy Farmer said, "but I'm not really +tired at all. Besides, there isn't far to go now. Only a few more miles, +I fancy. It's nice of you to ask, though." + +"It'll still be okay if you change your mind," Dave said. "Have you been +driving an ambulance long? Do you go out and help pick up the wounded, +and stuff? I guess you've seen a lot of battles, haven't you?" + +"Oh, No, I'm not really an ambulance driver, Dave. You have to be +eighteen to get in this volunteer service, and I won't be seventeen +until next month. You see, I've been going to school just outside Paris +and my family decided I'd better come home to England. Well, yesterday +several of these ambulances arrived at the Paris headquarters of the +Service. They had been shipped clear to Paris through a mistake. The +French do funny things sometimes, you know. Anyway, they were needed in +Belgium and there were no regular drivers in Paris. Not enough, anyway. +I thought it would be good fun to drive one and then carry on to the +Channel and on home to England. We left Paris at midnight last night, +and soon lost track of each other. It's been fun, though. I'll be sorry +to have the trip end." + +"Jeepers, you've been driving since midnight?" Dave exclaimed. "You sure +can take it, Freddy, and how!" + +"Take it?" the English boy murmured with a puzzled frown. "I don't think +I know what you mean." + +Dave laughed. "That's American slang, Freddy," he said. "It means that +you've got a lot of courage, and stuff. It means that you're okay." + +"Thanks, Dave," Freddy Farmer said. "But it really doesn't take any +courage. I'm very glad to do my bit, if it helps the troops any. We've +got to beat the Germans, you know. And we jolly well will, I can tell +you!" + +The two boys lapsed into silence and for the next two or three miles +neither of them spoke. During that time Dave stared at the dim red glow +of burning buildings in the distance and thought his thoughts about the +war that had apparently begun in earnest. He was an American and America +was neutral, of course. Yet after what he'd seen this day he was filled +with a burning desire to do something to help beat back Hitler and +defeat him. He knew that there had been a lot of boys his age who had +taken part in the last World War. He was big for his age, too, and +strong as an ox. He decided that when he got to London and found his +father he would ask Dad if there wasn't something he could do to help. +Nothing else seemed important, now. The important thing was to help stop +all this business that was taking place in Europe. + +At that moment Freddy Farmer suddenly slipped the car out of gear and +braked it to a stop. + +"Yes, Freddy?" + +"I'm afraid I've got us into a bit of a mess, Dave," he said. "To be +truthful, we are lost. I really haven't the faintest where we are. You +must think me a fine mug for this. I'm frightfully sorry, really." + +"Wait a minute!" Dave cried out. "Here comes a car. It sounds like a +truck. Gee, what a racket!" + +A pair of headlights was rapidly approaching along the road that led off +to the right. They bounced up and down because of the uneven surface, +and the banging noise of the engine made Dave think of a threshing +machine. On impulse he and Freddy Farmer moved out into the glow of the +ambulance's lights and began waving their arms. The truck or car, or +whatever it was, bore down upon them and finally came to a halt with the +grinding and clashing of gears. + +"Come on, Dave, we'll find out, now!" Freddy said and trotted into the +twin beams of light. + +Dave dropped into step at his side, and they had traveled but a few +yards when a harsh voice suddenly stopped them in their tracks. + +"Halt!" + +The two boys stood motionless, their eyes blinking into the light. Dave +heard Freddy Farmer catch his breath in a sharp gasp. He suddenly +realized that for some unknown reason his own heart was pounding +furiously, and there was a peculiar dryness in his throat. At that +moment he heard hobnailed boots strike the surface of the road. The +figure of a soldier came into the light. On his head was a bucket shaped +helmet, and in his hands was a wicked looking portable machine gun. He +moved forward in a cautious way, and then Dave was able to see his +uniform. His heart seemed to turn to ice in his chest, and his hands +suddenly felt very cold and damp. + +He was looking straight at a German soldier! + + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + +_Prisoners Of War!_ + + +"Good Grief, a German!" + +Freddy Farmer's whispered exclamation served to jerk Dave out of his +stunned trance. He blinked and swallowed hard and tried to stop the +pounding of his heart. + +"Hey, there, we're lost!" he suddenly called out. "Where are we anyway?" + +The advancing German soldier pulled up short and stopped. He stuck his +head forward and stared hard. There was a sharp exclamation behind him +and then a second figure came into the light. The second figure was a +German infantry officer. He kept one hand on his holstered Luger +automatic and came up to Dave and Freddy. + +"You are English?" he asked in a heavy nasal voice. "What are you doing +here? Ah, an ambulance, eh? So, you are trying to sneak back through our +advanced lines? It is good that I have found you just in time. Keep your +hands up, both of you! I will see if you have guns, yes!" + +"We're not armed, Captain!" Dave exclaimed. "We're not soldiers. We're +just lost." + +"I am not a captain, I am a lieutenant!" the German snapped and searched +Dave for a gun. "You will address me as such. Not soldiers, you tell me? +Then, why this ambulance? And why are you here?" + +"As you were just told," Freddy Farmer spoke up in a calm voice, +"because we are lost. Now, if you will be good enough to tell us the way +to Courtrai we will be off." + +The German officer snapped his head around. + +"Ah, so _you_ are English, yes?" he demanded. + +"And proud of it!" Freddy said stiffly. "And this chap, if you must +know, is an American friend of mine. Now, will you tell us the way to +Courtrai?" + +The German said nothing for a moment or two. There was a look of +disappointment on his sharp featured face. It was as though he was very +sad he had not found a pistol or an automatic on either of them. He +moved back a step and stood straddle legged with his bunched fists +resting on his hips. + +"American and English?" he finally muttered. "This is all very strange, +very unusual. You say you don't know where you are?" + +"That's right, Lieutenant," Dave said and choked back a hot retort. +"Where are we anyway? And what are you doing here? My gosh! Is this +Germany?" + +The German smiled and showed ugly teeth. + +"It is now," he said. "But that is all you need to know. I think you +have lied to me. Yes, I am sure of it. I will take you to the +_Kommandant_. He will get you to talk, I'm sure. _Himmel!_ Our enemies +send out little boys to spy on us! The grown men must be too afraid. +But, you cannot fool us with your tricks!" + +"Tricks, nothing!" Dave blurted out in a burst of anger. "We told you +the truth. I was on my way to join my father in London...." + +"Don't waste your breath, Dave," Freddy Farmer said quietly. "I'm sure +he wouldn't understand, anyway." + +"Silence, you Englisher!" the German snarled and whirled on the boy. +"You will make no slurs at a German officer. Come! We will go to see the +_Kommandant_ at once!" + +"We'd better do as he orders, Freddy," Dave said swiftly. "After we've +told our story to his commanding officer they'll let us go. They can't +keep us very long. If they do, I'll appeal to the nearest American +Consul. He'll straighten things out for us." + +"So?" the German muttered and gave Dave a piercing look. "Well, we shall +see. If you are spies it will go very hard with you, yes. Now, march +back to the car in front of me." + +The officer half turned his head and snapped something at the soldier +who had been standing in back of him. The soldier immediately sprang +into action. He hurried past and climbed into the front seat of the +ambulance. Dave impulsively took hold of Freddy's arm again. + +"Don't worry, Freddy!" he whispered. "Everything, will come out all +right. You wait and see. Don't let these fellows even guess that we're +worried." + +"What's that?" the German suddenly thundered. "What's that you are +saying to him?" + +The officer had half drawn his Luger and the movement chilled Dave's +heart. He forced himself, though, to look the German straight in the +eye. + +"I was simply telling him the American Consul would fix things up for +us," he said evenly. + +The German snorted. + +"Perhaps," he growled. "We shall see." + +Walking straight with their heads up and their shoulders back, the two +boys permitted themselves to be herded back to the car. When they passed +beyond the glow of the headlights they were plunged into darkness and +for a moment Dave could see nothing. Then his eyes became used to the +change and he saw that the car was a combination car and truck. It was +actually an armored troop transport. Steel sheets protected the back and +the driver's seat, and instead of heavy duty tires on the rear wheels +there were tractor treads instead so that the army vehicle could travel +across country and through mud as well as along a paved road. + +In the back were some fifteen or twenty German soldiers each armed with +a small machine gun and completely fitted out for scouting work. They +peered down at Dave and Freddy as the officer motioned them to get into +the transport, but none of them spoke. They either did not understand +English, or else they were too afraid of the officer to speak. And so +Dave and Freddy climbed aboard in silence and sank down on the hard +plank that served as a seat. The officer got in beside the driver and +growled a short order. + +The engine roared up, gears clanked and crashed, and the transport +lunged forward. It traveled a few yards and swung off the road and +around in the direction from which it had obviously come. That direction +was to the east, and that caused Dave to swallow hard and press his knee +against Freddy's. The pressure that was returned told him that the +English boy had a good hold on himself, and wasn't going to do anything +foolish. + +Glad of that, Dave stared ahead over the shoulder of the driver at the +road. At various points the pavement had been torn up by a bomb or by a +shell and the transport's driver was forced to detour around such spots. +Presently, wrecked ammunition wagons, and light field artillery pieces +were to be seen, strewn along the side of the road. They were all +smashed almost beyond recognition, and close by them were the death +stilled figures of Belgian soldiers, and refugees who had been unable to +escape the swiftly advancing German hordes. + +Suddenly the sound of airplane engines lifted Dave's eyes up to the +skies. He could not see the planes, they were too high. However the +pulsating beat of the engines told him they were Hitler's night bombers +out on patrol. Impulsively he clenched his two fists and wished very +much he was up there in a swift, deadly pursuit or fighter plane. He had +taken flying lessons back home, and had even made his first solo. But he +had not been granted his private pilot's license yet because of his age. + +"But I'd like to be up there in a Curtis P-Forty!" he spoke aloud. "I +bet I could do something, or at least try!" + +His words stiffened Freddy Farmer at his side. The English boy leaned +close. + +"Are you a pilot, Dave?" he whispered. "Do you fly?" + +"Some," Dave said. "I've gone solo, anyway. I hope some day to get +accepted for the Army Air Corps. I think flying is the best thing yet. +There's nothing like it. Hear those planes up there? Boy!" + +"They're German," Freddy said. "Heinkel bombers, I think. Or perhaps +they are Dorniers, I can't tell by the sound. I'm crazy about flying, +too. I joined an aero club back in England. I've got a few hours solo to +my credit. When war broke out I tried to enlist in the Royal Air Force, +but they found out about my age and it was no go, worse luck. But, some +day I'm going to wear R.A.F. wings. At least, I hope and pray so. I...." + +"Silence!" the German officer's harsh voice grated against their +eardrums once more. "You will not speak!" + +"A rum chap, isn't he?" Freddy breathed out the corner of his mouth. + +"Sure thinks he's a big shot," Dave breathed. + +And then as the transport continued to rumble and roll eastward Nature +took charge of things as far as the boys were concerned. Strong and +healthy though they were, they had been through a lot since dawn. It had +been more than enough to wear down a full grown man. And soon they fell +sound asleep. + +The rasping and clanging of gears and the shouting of voices in German +eventually dragged Dave out of his sound slumber. It was still dark but +he could see the first faint light of a new dawn low down in the east. +The motorized transport had come to a stop in the center of a small +village. Dave could see that here, too, shells and bombs had been at +work, but lots of the buildings remained untouched. There were German +soldiers in all kinds of uniforms all over the place. A hand was slapped +against his shoulder and he looked up to stare into the small bright +eyes of the German lieutenant. + +"Wake up your friend!" the German snapped, "We are here. Get out, both +of you!" + +"Where are we?" Dave asked and gently shook Freddy Farmer who was fast +asleep on his shoulder. "What town is this, Lieutenant?" + +The German smiled slyly. Then annoyance flashed through his eyes. He +whipped out a hand and took a steel grip on Freddy's shoulder and shook +viciously. + +"Wake up, Englander!" he barked. "You have had enough sleep for the +present. Wake up, I say!" + +A smart slap across the cheek emphasized the last. The English lad woke +up instantly, and he would have lunged out with a clenched fist if Dave +had not caught hold of his arm. + +"Take it easy, Freddy!" he exclaimed. "This is the end of the line. +Here's where we get off. How do you feel?" + +Freddy shook his head and dug knuckles into his sleep filled eyes. That +seemed to do the trick. He was fully awake in an instant. + +"Oh yes, I remember, now," he said. "Where are we, though? What's this +place?" + +The German threw back his head and laughed. + +"I will tell you," he said and waggled a finger in front of their faces. +"This is the Headquarters of the German Army Intelligence in the field. +I am taking you before the _Kommandant_. And now we shall learn all +about you two. Yes, you will be very wise to answer truthfully all the +questions _Herr Kommandant_ asks." + +With a curt nod to show that he meant what he said the German climbed +down onto the street, and then motioned for Dave and Freddy to climb +down, too. + +"That building, there," he said and pointed. "March! And do not be so +foolish as to try and run away. I warn you!" + +Dave and Freddy simply shrugged and walked across the street to the +doorway of a solidly built stone building. A guard standing in front +clicked his heels and held his rifle at salute at the approach of the +officer. + +"My compliments to _Herr Kommandant_," the officer said sharply. +"_Leutnant_ Mueller reporting with two prisoners for questioning." + +The guard saluted again, then executed a smart about face and went in +through the door. Dave caught a flash glimpse of desks, and chairs, and +the part of a wall covered by a huge map, before the door was closed in +his face. He looked at Freddy and grinned, and then glanced up into the +small eyes of the German officer. Those small eyes seemed to bore right +back into his brain. + +"You will do well to tell the whole truth!" the German said without +hardly moving his lips. "Remember that!" + +At that moment the door was reopened and the guard was nodding at the +lieutenant. + +"_Herr Kommandant_ will see you at once, _Herr Leutnant_," he said. + +"Good!" the officer grunted, and pushed Dave and Freddy in the back. +"Inside, at once!" + + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + +_In the Enemy's Camp_ + + +The first thing Dave saw as the Lieutenant pushed him through the open +doorway was a desk bigger than any other desk he had ever seen. It was a +good nine feet long and at least five feet wide. It took up almost one +whole side of the room and upon it were piled books, official papers, a +couple of portable short-wave radio sets, and at least a dozen +telephones. And seated at the desk was a huge red faced, bull necked +German in the uniform of a staff colonel. + +"My prisoners, _Herr Kommandant_ Stohl," the Lieutenant said. "_Heil +Hitler!_" + +The big German Colonel lifted his gaze from some papers in front of him, +looked at Dave Dawson and Freddy Farmer and started violently. His eyes +widened and his jaw dropped in amazement. He got control of himself +almost instantly and whipped his eyes to the Lieutenant's face. + +"Is this a joke, _Herr Leutnant_?" he demanded in a booming voice that +shook the thick walls of the room. "What is the charge against these two +peasant urchins? Look, the clothes of that one, there, are in rags!" + +The high ranking officer lifted a finger the size of a banana and jabbed +it at Dave. The lieutenant flushed and made gurgling sounds in his +throat. + +"They are not urchins, not peasants, _Herr Kommandant_," he explained +hastily. "This one of the brown hair claims he is an American. And this +one of the light hair is an Englisher. I caught them trying to sneak +past our advance units with an ambulance. They stated that they were +lost, and wanted to know the way to Courtrai. When I caught them they +were a good forty miles southeast of that city. I did not believe their +stories so I escorted them here at once." + +"And the ambulance?" the German asked slowly. "There were wounded +soldiers in it, perhaps?" + +"No, _Herr Kommandant_," the Lieutenant said with a shake of his head. +"There was nothing. It was completely empty. It has never been used. +That, also, added to my suspicions of these two. I shall give it a +better examination at your orders, sir." + +"Do so at once, now," the senior officer said and made a wave of +dismissal with one hand. + +"At once, _Herr Kommandant_," the Lieutenant said in a magpie voice. +"_Heil Hitler!_" + +The German Colonel waited until he had left, then focussed his eyes on +Dave and Freddy, and smiled faintly. + +"And now, boys," he said in a kindly voice, "what is all this about? How +did you happen to get so far behind our lines?" + +"We told the lieutenant the truth, sir," Freddy Farmer spoke up. "I was +lost. It was all my fault. I had no idea where I was. You have no right +to hold us as prisoners. We have done nothing except get lost, and it +was all my fault." + +The German's smile broadened and his shoulders shook. + +"So, I have no right, eh?" he chuckled. "You are not in your England +now, my boy. But suppose you tell me all about it?" + +"Very well, sir," Freddy said in a quiet dignified voice. "And you can +take my word for its being the truth, too." + +The English youth paused a moment and then told the story of leaving the +Paris headquarters of the British Volunteer Ambulance Service, becoming +separated from the others, and after many hours picking up Dave Dawson. + +"And so there you are, sir," he finished up. "A very unfortunate +incident, but I've already told you it was my fault." + +The big German, shrugged, started to speak but checked himself and +swiveled around in his chair to peer at the well marked map that took up +most of the wall in back of him. Presently he turned front again and +fixed his eyes on Dave. + +"And you?" he grunted. "Where were you forced to leave your car? And +where is this French Army lieutenant your friend mentioned?" + +"I don't know where he is," Dave said. "When the German planes started +shooting and bombing those refugees I...." + +"One moment!" the Colonel grated harshly. "Our pilots do not shoot or +bomb helpless civilians. Those were undoubtedly French planes, or +British ones, made to look like German planes. Go on." + +Anger rose up in Dave Dawson. He had seen those planes with his own +eyes. And he knew enough about foreign planes to know that they were +neither French nor British. They were German, and there were no two ways +about that. He opened his mouth to hurl the lie back in the German's +face, but suddenly thought better of it. + +"The spot was about seventy miles north of Paris, I think," he said. "I +know that a few minutes before, we had passed through a small village +named Roye. And I remember looking at my watch. It was a little after +one this afternoon." + +"I see," murmured the German, and an odd look seeped into his eyes. "And +when you awoke it was night? You saw the ambulance of this English +boy's, and he picked you up?" + +"That's right, sir," Dave said with a nod. + +"And so?" the German said in the same murmuring tone. "So from a little +after one this afternoon until your friend picked you up you traveled +over thirty miles ... _while unconscious_? You expect me to believe +that?" + +"I'm not telling a lie!" Dave said hotly. "You can believe what you darn +well like. It's still the truth, just the same. I don't know how I got +there. Maybe some passing car picked me up, and then dumped me out +thinking that I was dead. Maybe somebody took me along to rob me because +of my American clothes. They might have thought I had some money, +and...." + +Dave slopped short at the sudden thought and started searching the +pockets of his torn clothes. All he could find was a handkerchief, a +broken pencil, and a bent American Lincoln penny that he carried as a +lucky piece. Everything else was gone. His wallet, his money, his +passport ... everything. He looked at the Colonel in angry triumph. + +"That's what happened!" he cried. "Somebody picked me up and robbed me, +and then left me in that field under the trees. Good gosh! I'm broke, +and I'll need money to get to England. I...." + +Dave stopped short again as he saw the smile on the Colonel's face. This +time it was a different kind of smile. There was nothing pleasant or +fatherly about it. It was a cold, tight lipped smile, and Dave shivered +a bit in spite of himself. + +"You are not going to England ... yet!" the German said slowly. "There +is something very funny about all this, and I mean to find out what it +is. Yes, it is rather strange, I think." + +"For cat's sake, why?" Dave blurted out. "We simply got lost in the +dark, and that's all there is to it!" + +"Exactly!" Freddy Farmer spoke up. "It is the truth. We are not even old +enough to be soldiers ... unfortunately." + +The German officer scowled so that his heavy black brows formed a solid +line across the lower part of his forehead. + +"Your sharp tongue may get you into more trouble than you think, my +little Englisher!" he growled. "You had best take care. Now, we will ask +some more questions. You both left Paris this morning, eh? You saw +troops and tanks and things on the march?" + +"Millions of them!" Freddy Farmer said quickly. "And airplanes, too. I +never saw so many soldiers, or so much military equipment." + +"So?" the German breathed. "You saw which way they were heading, of +course?" + +"Naturally," Freddy said. "They were going into Belgium, of course. And +not just French troops with tanks and guns, either. There were thousands +of British and Canadians. And there were more thousands from Australia +and New Zealand, and South Africa. And the sky was filled with R.A.F. +and French planes. And...." + +The German's booming laughter stopped Freddy. The big man shook like +jelly and he was forced to blow his nose before he could speak. + +"I must say I admire you, my young Englander," he said. "I suppose now +we should become very frightened and order a general retreat at once, +eh?" + +"You will be forced to, shortly," Freddy said stiffly. + +The laughter faded from the German's face and his eyes became brittle +and hard. + +"Germans never hear such an order, for it is never given!" he snapped. +"But, I see you want to treat this all as a little joke, eh?" + +"Do you expect us to give away military information?" Dave demanded. + +"It would help you a lot, boys," the officer said slyly. "You two want +to get to England, don't you?" + +"Not that way, we don't!" Dave said, standing up to him. "You'll get no +military information out of either of us, even if we had any to give." + +"Good for you, Dave!" Freddy said in a low voice. "He can't make dirty +traitors out of us." + +Heads up and shoulders back the two of them stared defiantly at the +officer. He glared back at them for a moment and then as quick as the +blink of an eye his big face broke out all smiles. + +"Good, good, boys!" he cried. "I like you all the more for refusing. I +wouldn't tell anything either if I should happen to be captured. All +right, we will speak no more about that. But, I must make out a report. +Give me your names, and addresses. I will send word through the Red +Cross to your families so they will know where you are." + +"But I live in America!" Dave cried. "I'm on a trip with my father. He's +in London, as I told you, but I don't know where!" + +"What is his name?" the officer said and picked up a pencil. "I will +have word sent to the hotel where you stopped in Paris. It will be +forwarded to him wherever he is. Well?" + +Dave hesitated a moment, then decided there wasn't anything else to be +done about it. + +"Mr. Richard C. Dawson," he said. "My name is David. Hotel de Ney, +Twenty-One Rue Passey, Paris. But, wait! He went to see the American +Ambassador in London. You can send word there." + +That bit of information seemed to startle the German. He gave Dave a +long piercing look, then nodded and scribbled on a piece of paper in +front of him. In a minute he glanced up at Freddy. + +"And you, Englisher?" he grunted. + +"My name is Frederick Covington Farmer," Freddy said. "I live at +Sixty-Four Baker Street, London, England. But, see here, sir! You don't +really intend to keep us prisoners, do you? I mean, after all, you +know!" + +The officer laughed and shook his head. + +"Keep you prisoners?" he echoed. "Of course not. But I can't very well +let you go until I get proof who you are, now can I? In a very short +time I shall learn if you've told me the truth. And then, if you have, I +will have you put in a car and passed through the Belgian lines. Just as +simple as that, see?" + +"We have told you the truth," Freddy said grimly. + +"You bet we have!" Dave said. + +"Then there is nothing for you to worry about," the big German chuckled. +"And now, you must be hungry, eh? Well, I shall at once see that you are +taken care of and given something to eat." + +The German reached out one of his big hands and jabbed a desk button +with a thick finger. As though by magic a side door swung open and a +German soldier with a Staff Orderly's arm band about his tunic sleeve +popped into the room. The officer fired words at him so fast that Dave +couldn't catch a single one of them. The orderly saluted and then +motioned for Dave and Freddy to walk out ahead of him. When he had +closed the door he pointed toward a flight of stairs, and then up. He +stopped them on the second landing, pushed open a door and waved them +inside. There were two army cots with a blanket for each, a couple of +broken chairs, and nothing else. A single window was at the rear of the +room and its sill was a good five feet up from the floor. It was thick +with dust and cobwebs and looked as if it hadn't been opened in years. + +The two boys glanced at the room in dismay. Then the click of the door +latch, and the grating sound of a bolt being shot home, spun them both +around. Dave leaped for the door and grasped hold of the knob. It +turned in his hand, but the door refused to open. He gulped and glanced +back at Freddy. The English youth's face had paled a bit, but his eyes +were grimly defiant. + + + + +CHAPTER SIX + +_They'll Never Beat Us!_ + + +"Keep the old chin up, Freddy," said Dave. "They can't do anything to +us. They wouldn't dare! Don't let it get you, fellow." + +Freddy lifted his face and smiled wryly. There was the faintest +suggestion of tears in his eyes. + +"I'm not afraid of them!" he said scornfully. "I'm mad at myself. I +could kick me all around this room. Through my own stupidity I've gone +and lost our boys a perfectly good ambulance. That's what I can't get +over. I could chew nails when I think of it falling into the hands of +the blasted Germans. I'm just no good, Dave." + +Dave laughed and doubled up a fist and put it under the other's chin. + +"Hey, none of that!" he cried. "You're my pal, and I don't let people +say crazy things about my pals. Gee whiz, you were swell downstairs, +Freddy. You talked right up to him when I was all the time quaking in my +boots. You bet! Don't worry about that ambulance. Maybe we'll get it +back. Heck! Maybe we can figure out some way to steal it back." + +Bright hope flickered in the English youth's eyes. + +"You think so, Dave?" he whispered. "You think there's a chance we might +steal it away from them?" + +"We can sure try," Dave replied with a vigorous nod. "You just keep +everything under control, and.... Sh-h-h! I think somebody's coming up +the stairs. Come on, Freddy! Let's not let them get the idea we're +worried at all." + +"Right-o!" Freddy whispered back and gave Dave's hand a quick squeeze. +"Count on me to hold up my end, Dave!" + +Footsteps were now just outside the door. They heard the outside bolt +slap back and then the door was pushed open. The German guard stood in +the hallway outside. In one hand he carried a battered tray containing +food, and tucked under the other arm was a bundle of old clothes. Just +behind him stood Colonel Stohl. The big German's face was beaming like a +full moon. + +"Did you think I had forgotten you, boys?" he boomed and strode into the +room. "But of course not. Here is food for you. And take off your +clothes and put on these things. I will have what you're wearing mended +and cleaned up. So!" + +"That's very kind of you, Colonel," Freddy said in a faintly mocking +tone. "You're going to be frightfully disappointed, you know." + +"Disappointed?" the German officer mumbled and gave him a puzzled look. + +"Quite so," Freddy said and started peeling off his dust and dirt caked +clothes. "I can assure you you'll find no secret messages or maps sewed +into the lining. No matter what you suspect, we really aren't spies, you +know." + +The German laughed loudly but there was a look in his eye that did not +mean laughter to Dave. The Intelligence officer didn't like the idea of +a sixteen year old English boy seeing right through him as though he +were made of glass. + +"Why that's ridiculous!" the Colonel cried. "Of course you aren't spies. +I just want to have your clothes cleaned. We Germans take good care of +the people we have to protect. You will do well to think of that when +you return to your homelands. Now, get into these clean clothes and then +eat your food. There, that is better, yes!" + +The officer waited until the guard had gathered up the boys' clothes, +then he smiled at them and went out the door followed by the guard. Dave +and Freddy waited until the bolt was jammed home and then, being half +starved, they fell upon the tray of food. The very first mouthful was a +delightful surprise to them both. The food was excellent and there was a +lot of it. They wolfed it down for a moment or so and then Dave put a +restraining hand on Freddy's. + +"Wait a minute!" he said in a low voice. "I think this is another part +of the trick he thinks he's playing on us." + +"What do you mean?" Freddy whispered and stopped eating at once. "Good +grief! You think there is something in this food? I once heard a story +about the Germans using some kind of a drug that makes a prisoner talk. +But I'm starved, Dave!" + +"Me, too," Dave nodded. "I don't mean that. I'm sure the food's okay. +That's the point. It's swell! I bet the troops don't get this kind of +food. Look, Freddy! I've got a hunch he wants to make a hit with us. +Feed us up good and then get us to talk about the French and British +military units we saw yesterday. You know, they're always after +information that will give them a line on what's in front of them." + +"Then he is a fool, if he thinks filling my stomach with good food will +make me tell him anything!" Freddy snorted in disgust. + +"Check and double check for both of us!" Dave agreed. "But here's what I +mean. I think we'd be wise not to eat all of this. Let's save some. +This bread, at least. We might need it later, and bad." + +"You're right, Dave!" Freddy said, realizing instantly what his American +friend had in mind. "When we do escape from here we'll certainly need +some food to take along. And I think that's what we'll have to do ... +escape somehow." + +Dave nodded but didn't speak. There was a queer feeling inside of him, +and the back of his neck was beginning to tingle a little. That was a +sure sign with him that there was trouble ahead. And it had proven to be +true more than a couple of times during his young life. No, the German +colonel wasn't fooling him at all. Perhaps they puzzled the Intelligence +officer, but Dave felt pretty sure he didn't really believe they were +spies. Yet, you never could tell. One thing seemed certain, however. The +German hoped to pump them for what little they could tell him. He was +going to keep them prisoners until he was satisfied. And perhaps he +would keep them prisoners even after that. This thing worked two ways. +Would the Intelligence officer let them pass safely through the Belgian +lines knowing full well they'd tell the authorities what they'd seen on +the German side? + +No, that wasn't at all likely, and Dave suddenly didn't feel very +hungry. He got up and walked over to the rear window. The sill came +only to his chin for he was close to six feet tall, so he could see out +without any trouble. That is, after he had wiped away some of the dust +and cobwebs. What he saw, however, brought no joy to his heart. The +window looked out on a tree studded hill that blocked out everything +beyond. Another fine day was well on its way and as Dave screwed his +head around so that he could look high up into the blue sky he saw +cluster after cluster of planes in line and in V formation. And all of +them were moving swiftly westward. By straining his ears he could just +barely catch the throbbing beat of German engines. Even as their sound +came to him he heard louder and more thunderous sounds farther to the +west. He did not need two guesses to know that German bombers were once +again dropping their loads of death and destruction upon the soldiers +and civilians of the countries Adolf Hitler desired to crush under his +iron heel. + +He turned from the window and stood staring flint eyed at nothing at +all. Yesterday he had reached seventeen years of age. But today? Today +he somehow felt a dozen years older than that. What he had seen since +leaving Paris had added years to his way of thinking, if not to his +body. A fierce anger at the injustices wrought had sprung up within him. +He wanted to do something about it. What, he did not know. But today +there had been born in him a blazing desire to do what he could to spare +Europe, and perhaps the whole world, from the bullets and bombs and the +tyranny of the Nazi legions. + +"What are you thinking of, Dave?" + +Freddy's quiet voice at his elbow jerked him from his thought trance. He +turned and stared into the clear blue eyes of his new found friend and +ally in the face of danger. + +"A lot of things, Freddy," he said. "Maybe I'm crazy, but I want nothing +better than the chance to do something. A chance to get back at these +Germans for what I've seen them do. We may be kids and not old enough to +enlist, Freddy, but there must be _something_ we can do to help. And, +believe me, I sure want to do it. Listen, Freddy, have you any idea +where we are? I've never been in Belgium in my life. And I guess this is +still Belgium, isn't it?" + +"Yes, I could tell from the looks of the buildings, and some of the +townsfolk I saw when we arrived," the English youth said. "But what town +this is, I haven't the faintest idea. I ... Wait!" + +"What's the matter?" Dave asked. + +"That map in the colonel's office downstairs!" Freddy whispered +excitedly. "Did you see it, and see how it was marked with those little +pins and tiny flags?" + +"Sure, I saw it," Dave said with a nod. "But I didn't pay much attention +to it." + +"Nor I," Freddy said. "But I'll bet you something, Dave. This is an +Intelligence headquarters, and I'll bet those little pins and flags mark +the points of advance by the German forces. Do you see what I mean, +Dave? If we could get a good look at that map, and remember some of the +things it tells, and then get away from here, why...." + +The English youth stopped. He was shaking too much from eager excitement +to continue. Dave nodded and gripped him by both arms. + +"You're right, Freddy!" he whispered. "It might help a lot if we could +tell the Allied commanders where some of the German units are, and what +places they seem to be heading for. Let me think. How in heck can we get +another look at that map?" + +"We could pound on the door," Freddy said, "and tell him we're willing +to tell all that we know, if he'll let us go. He'd probably take us down +to his office to hear what we have to say." + +"Maybe," Dave said with a frown. "But I think it's a little too soon to +make him think we're scared and giving in. And, besides, he may not be +tricking us. Maybe he really is going to just check on us and then let +us go." + +"Let us go back and tell what we've seen behind the German lines?" +Freddy scoffed. "Not a bit of it, Dave. You must be off your topper!" + +"Yeah, I'd thought of that, myself," Dave said sadly. "It's a cinch he's +not going to let us go no matter what he thinks about us. Well, the way +I see it there's only one thing we can do. We can't try an escape now in +broad daylight, so we've got to wait. Let's put on these clothes and +catch up on some sleep. The only thing we can do is wait for awhile. +Wait to see if he makes any move." + +"I hate waiting," Freddy said and started pulling on the old clothes the +guard had brought with their breakfast. "But of course you're right, +Dave. There's nothing else we can do, right now." + +"But plenty later on!" Dave said determinedly and flung himself down on +one of the cots. "You wait and see, Freddy. It's a promise!" + + * * * * * + +Later that afternoon, the Colonel did make the next move. A guard came +up to the boys' cell, woke them from a deep sleep and ushered them down +to the Colonel's office. + +"Sit down, boys," he said and circled around to in back of his huge +desk. "I want to have a talk with you." + +Dave and Freddy exchanged quick looks, then sat down as ordered. + +"Now," the Colonel said and clasped his big hands together on the edge +of his desk. "Our Leader is a man of peace. He _loves_ peace, and would +gladly give his life for peace among nations. You, my little Englisher! +Did the Fuehrer declare war on your country, or on France? No! They +declared war on him, on Germany. Listen to me! Don't you want peace?" + +"Certainly,"' Freddy replied. Then he added, "At the right time." + +"No, peace as soon as possible," the German said. "Now is the best time. +Before there is more bloodshed. You two boys can help bring this war to +an early end. You will be doing a favor to Germany's foes. Now, why not +be good boys and tell me the truth? Then everything will be fine." + +Neither of the boys said a word. As for Dave, it all sounded as though +he were listening to a broken phonograph record. "Tell me the truth.... +Tell me the truth.... Tell me the truth!" It was like the title of a +song. He sat silent and kept his eyes fixed on the huge map on the wall. +He stared at it hard and tried to memorize the dates he could read +there, and the names of the towns and cities, and the locations of the +pins and flags. One town on the map was well smudged by finger and thumb +marks. It was named Estalle and was close to the Belgian-German +frontier. He suddenly had a hunch that that was where they were. At +Estalle, close to the German frontier, but how far behind the advanced +German lines? He thought of the long ride in the motored transport last +night and his heart sank down toward his boots. + +"Well, for the last time!" the German Colonel suddenly thundered. "Do +you tell me the truth?" + +"For Heaven's sakes, we already have!" Freddy shouted at him. "We've +told you nothing but the truth a dozen times. What must we do to get you +to believe us?" + +The German didn't answer at once. He slammed both hands down flat on the +desk, hoisted his huge bulk forward, and glared at them. + +"Very well," he said. "I have tried to be gentle and kind with you, +because you are only young boys. But, you refuse my kindness. So, I +shall treat you as grown men. I shall have you both _shot_!" + + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + +_Shoot!_ + + +If the roof had suddenly fallen down on top of his head Dave Dawson +could have not been more astonished or surprised. Shot? He gaped at the +German officer half expecting to see the man burst out laughing. Colonel +Stohl did not laugh, however. He remained leaning forward over the desk +and raking them with eyes that looked like twin cubes of ice. + +"Shot?" Dave heard himself speak the word. "You can't shoot us. We +haven't done anything! Gee whiz, why do you want to shoot us?" + +"Of course we haven't done anything!" Freddy Farmer spoke up loudly. "I +think this is all just a bluff!" + +"A bluff?" the German snarled. "Do you take me for a fool? I do not +bluff at a time like this. Take a look at this that I hold in my hand, +so! Ah, you recognize it, eh?" + +The officer had suddenly whipped up something off the desk. Dave took a +good look and saw that it was a rolled up map. + +"It's a map," he said, "but I never saw it before." + +"Nor have I," Freddy said stoutly. + +"It was found hidden under the seat of the ambulance," the German said +in a flat voice that made Dave shiver inwardly. "There are certain marks +on it. Numbers and figures written in pencil near the names of towns you +passed through before you were caught. So you told me the truth, eh? No, +you lied. This map contains information that would be very useful to +Germany's enemies. You thought you could protect yourselves by driving +an ambulance ... but you can't. But ... and listen to what I say ... you +_can_ save your lives!" + +Dave tried to speak but his tongue was sticking to the roof of his +mouth. He felt his knees go weak, and it was all he could do to force +himself to stand upright. He had the feeling that this was all a crazy +dream, a nightmare. In a few moments he would probably wake up and find +himself safe and sound in bed in his room at the Hotel de Ney. He didn't +know anything about a map. He'd never even seen it before. + +He half turned and looked at Freddy Farmer. The English youth's face was +a little paler, but his chin was firm, and his eyes were filled with +scornful defiance. + +"I haven't any idea what you are talking about, sir," Freddy said to +the colonel. "I was not trying to protect myself, or my friend, from +anything. I was simply delivering the ambulance to Courtrai. And, for +the hundredth time, _I lost my way_!" + +The German made a movement with his hand as though brushing the words to +one side. + +"Enough of that!" he said. "This is a serious business. I am not saying +that you collected the information about our advance units I find here +on this map. Perhaps you were only taking it to somebody else. Yes, +perhaps you did not even know you were being used for such work. Let us +say that is the truth. We Germans do not make war with boys, but.... But +this information _was found on you_, and that is most serious. Answer +the questions I ask you, and I promise that you will not be treated as +spies. I also promise you that you will be made comfortable until +arrangements can be made to send you home. Now!" + +"What are the questions?" Freddy asked. + +The stern look fled the German's face, and he smiled. + +"Ah, that is better!" he said and spread the map on the desk. "Now, here +you have marked a line showing the route you traveled from Paris. Each +town you passed through is marked. Those towns are French troop and +equipment garrisons. This town here, close to the Belgian border, what +did you see there? French troops? British troops? And what was their +equipment? Tanks? Big ones, or small ones? Were there motorized +anti-aircraft batteries? Were...?" + +The German suddenly stopped and looked up from the map. + +"You are not listening?" he said softly. + +Freddy's face seemed actually to grow thin as Dave looked at him. The +English boy licked his lips just once and then put his shoulders back a +little more. + +"Certainly I'm listening," he said. "But I won't answer a single one of +your questions even though you do shoot me!" + +Dave felt like throwing his arms about young Farmer and hugging him. +Here was the kind of cool, calm courage for which the British were +famous the world over. Instead, Dave turned his head and looked at the +German. + +"We're not saying a thing!" he shouted. "I demand that we be permitted +to see the nearest American Consul!" + +The German officer ignored Dave's outburst as though he had not spoken. +He looked steadily at Freddy for a moment and then sighed heavily and +raised both hands in a gesture of despair. + +"Very well," he said. "That is all for now. I will give you until +tomorrow morning to think it over ... and change your mind. Guard!" + +The side door popped open and in popped the guard. Colonel Stohl pointed +a finger. + +"Take them back," he said, "and stand guard outside the door. If either +of them attempts to escape ... _shoot!_" + +The Colonel gave them an angry stare and a curt nod, and then busied +himself with some papers on the desk. Two minutes later the boys were +back in their prison room. The door was closed and bolted, and they +could hear the boots of the guard pacing up and down the hallway +outside. Freddy sat down on a cot and started to shiver violently. Dave +went over to him instantly and put a friendly arm about his shoulders. + +"Steady, Freddy!" he whispered. "We'll get out somehow. He was only +bluffing. He wouldn't dare shoot us. I'll make him let me see the +nearest American Consul. I'll ... I'll make him let me telephone the +American Ambassador in Brussels." + +"I hope you do for your sake, Dave," Freddy whispered. "But England is +at war, and I'm an Englishman. And, Dave ... that map was mine. I used +it and marked my route until it got too dark." + +Fingers of ice clutched at Dave's heart and pressed hard. He sucked air +sharply into his lungs. + +"Holy smokes!" he breathed. "Then you did put down all that stuff he was +talking about?" + +"Oh no, not that!" the English youth said and shook his head vigorously. +"I just penciled in the route I had taken until it got too dark. +Besides, I lost my pencil when I tried to do it in the glow of the dash +light. The rest of the things he must have marked in." + +Dave gave a shake of his head and looked puzzled. + +"I don't get it!" he murmured. "Why?" + +"Don't you see?" Freddy said. "It's really very simple, Dave. They did +it to frighten me, to make me answer their questions. They'll hold a +military court and use that map as evidence. There'll be an awful row. +They'll make one, hoping to scare me into talking. I knew a Jewish boy +in England who escaped with his family from the German Gestapo and he +told me about the tricks they play to scare you into telling them +things. That's what he plans to do with me. But, I won't tell him a +thing, not a thing! It's my map all right, but they're not going to +frighten me into telling anything that would hurt the Allies. They can't +make me!" + +"You bet they can't, pal!" Dave said. "And they won't get anything out +of me, either." + +"I don't think he means any harm toward you, Dave," Freddy said after a +long pause. "You just insist on seeing the American Consul and I think +he'll let you. When you spoke of your father's trip to London he seemed +surprised. You're an American, Dave. You'll be all right." + +"But what about you, Freddy?" Dave exclaimed. + +"I won't tell them a thing, no matter what they do," the English youth +said determinedly. "Never!" + +Dave started to speak, checked himself, and stepped back a pace. + +"So that's the kind of a pal you are, huh?" he grunted. "You just up and +let me down!" + +Freddy jerked his head up in blank amazement. Tears were dangerously +close to his eyes. + +"Let you down, Dave?" he gasped. "But, Dave...!" + +"Sure, let me down," Dave snapped at him. "I thought we were pals? I +thought we were going to see this through together?" + +"But, Dave, you...!" + +"Me walk out and leave you behind?" Dave interrupted the English youth's +speech. "Quit a pal just because I'm American and he's English? Not a +chance. We're sticking together. You can't toss me off like that!" + +"But I was only thinking of you, Dave," Freddy protested. "After all I +really got you into this, you know." + +Dave suddenly stopped acting hurt and angry. He bent down and grinned +broadly. + +"So what?" he whispered. "So I'll get you _out_. We've got until +tomorrow morning to think things over. That's what he said. Well, we're +not going to think things, we're going to _do_ things. Are you game, +Freddy?" + +For an answer Freddy put out his hand, and the two clasped hands warmly. +The color came back into the English youth's face, and that made Dave +feel almost happy. + +"Okay, Freddy," he whispered. "I saw something besides airplanes out the +window awhile ago. Come over and I'll show you." + +For a couple of seconds Dave stood still listening to the footsteps of +the guard outside, then he motioned to Freddy and tiptoed over to the +window. + +"Look out, and down," he breathed in Freddy's ear. "See? The bottom half +of this building sticks out. See the roof? It's not more than six feet +below this window. And it's not more than ten feet from the edge of the +roof to the back yard. Think you could jump it?" + +"Easy!" Freddy whispered. "But what about this window, here? It's +screwed in." + +"Got that all figured, too," Dave said and pulled an army canteen spoon +from the pocket of the old clothes he wore. "Swiped this from the +breakfast tray," he said. "A hunch made me stick it in my pocket. A +spoon makes a swell screw driver sometimes. I found that out once when I +was a kid. I used one of my Mother's to open an old chest I found up in +the attic. I got a licking for it because I marked up the wood pretty +bad. But the spoon did the trick. Now, here's what you do." + +Dave paused and slipped the tip of the spoon handle into the groove of +the nearest screw head and applied pressure with both hands. He turned +the screw a sixteenth of an inch or so and then stopped. + +"Hot dog!" he whispered. "I was scared for a minute the darn things +would be so rusted with age they wouldn't budge. But, it's okay. Now, +you go over to the door and start talking to me. Talk about anything. +Sure, let's talk about baseball." + +"But I don't know anything about baseball!" Freddy whispered. + +"That's swell!" Dave said. "You can ask me questions and I'll give you +the answers. But keep an ear open for that guard. If he starts to open +the door you ask me, What's a home run? See? That'll give me time to get +away from this window. Okay, got it?" + +"Yes, I understand," Freddy said and nodded eagerly. "Gee, you're a +great friend, Dave!" + +"You too, Freddy," Dave said and gave him a push. "Now, get over there +and start asking questions. Thank goodness this window is dirty and +nobody can see me from outside." + +The instant Freddy went over near the door Dave gave his attention to +the first screw. The English youth asked question after question and +Dave answered them without half thinking. Every second of the time he +worked feverishly with the spoon on the screws. There were eight of them +and he guessed it was well over an hour before he had seven of them out +and the eighth well loosened. That one he let stay partly in so that the +window would remain in place. The last thing he did was to cover the +screw holes with bits of cobweb so they wouldn't be noticed. Then he +walked over to the cot and sat down. + +"Okay, that's enough baseball talk!" he said in a loud voice and winked +at Freddy. "Gee, how you can ask questions. Well, it looks like we're +not going to get anything to eat. So I'm going to try and get some +sleep." + +Stretching out on the cot Dave pointed at the window and grinned. Then +clasping his hands together he put them over his head and shook them +like a prize fighter being introduced to the fight fans. Freddy looked +puzzled for a moment, then realized what Dave meant, and went through +the hand-shaking motions himself. + +"Well, I guess I might as well try to get a little sleep, myself," he +said loudly and walked to the other cot. + +A moment later the two boys listened to the sound of the guard's +footsteps outside and looked at the gradually fading light of day +outside the dust and cobweb smeared window. + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + +_Escape!_ + + +Somewhere in the distance a church clock tolled the hour of ten. Dave +absently counted the strokes, and then slowly sat up on the army cot. +All was pitch dark inside as well as outside. For a couple of minutes he +sat perfectly still listening to the various sounds that came to him +faintly. He heard the guard outside in the hallway cough and then strike +a match. He heard the muffled sounds of hobnailed boots marching along +in the street outside, and the clanking sound of tank and scout car +tractor treads on the stones. Somewhere in the distance a whistle was +blown. He heard the occasional dull boom of heavy guns, or of bombs +exploding. And once a flight of planes droned by high up in the night +sky. + +He held his breath and listened to all those various sounds. He listened +to another sound, too, A sound he could feel as well as hear. It was the +pounding of his own heart. His chest ached from the pounding, and his +throat and mouth were bone dry from the excitement and the suspense. +For almost five hours he and Freddy had remained stretched out +motionless on the cots. Every second had seemed like a minute, every +minute like an hour, and every hour like an eternity. A hundred times it +had been all he could do to restrain himself from leaping to his feet +and shouting at the top of his voice. Anything to give release to the +charged emotion pent up within him. + +Four times the guard had opened the door and played the beam of his +flashlight on them. The first time Colonel Stohl had been with the +guard, for Dave had heard the German officer's voice. He had muttered +something about "making them sing a different tune in the morning," and +then had gone clumping down the stairs. + +Five long hours, and now Dave couldn't stand the waiting any more. Every +fiber of his entire being screamed for action. He had waited long enough +to make their captors believe they were done in for the night. The guard +had taken another look at them only a couple of minutes ago. It would be +awhile before he looked in again. It was now, or never. It had to be! + +He slipped silently off the cot and crept over to Freddy's cot. He held +one hand ready to clap it over the English boy's mouth in case he woke +up with a startled yell, and put his lips close to Freddy's ear. + +"Freddy, wake up!" he breathed, and shook the youth gently with his +other hand. + +"I'm awake, Dave," came the whispered reply. "Shall we try it now?" + +"Yes," Dave said. "The guard just took another look at us. He won't +again for awhile. Have you been asleep?" + +"Not a wink, Dave. I couldn't, possibly. Look, Dave. You don't want to +change your mind and have a go at it alone? I'll understand. You might +get to an American Consul before they caught you. They'll come looking, +you know." + +"That's out!" Dave hissed. "Pipe down! Take off your shoes. We can't +risk making a single sound. That guard may have big ears. Okay, Freddy, +let's go!" + +Taking hold of the English youth's hand Dave led the way across the room +to the window. There he let go, and took out his spoon screw driver and +went to work on the one remaining screw. The instant it was out he +started to pry out the frame with his fingers. It wouldn't budge. He +sucked air into his aching lungs and then worked the end of the spoon +into the side crack and used it as a lever. The window still didn't +move, and Dave's heart sank as he felt the spoon bending under his hand. +He groaned softly. + +"The darn thing's stuck!" he whispered. "Swollen tight by the weather, I +guess. But.... Gee!" + +"What's the matter, Dave?" Freddy asked in a tight whisper. + +Dave fumbled for his arm in the darkness and pressed it reassuringly. + +"There's a nail, here at the bottom," he said. "I didn't see it, but I +can feel it, now. Am I dumb! Hold everything while I bend it down flat. +It's a thin one. Then I think the window will slide over it." + +Two long minutes later Dave had the nail pressed flat on the base board +of the sill. Then he applied pressure with the spoon again, and the +window began to move. His face was wet with nervous sweat, and his whole +body was trembling. He fought back his rising fear and nervousness and +stuck doggedly to his task. Eventually he had worked the window out +enough so that he could get his fingers under one corner. After that it +was simple. But, as he finally pulled the whole frame clear a corner of +it caught on a splintered sliver of the sill. The sliver snapped off +with a sound that was as loud as a pistol shot in Dave's ears. He froze +stiff, ears straining for sounds of the guard in the hallway. + +There was no click of the bolt or rattling of the latch. The sliver of +wood snapping had not been heard. Dave slowly released the cramped air +from his lungs and gently lowered the window frame down onto the floor +and to the side where they would be sure not to hit it when they climbed +out the window. Then he took hold of Freddy in the dark. + +"You first, because you're shorter, Freddy," he whispered. "I'll make a +fireman's step with my hands. Put your foot in it and I'll boost you up. +But for Pete's sake, be careful. If we make any sound we're sunk. Okay, +give me your foot." + +Dave crouched slightly and laced the fingers of his two hands together +with the palms facing upward to form a step. Freddy put one stockinged +foot on it, and one hand on Dave's shoulder to steady himself. + +"Okay," he whispered. + +Bracing his feet Dave slowly boosted the English youth up the wall. As +soon as Freddy had half his body through the open window he released the +pressure of his foot on Dave's locked hands and squirmed the rest of the +way up like a snake. + +"Get your feet out and then let yourself down by your hands," Dave +cautioned. "The roof shouldn't be more than a few inches under your +toes. But, watch out. The darn thing slants down a bit, you know." + +"I'll make it, all right," Freddy said and twisted around on the sill so +that he was hanging on his stomach. "Can you make it alone, though?" + +"A cinch!" Dave whispered. "Don't wait for me. Sneak down the roof and +drop to the ground. I'll be right behind you. Go ahead, Freddy." + +Dave waited until he heard the soft thud of the English boy's feet +touching the roof, then he grabbed hold of the sill with his hands and +swiftly and silently hoisted his body upward. For a brief instant he sat +poised on the sill grinning back into the darkened room. Then he +swiveled over and lowered himself down. In almost no time he had +cat-crawled down the gently sloping roof to its lip. He pressed flat on +his stomach and stuck his head over the edge of the roof. Below him was +nothing but a sea of inky darkness. For some crazy reason a twinge of +panic shot through him. + +"Freddy!" he whispered. + +"Here, Dave," came the welcomed reply. "I'm on the ground and to your +left. It's all clear down here. The ground's soft. Come on down." + +"Here I come!" Dave said, and twisted over and let himself lightly down +onto the ground. + +No sooner had his feet touched than Freddy had a hand on his arm. + +"Well, that's the first part!" the English youth breathed excitedly. +"Now, what's the next move?" + +"Our shoes," Dave said and pulled the other down onto the ground. "Then +we head straight up that hill, there, and keep going north." + +"North?" Freddy said in a puzzled whisper. "Why not west toward the +Belgian lines? We want to get there as fast as we can. I got a good look +at that map, Dave. I think this town, here, is called Estalle. And...." + +Freddy cut off his words and both boys froze back against the rear wall +of the building as a shaft of yellow light suddenly cut the darkness of +night. Dave's heart rose up to clog in his throat as he waited with fear +in his heart for the shaft of light to sweep over to reveal them in its +glow. + +Then suddenly truth dawned and he was almost overcome with an insane, +crazy desire to burst out with hysterical laughter. His taut nerves +twanged like plucked fiddle strings and his whole body seemed to melt +with relief. A light had suddenly been turned on in the building against +which they crouched, and the shaft of light had simply been the inside +light flooding out through a rear window. When it didn't move where it +struck the bottom of the hill slope a dozen yards or so away Dave +realized the truth. And so did Freddy a moment later. + +"Good grief, that scared me!" the English boy breathed. + +"We'll talk later," Dave said. "Right now we're making tracks away from +here. Got your shoes on?" + +"Yes," Freddy replied. "You lead, Dave. I'll stick right at your heels. +Mind your step, though." + +"You're telling me!" Dave grunted and started creeping along the rear of +the building to the right. + +When he reached the corner he stopped and cautiously peered around it. +Luck was with him. He had half expected to find himself looking down an +alley to the street out in front. But it wasn't an alley. It was just a +small court that connected with the next building. A high fence at the +front blocked off a view of the street. He couldn't see the street, but +the point was that when they started up the hill slope no passing +soldiers in the street could see them and give chase if for no other +reason than curiosity. + +"Stick close, Freddy!" Dave whispered over his shoulder. "First stop is +the top of the hill. Here we go!" + +Bent over low Dave turned sharp left and went scuttling across some +thirty feet of bare ground, and then into the scrub brush that fringed +the base of the hill. Hands out in front of him to prevent barging +straight into a tree, he started up the slope as fast as caution would +permit. By the time he was half way up his breath was coming in sobbing +gasps, and his legs felt like two withered sticks that might snap in two +at most any second. + +He gritted his teeth and called upon every ounce of strength in his +strong young body. It was mighty hard going. From the prison room window +the hill slope had looked not at all steep, but now climbing up it in +the dark, dodging around tree trunks and jutting rocks, it seemed almost +to rise right straight up in front of him. Every so often he half +twisted around to make sure Freddy was still with him. And each time +that was exactly the case. Freddy was right there at his heels, puffing +and panting, but sticking like glue. + +The English youth's courage and stick-to-itiveness made Dave doggedly +refuse to permit himself to rest even for a moment. Freddy wasn't +complaining, and if Freddy could take it then he could, too. Freddy +might be younger, and a bit shorter, and weigh less, but there was no +difference in the quality of his fighting spirit, or of the courage in +his heart. And so Dave kept on climbing upward, and upward through the +black night until finally ... and it seemed as though a thousand years +had passed by ... he finally reached the crest. He staggered along the +flat crest for a few yards and then sank wearily down on the soft earth. +Freddy dropped down beside him, and for a long time there was no sound +between them save the sounds of their labored breathing. + +Eventually, Dave pushed himself up to a sitting position, wiped his +dripping face on the sleeve of his shirt, and let out a long sigh. + +"Gee, am I out of condition for track!" he breathed. "That was plenty +tough. I thought we'd never make it. You okay, Freddy?" + +The English youth groaned softly as he sat up. + +"I guess so," he murmured and sucked in great gulps of cool night air. +"But I certainly hope we don't have to do that often. You can't see very +much from here, can you? I guess they're not taking chances on showing +many lights in case our bombers come over. I'd like very much to see a +big bomb drop on that Colonel Stohl, though. He deserves one!" + +Dave chuckled and instantly felt much better. Freddy might be dead on +his feet, but he still had the old fight. + +"Two, one for me," he said and stared down at the town. + +In all there were not more than two dozen lights showing, and at least +half of them were the shaded lights of army cars and trucks moving along +the one main street of the town. If there were others they were blotted +out by the trees. + +"About that map, Freddy," Dave said presently in a low voice. "I think +this is Estalle, myself, but that's not much of a help. I mean, I +couldn't figure how far we are from the Belgian lines. I guess it can't +be very far, though. They only started the invasion yesterday morning, +so they can't have gone very deep into the country." + +"I don't agree with that, Dave," Freddy said. "The German blitzkrieg in +Poland made as much as eighty and ninety miles in a day. Besides, my +father taught me a lot about marking army maps. Of course I don't know +what _all_ of those markings meant on the Colonel's map, but I'm pretty +sure those little yellow pins represented their advanced armored +scouting units." + +"But good gosh, they were as far west as Brussels and Charleroi!" Dave +gasped. "That's miles away. What about the Belgian frontier forts, and +the forts of Liege, and such big places? Wouldn't they hold them back?" + +"I don't know," Freddy said. "But I suspect the Germans are doing the +same thing they did in the Polish campaign. Their light fast mobile +units scoot right on past the heavily fortified centers and capture +small positions in the rear. Then the bombers and the heavy attack +tanks, and such, go at the big forts. It's as I heard my father say +shortly after the Polish invasion. You don't have trench warfare any +more. It's blitzkrieg nowadays. Lightning attack with small fast units, +with the main body moving up behind and concentrating on main points of +defense. And don't forget Hitler's air force, Dave. It cleared the way +for him in Poland, and in Denmark, and Norway. They're probably doing +the same against the Belgians. At least until the British stop them. And +we'll jolly well stop them, don't worry." + +"Gee, you talk like a regular military expert," Dave said in admiration. +"I guess your Dad taught you a lot. War certainly isn't what it used to +be, I guess. But, look, there were some blue pins on that map, and +beside each one was a date. I saw dates a week and two weeks from now. +And there were blue pins all the way across Belgium to the English +Channel. I ... Holy smokes! It just struck me. The yellow pins show +where the Germans are today, and the blue pins mark places they expect +to capture on certain days! Could that be true, do you think?" + +"Yes, I do," Freddy said. "I'm pretty sure, Dave, that we've seen +something the Allied High Command would give a million pounds to see. +Five million, or more! That was an Intelligence map of the whole German +plan of invasion, Dave. I'm sure of it!" + +"My gosh, then let's get going!" Dave cried, and leaped to his feet. +"We've got to get through to Allied High Command, wherever it is. We +can't show them the map, but between us we should be able to remember +enough about it to help them plenty. We...." + +A wild yell from down at the base of the hill, and three pistol shots in +rapid succession, cut off Dave's words like a knife. He shot a quick +look down the hill and saw a cluster of lights suddenly spring into +being. He wasn't sure but he felt pretty certain they were from the +building where he and Freddy had been held prisoners. + +A second later when more shots and more shouting drifted up to him, he +was sure. The guard had probably taken another look, and found out they +had escaped. Now the alarm was being given. Bitter anger for wasting +time talking flashed through him and was gone. He reached down quickly +and pulled Freddy up onto his feet. + +"They've discovered our escape!" he cried. "We've got to start moving, +and fast. Stick close to me. We'll still head north." + +"But why north?" Freddy protested. "We should go west if we want to +reach the Belgian outposts as soon as possible, and get them to take us +to Allied G.H.Q., Dave!" + +"No, north!" Dave said. "They'll guess we're trying to get to the +Belgians, you see? So they'll start hunting toward the west, and sending +word ahead. If we go north we'll be fooling them for awhile ... I hope. +Anyway, it's our best bet. See? There go a couple of their cars racing +down the road toward the west. Come on!" + + + + +CHAPTER NINE + +_A Desperate Mission_ + + +Dawn was a little over an hour away and Dave Dawson couldn't drag his +body forward another step. For hours he and Freddy Farmer had trudged +across strange country through the darkness striving to put more and +more ground between them and the pursuing Germans. A dozen times they +had almost stumbled headlong into roving German mop-up patrols. And once +they had crouched for a solid hour in a road ditch while a long line of +tanks, and motorized artillery units had rumbled by heading westward. + +But now he just couldn't go another step. He didn't care if the whole +German Army was right at their heels. He had to stop and rest. There is +a limit to the endurance of even the strongest of men, and Dave and +Freddy had most certainly proved themselves to be men, not just mere +boys, during those hours of mad flight across enemy held ground. Where +they were Dave didn't know, nor did he care much right at the moment. +The North Star had been his guide all the way, but they had been forced +to change their direction in order to skirt bomb blasted villages filled +with German troops, and roads clogged with parts of the mighty Nazi war +machine, so it was impossible even to guess how far they had traveled, +or in what general direction. + +Now, though, as he came to the outer edge of some woods and saw the +shadowy shapes of barren fields beyond, Dave flung himself down under +some bushes and gave his body over to the utter fatigue and weariness +which had been trying to drag him down for the last several miles. His +throat was dry and craving for water, and his stomach was screaming for +some of the bread and the hunk of cheese he and Freddy had so wisely +saved from that huge breakfast, and had stuffed inside their shirts +before crawling out the window. Yes, food and water would go fine, but +later. He was too dead tired now to so much as move a muscle. In a dull +sort of way he was conscious of Freddy flopping down beside him, and +then a moment later he felt himself slip away into blissful peace. + +A soothing warmth on his back eventually woke him up. He started to move +but the sudden aches and pains in his body brought a stifled groan to +his lips. He stayed where he was for a moment with his face buried in +his crossed over arms, soaking up the soothing warmth on his back. Then +he rolled over on his back and stared up through the bush branches at +the sky. It was another perfect spring day and the sun was well up on +high. That realization finally filtered into his tired brain and brought +him sitting bolt upright. + +"Gee, it must be close to noon!" he heard his own voice whisper. "And +we've still got a heck of a ways to go. But where, and in what +direction, I wonder?" + +He turned and put out his hand to shake Freddy sleeping close beside +him. But when he saw the pale drawn face of his friend he let his hand +drop back into his lap. He just didn't have the heart to wake up Freddy. +The English youth was positively dead to the world, and one look at the +completely exhausted expression on Freddy's face told Dave the youth +wouldn't be fit to travel even if he were awakened. True, it might be +very dangerous for them to remain where they are. German soldiers might +stumble about them at 'most any moment. Just the same a strange sense of +responsibility took possession of Dave. He was the older of the two, and +the stronger. By more or less mutual consent he had become the leader. +As the leader he should use his head. And it would _not_ be using his +head to wake up Freddy and force the poor kid to continue on. + +"No, it's best to stick here, at least until dark," he argued with +himself. "We're pretty well hidden under these bushes. And ... and, +gosh, I just haven't the heart to wake him up!" + +His decision made, he put his hand inside his shirt and pulled out the +very much crushed half loaf of bread and the hunk of cheese. He ate a +little of each and then made himself put the rest back inside his shirt. +It helped his stomach a little, but it only served to aggravate his +thirst. He'd rather have a glass of water right now than be standing in +the middle of Piccadilly Circus, in London, with his father. + +He lay back on the ground again and started thinking about his father in +an effort to forget his thirst. But after no more than five or six +seconds it just wasn't any use. He sat up again and peered around. It +was then he saw the farm house and the sheds about half a mile away. +Smoke was coming from the farm house chimney, and he could see figures +moving about in the yard. Because of the sun in his eyes he couldn't +tell if they were German troops or not. Off to the right he suddenly saw +a moving cloud of dust. He knew at once it was a car traveling along a +road. And presently the car came into view from behind a string of +trees. It traveled up to the farm house and came to a stop. Four +figures climbed out and hurried into the farm house. A faint hope that +had been flowering in Dave died out at once. His straining eyes had made +out the bucket shaped helmets and the tight-fitting field-grey uniforms +of German officers. + +Approaching the farm house was out of the question, now. He had hoped +there might just be peasant farmers there, passed by by the Germans. But +that obviously wasn't so. The place was alive with Hitler's soldiers. +Fighting back his momentary defeat, he got slowly to his feet, took a +make-sure look at the sleeping Freddy Farmer, and then crept off into +the woods in search of a brook or a small pond. + +Remembering his Boy Scout training, he broke branches off bushes every +now and then so that he would be sure to find his way back to the +sleeping Freddy. As a matter of fact, though, there really wasn't any +need of his doing that. At the end of a quarter of a mile the ground +sloped down into a shallow valley, and there was a small brook trickling +through the middle. With a low cry of joy Dave rushed down to it, flung +himself flat, and buried his face in the icy cold water. Never, never in +all his life had anything felt so good, so completely satisfying as the +coolness of that brook. Cupping his hands he drank until he couldn't +hold another drop. Then tearing off part of his shirt sleeve he used it +to wash his face and his neck. Finally, feeling almost like a new man, +he got up and retraced his steps to his hiding place. + +Freddy was awake when he got back, and when the English youth spotted +him a look of fear and utter misery was instantly banished by joyful +relief. + +"Phew, what a fright you gave me!" Freddy choked out. "When I woke up I +couldn't remember if we'd come to this spot together, or if we'd lost +each other last night. I came jolly close to yelling for you and then I +sighted those German blighters over at that farm house. Where have you +been, and I wonder where we are?" + +"I wish I knew," Dave said. "But I've got some good news, anyway. Go +straight back about a quarter of a mile and you'll find a brook. Bet you +could do with a nice long drink of water, couldn't you?" + +"I should say so!" Freddy cried and sprang to his feet. "My throat feels +completely filled up with dust." + +"Then hop to it," Dave grinned and pointed. "Straight back. You'll see +branches broken off the bushes. I'll wait here and try to figure our +next move." + +"Be right back," Freddy said and hurried off into the woods. + +When the English youth left Dave sat down on the ground and fixed +frowning eyes on the farm house. Last night in that prison room his +brain had concentrated on but one problem. The problem of getting out of +the room. Well, they had done that, and they had put considerable +distance behind them. That was all, however. Now, there were more +problems to confront, and consider. Number one, was to find out where +they were. Number two, was to decide whether or not it was safe yet to +start heading west, or to continue north, and number three, was the +problem of food. Whether they went north, south, east, or west they had +a long road facing them, and their bread and cheese was not going to +last forever. They would have to get food some place. And that farm +house.... + +Dave let his thoughts trail off and stop as Freddy came up and sat down +beside him. The English boy looked like an entirely different person. +His eyes were clear and not heavy with fatigue. There was a lot of color +back in his face, and there was a happy and contented smile on his lips. + +"I'll remember that brook all the rest of my life," he said. "Gee, +nothing ever seemed so good. Well, have you thought up a plan? I fancy, +though, we'd better stay here until it's dark. We're bound to be +stopped in daylight. That colonel chap has probably radioed a +description of us all over the place." + +"Gee whiz, you think so?" Dave ejaculated. "Just to catch a couple of +fellows like us?" + +"I fancy so," Freddy said in a sober adult voice. "He'll be hopping mad +that we escaped. And besides pricking his pride it will probably add to +his silly ideas about us. Yes, I think the blighter will go to all ends +to catch us. So, we'd better keep a watchful eye out even if we are in a +hurry. What do you make of that farm house?" + +"I've been thinking about it," Dave grunted. "There are Germans there, +of course, but there must be food, too. If we could only manage to swipe +some food I'd feel a lot better about starting out again. It's going to +be a long walk, and it's a cinch we won't be able to do any hitch-hiking +with German tanks and armored cars all over the place." + +"True," Freddy murmured. "But we might have to walk for days, and days. +Then the information we have might not be of any use to the Allied High +Command. We've got to get back quickly, Dave, and I'm afraid we can't do +that by walking all the way." + +"No, I guess not," Dave said unhappily. "But we'd be taking a heck of a +chance trying to thumb a ride. Maybe, though, if we moved over close to +that road over there, an empty truck or something might come by and we +could slip aboard it for a little ways, anyway. Gosh, it seems a hundred +years since I left Paris!" + +"Two hundred," Freddy said with a sigh. "I certainly never even dreamed +that anything like this would ever happen to me." + +"Me, too," Dave said and gave a little half shake of his head. "Boy, +what I'll have to tell the fellows when I get back home!" + +"We're not back home, yet," Freddy said grimly. "Let's talk some more +about what we should do." + +It was as though Lady Luck or the Good Fairy had been waiting for that +exact moment. From up in the sky to the east came the throbbing drone of +a German plane. The two boys swiveled around at once, shielded their +eyes with their hands and peered upward. The plane was down fairly low +and coming straight toward them. A moment of panic seized hold of Dave +and he unconsciously grabbed hold of Freddy and pulled them both down +under the bushes. + +"Gosh!" he exclaimed excitedly. "Maybe they've got planes out looking +for us. Don't move a muscle and they won't see us. Gee, it's a biplane, +but it's got the swastika marking on the tail. I thought all the German +ships were monoplane design." + +Freddy didn't answer for a moment. He sat crouched low under the +protecting bush branches and squinting his eyes up at the plane. + +"That's a German plane, right enough," he said presently. "I recognize +it, now. It's an Arado AR-95. It's a two seater, and was built as a +torpedo plane. They use it off airplane carriers, but it's a pretty old +type. Look, Dave! The pilot has cut his engine. He's gliding down. I +say, let's get out of here! The observer in back has probably spotted +us!" + +"Now, wait!" Dave hissed and shot out a hand to stop Freddy from leaping +to his feet and dashing back into the woods. "If they have spotted us +we'd not get far before we'd be caught. Besides, I don't think they've +seen us. Look! He's going into a gliding turn. Freddy! I'll bet you a +million dollars he's going to land in that smooth field over there. Yes, +sir, that's what he's going to do!" + +"You're right, Dave!" Freddy breathed. "And some of the Germans in that +farm house are running out to meet them. But I don't like this, Dave. +They may be landing to tell them where we are." + +"Nope," Dave said doggedly. "They wouldn't land. They'd either drop a +message, or use their radio If they have one. They'd stay up to see +which way we headed. Nope. That's some kind of a headquarters over +there, Freddy. I bet the plane is bringing them a message." + +"I hope you're right," Freddy said in an uncertain voice, as his clear +blue eyes clouded with doubt. "There! He's down on the ground, now, and +braking to a stop." + +"That sure is a sweet looking ship!" Dave breathed softly. "An Arado +AR-95, huh? Oh, sure, now I remember seeing pictures of that design. It +has a B.M.W. radial engine. (_Bavarian Motor Works_). The Germans used +it a lot in training their pilots. It's not so fast as the other war +planes, and it's a cinch to fly, they say. _Freddy!_" + +Dave almost shouted the name, and his fingers still gripping the English +youth's arm bit deep into the flesh. + +"Ouch, my arm!" Freddy protested, "What's the matter, Dave? What's up?" + +Dave didn't reply. He watched the German plane come to a stop. The pilot +and observer jumped down onto the ground and walked toward the group of +Germans advancing from the farm house. They met and appeared to talk for +a moment or two. Then all of them turned and went back to the farm +house. When they passed inside Dave took a quick look over at the Arado +with its prop ticking over, then swung around to face Freddy. + +"Maybe that solves our problem, Freddy!" he said in a strained whisper. +"That plane!" + +"The plane?" Freddy echoed with a frown. "What about it? Good grief, you +surely don't mean...." + +"Why not?" Dave countered. "I made my first solo on a better ship than +that. I'll bet you anything you like I can handle it. What do you say, +Freddy?" + +The English youth gulped and looked most undecided. Dave took the moment +of silence to press home his point. + +"It's the best bet we could possibly have!" he argued. "Gee, in that +ship we could be behind the Allied defenses in no time. I say let's try +it, anyway. Gee whiz, Freddy, we might be stuck here for months. There's +no telling what we might run into. What do you say? Are you game to try +it with me?" + +The English youth was already smiling and nodding his head. + +"Right you are, Dave, I'm game," he said quietly. "Anything's better +than just sitting here. And between us we ought to make a go of it. +Right-o, Dave, if you like." + +"That's the stuff!" Dave said and slapped him on the back. "They're all +inside the farm house now, and if we keep back of that field wall, +there, we can get right up close without being seen. When I give you the +sign, run like the dickens for the ship. Gee! We've got to make it, +Freddy. _We've just got to!_" + +The two boys looked at each other, nodded, and then started crawling out +from under the bushes on all fours. + + + + +CHAPTER TEN + +_Trapped In War Skies!_ + + +Hugging the ground at the extreme end of the field wall, Dave and Freddy +stared at the German plane not thirty yards away. The idling propeller +filled the air with a purring sound that struck right to their hearts +and sent the blood surging through their veins in wild excitement. The +feeling of fatigue and body weariness had completely fled them, now. The +thrill of the dangerous adventure ahead filled them with a renewed sense +of strength, and fired them with grim determination. + +Dave slowly rose up onto one knee like a track star on his mark at the +starting line. He cast a quick glance back over his shoulder at Freddy, +and nodded. + +"Now!" he whispered sharply, and went streaking around the end of the +field wall. + +He reached the plane a dozen steps ahead of the English boy, and +practically leaped into the pilot's cockpit forward. No sooner was he +seated and snapping the safety belt buckle than Freddy was scrambling +into the observer's cockpit. + +"I'm in!" he heard the English youth sing out. + +Shooting out a foot Dave kicked off the wheel brake release. Then he +grabbed hold of the "Dep" wheel control stick with his right hand and +reached for the throttle with his left and gingerly eased it forward. +The B.M.W. engine instantly started to roar up in a song of power. Dave +opened the throttle more and pushed the Dep stick forward to get the +tail up as the Arado started forward. + +"Hurry up, Dave!" came Freddy's wild yell above the roar of the engine. +"They've seen us! They're running out of the house. They're shooting at +us with rifles, Dave!" + +Freddy could have saved his breath on the last. The sharp bark of rifle +fire came plainly to Dave's ears as he hunched forward over the +controls. And almost in the same instant he heard the blood chilling +whine of nickel-jacketed lead messengers of death streaking past not +very high above his head. Impulsively he ducked lower in the pit, and +shoved the throttle wide open. The plane was already bouncing over the +ground on its wheels, with the tail up, and then added gas fed to the +engine caused the ship practically to leap forward like a high strung +race horse quitting the barrier. + +The sudden burst of speed flung Dave back in the seat, and for one +horrible instant his hands were almost torn from the Dep wheel, and his +feet yanked free of the rudder pedals. He caught himself in the nick of +time, however, swerved the plane clear of a sudden dip in the surface of +the field, and then gently hauled the Dep wheel back toward his stomach. + +For a long moment the wheels of the plane seemed to cling to the ground. +Then they lifted clear and the Arado went nosing up toward the golden +washed blue sky. Clamped air burst from Dave's lungs like an exploding +shell. He coughed, and shook sweat from his face, and held the ship at +the correct angle of climb. The engine in the nose sang such a sweet +song of power that for a moment or so it was in tune with the song of +wild joy in Dave's heart. The Arado, as he had rightly guessed, was a +cinch to handle. It was light as a feather and responded instantly to a +touch on the control wheel, or on the rudder pedals. + +As the plane climbed upward he twisted around in the seat and looked at +Freddy. The English youth was staring down back at the field they had +just left. Dave followed his look and saw the twenty or thirty figures +garbed in German military uniforms on the field. At least half of them +were firing furiously with rifles. The others were shaking their fists, +and making angry gestures for the plane to return and land. Dave grinned +and shook his head. + +"You can just bet we won't come back!" he shouted into the roar of the +engine. "We're not _that_ crazy!" + +Freddy heard him and turned front. The English youth's eyes danced with +excitement. He grinned at Dave, and then suddenly seemed to remember the +little scene last night after Dave had removed the screws from the +window frame. He clasped both hands above his head and shook them +vigorously. His lips moved, and Dave just barely heard the words. + +"Well done!" + +Dave returned the grin and then twisted around front. The dash +instruments, of course, were all marked in German, but he knew enough of +that language to read them. The altimeter needle was quivering close to +the six thousand foot mark. He decided that was high enough and leveled +off the climb onto even keel. Then he took a moment or so to glance down +at the ground below to try and get his bearings. The first thing he saw +was a small village off to his left. One look at it and his heart leaped +over in his chest. He saw the hill and the single main street along +which trucks and armored cars and motorized units of artillery were +passing in a steady, endless stream. The town of Estalle? It seemed to +be almost directly under him. The truth made him shiver and lick his +lower lip. + +If that was Estalle and he was positive it was, he and Freddy couldn't +have traveled more than eight or nine miles toward the north during +their wild flight last night. Maybe twice that number of miles going +around in circles, but certainly not more than ten miles in the +direction they wanted to go. + +A rap on his shoulder turned him around in the seat. Freddy was pointing +at the village of Estalle and pursing his lips in a silent whistle. Dave +got the idea and nodded, and wiped make believe sweat from his forehead +with his free hand. Then he turned front and glanced at the sun in an +effort to decide which direction was due west. Of course there was a +compass on the instrument panel but something was obviously wrong with +it. The needle was spinning around the balanced card dial. + +That fact didn't worry him in the slightest, though. He remembered a tip +a First World War flying ace had once given him about finding your +direction in Europe when you were lost and your compass was out of +whack. It was very simple, too. In the morning, if you could see the +sun, all you had to do was keep the sun on your tail and you would be +sure to be flying west. And so Dave applied the rudder until the sun +was mostly on his tail, and gave his attention to the spread of ground +ahead. + +What he saw made him suck air sharply into his lungs. Rather, it was a +case of what he didn't see. The entire western horizon seemed to be one +huge cloud of dirty grey smoke streaked here and there with tongues of +livid red and orange and yellow flame. It was as though the whole of +Belgium was on fire. Closer to him was a long even-banked river that cut +down across the countryside from the northwest to the southeast. He was +staring hard at it thinking it was a very peculiar looking river when he +suddenly felt Freddy hitting him on the shoulder again. + +"That's the famous Prince Albert Canal!" the English youth shouted above +the roar of the engine. "It's very strongly fortified. A sort of Belgian +Maginot Line. The Germans can't possibly have crossed it, yet. If we can +just get by there, Brussels is not very far off. We could land there." + +"Germans not crossing it?" Dave yelled and pointed. "Look down there to +the left. They're swarming across it like bees. Gee, there must be a +million pontoon bridges thrown across that canal. And, gosh, look at all +those Stuka dive bombers!" + +It was all too true. Hitler's relentlessly advancing forces had smashed +the Albert Canal defenses to smoking rubble, thus forcing the Belgian +army to retreat to the south side of the Canal. And now as German +troops, and their swiftly striking Panzer division were rushing across +pontoon bridges to strike more blows at the Belgians, hundreds of Stuka +dive bombers were blasting death and destruction into the ranks of the +enemy. The sight of it all made Dave's heart turn to ice in his chest. +History, terrible History was being written down there by the Albert +Canal, and his heart was on fire with an even more blazing desire to do +something for the cause of justice and civilization. + +But first he had another job to do, and he lifted his gaze and peered at +the smoke and flame filled sky ahead. Besides smoke and flame there were +countless numbers of planes streaking and darting around in all +directions. The air was practically filled with them. There was layer +after layer of planes reaching from low down over the battle grounds +right up to the sun. And insofar as he could tell at the distance not a +single one of them was of Allied design. They were all German. + +At that moment Freddy pounded on his shoulder for the third time. And +the voice that screamed in his ear rang with fright and alarm. + +"More speed, Dave! Look behind us. There's a plane, a Messerschmitt. I +think it's chasing us. They might even try to shoot us down. What'll we +do, Dave?" + +"What'll we do?" Dave echoed and glanced back at the sleek needle shaped +plane with its low monoplane wing. "We'll keep on going. They may not +try to shoot at us. Once we get on the other side of the Canal, we'll be +safe. We'll go down and land." + +But even as Dave spoke the words to give good cheer to Freddy his own +heart was pounding with fear. The other plane was drawing up on them as +an express train overtakes a slow freight. He could see now that it was +a Messerschmitt One-Ten. A moment later he saw the gunner-observer in +the rear pit shove back his bullet proof glass cockpit hatch and stand +up and wave signals with both his arms. Those signals plainly said for +them to go down and land at once, but Dave pretended that he hadn't +seen. He rammed the palm of his free hand hard against the already wide +open throttle, as though if in so doing he might get increased speed out +of the plane. + +It was no more than a futile gesture, however. In the matter of seconds +the Messerschmitt had pulled right up along side them. Dave turned and +looked across the air space that separated the two planes. His heart +zoomed up his throat so fast it almost bumped up against his back +teeth. The German observer was still sending signals to land, but not +with his arms and hands, now. He was doing it with the aerial machine +gun fixed to the swivel mounting that circled the rim of his cockpit. He +was pointing the gun at them and then tilting it down toward the ground +as he nodded his helmeted head vigorously. + +Dave stared at the gun as though hypnotized. The blood pounded in his +temples, and his whole body was on fire one instant and icy cold the +next. There was death staring straight at him, and he could hardly force +his brain to think. He knew he couldn't just keep on flying. He had to +do something or the German would open fire and turn their plane into a +blazing inferno. On the other hand, his fighting heart refused to +surrender and go back and face the ugly wrath of that Colonel Stohl. For +this Messerschmitt had unquestionably been sent out after them at the +Colonel's orders. Who knew? Perhaps Colonel Stohl had been the German he +had seen climb out of the observer's pit of this very Arado he was now +trying to fly to safety behind the Belgian lines. It would have been +very easy for the German to phone the nearest air field and have a plane +sent out after them. + +_Tac-a-tac-a-tac-a-tac!_ + +Jetting tongues of flame leaped out from the muzzle of the machine gun +in the other plane. The savage yammer sound smashed against Dave's ears +even as he saw the wavy trails of tracer smoke cut across in front of +the nose of his plane. The yammer of the gun snapped him into action and +sent his eyes darting to the cowled nose of the Arado. His heart seemed +to cry out when he saw that the plane carried no guns. On impulse he +twisted his head around to Freddy's pit, but there, too, disappointment +mocked him. The plane was not armed! It was probably just a courier +plane used far behind the lines on safe missions only. + +As he looked into Freddy's eyes he saw reflected there his own bitter +thoughts. They were completely at the mercy of that Messerschmitt flying +along wing to wing with them. Unskilled and untrained though they were +in aerial combat, it was heartrending not to be able to put up some kind +of a battle for their lives. + +"It was a good try, Dave!" he heard Freddy call out. "But I guess it's +no use, now. The beggars have us on the spike for fair. There's nothing +we can do but go down and land, as they want us to." + +As though the German in the other plane had actually heard the English +youth's words, a second warning burst of shots rattled out to streak +across in front of the Arado's nose. Unconsciously Dave nodded his head, +and reached out his hand to haul back the throttle. His hand froze in +mid air, instead. At that moment he had glanced down at the ground below +and ahead. What he saw made fierce, frenzied determination explode in +his heart! + +They were almost directly over the Albert Canal. He could clearly see +the Belgian troops digging in on the south side, wheeling guns into +position, and throwing out rear guard action units. Not a mile, not even +a half mile from safety. It was too much for Dave. The fighting American +spirit of Lexington and Concord flamed up in his chest. He wouldn't do +it! He wouldn't give in without a try. He'd fool those Germans in the +Messerschmitt One-Ten even if it was the last thing he ever did. Let +them try to shoot him down. Just let them try! There were German planes +all around, now. And that fact alone was to his advantage. The +Messerschmitt gunner would have to take care not to hit one of his own. + +"Dave! He means it this time! We've got to turn back!" + +He heard Freddy's voice as though it came from a thousand miles away. +But he didn't pay the slightest bit of attention. Didn't so much as +shake his head. His whole body was cold and numb with fear of what he +was about to attempt. But in his brain there was but one thought; one +great overwhelming determination of purpose. + +He whipped out his hand and eased back the throttle and let the nose +drop. At the same time he applied stick and rudder as though he was +going to send the plane around and down in a gliding turn that would +take them back east. As the plane started to turn he shot a quick side +glance at the Messerschmitt. His heart was ready to explode with joy. +The German observer had seen the movement of the Arado and wrongly +guessed its meaning! The man nodded his head, and let go of his gun and +sank down on his seat. + +The instant Dave saw the German sink down on the seat he belted the +throttle wide open again and shoved the stick forward until the Arado +was prop howling down in an almost vertical dive. + +"Hold fast!" he shouted at Freddy without turning his head. "They +haven't got us yet, and they won't get us if I've got anything to say +about it." + +Bracing himself against the speed of the dive, and keeping his mouth +open so that his eardrums would not snap and perhaps break, he held +himself hunched forward over the controls, and fixed both eyes on the +flame and smoke smeared ground below. The smoke and flames seemed to +leap up toward him at rocket speed. Out of the corner of his eye he +caught flash glimpses of Stuka dive bombers cutting through the air at +terrific speed. Then from up in back of him he heard the deadly chatter +of German aerial machine guns. + +He didn't bother to look back to see if the Messerschmitt was on his +tail. That would be but a waste of effort. Instead he jammed hard on the +left rudder and sent the Arado swerving crazily off to the side. The +guns above him continued to hammer and snarl, but he heard no bullets +snicking past his ears. He could hear only the thunderous roar of his +own B.M.W. engine. + +Then suddenly the Prince Albert Canal flashed by under his nose and was +gone from view. He was safely across it and right over the Belgian +troops! However, it was simply a case of roaring out of one danger zone +into another. He completely forgot he was flying a plane with German +markings. Naturally, when the Belgian soldiers saw the Swastika painted +plane streaking down at them they let go at it with everything they had. + +Perhaps it was one of those freak things of war, or perhaps the gods +were truly smiling upon Dave Dawson and Freddy Farmer. At any rate not +a single Belgian bullet hit the diving Arado, and a moment later Dave +hauled the ship out of its mad dive and went streaking along to the rear +of the Belgian lines. But before he had traveled more than a couple of +miles he once more heard the snarl of aerial machine gun fire behind +him. And this time there was more to it than just the sound! + +The Arado suddenly bucked and quivered as though it had been smashed by +the fist of some huge invisible giant of the skies. The vicious movement +of the plane tore Dave's hands from the controls and flung him over so +hard he cracked his head on the cockpit rim and saw stars for a brief +instant or so. Then as his senses cleared again and he grabbed hold of +the controls once more, the engine in the nose coughed and sputtered and +shot out a cloud of black smoke ... and died cold. + +Realization and action were one for Dave, and so the first thing he did +was to yank back the throttle and cut off the ignition. When that was +done he shoved the nose down and peered hopefully at the ground no more +than five hundred feet below him. A groan of despair rose out of his +throat to spill off his lips. He couldn't see a smooth patch of ground +down there big enough for a fly to sit down on. True there were lots of +fields, but they were pock marked from one end to the other with shell +and bomb craters. There was one spot where he might possibly land +without crashing too badly. But crash he would. That was certain. There +was nothing to do but try it ... and pray! + +"A crash coming, Freddy!" he yelled back over his shoulder. "Hold +everything, and hang on hard!" + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + +_Fighting Hearts_ + + +As Dave glided the crippled Arado down toward the bomb and shell marked +field the icy fingers of fear were curled tightly about his heart. He +had made one or two forced landings in his short flying career, but they +had been like setting down a plane on a gigantic billiard table compared +to the task he now faced. If he under-shot the patch of ground he was +aiming at he would go plowing straight into a battery of Belgian +artillery guns hurling shells across the Albert Canal into the +on-rushing German hordes. And if he over-shot the field or swerved too +much to the right or left he would go crashing into a maze of shell +blasted tree stumps which would tear the plane to shreds and snuff out +his life, and Freddy's, as easily as one snuffs out the flame of a +candle. + +His only hope lay in hitting the field in the center and checking the +forward roll of the plane so that when it did slide over and down into +one of the bomb craters the crash impact wouldn't be too violent. In +his heart he knew that he stood but one chance in a thousand of coming +out of the crash uninjured. But there was no other way out, the die had +been cast. The engine had been hit and was dead. There was only one way +to go, and that was down. + +On impulse he jerked his head around and looked back. It seemed as +though he had not heard Freddy's voice in a year or more, and sudden +panic swept through him. Was Freddy all right? Had he been hit, and was +that why he had not spoken? In the brief instant it took to jerk his +head around and look back, Dave died a hundred agonizing deaths. + +Luck, however, was still riding the cockpits with them. The English +youth was still alive, and very much so, too. His lips were drawn back +in a tight grin even though his face was white, and there was a sort of +glazed, glassy look in his eyes. Being a pilot, himself, Freddy knew +exactly what it was all about. He had sense enough not to try any back +seat driving in the emergency. He was leaving everything to Dave, and +trusting in his friend's judgment. He sat perfectly still in the seat, +his arms half raised and ready to throw them across his face when they +hit in order to protect himself as much as possible. + +Sitting still and showing his faith in Dave by the tight grin on his +lips. That realization gave Dave new courage as he turned front again. +The ground was just under his wheels, now. He would not under-shoot the +field, nor would he over-shoot it either. He had proved his flying skill +thus far. The rest was ... was in the lap of the gods! + +Ten feet off! Nine feet, eight ... seven ... six! He was hugging the Dep +wheel now all the way back against his stomach to bring the nose up just +a few more inches before the ship stalled and dropped. His whole body +sensed that moment of stalling; that moment when the lift of the wings +was absolutely nil. He sensed it now and instantly let go of the stick, +buried his head in his arms, and let his whole body go limp. + +For two seconds, or perhaps it was for two long years, the Arado seemed +to hang motionless in the air. Then suddenly it dropped belly first like +a rock. The wheels hit hard and the ship was bounced back up into the +air again. It hit again, and bounced again. It hit once more and Dave +felt the tail wheel catch on something and send the ship plunging +crazily off to the right. He jammed hard on the left rudder to +counteract the movement, but it was too late. Fate had placed a huge +German bomb crater in the way. The plane slithered over the lip of the +crater and charged dizzily downward. + +Memory of a wild ride on a Coney Island roller coaster streaked through +Dave's brain. And then the plane careened up on its side, and half up on +its nose. It swayed there with its tail pointing up at the sky. It +twisted twice around and then fell over on its back with a jarring thud. +An invisible giant reached out a fist and punched Dave hard on the +chest. The air in his lungs whistled out through his mouth, and for +horrible seconds colored lights whirled around in his brain, and the +entire universe was filled with roaring, crashing thunder. + +The spell passed in a moment, and he found himself hanging head downward +on his safety harness. His first thought was for Freddy, and he +struggled to twist around and look back, but he couldn't make it. + +"Freddy!" he yelled in a choking voice. "Are you all right?" + +A heart chilling instant of silence greeted his question, and then came +Freddy's faint reply. + +"Not hurt a bit, Dave! But the blasted safety harness broke, and I'm +down here in a beastly puddle of mud. Can you give me a hand?" + +Reaction set in and Dave laughed hysterically, and tore at his safety +belt buckles. He got them unfastened and grabbed hold of the sides of +the cockpit before he went plunging down into the muddy bottom of the +bomb crater, himself. He twisted over and landed feet first. It was +then he had his first look at Freddy. The English lad was plopped down +on the seat of his pants in a good eight inches of mud. And there was +mud from the top of his head all the way down. He had obviously landed +square on his head but had managed to squirm around and sit up before +the sticky yellow ooze suffocated him. Right at the moment he was pawing +the stuff off his face so he could see. + +Dave plowed around to him and caught him under the armpits, and heaved. +Freddy's body coming up out of the mud sounded like somebody pulling a +cork from a bottle. Still hanging onto him, Dave ducked under a section +of the crumpled wing and hauled and tugged them both up out of the +crater on to firm dry ground. Then he dug a handkerchief from his pocket +and started wiping off Freddy's face. + +"Boy, do you look a sight, Freddy!" he chuckled. Then in a more serious +tone, "I'm darn sorry, Freddy. That sure was a rotten landing. I guess I +thought I was too good. I should have let you do the flying." + +Freddy snorted and squinted at him out of one eye. + +"Rotten landing?" he gasped. "Good grief, they can't fly any better than +that in the R.A.F., Dave. I thought sure we'd both be killed. And +neither of us has so much as a scratch. You couldn't have done it any +better, Dave. Honest!" + +"Thanks," Dave grinned. "But it was all luck. And I was scared stiff. +Thank goodness those Messerschmitt guys were such punk shots. Now, wipe +some more off, and we'll...." + +Dave cut off the rest short and spun around. A squad of Belgian infantry +men was racing across the field toward them. The bayonets on their +rifles glistened in the sun, and the cries of wild men were bursting +from their lips. The truth hit Dave in the flick of an eye. Those +Belgians took them for two members of the Nazi Air Force, and they were +racing over to get vengeance for what those Stuka dive bombers had been +doing to them. Even as the truth came to Dave one of the running +soldiers threw his rifle up to his shoulder and fired. The bullet cut +past Dave's face so close he could almost feel its heat. He leaped in +front of Freddy who was still wiping his face and flung up both hands. + +"Don't shoot, don't shoot!" he yelled in French. "We're not Germans! +America! England! Don't shoot! _Vive les Allies!_" + +The Belgian soldiers rushed up to him and leveled their rifles at his +stomach. They were a vicious looking lot, but they had been made that +way by the fury of war hurled down on them for the last seventy-two +hours or more. Their eyes were bloodshot, and their faces were caked +with dried blood and dirt. Their beards were sodden messes, and their +uniforms were torn and ripped to rags. Their rifles were the only clean +thing about them. + +One of them with corporal chevrons on his tattered tunic sleeve stepped +forward until the tip of his wicked looking bayonet was within an inch +of Dave's neck. + +"You are Boches!" he shouted and nodded at the wrecked plane. "We saw +you dive down on us. Well, you will not dive again. We shall...." + +"Wait, wait!" Dave shouted in wild alarm. "I tell you we are not German. +He's English, and I'm an American. We have just escaped from Germany. We +were prisoners there. We have to get to Allied Headquarters at once. We +have valuable information." + +The Belgian corporal hesitated and looked puzzled. His men obviously did +not believe Dave. They made snarling sounds in their throats and +shuffled forward a bit. Dave opened his mouth to explain some more, but +Freddy beat him to the punch. The young English boy suddenly stepped +forward and a stream of words poured from his thin lips. He had lived +many years on the Continent and he knew how to deal with either the +French or the Belgians. + +"Listen to me, you lugger heads!" he ranted at them. "My friend speaks +the truth. We have just escaped from Germany, and we have important +information. Take us to your commanding officer at once, do you hear? Do +we look like Germans? Of course not! Where are your heads, your brains? +Have you not seen us risk our lives trying to reach this side of the +lines? Take us to your commanding officer. He may even recommend you for +a medal. You hear me? Take us to your commanding officer or I shall make +a personal complaint to the Commander in Chief of British Army Staff, +General Caldwell. Attention, at once! Take us to your commanding +officer, _now!_" + +Grins slowly appeared on the faces of the battle wearied Belgian +soldiers. The corporal chuckled and lowered his bayonet from Dave's +throat. + +"The little one spits fire when he speaks," he murmured and nodded his +head. "No, I do not believe now that you are Germans. But you had a very +lucky escape, my two little ones. We do not feel very pleased today. Nor +will we be happy for a long time to come, I am afraid. It looks bad, +very bad. Come! I will take you to my Lieutenant." + +"It looks bad?" Freddy asked quickly. "Can't you hold them? Aren't the +British and the French helping?" + +The Belgian corporal shrugged and wiped his tired eyes with a dirt and +mud smeared hand. + +"It is possible," he grunted. "I do not know. We hear very little except +the guns and those cursed bombs. But, there are no British or French +here. Only Belgians. And we cannot stop them. We have not the men, or +the guns, or the tanks. And planes? Where are all our planes? Look at +the sky! It is filled with nothing but Boche planes. Yes, my little one, +it looks very bad. But we are not afraid to die. No!" + +The soldier shrugged again, then nodded with his head and started +trudging back across the field, trailing his rifle as though it weighed +a ton instead of a few pounds or so. Freddy and Dave dropped into step +with the others and went along. Nobody spoke. Nobody but the bombs and +the shells but a few miles away, and rapidly drawing closer. Dave leaned +toward Freddy. + +"Boy, can you dish out their language!" he breathed. "But I don't blame +them. They must have been through something terrible. It's a wonder they +didn't shoot and ask questions afterward." + +"Yes," Freddy said in a dull voice. "I wonder where the French and the +British are? I hope they can get here in time." + +Dave didn't attempt to answer the question. He suddenly felt very tired, +and old. His strength had been sapped to the limit, and his spirits were +staggering under a crushing weight. The picture of those German hordes +pouring across the Albert Canal and virtually beating the Belgians right +down into the ground was still clear as crystal in his brain. It was +like a mighty tidal wave hurtling forward with nothing but a picket +fence in the way to stop it. + +At the far end of the field the Belgians turned left on a winding narrow +dirt road. They went down this for some fifty yards or so, then left the +road and entered some woods. In the heart of the woods several companies +of Belgian troops were frantically building up machine gun emplacements, +stringing out barbwire, and moving light field pieces into place to bear +on the winding dirt road. The corporal stopped before a young lieutenant +and saluted smartly. Dave and Freddy stopped and waited while the +corporal spoke to the officer. + +In a moment or so the lieutenant came over and stared at them both out +of bleak, dead tired eyes. + +"What is all this?" he demanded briskly. + +Dave let Freddy do the talking as he had the language down perfect. The +young Englishman talked a steady stream for two or three moments, giving +a brief account of their movements since the day the Nazi armies broke +through into Belgium and the Low Countries. The Belgian officer listened +in silence, and when Freddy finished he took a map from his pocket and +spread it out on the ground. + +"Where were some of those pins and flags you saw on that map?" he asked. + +Dave still let Freddy do the talking, and simply watched while the +English youth pointed out various points on the map. The Belgian nodded +his head from time to time, and presently folded the map and got quickly +to his feet. + +"I am positive you have seen a map of great importance!" he said. "I +will see that you are taken to Belgian G.H.Q. at once. You will tell +them all you know, and they will communicate with the Allied High +Command. You are very brave boys, you know?" + +Freddy flushed and looked uncomfortable. + +"We only want to do everything we can to help," he said quietly. + +The Lieutenant's tired lips twisted back in a wistful smile as he +glanced from Freddy to Dave. + +"I would feel very happy if I had a million like you under my command," +he murmured. "If only half what you say is true, it is enough. +Sergeant!" + +A huge bearded non-com putting a machine gun in working order got to his +feet and lumbered over. He ran his bloodshot eyes over Freddy and Dave, +and then fixed them on his officer. + +"My Lieutenant?" he grunted. + +"These two, Sergeant," the Lieutenant said with a jerk of his head. +"They are to be taken to General Boulard's headquarters at once. You +will take one of the light scouting cars and drive them there. That is +all." + +The big sergeant blinked and looked dubious. + +"I will try, of course, my Lieutenant," he said. "But we may meet with +difficulty. A runner has arrived only a moment ago at the Fortieth +Company. The Boche tanks have cut the road to Namur. They seek to get +around in back of us. The Boche planes are also bombing the entire road. +It will be difficult but I will attempt it, my Lieutenant." + +Dave saw the Belgian officer's face pale under its coating of blood and +dirt. The man clenched his fists in a helpless gesture, and something +akin to tears of bitter rage glistened in his haggard eyes. At that +exact moment the whole world was filled with a terrifying eerie scream. +The Belgians fell flat on their faces. The Lieutenant dragged Freddy and +Dave down with him, and tried to cover them with his own body. + +Dave knew the meaning of that awful sound. He had heard it along that +road packed with terror stricken refugees. He had heard it as he dragged +an old woman to the flimsy protection of an ox cart. His heart stood +still in his chest. The blood ceased to surge through his veins. His +lungs became locked with air, and his brain became numb and useless as +he waited those terrible few seconds. The diving Stuka's death load hit +on the far side of the road. Half of Belgium seemed to fountain up into +the sky, and what was left rocked and swayed crazily. Thunderous sound +swept over Dave and seemed actually to shove him down into the ground. +In a crazy sort of way he wondered if he was dead. Then the next thing +he realized the Belgian lieutenant was helping him up onto his feet. + +"It is only the direct hits that matter," the officer said in a gentle +voice, and smiled. + +"That was plenty direct enough for me!" Dave said and gulped. + +"Yes, quite!" Freddy breathed and clenched his hands to stop his fingers +trembling. + +"When they dive several at a time, then it is not pleasant," the Belgian +infantry officer said. "But one can only pray. That is the way with +war. But, about this trip to General Boulard's headquarters. You heard +what the Sergeant said? It may be very dangerous. Perhaps you would care +to wait awhile, and rest?" + +Something in the officer's tone made Dave jerk his head up. + +"Hey, I wasn't _that_ scared!" he blurted out. "We're ready to start +right now. Okay, Freddy?" + +"Of course," the English youth replied instantly. "Let's start at once. +The sooner we get there, the better." + +"You are good soldiers, and I salute you," the officer murmured. "Very +well, then. And all my good wishes. After all, perhaps it is not best to +wait here. Soon we shall be very busy, here. Yes, very busy. Sergeant! +You have your orders." + +The tired Belgian officer clicked his heels and saluted the two boys. +They returned the salute and as Dave looked into the Belgian's eyes he +saw a look there he would never forget as long as he lived. That officer +knew what was coming toward him from the Albert Canal. He knew that he +would stay where he was and face it. And he also knew that he would +probably never live to see another sunrise. In a few words he had told +of all that was in his thoughts. He had simply said, "Soon we shall be +very busy, here." + +The Belgian's loyalty and great courage stirred Dave to the depths of +his soul. He impulsively reached out and grasped the officer's hand and +shook it. + +"I hope you beat the stuffing out of them. Lieutenant," he said in a +rush of words. "Freddy and I will be rooting for you, and how!" + +"You bet we will!" the English youth echoed. "I jolly well hope you +chase them all the way back to Berlin!" + +The Belgian officer made no reply. He smiled at them sadly and saluted +again. The boys turned away and followed the big Sergeant through the +patch of woods to the far side where a unit of small tanks and scouting +cars was parked in under the trees. The Sergeant climbed in behind the +wheel of the nearest scouting car and motioned the two youths to get in +back. A couple of moments later the engine was doing its work and the +Sergeant was skillfully tooling the car across open fields toward the +southwest. + +For a few moments Dave stared at the frenzied activity of the Belgian +troops that were all around them. Inexperienced though he was in +military technique, and so forth, he instinctively knew that the brave +Belgians were making feverish preparations for a last ditch stand +against the Germans. And with the picture of the Albert Canal crossing +still fresh in his memory he knew in his heart that all he saw would be +just a waste of gallant effort. Those German hordes, protected by their +swarms of planes, would go right through as though the Belgians weren't +there at all. It actually made his heart hurt to watch them and so he +slumped down in the seat of the car, and let his body sway with the +bumps, and stared moodily at the back of the driver's neck. + +Presently Freddy reached over and placed a hand on his knee and pressed +it. + +"Chin up, Dave!" he heard Freddy say. "We'll get through all right, you +wait and see." + +Dave shook his head and sat up a bit and grinned. + +"Sure we'll make it," he said. "I'm not worrying about that. I was just +thinking." + +"About what?" Freddy asked. + +"Well, just then I was thinking about that Arado I cracked up," Dave +said. "I sure feel rotten about that. I wish I could have brought it +down all in one piece." + +"Good grief, forget it!" Freddy gasped. "It was wonderful of you to get +it down at all. I would have killed us both, for fair. I can tell you, +now, that I was very scared when you took off. I didn't know then how +well you could fly, but I do, now. You're a little bit of all right, +Dave. I mean that, really!" + +"You're swell to say that, anyway," Dave grinned. "I'm still sorry, +though, I had to go and crack it up. I don't know ... Well, I guess +a plane to me is something like what his horse is to a cow puncher. +It's ... it's almost something human." + +"I know what you mean, Dave." + +"Do you, Freddy?" Dave echoed. "Well, that's the way it is. And I'll +tell you something, but you'll probably think I'm nuts. I made an awful +punk landing when I made my first solo. Cracked up the ship. I busted a +wing and wiped the undercarriage right off, and didn't get a scratch. +But do you know? I felt so bad about it I busted right out bawling like +a kid. My instructor was scared stiff. He thought something awful had +happened to me. But when I finally cut it out he was swell about the +whole thing. He said it was the normal reaction of a fellow who could +really go for flying. It made me feel better anyway. Yeah, I sure feel +pretty punk for busting up that Arado, even though it was a German +crate." + +Freddy started to speak but Dave didn't even hear the first word. The +car had bounced out of a field and was being swung onto a road when the +landscape on all four sides suddenly blossomed up with spouting geysers +of brilliant red flame and towering columns of oily black smoke. +Thunderous sound rushed at them and seemed to lift the small scouting +car straight up into the air. + +"Shrapnel barrage!" the Sergeant screamed and slammed on the brakes. +"Take cover under the car at once!" + + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE + +_In the Nick of Time_ + + +Huddled together like sardines under the car, the Belgian Sergeant and +the two boys pressed fingers to their ears while all about them a whole +world went mad with shot and shell. Never in all his life had Dave heard +such a bellowing roar of crashing sound. For the first few seconds his +entire body had been paralyzed with fear, but when he didn't die at once +his brain grew kind of numb, and the roaring thunder didn't seem to have +so much effect upon him. It wasn't because of a greater courage coming +to his rescue. And it wasn't a lack of fear, either. It was simply that +in the midst of a furious bombardment the minds of human beings are too +stunned by the sound to register any kind of emotion. + +And so the three of them just lay there under the car while the German +gunners far back expended their wrath in the form of screaming steel, +and mountains of flame and rolling thunder. In ten minutes it was all +over. The range of the guns was changed and the barrage moved onward to +some other objective. Yet neither of the three moved a muscle. It was as +though each was waiting for the other to make the first move. + +Eventually Dave could stand the suspense no longer. He jerked up his +head without thinking and cracked it hard on the underside of the car. +He let out a yelp of pain, and the sound of his voice seemed to release +whatever was holding Freddy Farmer and the Belgian Sergeant. All three +of them crawled out from under the car and got to their feet and looked +around. Dave and Freddy gasped aloud. The Belgian Sergeant shrugged +indifferently and muttered through his teeth. There just wasn't any road +any more. It was completely lost in a vast area of smoking shell holes +that seemed to stretch out in all directions as far as the eye could +see. Blackened jagged stumps marked what had once been trees. Fields +where spring grass had been growing up were now brown acres of piled up +dirt and stones. And a spot where Dave had last seen a farm house was as +bare as the palm of his hand. + +"By the Saints, you two are a lucky charm!" the Sergeant suddenly +exploded and bobbed his big head up and down vigorously. "If you could +stay by my side always I would come out of this war alive without any +trouble at all. By the Saints of Notre Dame, yes! Look at the car. It +has not even been scratched! It is a miracle, nothing else!" + +It was true! The small scouting car was bathed in dust and dirt but +there wasn't so much as a scratch on it. The engine was even idling as +smooth as could be. The Belgian Sergeant stared at it almost as though +he were staring at a ghost. Then shaking his head and muttering through +his big buck teeth, he climbed in behind the wheel. + +"Nothing can possibly be as bad as that," he said. "Let us proceed at +once while the Good Lady still smiles upon us. Name of all things +wonderful, I can hardly believe I am still alive. _En avant, mes +enfants!_" + +With a sudden contempt for the shell blasted ground, that made Dave and +Freddy grin in spite of the harrowing experience through which they had +just past, the Sergeant sent the car scooting in and out around the +craters with the careless ease of driving along a wide boulevard. In +less time than it takes to tell about it he had driven clear out of the +barrage area and was skirting around a patch of woods toward another and +as yet untouched road. And to show the kind of stuff he was made of the +man began singing joyfully at the top of his voice. + +For the next half hour the war seemed to fade far away. True there were +signs of it on all sides, and above their heads, but a certain feeling +of security came to the boys as the Sergeant bumped them along roads and +across fields skirting around shell holes, artillery batteries, and +reserve troops being rushed up to the Front. Yet somehow all that didn't +touch them, now. A few hours ago they had been hiding in enemy +territory, two hunted prisoners of war. But now they were well behind +the Belgian lines and speeding toward headquarters where they would +deliver enemy position information that would be of great value to the +Allies. Two youths, sixteen and seventeen, had beaten the Germans at +their own game. Instead of revealing information of value to the +Germans, they had escaped with German information valuable to the +Allies. + +Dave leaned his head back and sighed restfully. It sure made a fellow +feel good to have been of some help. And it made him feel twice as good +to have a pal like Freddy Farmer along with him. Freddy had certainly +proved his mettle in the tight corners. And regardless of what he'd +said, Freddy probably would have done a better job of flying that Arado, +too. At every turn the English youth popped up with a new side to him. +He sure was glad Freddy and his ambulance had come along when they had. +And, gee, just how long ago was that, anyway? Three days, or three +years? It had been plenty long ago anyway. + +At that moment Freddy suddenly sat forward and tapped the Sergeant on +the shoulder. + +"Why are we heading east?" he asked and pointed at the last rays of the +setting sun. "If you're trying to get to Namur, you're going in the +wrong direction." + +"That is so," the Sergeant called back. "But, it is necessary. The +Boches have cut the road, and we must go around them. Soon it will be +dark. It will not be so hard when it is dark. Do not worry, my little +one, we shall get there." + +Freddy started to argue but seemed to think better of it. He sank back +on the seat scowling thoughtfully at the setting sun. Dave looked at him +a moment, and then spoke. + +"What gives, Freddy?" he asked. "Do you think the Sergeant doesn't know +what he's doing?" + +"No, he's probably right," the English youth said. "If the Namur road +has been cut by the Germans we've got to go around them, of course. But +I've spent several summers in this part of Belgium, and...." + +Freddy stopped short and leaned forward once more. + +"Why can't we circle around them on the west, Sergeant?" he shouted. +"Can't you cut over and take the road leading south from Wavre?" + +The Belgian let out a yell of consternation and stopped the car so +suddenly he almost pitched the two boys right over the back of the front +seat. + +"The brain of a cat I have!" he shouted and thumped a big fist against +his forehead. "But, of course, of course, my little one! Those bombs and +shells! They must have made scrambled eggs out of what I have in my +head!" + +Taking his foot off the brake the Belgian shifted back into low gear and +got the car underway again. At a crossroads some hundred yards ahead he +turned sharp right and fed gas to the engine. A moment later a machine +gun yammered savagely behind them. Dave twisted around in the seat and +saw an armored car bearing German army insignia racing for the turn-off +they had taken, but from the opposite direction. There was a machine gun +mounted on the car and a helmeted German soldier was striving to get +them in his range. + +The Belgian Sergeant took one quick glance back over his shoulder and +instantly gave the engine all the gas it could take. + +"A lucky charm you are indeed!" he shouted and hunched forward over the +wheel. "If you had not put sense in my head, and I had not turned off +on to this road, we would have run right into them. And that would have +been bad, very bad. Name of the Saints, the Lieutenant will reduce me to +a corporal when he hears of this!" + +Neither Dave nor Freddy bothered to make any comment. To tell the truth +they were too busy hanging on tight and trying to stay in the car as it +rocketed forward seeming virtually to leap across shell holes in the +road. The Sergeant perhaps did not have very many brains but he +certainly knew how to handle that small scouting car. He skipped across +shell holes, dodged and twisted about trees blown down across it, and +roared right through scattered wreckage of bombed supply trucks and the +like as though they weren't even there. And all the time the machine gun +farther back snarled and yammered out its song of death. + +The pursuing Germans had swung on to their road and were now striving +desperately to overtake them. Dave stuck his head up to see if they had +gained, but before he could see anything Freddy grabbed him around the +waist and practically threw him down onto the floor of the car. + +"Stay down, Dave!" the English youth shouted above the roar of the +little car's powerful engine. "We've ducked enough bullets for one day. +Don't be crazy!" + +Dave grinned sheepishly and nodded. + +"That was dumb!" he said. "You're right, and thanks!" + +As the last left his lips a burst of bullets whined low over the car. +Dave gulped and ducked his head. + +"Thanks, and how!" he yelled. "Boy, those were close. If I'd been +looking back they might ... _Hey!_" + +At that moment the little car turned sharply to the right and seemed to +zoom right up into the air. It came down with a crashing jolt. A shower +of bush branches slithered down on the boys and they were tossed around +in the back of the car like two peas in a pod. Puffing and panting, they +struggled to brace themselves before they were pitched out head over +heels. No sooner would they get a firm hold on something than the scout +car would careen up on its side and go darting off in another direction, +and they would be bounced around again. + +For a good ten minutes they tore through the darkening twilight first +this way and then that way. Then suddenly the violent jolting ceased +abruptly, and the car ran along on an even keel. Covered with bumps and +bruises from head to toe, the two boys scrambled up off the floor of +the car and flopped down on the seat. The Belgian Sergeant pushed on the +brake and brought the car to a halt under the shelter of over-hanging +tree branches. He switched the engine off and turned around and smiled +at them triumphantly. + +"We have lost the Boches!" he announced. "Everything is all right, now. +When it gets dark we will continue. You, my little lucky charm, I must +thank you for putting sense in my head." + +"That's quite, all right," Freddy said and fingered a lump behind his +right ear. "That was a fine bit of driving, Sergeant, even though you +came close to breaking our necks. Next time, though, please let us know +in time." + +"You said it!" Dave gasped and nursed a barked shin. "And when you do, +I'm going to jump out. Boy, talk about your wild rides!" + +The Belgian Sergeant laughed and gestured with his big hands. + +"But that was nothing!" he protested, "These little cars, they can go up +the side of a cliff. That German thing? Bah! It creeps along like a +snail. You should have been with me and the Lieutenant yesterday. Ah, +that was a ride! For a whole hour, mind you. And they were shooting at +us from all sides. But we got through without a scratch. It was +wonderful. You should have been there!" + +"I think I'm glad I wasn't," Freddy said, and smiled so the Belgian +would not feel hurt. "But what, now? Where are we?" + +Before he would reply the Belgian stuck a dirty cigarette between his +lips and lighted up. + +"We wait for the darkness, and that will not be long," he finally said. +Then pointing across the field to the left, he continued, "One mile in +that direction and we strike a road that will lead us straight into the +Wavre-Namur road. Two hours at the most and we shall be there." + +"Unless the Germans have cut it, too," Freddy murmured. + +The Belgian looked at him and snorted. + +"Impossible!" he said in a decisive voice. "They cannot have advanced +that far. Don't worry, _mes enfants_, I will get you to Namur in no time +at all. I ... _Sacre!_ Those are German tank guns!" + +The pounding of guns had suddenly broken out from behind them and to the +left. Not the deep booming sound of long range pieces, but the sharp +bark of small caliber guns. The sergeant pinched out his cigarette and +stuck it in his pocket and slid out of the car. He stood motionless for +a moment, head cocked on one side and listening intently to the guns. +Dave listened, too, trying to tell if they were coming closer. A strip +of woods broke up the sound, and it was impossible for him to tell. + +He glanced at the sergeant and was startled to see the worried look on +the man's face. Worry and astonishment, as though the Belgian was trying +to convince himself that the truth was false. In the fast fading light +the lines of his face deepened until it became a face of shadows. +Suddenly he muttered something under his breath and pulled a Belgian +army pistol from the holster at his side. + +"Remain here!" he ordered in a hard voice. "This is most strange, and I +must investigate. Those cannot be German guns, but perhaps so. I will go +and look, and return at once. Remain here, and wait!" + +Without waiting for either of them to say a word, the Belgian glided +swiftly away from the car and was almost at once swallowed up in the +shadows cast by the trees. Dave looked at Freddy. + +"What do you think?" he asked. "If that's Germans coming this way, we're +crazy to stick around. Don't you think so?" + +"Yes, I do," the English youth said bluntly. "But let's wait a little +bit. They may not be, and it wouldn't be quite fair dashing off and +leaving the Sergeant to walk back, you know." + +"Okay, we'll wait, then," Dave agreed. "Boy, but wasn't that some wild +ride! And it sure was lucky you spoke to him when you did. What I mean, +you saved us from a tough spot. Hey, what's that?" + +The tank guns had gone silent, but the yammer of a machine gun took up +the song. It sang a few notes and then became suddenly silent. Freddy +jumped out of the car and beckoned to Dave. + +"We'd better take a look, Dave," he said in a worried voice. "If they +are really close we wouldn't have a chance in the car. Our best bet +would be to hide out in the woods until they've passed." + +Dave jumped down and looked into Freddy's eyes. + +"You mean?" he asked in a strained voice. "You think the Sergeant bumped +into them, and they killed him?" + +"I'm afraid so," Freddy nodded and swallowed. "We'd better make sure, +though. Don't you think so?" + +"Okay by me," Dave said, though he didn't feel so inside. "Lead on, +Freddy. I'm right with you." + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN + +_Bombs For Namur_ + + +With the English youth picking the way, the two boys crept forward +through the woods toward the spot from whence had come the sharp burst +of machine gun fire. Before they had traveled a hundred yards a shout in +German stopped them in their tracks. + +"Just a Belgian dog!" the voice called out. "He was probably deserting, +so it is well that we shot him!" + +Dave's heart became icy cold in his chest yet at the same time bitter +resentment toward the Nazis flamed up in his brain. Then he suddenly +realized that Freddy was creeping forward on all fours, so he dropped to +the ground himself and followed. At the end of a few yards they came to +a break in the trees that gave them a view of a large field in the +distance. Three light German tanks were parked in the field. A helmeted +figure, probably an officer, was standing up in the gun turret of each. +Some sixty yards in front of the tanks two German soldiers were bending +over a motionless figure on the ground. It was now too dark for Dave to +get a good view of the crumpled figure on the ground. But he knew he +didn't need a clear view. That Belgian Sergeant would never drive them +to Namur, now. + +"The dirty rotters, the swine!" he heard Freddy's hoarse whisper at his +side. "Three light tanks against one poor Belgian sergeant. He was a +decent chap, too. Blast Hitler, I say!" + +"The same for the whole bunch of them!" Dave breathed angrily. "Boy, I +wish I had a machine gun right now. I'd give them plenty!" + +"Not against tanks, I fancy," Freddy said. "Well, that cooks it. We've +got to go it alone. Look! They're starting off again. Now, if they just +head...!" + +The English youth let his voice trail off, but he didn't have to finish +the sentence as far as Dave was concerned. He had the same thought. If +the tanks turned off to the right the scouting car would not be +discovered and they could continue their journey in it. But if the tanks +turned to the left, toward the woods in which they crouched, it would be +good-bye scouting car. The tanks would spot it for sure, and blow it to +bits with their armor piercing guns if they didn't take it for their own +use. + +Dave's heart seemed to stop beating, and he held his breath, as the +tank engines clattered up into life and the metal clad ground bugs +started to move forward. Then suddenly he wanted to yell with relief. +The farthest tank from them wheeled around on its treads to the right. +The second tank in line followed suit, and then the third. Making a +racket that echoed and reechoed back and forth across the war swept +countryside, the squadron of tanks moved out of the field, rumbled down +over the lip of a slope in the ground and were soon lost to view. Dave +let the air out of his lungs and whistled softly. + +"Boy, is that a break for us!" he grunted. "We can use that scouting +car, now." + +"You're jolly well right we can!" Freddy cried and leaped to his feet. +"It's a Renault, too, and I've driven Renaults lots." + +"Then you're elected," Dave said. "So let's go!" + +In less than a minute they were back in the scouting car and Freddy was +kicking the engine into life. The instant it roared up he shifted into +gear and sent the car rolling around to the left in the direction the +dead Belgian Sergeant had indicated. + +"I hope he knew what he was talking about!" Freddy yelled above the +sound of the clashing of gears. "After that crazy ride I'm not sure at +all where we are. But, I'll recognize that Namur road when we come to +it. One of the few decent roads in Belgium. Well, we're off!" + +The English youth punctuated the last by ramming the car into high and +stepping on the gas. Dave's head snapped back and he grabbed wildly for +a hold and found one. + +"Gosh, you and that Sergeant!" he gasped. "But, it's okay, now. Let her +rip, Freddy. Say! It's plenty different riding in the front seat of one +of these things, isn't it?" + +It was different, too. It was much easier on the bones and tender spots +of the human body. Though the car was racing across a rough uneven +surface, Dave didn't get half the bouncing around sitting up front. But +suddenly when a group of trees came rushing at them and Freddy yanked +down on the wheel and swerved past with but a couple of feet to spare, +Dave felt his hair stand up straight on his head. + +"It's fun driving one of these things!" he heard Freddy shout. "A +Renault's a good bus. My father has one." + +"Sure, but I'm the passenger, don't forget!" Dave shouted back. "How +about some lights? It's getting pretty dark." + +"I guess we'd better," Freddy replied and flicked up a switch on the +dashboard. + +Two pale beams of light swept out in front of the car. They helped some, +but they were considerably dimmed so as not to be easily spotted from +the air. And they most certainly didn't put Dave much at ease. Dark +objects continued to whip into view and then go slipping by as Freddy +skillfully wrenched the wheel this way or that. And then suddenly they +bounced out of a field onto a dirt road. They had actually turned on to +the road and were tearing along it toward the west before Dave realized +they were on it. + +"Holy smokes, you're good, and no fooling!" he cried. "You sure know how +to drive. Well, the Sergeant was right about this road anyway. Wonder +how far it is to the main road? Hey, what's the idea of stopping?" + +Freddy had suddenly slammed on the brakes, swung to the side of the +road, and switched off the lights. + +"Planes," he said. "Hear them? They might see our lights. Thought so. +They're German, and low, too!" + +"And coming right toward us!" Dave said as he twisted around in the +seat. "Gee, you've got ears, too!" + +Throbbing, pulsating thunder was rolling toward them out of the sky. The +planes were not more than a couple of thousand feet up in the sky, and +from the sound there were at least a couple of squadrons of them. The +two boys squinted up at the now dark sky, and then suddenly they saw +the armada of wings sweeping forward against the stars. They showed no +lights, but it was easy to pick them out by the bluish glow of the +engine exhaust plumes trailing backward. + +"Gee, there's a hundred of them, at least!" Dave breathed. "They look +like Heinkels to me. Wonder where they're headed? Gosh, look at them, +Freddy. Aren't they something?" + +Freddy didn't reply. He sat peering up at the death armada as it winged +by, and Dave suddenly saw the frown on his friend's face. + +"What are you frowning about?" he asked. + +"I'm wondering," Freddy replied. "Unless I'm mistaken those chaps are +heading for the same place we are. Namur. Yes, I'm almost sure of it!" + +"So what?" Dave murmured. + +"So I fancy there'll be very little of it left," Freddy said. "I'll bet +you five pounds they know Belgian G.H.Q. is at Namur, and they're going +over there to knock it out. Well, all we can do is keep on going, I +guess." + +The roar of the bombers was fading away to the south. Freddy started the +car again and switched on the lights. At the end of five minutes or so +they suddenly came upon a well paved broad highway. + +"That poor Belgian Sergeant was right, bless him!" Freddy shouted +happily and turned south on the road. + +"Yes, but look!" Dave yelled and pointed ahead. "Look at that red glow +way down there. Gee, it looks like the whole horizon is on fire. And, +hey! Hear that? Hear those sounds. I bet that's those planes dropping +bombs." + +"And I bet that's Namur!" Freddy cried and speeded up the car. "Blast +it, we're too late I'm afraid, Dave. Belgian H.Q. has probably cleared +out long ago. We'll never find them there, if that's Namur!" + +For the next few minutes neither of the boys spoke. They both sat tense +in the seat staring at the ever increasing red glow that mounted higher +and higher up into the horizon sky. A red glow that was mixed with +streaks of yellow, and flashes of vivid orange. And all the time the +_br-r-ump! br-r-ump! br-r-ump_ of detonating high explosive bombs came +to them above the roar of the scouting car's engine. In a weird sort of +way it reminded Dave of a movie he had once seen. He couldn't remember +the title but it was a movie about the world coming to an end. The +scenic effects had been like what he was witnessing now. Only they +hadn't been half so vivid nor so heart chilling as this. That had been a +movie. This was real war. Way off there in the distance a city was +probably dying. The bombs of war-making maniacs were smashing a living +city into powdery ruins. It was like a horrible nightmare. And it was, +because it was true! + +Freddy suddenly slowing down the car made Dave tear his eyes from the +terrifying spectacle in the distance. He looked at his friend in sudden +alarm. + +"What's the matter, Freddy?" he asked. + +The English youth pointed down the highway. + +"Lights coming our way," he said. "We'd better pull over and see what's +what. I was going to stop, anyway. There's something strange about this, +Dave." + +"Yes, and I know what you mean, too!" Dave said as he suddenly realized. +"The highway's been empty ever since we came onto it. We haven't passed +a thing, or met anything." + +"Right you are," Freddy nodded. "I've been wondering about that. But, +we're meeting something, now. I say, that's not a car. The lights aren't +together. They must be motorcycles." + +"They are!" Dave said. "Hear their motors? Boy, are they stepping +along." + +"Phew!" Freddy suddenly cried out. "Supposing they're German? We'd +better hop out and...." + +"Too late, now!" Dave cried as the lights swerved toward their side of +the road. "They've seen our lights. And, here they are, too!" + +The last word had no more than left Dave's lips than two army +motorcycles roared up beside the car and brakes screamed to a halt. Dave +saw two shadowy figures vault from the saddles and then the white beam +of a flashlight flung straight into his face blinded him. The blood +running out of his face felt like cold water. He tried to shout that +they were not soldiers but the words would not come. Then he almost +sobbed aloud as a sharp voice spoke in French. + +"Who are you? What is this? _Nom de Dieu!_ Two boys in a scouting car. +Well, have you lost your tongues? What is all this, I ask?" + +"We are trying to reach General Boulard's headquarters," Freddy said +before Dave could open his mouth. "We have important information. Will +you please take that light out of my eyes? We are not armed, as you can +see." + +The bright light was lowered but it was several seconds before the boys +could adjust their eyes to the sudden change from brilliant light to +almost pitch darkness. Then they saw two Belgian corporals with dispatch +rider brassards fastened about the left sleeve of their tunics. Each had +his army pistol drawn and held ready for use. + +"General Boulard?" one of them grunted. "Why do you wish to see him, +eh? And what are you doing in this scouting car? So you stole it, yes? +And I suppose you were planning to take it to your family and fill it +with your family's furniture? Well...." + +"Nuts!" Dave suddenly yelled at them. "We're not Belgians. He's English, +and I'm American. We've escaped from Germany with valuable information. +A Belgian lieutenant gave us this car, and with a sergeant to drive it. +He's back there dead. We almost bumped into three German tanks, and...." + +"German tanks?" one of the dispatch riders broke in excitedly. "Where?" + +"Back over there a ways," Dave said and pointed in the general direction +from whence they had come. "Is General Boulard's headquarters still in +Namur?" + +The dispatch riders didn't answer at once. They looked at each other, +shrugged, and looked quite alarmed. + +"If these infants saw Boche tanks," one of them murmured, "then it must +be a flanking movement to cut us off from Brussels. We must continue on +at once!" + +"At once!" his partner agreed and turned to his motorcycle. + +"I say there, wait!" Freddy shouted angrily. "Is General Boulard at +Namur?" + +"There is nothing at Namur, except death and the cursed Boches!" one of +the dispatch riders shouted. "We go to the General's new headquarters, +now. Follow us and we will show you the way. But, hurry! If you did see +tanks where you say, then we are practically surrounded by the swine. +There is not a moment to lose, unless you care to be shot or at best +taken prisoner by the butchers!" + +As though to give emphasis to their words the dispatch riders vaulted +onto their saddles and opened up their motorcycle engines in a roar of +sound that seemed to bounce clear up to the stars and back again. They +were off like a shot and over a hundred yards ahead before Freddy could +turn the small scouting car around. But once he had it turned around the +young English youth didn't waste any time. He fairly flew after the two +motorcycles while Dave clung fast to the side of the car and silently +marveled some more at Freddy's masterful driving. + +The Belgians roared a mile up the road, then swerved off to the left +onto a road that led toward the northwest. + +"They're heading for Brussels, I'm pretty sure!" Freddy shouted as the +wind howled past the car. "That Sergeant was right when he said it looks +bad. It not only looks, but _is_!" + +"The Germans sure must be pretty deep into the country," Dave agreed. +"They.... Hey, Freddy! Gosh ... look! The whole road is exploding! +_Freddy_...!" + +The road ahead had suddenly burst open to spout a sea of blinding light +and crashing sound. The two dispatch riders seemed to melt into it and +disappear. Invisible hands grabbed hold of the small scouting car and +tossed it straight up into the air. From a million miles away Dave heard +Freddy screaming his name. Then he had the feeling of spinning end over +end off through space that was filled with white hot fire and billowing +thick black smoke. A hundred million wild, crazy thoughts whirled around +in his brain, and then everything turned black, and became as silent as +the grave. + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN + +_Orders From Headquarters_ + + +It was a kindly face, and the smile was warm and friendly, yet somehow +Dave Dawson couldn't keep it in focus. It would be close to him one +moment and seem very real. Then a cloud would pass across in front of it +and the face would fade out completely. He felt as though he had been +trying to hold that face in his vision for years and years. He knew that +the mouth was talking to him, too, but he couldn't hear a word. + +Everything was so still and quiet about him, and so white. Everything +that his eyes could see was white ... except that kind looking face. +He'd stare at it hard, trying to bold it in focus, and then his eyes +would become so heavy, and his brain would become so sleepy. He guessed +that was the trouble; why he couldn't keep seeing that face for very +long at a time. He'd fall off to sleep. + +Or was he actually asleep all the time and was this a dream? But why was +he sleeping? He shouldn't be sleeping. He remembered, now! He and +Freddy were following those two Belgian dispatch riders toward General +Boulard's headquarters. Something funny, though, had happened. What +could it have been? Surely he hadn't just fallen off to sleep while +Freddy stuck to the wheel. _No_, of course not! More of it was coming +back! There had been a terrific explosion in the road ahead, and the two +dispatch riders had disappeared right into it. Yes, he remembered now +what had happened. But, where was he? Why was everything white? Why was +that kind looking, smiling face fading away from him so often? And why +couldn't he hear those words the moving lips were saying? Was he dead? +Was this what it was like when you died? And Freddy! Where was his pal, +Freddy Farmer? He tried to find suitable answers in his brain, but his +head ached so, and looking at that fading face made him so sleepy ... so +sleepy.... + +And then after a long time the face suddenly stopped fading away into +the depths of foggy mist. It stayed right where it was, and when the +lips moved he actually heard what they said. + +"How do you feel, my lad?" they said. "Does your head hurt very much?" + +His head? Why should those lips ask if his head hurt? His head didn't +hurt at all! As a matter, of fact, nothing about him hurt. He felt +fine. He felt swell. What was going on, anyway? Holy smokes! He was in a +bed. Under sheets and blankets, and everything. He pushed himself up on +his elbow as easy as pie, and looked around. He saw that he was in a +hospital. There was a long line of beds down each side of the huge room +painted so white it almost hurt your eyes. And there was a man, a +soldier in every bed because he could see the uniforms hanging on the +hooks on the wall. And that face! It belonged to a captain in the +British Army. The medical corps! The insignia was on the lapels of his +tunic. + +"Steady, my lad!" the officer cautioned in a soothing voice. "Tell me, +how's the head feel? The pain gone, sonny?" + +Dave blinked and was somehow a little startled to realize that he could +talk. He vaguely remembered something about trying to talk a little +while ago but being unable to utter a word. + +"My head's okay, sir," he said. "I feel great. Where am I, anyway? And +what's it all about? This is a hospital, isn't it?" + +The medical officer let out a great sigh as though he had been holding +his breath for a long time. + +"Good, splendid!" he finally said. "You're out of it at last. You'll be +all right, now, my lad. But you jolly well had a close one, I can tell +you! Might have remained in a coma for weeks, and months. A ticklish +thing, concussion shock. Want something to eat?" + +"Sure, sure," Dave replied absently. "But, hey, I remember, now. Where's +my pal? Where's Freddy Farmer? He was with me when that road exploded!" + +"Road exploded, eh?" the medical officer said and raised an eyebrow. "A +land mine, probably. So your friend's name is Freddy Farmer? An English +lad, isn't he?" + +"And the very best!" Dave said with feeling. "But where is he? Gosh, +sir, please tell me! I've got to know. He's ... he's all right?" + +The officer leaned down and patted his shoulder. + +"Your little friend's quite all right," he said and pointed to Freddy +Farmer asleep in the next bed. "He came out of it for the last time a +few hours ago, but he started raving about a lot of crazy things, so I +gave him something to make him sleep some more. He'll be fit as a fiddle +when he wakes up. Now, what about this land mine ... or the road +exploding, as you say?" + +"I don't know exactly," Dave said. "Freddy was driving the Belgian +scouting car, and we were following a couple of dispatch riders to +General Boulard's headquarters. We had just turned off the Wavre-Namur +road, I guess it was, when _blamm_! Everything went dark. But how'd we +get here? Somebody picked us up last night? Hey, what's so funny about +that?" + +The officer wiped a broad smile from his lips. + +"I wasn't laughing at you, my lad," he said. "It's amusing, though, to +witness the final effects of concussion shock. My boy, you weren't +picked up last night. You've been here in this British military +hospital, at Lille, for eight days!" + +Dave was speechless. His eyes widened in blank amazement. He just +couldn't believe he had heard correctly. Surely his ears must be playing +him tricks. _Eight days?_ + +"That's right, my lad," the medical officer said, reading Dave's +bewildered thoughts. "It's exactly eight days this morning, since they +brought you two in here." + +"But eight days?" Dave cried. "But ... but I'm not even hurt! There are +no bandages on me, and I don't ache any place. How could I have been +here for eight days?" + +"I'll not give you the medical explanation, because you wouldn't +understand, probably," the officer said with a smile. "But what +happened, was something like this. The concussion shock of that +explosion, whatever it was, temporarily paralyzed certain nerve centers +in your body and in your head. Why you didn't receive physical injury +is just one of those mysterious things that happen often in war. A shell +can blow every strip of clothing off a soldier's back, blow off his +shoes, and toss him fifty yards, but not mark him with a single scratch. +That's what must have happened to you and your friend. Perhaps, too, +being in the scouting car protected you from things flying around. But, +certain nerve centers were paralyzed. There's little we can do for that +outside of a few injections. It's up to the patient's make-up, his +constitution, and such. You probably don't remember waking up several +times, do you?" + +Dave shook his head. + +"No sir," he said. "But I sort of half remember something about seeing a +face that kept fading out, and seeing lips move, but I couldn't hear the +words." + +"Yes, that's the way it is usually," the medical officer said and +nodded. "That was just parts of the nerve system returning to normal. +You could see a little but you couldn't hear. Or you could feel but +still not have the power to speak. The medical term for that has +thirty-six letters, I believe. I don't even think I could pronounce it +correctly now, anyway. But, you're fit now, my lad. I'll have the nurse +bring you in something to eat." + +"Gosh!" Dave gasped as a sudden thought struck him. "Have I gone eight +days without eating?" + +"Hardly," the other said with a laugh. "No, several times you both woke +up enough to take food, though of course you don't remember it. The rest +of the time we gave you injections. But, my word, the things you two +raved about! You insisted, rather your friend insisted on seeing General +Caldwell, Chief of Staff. You claimed you had been prisoners in Germany, +and had seen a very important map. Your friend was very annoyed when we +refused to summon the General at once, and gave him something to put him +to sleep, instead. Really...!" + +"But that's true, that's true!" Dave burst out. "We were prisoners, and +we saw a map of the German plan of invasion. We escaped to the Belgian +lines in a plane we stole. Then the sergeant driving us to Namur was +killed. We met some Belgian dispatch riders and they were showing us the +way to General Boulard's headquarters when the whole road exploded. It's +true, sir!" + +The medical captain's eyes were now the size of saucers. He stood +staring down at Dave in confounded amazement. + +"I say, my lad, go a bit easy," he began. "I guess you're not yet out of +that coma. Now, just lie back, and...." + +"I'm fine, I'm okay!" Dave shouted excitedly. "Honest! It's all true, +sir." + +The officer continued to stare at him in puzzled bewilderment, and then +Freddy's voice from the next bed caused them both to look his way. + +"I say, hello, Dave!" the English youth cried. "They said you were all +right, and then I guess I fell asleep again. Good grief, this is a +hospital, isn't it? By George, it all comes back to me now! That road +blowing up. But how in the world did we get here?" + +The medical officer didn't bother to answer the question. He hurried +over to Freddy's bedside and took a good look at him. Freddy gave him a +puzzled frown, then his face suddenly lighted up. + +"I say, I've seen you before, haven't I, sir?" he asked. + +"This morning," the medical man nodded. "Then you're all ship shape, +too? But, listen, my lad, do you two still insist upon seeing General +Caldwell, Chief of British Staff?" + +Asking the question was like turning a magic key in Freddy. The English +youth became very excited at once, and breathlessly explained everything +in more detail than had Dave. + +"Yes sir," he finished up. "We have some valuable information, I'm +sure. If you could loan us a car, sir, and tell us where we can find the +General, we'll go at once." + +"You two will go nowhere just now!" the officer said sternly. "Bless my +soul, after what you've been through? Certainly not! However, there may +be something to all this. I'll get the General on the wire and tell him +about you two. His headquarters are not far away. He'll send one of his +Staff, or perhaps come himself. This whole thing is almost fantastic! +You're sure you're not trying to pull my leg, fool me?" + +"Word of honor, sir," Freddy said solemnly. + +The medical officer scowled and hesitated a moment. Then he shrugged and +hurried out of the ward. + +Dave looked at Freddy and grinned happily. + +"Boy, am I glad to see you!" he exclaimed. "According to the Doc we +should be dead, by rights, or something. Instead, we just got our nerve +centers knocked haywire. Say, do you know how long we've been here? Did +he tell you when you woke up last time?" + +"I guess he didn't have the chance," the English youth said with a wry +grin. "I started yelling for them to take us to the General, and they +thought I was completely off my topper. Stuck a needle in me and I +popped off like a kitten. We've been here last night or since this +morning, haven't we? And where the dickens are we, anyway?" + +"Hold your hat, Freddy, here it comes," Dave said with a chuckle. "We've +been here eight days, he told me." + +Freddy's jaw dropped and his eyes bugged out so far you could have +knocked them off like marbles on sticks. Then he flushed and laughed +scornfully. + +"Come off it, Dave!" he protested. "Don't give me any of that kind of +tosh. My word! Eight days, my hat!" + +"No kidding, that's what he said," Dave insisted. And then he started to +give Freddy the medical officer's description of what had happened to +them, and their unknown, to them, actions during the eight day period. + +He had almost finished when the medical captain came hurrying back into +the ward. At his heels were two male orderlies in hospital white. Dave +broke off what he was saying and stared questioningly. The medical +officer looked very much excited, and also very much impressed. + +"Take them to my receiving office," he said to the orderlies and stepped +to the side. + +Neither Dave nor Freddy had the chance to ask the questions that hovered +on their lips. The orderlies took hold of their beds and started +wheeling them down the aisle to the double doors at the end. They passed +through another ward and then were wheeled into a fair sized room that +was fitted up more as an office than a hospital room. + +"That's fine," the captain said. "Return to your wards now." + +The orderlies retreated and the captain looked at Dave and Freddy in +surprise and admiration. + +"Well, bless me!" he exclaimed. "I certainly didn't know I had two young +heroes under my charge. I had thought you were just two lads caught up +in the rush of things. General Caldwell is rushing over here, now, by +car. He has heard about you two." + +"About us?" Dave gasped. "But, heck, how could he have heard about us?" + +"Yes!" Freddy exclaimed in a tone of awed wonder. "How could he have +heard of us?" + +"Through the Belgian High Command, I believe," the captain said. "It +seems that Belgian infantry lieutenant reported your little flying +incident to his commander. Also what you had told him. It was passed on +up until it reached General Boulard. General Boulard, it seems, +contacted General Caldwell to see if you lads had gotten through to him. +The lieutenant, of course, did not know what had happened to you after +you drove off in the scouting car with the Sergeant. But, I can tell +you, General Caldwell is most anxious to meet you. By jove, he almost +broke my ear drums with his shouting. Yes, I fancy that you two chaps +are rather famous, now, you know?" + +"Rot, sir," Freddy said with true British modesty. "I fancy any one +could have done it. And a much better job of it, too. Is it true, sir, +that we've been here eight days?" + +"And nights, as well," the medical officer nodded. "But don't look +alarmed, my lad. That sort of thing is not unusual. And you're both +safely out of it, now. A day or two of rest, and all the food you can +eat, and you'll be like new again." + +"I'm okay, right now," Dave said stoutly. "But there's something you +didn't explain, sir, How did we get here? Who found us, and what?" + +"It's a bit sketchy," the medical officer said with a frown. "As far as +I could learn a Belgian ambulance driver came across you and saw that +you both weren't dead, and put you in his bus. His own hospital was +being evacuated because of shell fire, and so he continued on westward. +He reached a receiving station of ours and dumped his load there. You +two, and three Belgian gunners. Anyway, from that point you were brought +here to me. And here you are. It was something like that, anyway. +Doubtless you'll never know the real facts. But, I certainly shouldn't +worry about that, if I were you. Simply bless your lucky stars, and let +it go at that." + +"Jeepers!" Dave breathed softly. "Lucky stars? I must have a million of +them, I guess. You, too, Freddy. Right?" + +"Quite!" The English youth nodded. "Dashed if it isn't like some fairy +tale one of those writer chaps would think up." + +"And how!" Dave grunted and shook his head. "My gosh! A Stuka bomb drops +on me and I wake up hours later and miles away. Then a land mine, or +something, blows up in my face, and I wake up _eight days_ later, and +gosh knows _how_ far away. I sure do get around." + +"Well, better not make a habit of it, my lad," the medical officer +chuckled. "The third time, you know?" + +"Hey, those eight days!" Dave suddenly exclaimed. "What's been +happening? Who's winning? Are the Allies beating up the Germans? Gee, I +sure hope so!" + +The smile fled from the medical officer's face and he became very grave. +He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it abruptly. At that moment the +office door swung open and a group of five tired eyed British officers +entered the room. A big man, with coal black hair and steel grey eyes, +led the party. Even without looking at his uniform with its rows of +decoration ribbons, and high rank insignia, Dave knew at once that the +man was General Caldwell, chief of British Staff. The captain swung +around and clicked his heels. + +"Ah, there you are, sir," he greeted the General. "And here, sir, are +your two young lads. This is the American chap, Dave Dawson. And this is +one of our own lads. Freddy Farmer. Boys, General Caldwell, chief of +British Staff. You'd like me to retire, sir?" + +"No, no, of course not, Captain," General Caldwell said in a brisk tone. +Then turning his steel grey eyes on the boys he smiled faintly. "So, you +are the two, eh?" he said. "I've heard quite a bit about you. Now, who +wants to talk first? I want to hear everything." + +"You tell him about it, Freddy," Dave said promptly. "You remembered +more things on that map than I did, anyway." + +Freddy flushed and looked embarrassed. The General smiled and perched +himself on a corner of the bed, while his officers gathered around. + +"All right, Freddy," he said. "Freddy Farmer, isn't it? Oh yes, of +course. All right, Freddy, let's have it, eh?" + +"Yes sir," the English youth said, and began talking in a low but clear +voice. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN + +_Belgium Gives Up!_ + + +As Freddy recounted their experiences one by one Dave checked them in +his own mind. Presently, though, he only half listened to his pal. He +became fascinated looking at the British Chief of Staff. Many times he +had seen General Caldwell's picture in the papers back home. And he had +read a lot of the General's reputation as a fighter and leader of men. +It thrilled him through and through to see the great man sitting just a +few feet from him. It was another great experience he would remember +always. + +The one thing that pleased Dave most about the famous general was that +he looked exactly like what Dave had always believed a general should +look like. Tall, strong looking, and a face that could be stern and hard +as rock. Right now the General could indeed be made entirely of solid +rock. He didn't so much as blink an eye as Freddy talked. Not a muscle +in his face moved. And his steel grey eyes instead of looking into +Freddy's, looked at Freddy's lips as though to draw the words out. He +remained that way right up until Freddy had spoken his last word. Then +General Caldwell took his eyes off Freddy's lips and stared unblinkingly +at the opposite wall. + +"Well done, lads," he suddenly said, speaking in a soft voice that +seemed strange coming from his stern looking face. "I'll certainly see +that others hear of this, you can mark my words. And you, America! Dave +Dawson, can you add anything to the story?" + +Dave furrowed his brows in thought for a moment, then shook his head. + +"No, guess not, General," he said. "Except that Freddy didn't tell you +half of the things he did to get us out of jams. He...." + +"Rot!" Freddy snorted. "Who got us out of that room? And who flew that +plane and didn't break our necks, I'd like to know?" + +"Yeah?" Dave grinned at him. "Well, who stopped the sergeant from +running us smack into those Germans? And who stopped those wild Belgians +from stabbing us with their bayonets? And who drove that scouting car +when the sergeant had been killed? And who...?" + +"All right, all right, boys!" General Caldwell broke it up. "You both +did splendid jobs, and that's fine. And now, about that map. Let's go +back to that. Just a minute." + +The General turned and looked at one of his officers. + +"Let's have that map, Saunders," he said. + +A major whipped a rolled map from under his arm and passed it over. +Another officer got a table and moved it between the two beds. A third +officer dug up thumb tacks some place, and the General unrolled the map +and tacked it flat on the table. + +"Now," he said in his soft voice and leaned over the map. "This little +town here. It's named Spontin. Do you remember if there was a colored +pin there?" + +The boys bent over and peered at the place on the map where the General +had put a finger tip. Freddy answered first. + +"Yes sir," he said. "There was a blue pin there. In fact, sir, there +were three blue pins all in a line. About a quarter of an inch apart. I +remember that distinctly." + +"I see," the General murmured. "And do you recall if there was a date +printed under those pins?" + +"Yes, there was!" Dave cried. "Wait a minute. Yes, it was May Sixteenth. +I'll bet on it!" + +"No need of that, my boy," General Caldwell said quietly, and moved his +finger. "Now, here. At Vervins, in France. What about that?" + +"A blue pin also, sir," Freddy spoke up. "And the date marked under it +was May Eighteenth." + +"And here at Guise?" General Caldwell asked and moved his finger across +the map again. + +"Check on the blue pin!" Dave said. + +"And I'm pretty sure that date was May Nineteenth, sir," Freddy said. + +General Caldwell didn't move his finger any more. He straightened up and +looked around at his officers. They all nodded together and looked very +grave. A little bit of panic raced through Dave. + +"We're all wet, General?" he blurted out. "You think we've just made all +this up? So help me, honest, we...." + +Dave cut himself off short as the Chief of Staff shook his head and gave +him the ghost of a smile. + +"On the contrary, not at all, my boy," he said. "As they would say in +the States, I was just checking up. You two most certainly saw the +German plan of invasion attack and execution." + +"We could be a bit mistaken about the dates, sir," Freddy said in a +hesitating voice. "But I'm pretty sure those we gave you were correct." + +"They were," the General said, and there was a faint ironic edge to his +voice. "You saw what the Germans _planned_ to do. We saw them _do_ it! +They occupied Spontin on the Sixteenth, Vervins on the Eighteenth, and +Guise on the Nineteenth. That's a matter of history, now." + +"Good grief!" Freddy exclaimed with a sob in his voice. "They've gained +that much, sir?" + +"And much more," General Caldwell said grimly and took a little box from +his tunic pocket. "Now, I have a very important job for you two. Very +important! A whole lot depends on your memories, so sharpen them up +well. Here is a box of pins. I want you two lads to try and put a pin in +this map for every pin you saw in that Intelligence map. Colors don't +matter. These here are all the same. All white, as you see. Now, study +this map and shake up your memories well. And here's a couple of +pencils, too. Write down all the dates you can remember. And put them +under the right pins, of course." + +"Gosh, there must have been a couple of hundred pins on that map, sir!" +Dave said in a weak voice. + +"Just stick in the pins you remember," General Caldwell said quietly. +"And the dates, too. All right, let's get at it, shall we?" + +It was well over an hour later when Freddy and Dave leaned back from the +map well nigh mentally exhausted. + +"Anything else would be just a wild guess, sir," Freddy said. "I +wouldn't be sure of it at all." + +"Me too," Dave said. "I'd just get all balled up. Those are all I can +remember." + +General Caldwell seemed not even to hear them. Once again he was like +something made out of solid rock. He sat forward a little, an elbow on +the edge of the table and his broad chin cupped in the palm of his hand. +His eyes were fixed on the map, moving from pin to pin. The other +officers, and the medical captain stood like statues, almost not daring +to breathe. The silence that hung over the office was so charged that +Dave was filled with the crazy desire to let out a yell, just to see +what would happen. But, of course, he didn't so much as let out a peep. +Like the others, he waited motionless for the General to speak. + +Presently the General raised his head and smiled at them. + +"Yes, I most certainly will make it a point that others be told about +you two," he said. "I know His Majesty King George will certainly be +interested to hear it. You have done a splendid job, boys. I'm proud of +you. All England will be proud of you, too. And, as you know, Freddy, +England never forgets." + +"But, sir," Freddy began as his face got red with embarrassment. "But, +sir, if the Germans have advanced so far what good is the information +we've given you? We've given it to you too late." + +"In war it's never too late," General Caldwell said quietly. "True, if I +could have seen the map the day you did, why, perhaps things might now +be different. But even at that you can't tell. No, lad, the information +has not come to me too late. In fact, it has come to me just in time. I +think, boys, that this information will save a considerable part of the +British Army in France and Belgium." + +The General suddenly got to his feet, and Dave gulped as he saw the +fiery look that leaped into the officer's eyes. + +"It depends a lot on the King of the Belgians," he said as though he +were talking to himself. "If he lets us down, exposes our left flank, it +will be bad. But, without this information I have now, it could well be +twice as bad." + +"Then there's something to that rumor, sir?" the medical officer spoke +up. "The Belgians may quit?" + +"It's more than rumor," General Caldwell said in a hard voice. "But I +pray to God they don't. Saunders! Bring this map along, will you? And +Freddy, and you, Dave, it was a job well done. I'm proud of you. Very +proud. You'll hear more of this, later, mark you." + +As the two boys stared wide eyed and open mouthed, General Caldwell and +his Staff officers clicked their heels and saluted smartly. The boys +were still in their Seventh Heaven trance when the medical officer +returned after seeing the General and his officers to their cars +outside. + +"A red letter day for you two, what?" he beamed. + +Dave gulped for air and slowly came back to earth. + +"Boy oh boy!" he breathed. "What do you know! A salute from a General! +Gosh! Say, Captain, could we have some food, and our clothes, now, +maybe?" + +"All the food you can put in your stomachs," the medical officer said. +"But jolly well no clothes. You two young heroes stay in bed for a few +more days, at least. Mind you, now, that's an order. I may not be a +general, but I'm jolly well in charge of this hospital!" + +And the medical captain meant exactly what he said. Both Dave and Freddy +begged and pleaded to be allowed to get up. They had found that the +hospital was terribly short handed, and they were both anxious to do +what they could to help. Besides, staying in bed thinking and talking, +and talking and thinking was slowly driving them crazy. Regardless of +what the General had said each nursed the tiny fear that they had +arrived too late with their information. They now knew how far the +German hordes really had smashed through toward the coast of France and +Belgium, and even to their untrained minds it held horrible and terrible +significance. + +But the medical captain stuck to his order, and would not let them go. +On the second day after the visit by General Caldwell they were allowed +to get up and wander about the hospital wards at will. It was then they +discovered that every one in the hospital had learned of their brave and +courageous work, and the wounded soldiers heaped praises upon them from +all sides. Yet, underneath the praise and the attempts by the soldiers +to be cheerful, there was a note of worry, and strain, and a sort of +breathless waiting. Dave and Freddy caught the feeling at once and it +served to add to the doubt and fears in their own minds that all they +had done, and all they had suffered had gone for nought. + +Everybody was waiting, waiting. Waiting for what, they did not know. Or +if they did they kept it to themselves. News of the battles sifted +gradually into the hospital wards. Some of it was true, and a lot of it +was false. But all of it rasped nerves and cut deep into the tortured +minds of men. + +And then, on the third day, it happened! + +The news flew from lip to lip, and a pall of misery and bitterness hung +over the entire hospital. Belgium has quit! The Belgians have thrown +down their guns and given up! The whole left side of the British Army is +now exposed to the Germans racing down out of Holland! On the south the +French and the British have been split by a German wedge driven straight +across France to Abbeville on the Channel coast. The entire British +Army, and part of the French, is surrounded on three sides. There is +only one door of escape left open. That door is Dunkirk! + +The instant they heard the news Dave and Freddy rushed to the office of +the medical captain. They found there a very worried and very harassed +man. He was just hanging up on the telephone when they burst in. He saw +them, started to wave them outside, but suddenly checked the motion. + +"Come in, you two," he called to them. "How do you feel?" + +"Swell," Dave said. + +"Very fit, sir," Freddy said. + +The medical officer nodded and then stared at them a moment or two and +drummed nervous fingers on the top of his desk. + +"You've heard the news?" he suddenly asked. + +They nodded, and waited. + +"It puts us in a tight corner," the officer said. "And it puts me in a +_very_ tight corner. I've just received orders from G.H.Q. to evacuate +this hospital at once. There are over five hundred wounded men here, and +only a dozen ambulances. We're to evacuate to the Base Hospital at St. +Omer. Now ... You chaps told me the truth, eh? You _do_ feel fit?" + +"Gee, yes!" Dave exclaimed. "We came in here to see if there wasn't +something we could do to help. We feel swell, honest." + +"That's right, sir," Freddy nodded. "And there _is_ something we can +do?" + +"There is," the medical officer said. "I haven't enough ambulance +drivers, and we've got to get these wounded men out of here at once. +Before tonight, in fact. I'll tell you the truth, boys. At the speed the +Germans are advancing, now that the Belgians have given up, they'll be +here in Lille, tonight!" + +"Gee!" Dave breathed softly. "Right here in this place, tonight?" + +The medical officer nodded and held up a hand. + +"Hear those guns?" he said gravely. "They are not more than twenty miles +away, and they are German. We've got to work fast, boys. Every man we +have to leave here will become a German prisoner of war. I wouldn't ask +you, except that the situation is desperate. By rights, you two should +go along with the wounded, instead of driving them. But it is a grave +emergency, and every one who can, _must_ help." + +"We're ready, sir," Freddy said quietly. "What are your orders?" + +A smile of deep gratitude flickered across the officer's face. + +"Get into your regular clothes, first," he said with a smile. "Then +report to Lieutenant Baker in the ambulance parking lot by the south +wing. And, thank you, boys. We'll meet again at St. Omer." + +The two boys grinned, then turned on their heels and raced back to the +ward for their clothes. The wounded soldiers suspected that something +was up, and a hundred questions were hurled at them. They didn't bother +to answer any of them. They simply piled into their clothes and hurried +outside and around to the parking lot by the south wing. + +"Gee, Freddy!" Dave panted as they raced along side by side. "I was +afraid I was going to stay in that hospital for the rest of the war, and +not get another chance to do anything." + +"A bit worried, myself," Freddy said. "I was afraid that we'd done our +job, and that it was all over as far as we were concerned. But, I have a +feeling, Dave, that perhaps it's really just beginning for us." + +And Freddy Farmer never spoke a truer word in his life, as they were +both soon to realize! + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN + +_Fate Laughs At Last_ + + +"Right you are, lad, off you go, and good luck!" + +The voice of the Lille hospital orderly came to Dave as though from a +thousand miles away. It came to him like a voice awakening him from a +sound sleep. He lifted his head and mechanically reached for the brake +lever of the Daimler built ambulance and stared out of bloodshot eyes at +a scene that had become as familiar to him as his own face when he +looked into a mirror. It was the dirt road that wound away from the +Lille Hospital, curved about the small pond and then disappeared from +view in some woods a half mile to the east. + +How many times had he driven over that road today? He didn't know, and +he didn't even bother to guess. Probably a hundred. Fifty at least. His +brain had stopped thinking about things hours ago. For hours his actions +had all been mechanical. A mechanical routine over and over again. Help +fill the ambulance at the Lille Hospital. Get in behind the wheel and +start the engine, and take off the brake, and shift into first. Start +down the winding road and shift into second, and then into high. A +stretch of brown road always in front of him. Driving, driving, always +driving forward. Skirting shell and bomb craters. Pulling in under the +nearest group of trees whenever he heard the deadly drone of Stuka dive +bombers. Sitting crouched at the wheel while death whistled down from +the sky to explode in the ground and spray slivers of screaming steel +into all directions. + +Climbing in back to put a slipping bandage back in place. Lighting a +cigarette for some poor wounded soldier who couldn't use his hands. +Giving them all a grin to cheer them up. Saying, "We'll be there in a +couple of shakes," a million times. Starting on again. Stopping again. +And then finally pulling into the St. Omer Hospital court. Helping to +unload, and then the wild ride alone back to Lille for another load of +wounded. Fifty trips? A hundred trips? He had no idea. Maybe this was +his one thousandth trip. Was he asleep or awake? He wasn't sure of that, +either. His body had stopped protesting against the aches and pains long +ago. He simply didn't feel anything any more; didn't think anything. He +only acted. He drove ... and drove ... and drove. Nothing else +mattered. Nothing else mattered but doing his share to make sure that +not a single helpless wounded soldier was captured by the hordes of Nazi +troops streaming across northern France and Belgium in a mad race to cut +off the British from the last open Channel port, Dunkirk. + +As he took off the emergency brake he became conscious of somebody +climbing into the seat beside him. He turned his head to stare into +Freddy Farmer's haggard, dirt streaked face. + +"What's the matter, Freddy?" he mumbled. "What are you doing here?" + +"Start her off, Dave," came the dull answer. "This is the last load. I'm +riding with you. The Captain and his staff are using my ambulance. Man, +but I'm tired!" + +"Check," Dave grunted and shifted into first. "The last load, huh? And +it's just getting dark. Well, anyway, we licked 'em. The Nazis won't +find anything there. Lean back and try to get a nap, Freddy." + +"And you perhaps fall asleep at that wheel, and tip us into a ditch?" +Freddy said with a forced chuckle. "No thanks. I'll stay awake and try +to keep you that way, too. By the by, though, Dave. You've made more +trips than anybody. Want me to drive this one?" + +"Not a chance!" Dave said and suddenly realized that he was laughing +for the first time in hours. "I still remember that ride you gave me in +that Belgian scouting car. Nix. I'll do the driving. You just relax, +Freddy. But, boy, will I be glad when this trip is over!" + +"I'll be jolly well pleased, myself, you can bet!" Freddy murmured and +stretched out his legs. "I think I shall sleep for another eight days, +and not care a darn what the blasted Nazis do about it." + +For the next twenty minutes that was the last spoken between the two. +They were both too tired even to talk. Besides, there was little to talk +about save the experiences they had had on the road. Those they could +save until another day. And after all there was still this trip to +complete. And so they rode along in silence. The sun slid down over the +western lip of the world, and night and the Germans came sweeping up +from the east. Dave kept his head lights switched off until it was too +dangerous to continue further without them. Perhaps it had just been +chance, or perhaps Goering's pilots had found out that the Lille +Hospital cases were being evacuated over that road. Anyway, the Stukas +and the light Heinkels had given it a terrific pounding all day long, +and it was now well spotted with craters. To try to drive along it in +the dark would be exactly the same as driving the ambulance over the +edge of a cliff. It would be suicide, to say the least. + +Dave hesitated a moment, though, with his hand on the switch and +listened intently. Behind him there was the incessant dull rumble of the +guns, punctuated every now and then by the loud thunder of a land mine +going off. In the sky there was the drone of wings, but the droning was +not close. + +"Keep an eye peeled, will you, Freddy?" Dave said and turned the switch. +"I've got to have lights or we'll go right into a shell hole. If you +hear something coming, yell, and I'll switch off these things." + +"Right-o!" Freddy called wearily and stuck his head out the door window +and looked up. "All clear, now, though. None of the blighters near us. I +say, what's up, now?" + +Dave didn't bother to answer. He, too, had spotted the waving flashlight +just up the road. He slipped the car out of gear, steered it around the +rim of a yawning bomb crater and let it roll to a stop. A British +infantry officer, with a Military Police band on his tunic sleeve, ran +up to Dave's side of the ambulance and flashed his light in Dave's eyes +for a second. + +"Where are you headed, lad?" he asked. + +"St. Omer," Dave said. "We've got the last load of wounded from the +Lille hospital." + +"Well, you can't take them to St. Omer," the officer said. "A mile up +ahead there's a road to the right. Take it and keep going until you're +stopped. Whoever stops you will give you further directions. All right, +off with you. Good luck." + +"But, hey, why not St. Omer?" Dave blurted out. "We've been taking them +there all day." + +"I know," the officer said in a half angry and half bored voice. "But +they've all been evacuated again. To Dunkirk. Hitler's lads are in St. +Omer, now. Better hop it. They may be here, soon." + +Dave slammed the ambulance into gear and started off. Raging anger +surged up within him. He gripped the bucking wheel until his hands hurt. +Nazis are here! Nazis are there! Nazis are every place! Even thinking of +the name made him want to start screaming and shouting at the top of his +voice. He turned his head slightly and took a quick side glance at +Freddy. The English youth's chin was firm, and there was the same +defiant look in his eyes. However, the droop of his shoulders spoke +plainly of the bitter thoughts that were sweeping through his mind. +Impulsively Dave let go a hand from the wheel for a second and slapped +Freddy on the knee. + +"Don't let it get you down, Freddy," he said. "They'll trim the +stuffing out of Hitler before it's over." + +"Of course," Freddy said in a heavy voice. "I wasn't thinking of that. +If we could only have reached General Caldwell sooner." + +"Gosh, we did our best!" Dave exploded. "And, besides, the General told +us it helped plenty. Gee, I hope he just wasn't kidding us. I don't +think so, though. A man like General Caldwell doesn't kid, I bet. Well, +here's the road. Wonder where it'll take us." + +They had reached the turn off. So had some Stukas a couple of hours +before and they had marked it well with a cluster of bomb craters. Dave +had to detour through a field to make the turn but he managed to get +back onto the road. To his vast relief he found it hardly touched by +bombs and he was able to speed up the ambulance. The good road helped +his spirits, too. It boosted them up considerably and a lot of his +fatigue fell away from him. The same was true with Freddy. The English +youth continued to stare fixedly through the windshield at the glow of +the headlights on the road, but his body seemed to straighten up, and +there was a less depressed air about him. + +However, it was as though it all had been planned by the fates +controlling the war and the immediate destinies of these two brave +gallant youths. It was as though it was planned for them to be lifted +up in spirit, and in strength, so that they might have something left +with which to face the next misfortune of the conflict to befall them. + +The first indication that there was more trouble ahead came as they +roared around a bend in the road, and then the road straightened out +like an arrow. + +"My gosh, look!" Dave cried and pointed. "Like an earthquake had hit it +or something!" + +Both sides of the road, as far as they could see in the glow of the +headlights, were strewn with heaped up piles of war equipment wreckage. +Guns from machine gun size to heavy howitzers lay scattered about. +Ammunition wagons were over on their sides, their contents spilled on +the ground like sand from a box. Shell blasted tanks rested in soft +ground at crazy angles, some of them blown wide open, and all of them of +no more use to anybody. + +"Gosh, like driving through a junk yard!" Dave grunted and unconsciously +slowed down the ambulance. "What do you suppose happened? Gee, that's +English stuff, too. See the markings?" + +"Yes," Freddy replied. "And I think I can guess what happened. A +retreating British column was caught here by the bombers, I think. You +can see where the craters were filled in so the rest of them could carry +on. What equipment they couldn't take, they destroyed so that the +Germans wouldn't get it. Look, Dave! There's another flashlight chap up +ahead. And he's English! I can see him clearly, now." + +"Right," Dave nodded as he too caught sight of the khaki clad figure, +with an M.P. band on his arm, standing in the middle of the road. + +He slipped the ambulance out of gear and let it roll to a stop and stuck +his head out the door window. + +"We've got wounded here!" he said as the officer moved forward. "They +turned us off onto this road, back a few miles. Said the next officer we +met would give us instructions." + +"More wounded?" the officer echoed in an exasperated voice. "I seriously +doubt if there'll be room. But get along. First turn left, and two miles +straight. A railroad junction there, and still working, I certainly +hope! They'll take your men. Now, chase along with you!" + +"What happened here?" Dave asked and reached for the gear shift lever. + +"The worst!" the officer snapped, and gestured with his hand. "Stukas +caught a whole battalion. Nasty business! Now, chase, do you hear?" + +Dave didn't wait to argue about that. He sent the car rolling forward +and kept his eyes open for the turn to the left. He came to it presently +and turned off. It was also more or less untouched by bombs so he could +keep his speed steady. In almost no time they came upon a whole army of +British soldiers. They jammed the road and overflowed on both sides. +Hundreds of pairs of eyes were turned their way as their headlights cut +through the night. A soldier with sergeant's chevrons on his sleeves +rushed up to them. + +"Shut off those blasted lights, you fool!" he roared. "You want the +Jerry planes to ... Good grief, a couple of _kids!_ What's this?" + +"Ambulance with wounded from Lille, Sergeant," Freddy called out to him. +"The officer back there told us to take them to the rail junction. How +far is it?" + +"Wounded, eh?" the sergeant grunted. "Well, that's a sight different. +Keep going. You're practically there, mates." + +The sergeant stepped back and cupped big hands to his mouth. + +"Make way!" he thundered at the road choked mass of British troops. +"Ambulance! Make way there, you chaps! Ambulance! Give them the horn, +lad. That'll make 'em jump." + +The sergeant barked the last at Dave as the ambulance started forward. +Dave got the car in high then held his hand on the horn. Freddy got out +on the running board and started shouting, "Make way for an ambulance!" +at the top of his voice. For two or three awful seconds Dave was afraid +that the soldiers were going to refuse to move. But the shouted word, +"Ambulance!" finally did the trick. They shuffled off to both sides and +left a path down the middle of the road. Driving with one hand and +keeping his other on the horn, Dave steered the ambulance down that path +until a bomb shattered railroad bridge stopped him. There was no need of +going farther anyway. + +They had reached the rail junction, or at least what was left of it. +Eastward from the bridge the track was just so much twisted steel, but +westward from the bridge it had not been touched, by some strange +miracle. There was a long train of some twenty cars on the track with an +engine at the far end. Dimmed lights were moving around all over the +place like fire-flies on a muggy night. The murmur of many voices filled +the air, and as Dave got his eyes accustomed to the scene he saw that +long lines of battle weary soldiers were climbing into the cars. And +then out of nowhere a squad of soldiers with white bands on their tunic +sleeves swooped down on the ambulance. + +"Shut off your motor, mate!" a voice shouted. "You won't be needing it +any more. Step lively, you lads. Easy with the poor blighters, now. +That's the way." + +Before Dave and Freddy could climb stiff legged down from the ambulance +the white banded group of soldiers had the rear doors open and were +gently but swiftly lifting out the wounded on stretchers and carrying +them to the train. Nobody talked. Even the wounded made no sound. +Everybody seemed to realize that all that counted was speed, and they +were concentrating on that alone. Dave watched for a minute or so and +then went up to the soldier who had given the orders. + +"Where's the train going?" he asked. + +"Dunkirk, unless the Jerry fliers stop us," the soldier replied without +looking at him. "Any more of these chaps coming along in back of you?" + +"This is the last load from Lille," Dave said. "I don't know about any +others." + +"Lille?" the soldier gasped and seemed startled. "I thought the Jerries +were there!" + +"I fancy they are, now," Freddy spoke up. "I say, will there be room +enough for us on that train, do you think?" + +"Always room for two more on anything," the soldier grunted and watched +the stretchers disappear into the maze of moving lights. "You chaps +just follow me, and I'll...." + +The soldier never finished the rest of that sentence. At any rate, if he +did, the boys didn't hear him. At that moment there came the faint drone +of engines high in the sky and to the east. Instantly it seemed as +though a thousand men put whistles to their lips and all blew them at +the same time. + +"Bombers!" roared one fog horn voice. + +"Everybody aboard!" bellowed another. + +"Never mind your kit, you men, get aboard!" thundered a third. + +"All lights out!" a fourth voice carried above all the others. + +In the wink of an eye the moving lights stopped moving and went out. All +was plunged into darkness. A darkness filled with grunting sounds on the +ground, and the throbbing beat of approaching airplanes overhead. +Instinctively Dave and Freddy grabbed hands and started moving toward +the train. No sooner had they taken a dozen steps than they ran smack +into a wall of solid flesh. They tried to force their way through but it +was as futile as trying to push a tidal wave to one side. They alone +were not the only ones trying to get aboard that train. A few hundred +others had the same idea. + +Suddenly the shrill whistle of the engine cut through all other sound. A +moment later the angry roar from hundreds of throats told Dave and +Freddy that the train was moving. They stopped trying to push forward, +and simply stood there listening to the angry shouting of the troops who +could not get aboard, and the sound of the train as it picked up speed +and went racing off toward the east. + +"Here they are! Everybody scatter!" + +Perhaps it was the same fog horn voice, and perhaps it wasn't. Anyway, +everybody heard the command and started moving. A moment later the air +became filled with the howl of diving wings. Further orders were not +necessary. In a flash Dave thought of the bomb blasted bridge. The road +had once dipped down under it, but now it was no more than a cave made +out of jagged chunks of stone with twisted steel rails and splintered +ties for roof shingling. He grabbed Freddy by the arm and spun them both +around. + +"That busted bridge!" he shouted in his friend's ear. "We can crawl down +under it. We should be safe." + +"Just thinking of that, myself!" Freddy shouted back as they both broke +into a run. "Those blasted Stukas! Will we never hear the last of them!" + +As though to punctuate that sentence the leading bomber swooped low, +dumped its load and went screaming up into the night sky. Its bomb +struck a hundred yards away but the concussion seemed to lift both of +the boys off their feet. It put wings on their feet as well. They dashed +madly through the roaring darkness, missed turned-over trucks and hunks +of the bombed station by inches, and finally scrambled down under the +bridge and into the cave-like hole blown out of one of the supporting +walls. They crawled back over the broken stones as far as they could and +sat huddled together listening to the world blow apart over their heads. + +"Well, at least we got our load of wounded aboard!" Dave shouted as +there came a lull in the bedlam of thunderous sound. "That's something, +I guess." + +"Yes, we didn't let them down," Freddy's voice came faintly. "Phew, but +I'm tired. Stukas or no Stukas, I don't think I can keep awake another +minute." + +The words seemed to touch something inside Dave. He too became suddenly +listless in both mind and body. He felt Freddy sagged against him and he +battled to keep his eyes open; to keep a look-out in case they might +have to change their place of shelter. But ton weights hung on his eye +lids, and it was impossible to keep them open any longer. Above them +worlds exploded sound and flame. Underneath them worlds shook and +trembled as each devastating blow was struck. None of it, however, +reached the two boys. Young strong bodies had taken an awful beating for +hours on end, and they needed rest. Time might cease, and the world +could come to an end, but it would have no effect on Dave Dawson and +Freddy Farmer, for they were both sound asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + +_Thunder In The West_ + + +The cold, clammy air of early dawn finally pried Dave's eye lids open +and brought him back to the conscious world. For a moment he stared +dully at the mass of grey shadows all around him. Then gradually he +realized that the shadows, most of them, were rocks and huge chunks of +cement, and that light was filtering down through cracks and holes +between them. That realization brought back memory of where he was. Then +swiftly followed recollection of all that had happened and why he was +there. He started to get to his feet, and his movements awakened Freddy +Farmer slumped against him. The English youth groaned, opened his eyes +and stared blankly around for a moment. Then they cleared as fragments +of memory came racing back to him, too. He sat up and gingerly flexed +his arms and legs. + +"Gee, it's morning!" he exclaimed. + +"And the Stukas have gone, thank goodness," Dave said. "Lets get out of +here. Maybe the train's back and we can get aboard it this time. Gosh! +I'm stiff as a board." + +"I can hardly move!" Freddy moaned and got slowly to his feet. "Man, I +never thought a chap could fall asleep while bombs were falling. My +father told me that he once slept through a ten hour bombardment in +front of Amiens, in Nineteen Seventeen. I aways thought he was pulling +my leg, but now blessed if I don't believe him. I say, what's that?" + +Dave cocked his head and listened to the sudden strange sound. + +"Troops marching!" he breathed. "That's what it is. Troops marching. The +train must be back. Come on, Freddy!" + +Dave scrambled forward and started crawling up out of the cave and +between the rocks to firm ground. He suddenly stopped short as he +glanced through a crack that gave him a clear view of the road that ran +along in back of the bomb shattered station. His heart leaped up into +his throat, and for a second or two he couldn't utter a word. Freddy, +scrambling up behind, bumped into him and started an exclamation. Dave +whirled and put a silencing hand to his lips. + +"Pipe down!" he hissed. "Freddy! For gosh sakes, take a look through +that crack. Gee! What do you know about that?" + +The English youth squirmed past him and peered out through the crack. +His young body stiffened, and there was the sharp sound of sucking air +into his lungs. He turned around and stared wide eyed at Dave and licked +his lower lip. + +"Germans!" he whispered. "The beggars are all over the place. We've been +left behind, Dave. Our boys must have moved on when the Stukas went +away. But we were asleep." + +"Yeah, I guess that was it," Dave said and nodded. "Holy smokes, Freddy, +what shall we do?" + +"I don't know, except to stay where we are," the English youth replied +in a tight voice. "If we show our heads they're sure to grab us. There +must be thousands of them!" + +"Millions, it looks like!" Dave said with a gulp. "Yes, the best thing +to do is stay right here and hope they don't find us. Maybe they'll move +off after awhile, then we can beat it. Gosh! I had all I want of a being +a German prisoner. Sure, let's stay right here." + +"At least we won't starve, no matter how long they take marching +through," Freddy said. "We both have plenty of chocolate bars we got at +the hospital. And I didn't have to give any of the water in my canteen +to the wounded I carried. Did you?" + +"Not a drop, it's full," Dave said, and patted the canteen at the end of +the strap hooked over his shoulder. "You're right, we won't go hungry or +thirsty. But gosh, I hope they don't stick around too long, or we'll +never get out of this place. Maybe we were crazy to duck in here, huh?" + +"And maybe we would have been crazier to have gone some place else," +Freddy murmured and pulled a bar of chocolate from his pocket. "At least +no bombs hit us here." + +"That's right," Dave agreed. Then with a stiff grin, "And it's a cinch +that none are going to hit us, either, while those Germans are out +there. But I sure hope all those British troops got away. I guess they +did, though, or we'd hear fighting right now. Gee! Can you beat it?" + +"Beat what?" Freddy asked through a mouthful of crunched chocolate bar. +"What's the matter?" + +"I was just thinking, and maybe it isn't so funny," Dave said. "We sort +of started all this business behind the German lines, and here we are +again. I sure hope we don't end it that way! Wonder how long we'll have +to wait? Until it's dark, I guess." + +Freddy didn't answer. He crawled up the stones and peered through the +crack again. When he came down his dust and dirt smeared face looked +most unhappy. + +"Until it's dark, at least," he said with a sad shake of his head. "And +more war music, too. I just saw them wheeling some guns into position in +back of the railroad station. Yes, I'm afraid the blasted beggars are +planning to stay here a bit, too." + +"Well, when it gets dark we get out of here," Dave said grimly. "Guns or +no guns." + +"You bet," Freddy said and fell silent. + +As though their silence was a signal to the gunners above, the earth and +the sky once more began to shake and tremble as the gun muzzles belched +out their sheets of flame and steel-clad missiles of death and +destruction that went screaming far off to the east. To get away from +the shuddering, hammering pounding as much as possible, the two boys +crawled far back into the wall cave and tried to make themselves +comfortable. + +Seconds clicked by to add up to minutes, and minutes ticked by to add up +to an hour. Then eventually it was two hours, then three, then four. And +still the guns hammered and snarled and pounded away at their distant +objectives. It seemed as though it would never end. Try as they did to +steel themselves against the perpetual thunder, and the constant shaking +and heaving of the earth under them, it was right there with them every +second of the time. Their eardrums ached, and seemed ready to snap +apart. They tore off little pieces of their shirts and used them as +plugs to stuff in their ears. That helped some, but it made speech +between them impossible. + +Roaring, barking thunder all morning, and all afternoon. But along +toward evening it died down considerably. And when the shadows of night +started creeping up it ceased altogether. The two boys crawled forward +and up the bomb-made rock steps and peered through the crack between the +stones. The hopes that had been born in them when the guns stopped +seemed to explode in their brains. The guns were not being hooked onto +the tractors. Nor were the swarms of troops climbing into the long lines +of motorized Panzer trucks. On the contrary, mess wagons were being +rolled forward, and flare lights were being set about all over the +place. Even as Dave and Freddy crouched there watching with sinking +spirits two flare lights sputtered into being directly above their +heads. With sudden terror gripping their hearts they scuttled back deep +into their hiding place. + +"No soap, I guess," Dave said bitterly. "We'd stick out like a couple of +sore thumbs. What do you think, Freddy?" + +"The same as you," the English youth said unhappily. "We'd be fools to +budge an inch. I most certainly wish we had blankets. These are the +hardest rocks I ever felt." + +"You said it," Dave muttered and ran his hand over the hard surface that +was unquestionably going to serve as his bed for another night of +terror. "Maybe, though, they'll pull out before dawn. Or maybe in the +morning, for sure." + +If the gods of war heard Dave Dawson's words they must have laughed loud +and with fiendish glee, for they knew how false his hopes were. The +Germans did not leave during the night. Nor did they leave in the +morning. As soon as it was dawn they started their devastating +bombardment again. And for another whole day the boys huddled together +in their hiding place and struggled with every bit of their will power +to stop from going stark, raving mad from the thunder of the guns. + +Then, suddenly, when there was still an hour of daylight left, the guns +went silent for keeps, and instead there were all kinds of sounds of +feverish activity. Harsh orders flew thick and fast. Men shouted and +cursed. Tractor engines roared into life. Truck transport gears were +meshed in nerve rasping grinding sound, and as the boys watched through +their look-out crack they saw the Germans move slowly off down a road +leading toward the southwest. Neither of them spoke until the last truck +had passed out of view. And by then it was pitch dark, save for a +shimmering red glow to the east and to the south. + +"Boy, I thought it would never happen!" Dave said in a shaky voice. +"Come on! Let's get going before others arrive here. Which way do you +think we'd better head?" + +"The railroad track, I think," Freddy said after a moment of silence. +"It must have been blown all to bits by those Stukas, or else there +would have been a train come up to take those Germans away. Instead, +though, they headed down the road to the southwest." + +"Check," Dave said. "And that track is supposed to lead to Dunkirk. +Gosh, I hope the British are still there." + +"They must be there," Freddy said firmly. "You can still hear the guns +up ahead, so there must be somebody besides Germans around. I say, look +at that fog, or is it fog? Yes, it is. And it's beginning to rain, too. +Well, thank goodness for that. We won't be seen or heard so easily. +Right-o, Dave. Let's get on with it. Like the chaps in the R.A.F. say, +Tally-ho!" + +"Tally-ho!" Dave echoed happily and started scrambling up out of the +cave. + +Walking side by side, and gripping hands to hold up the other fellow in +case he slipped and started tumbling into a bomb crater, the two boys +struck out boldly along the single line of track. Before they had +traveled a hundred yards the railroad tracks stopped being what they +were supposed to be. They became a long stretch of twisted steel and +pulverized ties. But though the road bed was constantly pock marked with +bomb craters it served as a guide eastward for their crunching +footsteps. + +Layers of fog came rolling in from the east, and with every step a fine +chilling rain sprayed down upon them. But rather than being annoyed and +uncomfortable, they were buoyed up by the miserable weather. It gave +them added protection from any German patrols in the neighborhood. It +hid them from the rest of the world of dull constant sound, and the +shimmering glow of red to the east and to the south. There was more +sound, and a more brilliant glow of red to the south, and as they heard +it and saw it their hearts became even lighter. If there was all that +sound to the south it must mean that the Germans had not been able to +cut off the retreating armies at Dunkirk. And of course that was true, +for as they trudged and stumbled along the bomb blasted strip of spur +railroad track some fifty thousand do or die British soldiers were +holding back the savagely attacking German hordes at Douai, and at the +Canal de Bergues, so that some three hundred and thirty thousand of +their comrades might escape the trap from Dunkirk and reach England in +safety. + +Of course Dave and Freddy didn't know _that_ at the time. Yet, perhaps +they sensed it unconsciously, for their step did become faster, their +hearts lighter, and the hope they would get through somehow mounted +higher and higher in their thoughts. And so on and on they went. A +thousand times they stumbled over things in the darkness; went pitching +together down into bomb craters, or barked their shins and raised lumps +on their tough bodies. Always forward, though. They stopped talking to +conserve their energy, for they had no idea how many miles of bomb +blasted roadbed lay ahead of them. The fog and the rain dulled the sound +of the guns so that they couldn't tell if they were drawing nearer or +actually heading away from them. And although they looked at it a +million times apiece the dull red glow ahead of them seemed always to +remain the same. It never once brightened up or faded down. It got so +that it seemed as though they were walking on a treadmill. Walking, +walking, yet never seeming to get any place. Never seeing anything +different to give them proof they had covered ground. Every piece of +twisted track they stumbled over was the same as the last. A bomb crater +into which they fell sprawling was no different from all the others. And +the darkness, the fog, the rain, the boom of the guns, and the +shimmering red glow were always the same in the next second, in the next +minute, and in the next hour. + +Grit, courage, and a fighting spirit resolved never to give up, forced +them forward foot after foot, yard after yard, and mile after mile. Even +thoughts ceased to stir in their brains, and there was nothing there but +the fierce burning flame that drove their tired legs and bodies forward. + +Then, suddenly, their separate worlds seemed to shatter before their +eyes in an explosion of sound. To Dave it seemed close to an eternity +before the sound made sense in his dulled brain. Then in a flash he +realized that nothing had exploded. A loud voice not three feet in front +of them had bellowed out the challenge. + +"_Halt!_" + +Even then neither of the boys could grasp its true meaning. The voice +shattered their hopes, gripped their hearts with fingers of ice, and +seemed to drain every drop of blood from their bodies. Fate was having +the big laugh on them at last. The worst, the one thing they had +dreaded had come to pass. They had stumbled headlong into a nest of +Germans! + +"Halt, you blighters, 'fore I run this through your bellies!" + +Then truth crashed home, and the boys let out a gurgling cry of relief +as they realized the voice was _speaking in English!_ + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN + +_Wings Of Doom_ + + +"Hold it!" Dave heard his own voice cry out in the darkness. "We're not +Germans!" + +"No!" Freddy choked out. "We're English and American! Are we near +Dunkirk?" + +There was a startled exclamation in the rain and fog, then the tiny beam +of a buglight caught them in its glow. The light shook and there was a +gasp of dumbfounded amazement. + +"Strike me pink!" exclaimed the voice in back of the light. "What are +you two young nippers doing here? And where'd you come from?" + +The buglight was lowered and the two boys saw the dim outline of a +British Tommie. His gas mask and ration kit were slung over his +shoulder, and in his hands he carried a rifle with a wicked looking +bayonet. + +"We're trying to reach Dunkirk," Freddy spoke up. "We've been hiding for +the last two days at a railway junction called, Niort, I think it was. +Part of the sign had been blown away but I think that's what it was." + +"Niort?" the British soldier gasped. "Come off it, now, me lad! If you +were at Niort how'd you get here? I suppose by a blinking train, eh?" + +"No, we walked," Dave said. "Along what was left of the railroad. We +missed the last train two nights ago. It pulled out when some Stukas +arrived." + +The British soldier whistled through his teeth, and flashed his buglight +on them just to make sure he wasn't talking to a couple of ghosts. + +"Well, can you beat that!" he ejaculated. "So you were left behind with +the others, eh? I was on that blinking train, thank my lucky stars! The +lads that were left had to march it all the way, and with Jerry throwing +everything he had at them, too. Strike me pink! You know what you two +nippers have done?" + +"Sure," Dave said. "Walked about a million miles, the way we feel." + +"It's closer to eighteen or nineteen, lad," the Tommie said. "But that +ain't the half of it. You've walked _right through_ the blessed German +line, that's what you've done! Right through their blinking lines, and +them not knowing about it! By George, will I have a tale to tell the +lads at the pub if I ever get back home!" + +"But how far are we from Dunkirk?" Freddy asked. "And is there any way +to get there besides walking? I don't think I can go another step." + +The soldier jerked a thumb over his shoulder. + +"See them flames?" he said. "That's Dunkirk. About two miles it is. And +it's time for me to go in from my patrol anyway. I got a motor-bike and +sidecar over there, yonder. You two can ride in the car. But we'd better +hop it. It's getting toward dawn and the Stukas will be coming over to +raise merry Ned. But, wait a minute, mates. Who are you and what were +you doing at Niort? Why, you ain't even in uniform." + +"This is Dave Dawson, an American," Freddy said. "And my name is Freddy +Farmer. We've been trying to get back to England for days, and...." + +"_What's that?_" the soldier cut in excitedly. "Dawson and Farmer? The +couple of American and English nippers, that stole a plane and all the +rest of it? Blimey! Why didn't you say so? Why you lads are heroes! The +whole blinking army's been talking of what you nippers did. Come along! +If there's two lads that's going to get a boat ride back home, it's +you. Yes, by George! I'm that anxious to get back home so's to tell the +lads, I'm fair ready to swim the blinking Channel, orders or no orders. +Come along!" + +Without waiting for either of the boys to so much as open their mouths +the soldier grabbed them each by the arm and hurried them off through +the dark to the right. He must have known the way well, for they didn't +bump into a single thing. Presently he let go of them and dived into +some bushes. He was out in almost no time pushing an army motorcycle and +sidecar. He slung his rifle over his shoulder and straddled the seat. + +"Hop in, lads!" he barked as he kicked his engine into life. "And hang +on for your lives. The beach where they're taking them off onto the +ships ... and man, they're bringing over anything that can float ... is +on the far side of town. But the blinking town's afire, and we have to +go right through it. Here we go, and a double-double to the blasted +Jerries!" + +Though the two boys had wedged themselves down tight in the sidecar, the +soldier tore off in such a rush that he practically rode right out from +under them. Yelling any complaints would have been just a waste of +breath. Besides, the soldier wouldn't have heard them in the roar of his +engine. So the boys simply concentrated on trying to stay in the +sidecar, and breathed a prayerful hope that the soldier was an expert +driver. + +He was more than that. He was a miracle man on a motorcycle. He raced +through the darkness without slackening his speed the fraction of a +mile. The rain slithered down and the street glistened in the faint glow +of his dimmed light. It looked like so much slippery black ice, and a +hundred times Dave closed his eyes and waited for the sickening crash +that never came. When, he dared open them again they were still hurtling +forward making as much noise as a whole division of tanks. + +The two miles to the ancient Channel city of Dunkirk was covered in just +about as many minutes. In the last hundred yards the fog seemed to come +to an end, and the rain to pass on behind them. Dave looked ahead and +caught his breath sharply. Dunkirk looked like one gigantic +horizon-to-horizon wall of licking tongues of flame and billowing smoke +that towered high up into the sky. It was as though he had walked out of +a dark room straight into the open mouth of a blast furnace. He +impulsively cast a quick side glance at the soldier astride the +motorcycle seat expecting to see an expression of alarm and dismay pass +across the lean unshaven face. But no such thing did he see. The +soldier simply lowered his head a bit, and the corners of his eyes +tightened. + +"Hang on, lads!" he bellowed without taking his eyes off the road. "Here +comes the first of it, and it ain't no ice box!" + +No sooner had the last left his lips than the heat of the flaming +buildings seemed to charge forward right into their faces. Dave and +Freddy ducked their heads as the soldier had done, and in the matter of +split seconds they had the sensation of hurtling straight across the +mouth of a boiling volcano that shot up tongues of flame on all sides. + +"Lean to the right, we're turning that way!" came the soldier's yell. + +They leaned together and the motorcycle and sidecar went careening +around the corner of a street. It seemed to hesitate halfway around and +start to slide. But the driver skillfully checked the slide with a +vicious motion on the wheel, and they went roaring up a smoke filled +street. A moment or two later the driver yelled for them to lean again. +They did. In fact they did it no less than a dozen times during the next +few minutes. And all the while the heat of the flames beat in at them +from all sides, and the crash of falling walls, or of delayed action +bombs going off, was constant heart freezing thunder in their ears. + +Then suddenly they shot right through the middle of one final wall of +fire and burst out onto a stretch of hard packed sand. It was several +seconds before the heat left them and they felt rain soaked salt air +strike against their faces. They gulped it into their lungs, and then +both cried out in alarm as a squad of British soldiers seemed to rise +right out of the sand in front of them. Their driver instantly stood up +on his foot plates and roared above the sound of his engine. + +"Out of the way!" he bellowed. "A couple of young heroes to get boat +tickets from his nibs, the Commandant!" + +Perhaps the group of soldiers heard him, or perhaps they just naturally +didn't want to run the risk of being bowled over by the on-rushing +motorcycle. Anyway they leaped to the side and the driver and the two +boys went banging on by without a single check in the speed. After +another moment or so the soldier cut his engine, slammed on his brake +and slid around to a full stop as his tires sent a shower of wet sand +into the air. + +"There you are, nippers!" he cried and vaulted from the seat. "How was +that for a bit of a joy-ride, eh? She's a good little motor bike, she +is. A bit slow, but she'll do. Now, wait half a minute while I go see if +the Commandant's about. Sit tight. I'll be right back." + +He flung the last back over his shoulder as he went racing off to the +left. Neither Dave nor Freddy said anything. They were too busy fighting +to get their breath back, and to unwedge themselves from the sidecar. +Eventually they were out on the sand and feeling themselves all over +just to make sure no arms or legs or anything had been left behind. + +"Jeepers, jeepers!" Dave finally broke the silence. "You and that +Belgian sergeant are just beginners compared to that guy. My gosh! I +know darn well he must have gone right through some of those buildings, +instead of around them. Gee, Freddy! Look at those flames! No wonder you +could see them for miles. The whole town's going up in smoke." + +"Yes, but look there, Dave!" Freddy cried and grabbed his arm as he +pointed with his other hand. "There on the beach. It's the British army. +Look! They're even wading out in the water to the boats! It must be too +shallow for them to get in any closer. Gee, Dave, _gee!_" + +Dave couldn't speak as he stared at the sight. The words were all too +choked up inside of him to come out. The whole beach was practically +covered with row after row of British and French soldiers. They stood in +long columns of ten and twelve men across, and those columns stretched +from high up on the beach far out into the shallow water. In some +places cars, and tanks, and trucks, anything on wheels had been driven +out into the water and parked side by side, parked hub to hub and planks +laid across the tops of them to form a makeshift pier that could reach +out into deeper water. But there were only a few of such piers. Most of +the columns of men were wading out into the water until it came up to +their chests, and even up to their necks. + +And out there looking weird and grotesque in the glow of the burning +Channel port were boats of every conceivable description. There were row +boats, and yachts. Fishing smacks and pleasure yawls. Coastal vessels +and ferry boats. Motor boats and canoes. Barges and British destroyers. +Anything and everything that could float had been brought over to help +in the evacuation. No, it wasn't the British Navy taking the British +Army home. It was all England come to rescue her fighting men. + +Dave and Freddy stood rooted in their tracks staring wide eyed at the +historic event that will live forever in the minds of men. Their eyes +soaked up the scene, and their ears soaked up the conglomeration of +sound. Oddly enough, practically all of the sounds came from off shore. +The blast of whistles, the blowing of signal horns, the purr and the +roar of engines, and the shouts of the appointed and of the self-made +skippers and crews of the fantastic rescue fleet. The troops hardly made +any sound at all. Perhaps they were too tired. Perhaps the roar of +battle still ringing in their ears momentarily stilled their tongues. Or +perhaps they were content just to follow the next man ahead and pray +silently that they would be taken aboard some kind of a boat and sailed +away before daylight and the Stukas arrived once again. But the real +reason for their strange silence, probably, was because most of them had +been there for days waiting their turn, and dodging Stuka bombs and +bursting shells. And after such an ordeal they were too stunned to know +or even care about talking. Each had a single, all important goal. A +boat of some kind. And they slogged and sloshed toward it, numb to all +that was going on about them. + +"It's ... it's almost as though it isn't real!" Dave heard himself +whisper aloud. "It's like being at a movie, and seeing something you +know was just made up. Gosh, there's thousands of them. Thousands! I +wonder how many have got away already? And...." + +The last froze on Dave's lips. At that moment above the crackling and +sullen roar of the flames devouring the city there came the dreaded +sound. It was like the drumming moan of night wind in the trees, only +it wasn't. It was a sound that chilled the blood of every man on shore +and off shore. It was Goering's Stukas and Heinkels and Messerschmitts +coming up with the rising dawn. For a long second Dave and Freddy heard +it, and then it was drowned out by the mounting groans and curses that +welled up from the throats of those thousands of soldiers on the beach. +Yet as Dave stared at them, unable to move, he saw that not a man broke +ranks. Everybody stayed in his place, as though they were on a parade +ground instead of on a beach strewn with their own dead. Rifles and +portable machine guns were grabbed up and pointed toward the fast +lightening heavens, but no man gave up his place in line. + +And then the winged vultures under Goering's command came howling down +out of the sky. Their noise drowned out all other noises, including the +noise of the guns that greeted them. It was as though some mighty giant +were tearing the roof right off the top of the world. It wasn't a +scream, and it wasn't an earth trembling wail. Nor was it a continual +thunderous roar. It was just a sound that had never been heard before, +and, perhaps, will never be heard again. A mighty collection of all +sounds in the whole world blended into one mighty inferno of noise. + +As Dave and Freddy stood transfixed it didn't so much as even occur to +either of them to run for some kind of shelter. Their feet were lumps of +lead and the ground was one great magnet that held them fast. Something +spewed up orange and red flame a couple of hundred yards away from them. +It was a bomb exploding, but they couldn't even hear the sound. Another +fountain of flame, and sand showering down over everything, but no +individual sound of the bomb going off. A part of the sky overhead +turned into a great raging ball of red fire. It tore their eyes upward +in time to see a Heinkel bomber outlined in livid flame. Then it was +engulfed by that flame and came hurtling down to hit the water off-shore +and disappear as though by magic. + +It was then, and then only they realized that not all of the planes +overhead were German. It was then they saw British Hurricanes, and +Spitfires, and Defiants slash down out of the dawn sky in groups of +three and pounce upon the German planes in a relentless, furious attack +that set them to shouting wildly at the top of their voices. The Royal +Air Force. The R.A.F., the saviors of Dunkirk! Outnumbered by the German +planes, but so far above them in fighting heart, in spirit, and in real +flying ability that there wasn't even any room left for comparison. A +British plane against five Germans, against ten, or against fifty! What +did it matter? There were gallant troops to be evacuated back home. +There were fleet after fleet of Goering's vultures with orders to shoot +down the British troops like cattle. Never! Never in all God's world as +long as there was an R.A.F. plane left, and an R.A.F. pilot alive to fly +it! + +Suddenly Dave became conscious of a great pain in his right arm. He +looked down to see Freddy gripping it tightly with one hand and pounding +it with his other fist. The light of a mad man was in the English +youth's eyes. When he had Dave's attention he stopped pounding and +pointed to the left and beyond a short line of bomb blasted wharves. + +"Look, look, Dave!" came his shrill scream faintly. "Look off that first +wharf. There's a motor boat. It was trying to get in close, but a +Messerschmitt came down and sprayed the chap at the wheel. See! He's +trying to get up. And there's the Messerschmitt again. Dave! The tide +will carry that boat up against those rocks, and smash in its bottom. +Dave! Can you swim? We've got to reach that boat before it hits the +rocks. Look! The Messerschmitt is shooting again. He's got the poor +chap. He's got him this time!" + +As Freddy screamed in his ear Dave looked out at the boat. It was a +long slinky looking power boat, but it wasn't even slinking along, now. +The lone figure had fallen across the engine hood, and a diving +Messerschmitt was hammering more bullets into his body. And a running +tide was carrying the craft broadside toward some jagged rocks that +stuck up out of the water not two hundred yards away. + +Dave was looking at it. And then suddenly he realized that his feet were +pounding across the beach. That he was racing madly down the beach +toward the water's edge. And that Freddy Farmer was close at his heels. + + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN + +_The White Cliffs!_ + + +By the time they reached the water they had stripped off their hospital +jackets, torn free their water canteens, and flung them away. Shoulder +to shoulder they splashed out as far as they could, then dived in. They +broke surface together and struck out for the helpless craft being +carried toward its doom by the tide. Above them raged another mighty +battle of the air. Bombs fell close and when one struck the water and +went off, a thousand fists seemed to hammer against their chests. Behind +them the flames of Dunkirk leaped high, and the glow turned the waters +through which they swam to the color of blood. And there ahead of them +was the sleek-looking motorboat, like a highly polished brown log +drifting on the crest of a shimmering red sea. + +A great fire burned in Dave's lungs, and his arms became like bars of +lead that required every remaining ounce of his strength to lift up and +cut down into the water again. But he fought back the aches, and the +pains, and the gnawing fatigue. And so did Freddy Farmer there by his +side. They kept their eyes fixed on that drifting motorboat and they +didn't take them off it until after what seemed like years they were +alongside it and hooking an arm over the gunwale. For a moment they just +hung there panting and gulping for air. Then at an unspoken signal they +each shifted their grip to the small brass rail that ran along each side +from stem to stern, and hauled themselves into the boat. + +Not even then did they speak a word, for words were unnecessary, now. +There was a job to do, and a job to be done fast. The rocks weren't more +than sixty yards away. Shaking water from his face, Dave leaped toward +the engine hood, lifted up the motionless bullet riddled body and +lowered it gently to the deck. At the same time Freddy caught up an oar +and rushed toward the bow to fend off the craft should it reach the +rocks. + +Lifting the engine hood Dave took one look inside and gulped with +relief. Messerschmitt bullets had not touched the American built engine. +A quick glance down at the priming can in the dead man's stiff hand told +Dave he had been trying to start the engine when the Messerschmitt first +dived. Perhaps he had throttled too much, and stalled the engine. There +was no way of knowing that, and no time to wonder about it. If there was +something else wrong, and the priming can didn't do the trick, then he +and Freddy could at least save the boat from being slammed up against +the rocks. + +It was time for Lady Luck to smile again, however. Dave primed the +engine, and stepped on the starter pedal, and the engine roared up +instantly in full throated song. He leaped for the wheel, yanked back +the throttle, and then swung the wheel over hard. The rudder bit into +the water, and the power boat slid by the jagged rocks with but a few +feet to spare and glided out toward deep water. + +"Made it!" Dave shouted wildly. + +"Right-o!" Freddy yelled back from the bow. "This is one Herr Hitler +doesn't get, by gosh. Not if _I_ can help it! Oh, Dave, let's...." + +"Me too!" Dave interrupted him. "I know what you're going to say. Let's +go over and pick up as many of those fellows as we can! You're doggone +right! Here we go!" + +At that exact moment, however, the fates of war changed their plans. At +that moment a steel fish made in Nazi land slid past the watchful eyes +of a destroyer and let go a single torpedo straight into the maze of +craft hovering off shore beneath the raging sky battle above. True, +only one torpedo. And even as it streaked out from its tube the eyes +aboard the destroyer saw it, and the destroyer's guns spoke ... and +there was one U-boat less. However, one torpedo was on its way. And it +slammed into the bow of a sturdy coastal vessel plodding out to the +center of the Channel. + +In the blaze of light that spewed up from the side of the vessel Dave +saw the decks crowded with khaki clad soldiers. Then they were lost to +view as the vessel heeled way over and was engulfed in a mighty cloud of +smoke. No sooner had what his eyes seen registered oh his brain than he +hauled down hard on the wheel and pulled the motor boat's bow away from +the shore and out toward that floating cloud of smoke and dull red +flame. + +Other boats did the same thing, but Dave and Freddy were closer than any +of the others, and they reached there first. Killing his speed as much +as possible Dave worked the craft inch by inch toward the cluster of +heads that were now bobbing out from under the edge of the cloud of +smoke. Then when he was real close he throttled all the way back and let +go of the wheel and raced with Freddy to the stern of the boat. They +grabbed the first hand stretched up toward them and pulled the dripping +figure into the boat. No sooner was he in than they let him shift for +himself and grabbed for the next outstretched hand. Then another, and +another, and another, until there were no more bobbing heads close to +them. + +By then other craft had arrived and were picking up survivors from that +doomed vessel. As Dave straightened up he stared out across the water +just in time to see the last bit of the vessel's bow slide down below +the waves and disappear. One look and then he was pushing through the +soldiers he and Freddy had rescued, to the wheel at the bow bulkhead. +Cheers and praise filled his ears but he was too all in to even so much +as grin. And, also, memory of that U-boat was still fresh in his mind. +If one slipped past, why not two, or even three? Dunkirk was behind him, +and a sky battle was raging high above him, but he did not know what +might be lurking in the waters under him. The sooner he got the boat +away, the better it would be for all concerned. + +He reached the wheel at the same time Freddy did. And hardly realizing +it, both grabbed hold. Dave shot out his other hand and opened up the +throttle. Together, as one man, they guided the power boat in and around +the other rescue craft until they were clear and heading straight out +into the Channel. Once there was nothing but open water ahead of them +they both relaxed, looked into each other's eyes and grinned. + +"Well, that _must_ be the last surprise, Freddy," Dave said. "There just +isn't anything else that could happen that would startle me." + +"Nor me, either!" Freddy breathed. "The excitement's all over for us, +now. In another hour we'll be in England." + +And then suddenly a hand was clapped down on each of them, and a hoarse +voice boomed, + +"Well, of all things! You two!" + +They both spun around, then stopped dead and gasped in bewildered +amazement. There standing in his water-soaked uniform was General +Caldwell, Chief of British Staff. His piercing black eyes bored into +theirs, and his teeth showed white in a broad smile. + +"Good heavens, you, General!" Dave finally managed to gulp out. "Why, I +didn't even know we'd hauled you aboard!" + +"But you did, and thank God for that!" the General said fervently. "And +do you know, it's the strangest thing ever! I was telling the captain of +that boat about how you stole that plane, when the blasted torpedo +struck. By gad, it's incredible. But how in the world did you get here? +and in this boat, too!" + +"Later, sir, if you don't mind," Freddy spoke up and put a hand on the +General's sleeve. "Please tell us the truth. We've got to know. The +information we gave you wasn't any help? You got it too late?" + +General Caldwell stared at him hard, and then shook his head. + +"You're dead wrong, Freddy, if you think that," he said in his oddly +soft voice. "I spoke the truth to you in the Lille hospital. Look back +there, both of you." + +They turned and with their eyes followed the General's finger pointing +at the beach at Dunkirk. + +"That's the last of the British Army to leave France," he spoke again. +"We've been getting them out for days, and against terrific odds. The +only reason I was on that boat that was torpedoed, instead of being back +there to be the last man to leave, was because I had my orders to return +at once and start getting things reorganized. But they will all be in +England before this fog gives the Stukas the chance they want. And +praise to dear God for the fog and the rain he has sent us in these days +of heroic effort. But, what I am trying to say to you, is this. Had I +not received your information in time, thousands upon thousands of those +brave chaps would never have been able to reach Dunkirk in time to be +taken off. They would now be trapped in France and in Belgium. No, boys, +it was not too late. And to you two England owes a debt she will never +be able to repay." + +"I'm glad," Freddy whispered softly. "I'm glad it was not too late." + +"Gosh, me too," Dave mumbled, and tried to say more but the words +wouldn't come. + +And so the three of them: two boys and the General stood there with +their faces turned toward England while the boat cut through the +dawn-greyed swells and the light fog. And then after a long time the fog +lifted and they saw it there ahead. + +"Dover!" Freddy said in a choked voice, and tears trickled down his +cheeks. "The chalk cliffs of Dover. England!" + +"Yes, the chalk cliffs of Dover, and England," General Caldwell murmured +huskily. "We've taken a pretty bad beating, but it's far from being all +over. We may even take some more beatings. Perhaps several of them. But +in the end we will win. We must win, for there will always be an +England. Always!" + + * * * * * + +Three days after the world-thrilling evacuation of Dunkirk, Dave Dawson +sat in the living-room of Freddy Farmer's house in Baker Street in +London. Freddy was there, of course, and so was his dad. And so was +Dave's father. Within an hour after touching English soil the British +War Office had contacted Dave's dad in Paris where he had gone hoping to +pick up the trail of his missing son. And, now, the four of them were +waiting because of a phone call from General Caldwell. A phone call +stating that the Chief of Staff was on his way there, and for them all +please to wait. + +"Boy, I wish he'd get here!" Dave exclaimed for the umpteenth time. + +"He didn't say why he wanted to see us?" Freddy asked his father for the +umpteenth time, too. + +"No, Freddy," the senior Farmer replied patiently. "He didn't say a word +about it." + +"Gee, do I hope, do I hope, _do I hope!_" Dave breathed and pressed his +two clenched fists together. "Do I hope he has fixed it for us to get +into the R.A.F., even though we are a bit under age. He said he'd do +everything he could. And, Dad?" + +Dave turned and looked into his father's face. + +"Yes, Dave?" + +"I sure hope it really _is_ okay with you," Dave said. "I mean getting +into the R.A.F., if I possibly can. It's.... Well, it's just that +nothing else seems important now, except trimming the pants off the +Nazis. And I want to help, no matter _what_ kind of help it is." + +"I understand, perfectly, Dave," his father said with a smile. "I know +exactly how you feel, because I feel the same way. I'm staying over here +to help, too. In the government end of things." + +Dave's exclamation of surprise was cut short by the ringing of the door +bell. Freddy's father answered it and came back into the room with +General Caldwell. The Chief of Staff greeted them all and then handed +Dave and Freddy each a small package. + +"And with life-long gratitude from the bottom of my heart," he said +gravely. + +They opened the packages to find an expensive wrist watch in each. And +on the back of each watch was the inscription: + + To One Of The Two Finest And Bravest + Boys I Ever Met + General H. V. K. Caldwell + +"And, now, the real reason I came here," the General said before they +could even begin to blurt out their thanks and appreciation. "Their +Majesties, King George and Queen Elizabeth, are waiting to receive you +at Buckingham Palace. And your fathers, of course." + +"The King ... and the Queen?" Freddy said in a hushed voice. + +"Oh boy, meeting the King and Queen in Buckingham Palace!" Dave +breathed. And then he couldn't hold it any longer. "General Caldwell!" +the words rushed off his lips. "What Freddy and I asked you about? I +mean ... the R.A.F. Is there any chance?" + +The General tried to look stern, but he just couldn't keep the grin from +breaking through. + +"Among other things," he said in his soft voice, "Their Majesties wish +to be the first to congratulate their two new members of the Royal Air +Force. So, I suggest we do not keep them waiting, eh?" + +Dave and Freddy looked at each other without speaking, but their eyes +spoke volumes. The dream had come true. Or perhaps it was only +beginning. Either way, though, one thing was certain. Beginning with +this moment they would have the chance to do their share as pilots of +the Royal Air Force in the battle for Britain. And that chance was all +they asked. Nothing more. + + + ----THE END---- + + See next page. + + + + +_A Page from_ + +DAVE DAWSON WITH THE R.A.F. + +At that moment a short, savage burst from Flight Lieutenant +Barton-Woods' guns snapped Dave's eyes back to the Junkers. They were +still quite a ways off but the Green Flight leader had let go with a +challenging burst hoping that the Germans would give up thoughts of +escape and turn back to give battle. However, it was instantly obvious +that the Junkers pilots and their crews didn't want any truck with three +Spitfire pilots. The nose of each ship was pushed down a bit to add +speed to the get away attempt. And a moment later Dave saw the flash of +sunlight on bombs dropping harmlessly down into the rolling grey-green +swells where the Channel blends in with the North Sea. + +"Not this day, my little Jerries!" Flight Lieutenant Barton-Woods' voice +boomed over the radio. "Let's make the beggars pay for dropping bombs in +our Channel, Green Flight! Give it to them!" + +The last was more or less the signal that each pilot was on his own. +Dave waited until he saw his flight leader swerve off to slam in at the +Junkers to the right. Then he touched rudder, and with Freddy sticking +right with him, swerved off after the other German raider. + + + + Transcriber's Notes: + Page 73: Changed probaby to probably + Page 184: Changed fairly to fairy + Page 216: Changed aways to always + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dave Dawson at Dunkirk, by Robert Sydney Bowen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DAWSON AT DUNKIRK *** + +***** This file should be named 32440.txt or 32440.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/4/32440/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Roger L. Holda, Joseph R. Hauser +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/32440.zip b/32440.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8bbcaf9 --- /dev/null +++ b/32440.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..925c571 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #32440 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32440) |
