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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/6083.txt b/6083.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4f010b --- /dev/null +++ b/6083.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6874 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders, by Clair W. Hayes + +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: The Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders + +Author: Clair W. Hayes + +Posting Date: October 20, 2012 [EBook #6083] +Release Date: July, 2004 +First Posted: November 3, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS *** + + + + +Produced by Sean Pobuda + + + + + + + + + +THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS + +Or The Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge + +By Clair W. Hayes + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A NEW USE FOR A DICTAPHONE + +The rain fell in torrents over the great battlefield, as Hal Paine and +Chester Crawford, taking advantage of the inky blackness of the night, +crept from the shelter of the American trenches that faced the enemy +across "No Man's Land." + +In the trenches themselves all was silence. To a spectator it would +have seemed that the occupants were, either dead or asleep; yet such +was not the case. + +It is true that most of the men had "turned in" for the night, sleeping +on their arms, for there was no means of telling at what moment the +enemy might issue from his trenches in another of the night raids that +had marked this particular sector for the last few weeks; but the ever +vigilant sentinels stood watch over the sleeping men. They would sound +an alarm, should occasion demand, in ample time to arouse the sleepers +if an enemy's head appeared in the darkness. + +Hal and Chester, of course, left the American trenches with full +knowledge of these sentinels; otherwise they might have been shot. + +Once beyond the protecting walls of earth, they moved swiftly and +silently toward the German trenches less than a hundred feet +away--just the distance from the home plate to first base on a baseball +diamond, as Hal put it--ninety feet. + +These two lads, who now advanced directly toward the foe, were +lieutenants in the first American expeditionary force to reach France +to lend a hand in driving back the legions of the German Emperor, who +still clung tenaciously to territory he had conquered in the early +stages of the great war. These boys had, at one time, been captains in +the British army, and had had three years of strenuous times and +exciting adventures in the greatest of all wars. + +Their captaincies they'd won through gallant action upon the field of +battle. American lads, they had been left in Berlin at the outbreak of +hostilities, when they were separated from Hal's mother. They made +their way to Belgium, where, for a time, they saw service, with King +Albert's troops. Later they fought under the tricolor, with the +Russians and the British and Canadians. + +When the United 'States declared war on Germany, Hal and Chester, with +others, were sent to America, where they were of great assistance in +training men Uncle Sam had selected to officer his troops. They had +relinquished their rank in the British army to be able to do this. Now +they found themselves again on French soil, but fighting under the +Stars and Stripes. + +On this particular night they advanced toward tile German lines soon +after an audience with General John J. Pershing, commander-in-chief of +the American expeditionary forces. In one hand Chester carried a +little hardwood box, to which were attached coils of wire. In the +other hand the lad held a revolver. Hal, likewise, carried his +automatic in his hand. Each was determined to give a good account of +himself should his presence be discovered. + +It was unusually quiet along the front this night. It was too dark for +opposing "snipers"--sharpshooters--to get in their work, and the +voices of the big guns, which, almost incessantly for the last few +weeks, had hurled shells across the intervening distance between the +two lines of trenches, were stilled. + +Hal pressed close to Chester. + +"Rather creepy out here," he said. + +"Right," returned Chester in a whisper. "I've the same feeling +myself. It forebodes, trouble, this silence, to my way of thinking. +The Huns are probably hatching up some devilment." + +"Well, we may be able to get the drift of it, with that thing you have +under your arm," was the other's reply. + +"Sh-h!" was Chester's reply, and he added: "We're getting pretty +close." + +They continued their way without further words. + +Hal, slightly in advance, suddenly uttered a stifled exclamation. +Instantly Chester touched his arm. + +"What's the matter?" he asked in a whisper. + +"Matter is," Hal whispered back, "that we have come to a barbed-wire +entanglement. I had forgotten about those things." + +"Well, that's why you brought your 'nippers' along," said Chester. "Cut +the wire." + +Hal produced his "nippers." It was but the work of a moment to nip the +wires, and again the lads advanced cautiously. + +A moment later there loomed up before them the German trenches. Hal +stood back a few feet while Chester advanced and placed the little +hardwood box upon the top of the trench, and scraped over it several +handfuls of earth. The lad now took the coil of wire in his hand, and +stepped down and back. The lads retraced their steps toward their own +lines, Chester the while unrolling the coil of wire. + +The return was made without incident. Before their own trenches the +boys were challenged by a sentinel. + +"Halt!" came the command. "Who goes there?" + +"Friends," returned Hal. + +The sentinel recognized the lad's voice. + +"Advance," he said with a breath of relief. + +A moment later the boys were safe back among their own men. + +"If the Germans had been as watchful as our own sentries, we would have +had more trouble," said Hal. + +"Oh, I don't know," was Chester's reply. "I saw a German sentinel, but +he didn't see me in the darkness." + +"It was his business to see, however," declared Hal. + +"Well, that's true. But now let's listen and seen if we can overhear +anything of importance." + +Chester clapped the little receiver to his ear. Hal became silent. + +Ten minutes later Chester removed the receiver from his ear. + +"Nothing doing," he said. "I can hear some of the men talking, but +they are evidently playing cards." + +"Let me listen a while," said Hal. + +Chester passed the receiver to his chum, and the latter listened +intently. For some moments he heard nothing save the jabbering jargon +of German troopers apparently interested in a card game. He was about +to take the receiver from his ear, however, when another voice caught +his attention + +He held up a hand, which told Chester that something of importance was +going on. + +"All right, general," said a voice in the German trenches, which was +carried plainly to Hal's ear by the Dictaphone. + +"Stay!" came another voice. "You will also order Colonel Blucher to +open with all his guns at the moment that General Schmidt's men advance +to the attack." + +"At midnight, sir," was the reply. + +"That is all." + +The voices became silent. + +Quickly Hal reported to Chester what he had overheard. + +"It's up to us to arouse Captain O'Neill," said Chester. He hurried +off. + +Hal glanced at his watch. + +It was 10 o'clock. + +"Two hours," the lad muttered. "Well, I guess we'll be ready for +them." + +A few moments later Captain O'Neill appeared. He was in command of the +Americans in the first line trenches. These troops were in their +present positions for "seasoning" purposes. They had been the first to +be given this post of honor. They had held it for several days, and +then had been relieved only to be returned to the front within ten +days. + +At command from Captain O'Neill, Hal made his way to the south along +the line of trenches, and approached the quarters of General Dupres. +To an orderly he announced that he bore a communication from Captain +O'Neill. + +"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed the French commander, when Hal had delivered his +message. "So they will attack us in the night, eh? Well, we shall +receive them right warmly." + +He thought a moment. Then he said: + +"You will tell Captain O'Neill to move from the trenches with his +entire strength. He will advance ten yards and then move one hundred +yards north. You may tell him that I will post a force of equal +strength to the south. He will not fire until my French troops open on +the enemy." + +Hal returned and reported to Captain O'Neill. + +It was plain that the American officer didn't understand the situation +fully. However, he simply shrugged his shoulders. + +"General Dupres is in command," he said. "I guess he knows what he's +doing or he wouldn't be here." + +Captain O'Neill gave the necessary commands. The American troops moved +from the trenches in silence. There was a suppressed air of +excitement, however, for each man was eager for the coming of he knew +not what. + + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE AMBUSH + +At the point decided upon for the American troops to take their stand +was a collection of shell holes. In order that the attack upon the +Germans might have all the elements of surprise when it came, Captain +O'Neill ordered his men into these holes to guard against any +possibility of surprise. + +Now, it is an undoubted fact that when a man curls himself up with two +or three preliminary twists, after the fashion of a dog going to bed, +in a perfectly circular shell hole on a night as black as this, he is +extremely likely to lose his sense of direction. + +That is what happened to Private Briggs, of the American forces. + +The Americans lay in silence, awaiting the moment of the surprise. +Suddenly it came. From the position held by the French broke out a +fusillade. The Germans had approached closer. + +Captain O'Neill and his followers got to their feet and dashed upon the +enemy--all but Private Briggs. + +Besides his rifle, each man was armed with hand grenades--bombs--which +he carried in his pockets. + +When Private Briggs sprang to his feet, it took him so long to untangle +himself that the others had gone on ahead of him. + +He could see no one. + +However, want of courage was not one of his failings. He determined +upon a plan of his own. While the other combatants were locked in a +death grapple, he would advance by himself to the German trenches and +hurl his grenade. + +To think with Private Briggs was to act. He advanced at a run. + +Suddenly a parapet loomed up before him. In this same parapet, low +down, Briggs beheld a black and gaping aperture--plainly a loophole +of some kind. Without a moment's hesitation, Briggs hurled a Mills +grenade straight through the loophole, and, forgetting for the moment +that others of his troop were not with him, uttered a wild screech! + +"Come on, boys!" + +He leaped to the top of the trench by himself, and jumped from the +parapet--into his own trenches. Having lost his sense of direction, +he had charged the wrong way. + +As the bomb exploded in the French trenches, men rushed toward him. +Still grasping several bombs, Briggs stared at them in wide-eyed +surprise. An officer rushed up to him. + +Briggs explained the situation. Fortunately, no one had been wounded +by the bomb. + +"You Americans! You Americans!" exclaimed the French officer. "But +go!" he commanded. "Your men are out there," pointing; "do you not +hear the sounds of conflict? If you charge there with the courage with +which you have charged here, you may be of some use after all." + +Briggs wasted no time. With a flush on his face, he again leaped to +the parapet, and, a moment later, disappeared in the darkness, running +as swiftly as he could to where firing indicated that the battle +raged. + +Meanwhile, what of Hal and Chester, and the American troops? + +As the Americans poured from their shell holes after the first outburst +of firing, they dashed toward where they could make out the forms of +German infantry close at hand. + +From beyond, the French, who had taken up a position as the French +commander had outlined to Hal, poured a withering fire into the foe. +The German officer in command immediately halted his advance, wheeled +his men, and gave battle to the French. + +At almost the same moment the Americans dashed upon his men from the +rear. One volley the Americans poured into the Germans, then their +arms drew back and an avalanche of hand grenades sped on their mission +of death. The execution was terrific. + +In vain the German officers attempted to hold their men to the work in +hand. Teuton ranks lost formation, and, as the Americans advanced with +the bayonet, the enemy broke and fled. + +The German surprise had failed; it had been on the other hand. + +As the Germans retreated, the Americans pursued. A body of troops, led +by Hal, came, upon an isolated group of the enemy. + +"Surrender!" cried Hal. + +The Germans needed no second offer. Their guns went to the ground at +the lad's words, and they raised their hands in the air. They were +made prisoners and sent to the rear. There was one officer among +them--a captain. + +At the command from the French general, pursuit of the enemy was +abandoned, much to the disgust of the American troops, who were for +pursuing the Germans clear to their trenches, and beyond, if possible. +Hal and Chester, however, realized the wisdom of the French commander's +order, for there was a possibility, should the French and Americans +advance too close, of their being set upon by overwhelming numbers from +the German trenches, or of their being caught by batteries of +rapid-firers, which most likely would have meant extermination. + +As the French and Americans moved back toward their trenches--the +engagement had consumed only it few minutes--Hal and Chester saw a +man come flying toward them. This, although the lads did not know it +at the time, was Briggs. + +Straight past the American troops Briggs sped, and disappeared in the +darkness beyond. + +"Hello!" said Hal, "that man is an American. Wonder where he's going?" + +"It's Briggs, sir," said a man in the ranks. "He has queer spells some +times. Can we go after him, sir?" + +Hal put the question up to Captain O'Neill. The captain hesitated. + +"My friend and I will go," said Hal. "We've been in this fighting game +too long to take unnecessary chances, sir, but I don't like to see the +man get into trouble when we can save him." + +"Very well," said the captain; "you have my permission, but don't go +too close." + +"I'd like another man, sir." + +"Take your choice." + +Hal glanced at the men, and called: + +"McKenzie." + +A soldier stepped forward. This man, at one time, had been a top +sergeant in the British army. He had served through the Boer war in +South Africa. Hal had met him at the Fort Niagara training camp a few +months before, and, while the man had failed to obtain a commission +there, Hal had been able to have him enlisted in the regular army. + +"Will you go with us, McKenzie?" asked the lad. McKenzie saluted. + +"Glad to, sir," he replied. + +"Good! Then come on," said Hal. "We are wasting time here." + +Hal led the way at a rapid trot. He feared that Briggs had already +approached too close to the German trenches, and the distance was so +short that there was little likelihood of overtaking the man before he +reached the trenches. The only salvation was, so far as Hal could see, +that Briggs might have stopped before he reached the trenches. + +As the three pushed forward, there came a sudden explosion ahead, +followed closely by a second blast. The three redoubled their speed, +and, a moment later, came in sight of the German trenches. + +A strange sight met their eyes. + +There, upon the top of the German parapet, stood Briggs. His right arm +was raised and in it the lads could see a bomb. Apparently the +explosions a moment before had come from the same source. + +As the three looked on, Briggs sent another bomb hurling down into the +German lines. There was a third blast. + +"Great Scott!" cried Chester. "How can he get away with that? Why +don't they shoot him?" + +"They're trying," said Hal. "You can hear the bullets. They are +flying over his head!" The lad raised his voice in a shout: "Briggs! +Come down here!" + +Briggs glanced down. Hal, Chester, and McKenzie had approached close +now, and Briggs made out their features as he gazed down. + +"One moment, sir," he said, "and I'll be with you." + +Deliberately he drew back his arm again, and, a moment later his last +bomb was hurled into the foe. As the explosion resounded from the +German trenches, Briggs leaped down lightly, approached Hal and +Chester, and saluted. + +"I'm ready now, sir," he said. + +"Then run!" cried Hal. + +The four suited the action to the word, and dashed back toward the +American trenches. From behind a volley a rifle fire crackled after +them. + +"Anybody hit?" cried Hal, as they dashed along. + +There were four negative answers. + +Five minutes later the four were safe in the American trenches. + + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DANGEROUS MISSION + +It was noon of the following day. Hal and Chester stood at attention +before General Pershing, the American commander-in-chief. The latter +gazed at them long and earnestly. With a half shrug he muttered, as he +turned to his desk: + +"But they are so young." + +The words were not meant for the lads' ears, but Hal and Chester +overheard them. Hal spoke: + +"If you please, Sir," he said quietly, "we are not so young as you seem +to believe. To me, Sir, our experience seems very old." + +General Pershing glanced up from a pile of papers he was perusing. +Again he looked at the two lads in silence. The two boys bore the +close scrutiny unflinchingly. At length General Pershing got to his +feet, and, approaching Hal and Chester, laid a. hand on the shoulder of +each. + +"You are brave youngsters," he said quietly. "From what you have done +since the American troops reached France, I know that Marshal Joffre +and General Haig have not spoken too highly of you; and yet," here the +American commander hesitated a moment before continuing; "and yet the +piece of work I have in sight will entail, perhaps, more danger, more +finesse, and more resourcefulness than any mission you have ever +undertaken." + +"You will find that we shall not be found wanting, sir," said Chester +respectfully. + +"I am sure of that," was General Pershing's response. "It isn't that I +question your courage or your resourcefulness; but, because of your +youth, in this particular business, I question your wisdom. It is a +task for older and wiser heads, but--" + +General Pershing broke off and became silent. Hal and Chester did not +interrupt his meditations. At length the general continued: + +"I wish to say before going any further that this mission, if you +undertake it, in all probabilities, will mean death for one of you. It +is for this reason that the task in hand requires the services of at +least two men. One to go and come back, and the other to go--and +come back if he can. It may be that neither will return, and yet one +must return if the safety of his country is to be maintained." + +"We shall do our best, sir, if we are entrusted with the mission," said +Chester quietly. + +Again General Pershing hesitated. Then he took his decision. + +"Draw up stools here," he said, and made room at his desk. + +The lads did so. General Pershing spoke in a low voice. + +"You both undoubtedly know," he said, "that since the American +declaration of war on Germany, the activity of German agents and spies +in the United States has grown to startling dimensions?" The lads +nodded and General Pershing continued: "Very good. Now, I have before +me a cable, in code, from the state department, which advises me that +the department of state must have, at all hazards, a list of the most +important German agents in America. It is essential. Here," the +general pushed a slip of paper in front of the lads, "is the +translation of the code message." + +Hal and Chester glanced at the paper. It read: + +"German prime minister has lists of agents and spies in United States. +Realize it is not in your province to get list, but would enlist your +aid, because our diplomatic agents have all left Germany. List is +essential to safeguarding coast defenses and munitions plants. Do what +you can." + +The message was signed by the secretary of state. + +Hal passed the paper back to General Pershing. The latter eyed him +keenly. + +"'You realize the dangerous nature of the work?" he questioned. + +"Perfectly, sir; also its importance. We shall be glad to undertake +it, sir." + +"Very well. Now I have a little information that may be of value. In +another code message from the state department I am advised that +efforts are being made to get a member of the diplomatic staff back +into Berlin. There is one person in the German capital whom you may +trust." General Pershing lowered his voice. "That person," he said, +"is the wife of the German undersecretary for foreign affairs. She is +an American woman, and upon several occasions has been of service to +her own country. Her name is Schweiring." + +"We shall remember, sir," said Chester. + +"Now," said General Pershing, "I have no advice to offer as to how you +shall reach Berlin, nor how you shall go about your work. Once in +Berlin, however, you will have to be governed by circumstances. You +speak German, I am told?" + +"Like natives, sir," said Hal with a grin. + +"Very well. I shall see that you are granted indefinite leave of +absence. There is just one thing more. I want to say that I do not +like to ask my men to become spies." + +"Why, sir," said Chester gravely, "it's all for our country; and the +day when a spy was looked down upon has gone. It is just another way +of serving ones country, sir." + +"Nevertheless," said General Pershing, "the punishment is the same as +it has been down the ages: death." + +"If caught," Hal added with a smile. + +"True," was his commander's response, and a slight smile lighted, up +his own features. + +He arose and extended his hand. Both lads shook it heartily. + +"I hope," said General Pershing, "that you may both come through +safely. But if you don't--well, good-bye. I don't need to tell you +that if one can get through with the list that, from the nation's +standpoint, what happens to the other is insignificant." + +"I have a request to make, sir," said Hal, as they turned to go. + +"Consider it granted," replied his commander. + +"It is this," said Hal. "I believe that it would be well for us to +take a third man along. It may be that he will never reach the German +lines, but he should prove of help for the other two." + +"Have you the man in mind?" asked General Pershing. + +"Yes, sir. A man named McKenzie, a private in our troop. He's a +Canadian, and has seen years of active service. Also, as I happen to +know, he speaks German fluently." + +"I shall give you a paper authorizing his indefinite leave of absence," +said General Pershing. + +He scribbled a few words on a piece of paper, and passed it to the +lad. The boys drew themselves to attention, saluted, and left. + +"A pretty ticklish piece of business," said Chester quietly, as they +made their way to their own quarters. + +"Rather," said Hal dryly; "and still it must be done. The safety of +America depends upon the success of our mission. It may be well that +it has been entrusted to us rather than to older men. We are less +likely to be suspected if we reach Berlin safely. Besides, we have +been there before, and are somewhat familiar with the city." + +"Yes," said Chester grimly, "we've been there several times before. I +recall that we went there once very much against our will--prisoners." + +"Well, we didn't stay very long," said Hal. + +"Let's hope we don't stay for keeps this time either," said Chester. +"To tell the truth, I don't think much of this spy business myself." + +"Somebody has to do it," Hal declared. + +"Of course, but I am not very fond of that sort of work." + +"If you don't want to go--" Hal began, but Chester interrupted. + +"Of course, I want to go if it must be. I am ready to do what I can +for my country in whatever way I may." + +"I knew it," said Hal; "I was only fooling. Come, we will acquaint +McKenzie with his work. And if he comes safely through this, I feel +confident he will not remain long in the ranks." + +The found McKenzie, the erstwhile Canadian sergeant, in his tent. + +"McKenzie," said Hal, "you are about to take a trip, I see." + +"That so, sir? I hadn't heard of it." + +"Yes," Hal continued. "I heard a man say you were about to go to +Germany." + +"And the man," said McKenzie, "was--" + +"General Pershing, McKenzie." + +"Very well, sir," said McKenzie, to whom the few words told the story +of important work to be done. + +"In that event, I presume that General Pershing has seen fit to allow +me leave of absence." + +"He has, McKenzie. I shall present the order to Captain O'Neill at +once. In the meantime, see that your guns are cleaned, and that you +have an extra supply of cartridges. We may need them. Also, leave any +papers or other marks of identification behind. When you are ready, +come to my quarters." + +"I shall be there in half an hour, sir." + +Hal and Chester made their way to Captain O'Neill's quarters. Hal +presented the papers, granting leaves of absence to the three. + +"Hm-m," muttered Captain O'Neill. "Something up, eh? Well, I wish I +were going with you." He extended a hand. + +"Good luck," he said quietly. + + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +INTO GERMANY + +"We'll have to have a leader for this party," said Hal, "one whose word +shall be law. I'm agreeable to Chester." + +"I'd rather have you," said Chester. + +McKenzie also voted for Hal, who already had done him some service. +This agreement, stood. + +"All right," said Hal. "Now that I'm in command, I'll outline the +course of procedure. We'll go from here to the Dutch border." + +"How about passports?" Chester wanted to know. + +"That's simple enough. You remember the time when we drew up a set of +fake passports representing ourselves to be correspondents of the New +York Gazette? We'll follow the same plan, except that we each will be +represented as correspondents of different papers. See, I've already +drawn, them." + +"I see," said Chester, "but American passports won't be honored in +Germany now." + +"But they will be in Holland," said Hal. "We'll see what can be done +about having them changed there. Now, let's see if we know who we +are." + +He passed the fake passports to the others. + +"I'm Barney McCann, eh?" said McKenzie, gazing at the paper he held in +his hand. "Oh, well, I guess I can talk Irish as well as German if I +have to. And I represent the Chicago Mail." + +"I'm still Chester Crawford," said Chester, "and I represent the New +York Gazette." + +"I'm Hal Paine, and I represent the Philadelphia Globe," said Hal. +"We'll probably have to change our names when we go over the German +border, but these should answer their purposes in Holland. +Fortunately, we have learned a few things from Stubbs, so we are not +unfamiliar with the workings of a newspaper." + +"Guess we had better get out of these uniforms," said Chester. + +"Right. We'll don suits of plain khaki, such as Stubbs wears, and +we'll equip ourselves with the necessary paraphernalia." + +This was a simple task, and several hours later, horseback, the lads +made their way toward where British troops, supported by French, were +close to, the border of The Netherlands. + +They showed their passports, prepared by Hal, to the British military +authorities, and were permitted to pass. + +Holland, although not a participant in the great war, nevertheless, +soon after the outbreak of hostilities, had felt herself called upon to +mobilize her military forces that she might protect her borders should +one of the belligerents attempt to overrun her, as the Germans had +overrun Belgium at the outbreak of the war. Therefore, when the three +travelers reached the border, they were held up by the military. + +Hal presented his fake American passport, and Chester and McKenzie did +likewise. The officer who had accosted them turned them over to his +superior. + +"Your intentions," said the officer, "I hope are such as not to break +Holland's neutrality?" + +"We're perfectly peaceable, sir," returned Hal with a smile. + +"Very well. This is a neutral country, and you are, of course, free to +travel about it at your leisure so long as you conduct yourselves +properly. Of course, were you American soldiers it would be necessary +for me to place you under arrest, and YOU would be interned until the +end of the war." + +"I understand that, sir," said Hal. + +"By the way," said the Dutch officer, "there is a Dutch newspaperman +here at this moment. Perhaps you would like to meet him. He is Herr +Heindrick Block, of the Amsterdamer." + +"We shall be pleased," said Hal quietly. + +The Dutch officer excused himself, and returned a moment later with a +young Dutchman, whom he introduced to the three friends. They shook +hands all around. + +"I've already met a compatriot of yours," said the young Dutchman, +smiling, "a Herr Stubbs. He is with one of the New York papers--I +forget which." + +Hal and Chester gave a start of surprise, but quickly recovered +themselves. + +"He is with my paper, The Gazette, sir," returned Chester. "Is he in +these parts?" + +"He was yesterday," replied Block. "I do not know where he is now." + +The three friends took an instant liking to the young Dutch newspaper +man. He led the three to where he was temporarily quartered. + +"We can have a little chat here," he said. + +During the course of the conversation Hal asked: + +"And what is the sentiment in Holland regarding the war?" + +The young Dutchman hesitated a moment, and then turned and gazed around +quickly. + +"The sentiment," he said at last, "is that Germany must be crushed. Of +course, at this moment Holland cannot afford to enter the arena. +Germany has massed thousands of troops upon our border. An unneutral +act would be dangerous. Nevertheless, Holland's sympathies are with +the Allies--have been from the start. There is another factor +besides Holland's natural gratitude to England--that makes for this. +Germany has overrun Holland, as well as the rest of the world with +spies. Holland is offended, but cannot afford to show it--now. But +while we are kept quiet, there are few of us who would not do much to +help the Allied cause." + +Hal thought quickly. He glanced at the young Dutchman shrewdly. He +felt he could be trusted. + +"Then," said the lad quietly, "can you conceive of any way by which we +can get passports from the Dutch government that will pass us into +Germany?" + +The young Dutchman manifested no surprise. + +"Have no fear," he said, as Chester and McKenzie manifested some +anxiety at Hal's words. "I shall not betray you. Only yesterday I was +able to get a passport for your friend Herr Stubbs." + +"What?" cried Hal. "Stubbs gone into Germany?" + +"I supposed you knew that," said Block. "I supposed he was one of +you." + +"No," said Chester, "Stubbs is what he represents himself to be--a +war correspondent." + +"Nevertheless," said Block, "he has gone into Germany as Herr +Klepstein, a Dutch newspaperman." + +"That means," said Hal, "that it will be hard work getting passports +for us." + +"Not at all," said Block. "I can do that with ease. There are many +Dutch correspondents in Germany. Two or three more won't matter. One +of you can take my passport." He looked at Hal. "You and I look +something alike, anyhow," he said. + +"So we do," Hal agreed. "But can you get passports for my friends +here?" + +"I can manufacture them myself, the same as I did for your friend +Stubbs," said the Dutchman quietly, "I need not tell you, however, that +should I be discovered I would probably be shot. But why shouldn't I +do it? My mother was an English Woman." + +"We shall be greatly obliged," said Hal. + +Block led the way from the tent. + +"Mount your horses," he said. "We'll go to the railroad station and +catch a train for Amsterdam. You shall be my guests until the +passports are prepared." + +Hal was nothing loath. He realized that they had encountered good +fortune in the person of Herr Block. He placed implicit confidence in +the man, for it was perfectly plain that Block was telling the truth +when he said his sympathies were with the Allies. + +For two days the three friends were the guests of the young Dutchman at +his bachelor apartments in Amsterdam. Upon the morning of the third +day, Block presented them with passports properly vised by the Dutch +authorities. + +"These will get you through," he said quietly. + +"We can never thank you enough," declared Hal, quietly. "Some day you +will realize what a great thing you have done for the world." + +"I realize it now," was the young Dutchman's reply. "I wish I were +going with you, but it may be that I can be of more service here." + +"Undoubtedly," said Hal, "if this is an example." + +"Now don't forget who you are," enjoined Block. "You," to Hal, "are +Herr Block, of The Amsterdamer." To Chester, "You are Herr Amusdem" +To McKenzie: "You are Herr Spidle, both of The Nederlander. Do not +forget. Should you encounter other Dutch correspondents, it will be +well for you to stand on your dignity, and to talk to them as little as +possible. Now, have you any idea how you are to go about the +accomplishment of your mission, whatever it is?" + +"No," said Hal, "I haven't. We shall act in accordance with +developments." + +"Well," said Block, "you may as well be going. The sooner you get +there the better. I shall go with you to your train. You will have to +show no passports until you get to the frontier." + +At the station, Block saw them comfortably installed in a car that +would carry them across the border. He shook hands with them. + +"Good luck," he said quietly; and added: "Should you, by any chance, +come out of Germany a jump ahead of a bayonet, remember you will find +temporary, safety in my quarters. Good-bye." + + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE GAME OPENS + +"You may pass, gentlemen." + +The speaker was a German officer. Upon the arrival of the three +friends at the railroad terminus just across the German border the +officer had made a tour of the train, examining the passports of the +passengers. Hal, Chester and McKenzie had extended their passports +along with the other passengers, and the German officer had found +nothing wrong with them. + +As the German took his leave, McKenzie breathed a sigh of relief. + +"I was sure he was going to nab us," he said. + +"Careful," whispered Hal. "We must do all our talking in German, and +we must do very little of that concerning our private affairs. +Remember, walls have ears, and I guess that will apply to a railroad +car as well as a house." + +"Right, Herr Block," said Chester with a smile. + +The lads found that by remaining upon their car they would go straight +through to Berlin. The train was called the Amsterdam-Berlin express, +and, while at the border, it was crowded with troops, there was still a +fair sprinkling of passengers bound for the German capital. + +It was after dark when the train pulled into Berlin and Hal, Chester, +and McKenzie prepared to disembark. As the train stopped, Hal made +sure that his revolver was loose in his pocket, settled his hat firmly +on his head, and led the way from the car. + +As with most travelers in that part of the world at that time, neither +was burdened with baggage. Each carried a small portfolio, much used +at that time by war correspondents, but they had no other luggage. + +"We'll go to the Hotel Bismarck," said Hal. + +Although it had been years since either Hal or Chester had been in +Berlin, Hal's sense of direction now stood him in good stead. He +remembered where the Hotel Bismarck stood as well as though he had been +there yesterday. + +At the hotel the three registered under their assumed names, and paid a +month in advance for a small suite of two rooms. + +"We expect to study the internal situation of the city for some time," +Hal explained to the clerk, "and we want to feel sure that we shall +have a place to stay while we are here." + +The three made themselves comfortable in their apartments, and for some +time talked quietly. At last Hal gave the word for bed. + +"We don't know just how we shall proceed," he said, "but we must be +fresh and ready for any eventuality in the morning." + +Morning came and with it the three friends were astir. They had an +early breakfast, and then Hal announced that he would fare forth +alone. + +"I'll tell you where I'm going," he said, "so that if anything happens +to me you will go ahead with the work, regardless. Remember this. +Even though I may get in trouble, your duty will be to get the list, +irrespective of what my fate may be. America comes first, you know, +Chester." + +"Of course," was the latter's quiet reply. + +"Well," said Hal, "I am going to the home of the German undersecretary +of foreign affairs. I am going to see Mrs. Schweiring." + +Chester nodded. + +"Then we shall stay here until you return," he said. + +"Very well," Hal agreed. "But if I have not returned by noon, you will +know something has happened, and you will proceed about the work with +no further thought of me." + +He left the room quickly. + +He made inquiries at the hotel office, and half an hour later found +himself before the residence of the German undersecretary of foreign +affairs. He rang the doorbell. A footman answered the ring. Hal +announced that he would like to see Mrs. Schweiring. + +"Your card," said the footman, allowing him to enter. + +"I have no card," said Hal. "You will tell her that Herr Block, of the +Dutch newspaper, The Amsterdamer, desires to see her." + +The footman bowed and departed. A few moments later he returned, +followed by a young woman--she could not have been more than 18, Hal +decided. The young woman approached, and spoke to Hal. + +"My mother is unable to see you at this moment, Herr Block," she said. +"She has sent me to learn the nature of your business with her." + +"I am sorry, fraulein," said Hal gravely, "but my business is with your +mother. I cannot confide it to you." + +The footman, meantime, had left the room. + +The girl stamped her foot a little angrily. + +"But mother has no secrets from me," she declared. + +"That's the American blood talking now," said Hal to himself. Aloud he +replied: "Nevertheless, fraulein, I must again ask to be permitted to +speak to your mother." + +The girl glanced at him sharply. Then she exclaimed in a low voice: + +"You are no Dutchman, mynheer." + +Hal started a trifle in spite of himself; then, realizing that this +must have betrayed him, he dropped his hand to his pocket, where +reposed his revolver. + +The girl smiled. + +"Have no fear," she said. "I shall say nothing. Can it be you are the +one whom mother expects?" + +"The best way to find that out," said Hal, "is to summon your mother." + +The girl hesitated no longer. She fairly flew from the room. She +reappeared a moment later, followed by an older woman. + +"This is Herr Block, Mother," she said. + +"Very well, Gladys," replied her mother. "Now, if you will leave us +alone, and make sure that we are not disturbed." + +"I shall stand guard myself," replied the daughter. + +She disappeared into the long hall. + +"Now, Herr Block," said Mrs. Schweiring, "you may tell me the nature of +your business." + +Hal glanced sharply about the room. Then he leaned close. + +"I come from the American expeditionary forces in France," he said +quietly. + +Mrs. Schweiring manifested no surprise. + +"I had surmised as much," she returned, "I had looked, however, for a +man in civil life rather than a military man; also, I had looked for +one farther along in years." + +"I am sure you will find that my youth may work to our advantage," said +Hal quietly. + +"Perhaps. Now tell me in what way I may help." + +"Well," said Hal, "I have come, two friends and myself, in an effort to +lay hands upon the list of German spies in America--the list kept by +the German prime minister." + +Mrs. Schweiring nodded. + +"I had supposed as much. It was I who informed the department of state +in Washington that such a list exists; but without help and without +laying myself open to suspicion, I dared not try to get it. It is +desperate work, but we shall see what can be done. Gladys!" + +Her daughter re-entered the room in response to this summons. + +"Gladys," said her mother, "Herr Block is the man we have been +expecting; but he has not come alone. His companions are at the Hotel +Bismarck, registered as Herr Spidle and Herr Amusdem. You will have +their belongings moved here. They are friends whom you met in +Switzerland and who will share our hospitality while here. Do you +understand?" + +"Perfectly, Mother." + +"But we have no belongings," said Hal quietly. "We could not be +bothered with excess baggage." + +"Then I shall see that you are supplied with necessary articles," said +his hostess. "The success of your mission will necessitate it. At any +rate," she said, turning again to her daughter, "you will send a car +for Herr Block's friends." + +The girl nodded and left the room. + +"I need not caution you," said Mrs. Schweiring, as she led the way +upstairs--and showed to Hal a suite of three comfortably furnished +rooms. "A little slip will spoil all. I shall introduce you to my +friends as a Dutch war correspondent who, nevertheless, has in him a +strain of German, with a little American blood. I shall represent that +you have lived several years in America, but that your heart is with +the Fatherland." + +"And my friends?" questioned Hal. + +"They shall be just what they represent themselves to be." + +"Very well," said Hal. "You perhaps know best. But I must, as soon as +possible, be introduced either to the prime minister or to one of his +trusted assistants." + +"I will tell you something," said his hostess. "The list which you +seek is no longer in the hands of the prime minister. It is now in +possession of General Rentzel, chief of the secret service; and the son +of the general comes frequently to see my daughter, Gladys. But we +shall talk more later. I will leave you now and see that sufficient +wardrobes are procured for you and your friends." + +She left the room. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BOYS MAKE PROGRESS + +It was a merry party that gathered around the dinner table in the home +of the German undersecretary of foreign affairs two nights later. But +beneath the smiling faces of five members of the party was a suppressed +excitement, for this dinner had been given by Mrs. Schweiring for a +purpose. The purpose was to introduce Hal, Chester and McKenzie to +General Rentzel, chief of the secret service, and his son, Frederick. + +Besides these two guests of honor there were present the German +minister of foreign affairs and one or two other high diplomats. The +boys were in distinguished company and they knew it. + +True to her word, Mrs. Schweiring had provided the three friends with +an abundant wardrobe, which included evening clothes. Dinner over, +Mrs. Schweiring, her daughter Gladys, and the wife of General Rentzel, +the only women present, retired while the men produced cigars and +cigarettes. + +Neither Hal nor Chester smoked, but they felt called upon to accept a +cigarette each. McKenzie, however, had no such scruples, and accepted +a fat cigar without hesitation. + +Hal found himself in conversation with young Captain Rentzel, son of +the chief of the secret service. + +"I understand you have spent some years in America?" he questioned. + +"Why, yes," returned Hal. + +"Do you like the country?" + +"Not overly much," replied Hal with a shrug. "There are some very nice +people there, but they are mostly boors." + +"My idea exactly," returned the young German officer, "although I have +never been there. Do you think America can do much harm to Germany in +this war?" + +"Well," said Hal, "given time, yes; but the American people are +notoriously slow in such matters. Besides, I understand that there are +quite a few German agents at work there now. With enough of them, +irreparable injury could be done to the foe before they could prevent +it." + +"I notice you say foe," said the young German; "Yet you have American +blood in your veins." + +"A trifle," returned Hal quietly; "not enough to make me lose sight of +justice and right." + +"Good!" cried the young German. "Listen. It's true that we have many +agents abroad, but some of them have fallen under suspicion and +consequently will be of no further value. We need more such men who +have lived in America and know the customs, and also will not be +suspected. By the way, have you an appointment for 10 o'clock?" + +"Why, no," said Hal. "Why?" + +"Will you go with me at that hour?" + +"Where to?" + +"To my father's quarters. He, as you know, is the chief of the secret +service. As such, he has charge of the agents abroad. I thought he +might make you a proposition." + +"There will be no harm if I am unable to accept, will there?" asked +Hal. + +"Not a bit," replied the German heartily. + +"Then I'll go." + +The next hour was spent in general conversation, after which Captain +Rentzel arose to take his leave. + +"I'm going to run off with one of your friends, Miss Schweiring," he +said, indicating Hal. + +The others laughed, "Oh, take him and show him about a bit, Frederick," +laughed Mrs. Schweiring's husband. "Only be sure that you return him +safely." + +Hal followed the young captain from the house. + +Half an hour later he found himself in the palatial office of the chief +of the German secret service. + +Hal looked carefully about the room. A long table stood in the +center. This apparently was the personal property of General Rentzel. +Great easy chairs were scattered about the room. There was a window at +the south side, and back, in the center, against the wall, was a large +safe. + +"Pretty comfortable place," said Hal aloud. + +"Rather," agreed the young German. "Father believes in making himself +comfortable." + +General Rentzel had not arrived yet, but he put in an appearance a few +moments later. He manifested no surprise at sight of his son, but he +eyed Hal askance. + +"I thought you young fellows had gone to look about the city," he +said. + +"No, sir," replied his son. "I invited. Herr Block here to see you, +sir." + +"You did? Why?" + +The son explained as quickly as possible. + +"Hm-m," muttered the general when his son had concluded, eying Hal +sharply. "How do I know you are what you represent yourself to be, +sir?" he demanded. + +Hal smiled. + +"I'm not applying for a job, sir," he replied. "I came here at your +son's suggestion. He said you might have a proposition to make, and if +I can be of service without taking too great risk, I am willing, sir." + +Again the general meditated. At last he said: + +"It's true that we have need of men for the work my son mentions. To +my mind, your youth would be in favor, rather than against, the success +of the undertaking. Would you be willing to go back to America?" + +"Well, I don't care particularly about going right now," said Hal +truthfully. + +"But there is nothing to prevent your going?" + +"Well, no. But I would know the nature of my work first. I would not +like to become a spy, sir. It seems to me that spies are not made of +manly caliber, sir." + +"You are wrong," was the quiet response. "Why, I can show you the +names of men whom you would not think of suspecting, and yet who are +acting for the German government in America." + +"Is that so, sir?" + +"It is indeed. Wait." General Rentzel arose, approached the big safe +in the rear of the room, unlocked it and took there from a small +paper-bound book. He returned to his seat at the table. + +"In this little book," he said, tapping the table gently with it, "are +the names of our agents in America. See, I'll show you a name, of +worldwide importance, who is acting for us." + +General Rentzel exposed a name. Hal glanced at it and then gave a long +whistle. + +"It's no wonder you are surprised," said the general, smiling. +"Neither is it any wonder that our agents have been so successful in +America, considering names like that." + +"I should say not, sir," returned Hal grim. + +General Rentzel returned the book to his safe, closed the heavy iron +door and twirled the knob. + +"What do you say, sir?" he demanded, as he resumed his seat. + +For a moment Hal seemed to hesitate. Then he said: + +"I accept on one condition, sir." + +"And that?" asked the general. + +"That," said Hal, "is that I may have the week in which to put my +affairs in shape. I shall have to resign my position with my paper and +attend to a few other matters, sir." + +"Very good, sir. You need not call here again. It would be unwise. I +shall see you at the Swiss ambassador's ball, which will be held four +nights from tonight. There I will give you what passports you need and +other instructions. Until then, sir, auf Wiedersehen." + +Captain Rentzel accompanied Hal from his father's office. + +"You are in luck," said that worthy, "and the pay is big. In a year or +two you will be a wealthy man." + +Hal thanked the captain, and made his way home alone. + +As he moved up the steps he was startled to see a shadowy figure +lurking in the doorway. His hand dropped to his pocket, and he +advanced cautiously. + +"Don't be afraid. Take your hand away from that revolver," came the +voice of Gladys Schweiring. + +"Miss Gladys!" exclaimed Hal in surprise. "What are you doing here? +It is almost midnight." + +"I was waiting for you," was the low response. "I was afraid something +might have happened." + +"It has," replied Hal, "but it is good news and not bad. Where is your +mother?" + +"In the drawing-room." + +"Are the others there?" + +"Just your friends. The guests have gone, and father has retired." + +"Good. I have important information for them," + +Hal followed the young girl into the drawing room. Chester rose to his +feet. + +"By George! I'm glad to see you back safely," he said. "I was afraid +something had happened." + +Others echoed his words. + +"Folks," said Hal, "I've news for you--good news." + +"What is it?" demanded Chester eagerly. + +"Well," said Hal very quietly. "I've seen the list!" + + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE MINISTER'S BALL + +It was a gay assemblage that thronged the home of the Swiss minister +four nights after Hal's interview with the chief of the German secret +service. Elegantly dressed women and well groomed and handsome +officers danced and sang, and from the general tone of the evening it +would have been hard to believe that Germany was engaged in a war that +threatened her very existence. + +Hal, Chester and McKenzie went to the ball accompanied by Mrs. +Schweiring and her daughter. Mrs. Schweiring's husband announced that +he would appear later, as he had matters of importance to transact at +his office. + +This was the night that Hal had decided upon to make an effort to get +the list of names for which the three friends were risking so much. He +had a well-conceived plan in mind. The details he had worked out in +the days following his interview with the German chief of secret +service and his preparations had been careful and thorough. Now he was +anxious for action. + +General Rentzel reached the ball late in the evening. He paid his +respects to the Swiss minister and to the latter's wife. A few moments +later he encountered Hal, and escorted the lad to a secluded nook, +where he presented the lad with several documents. + +"This," he said, indicating one, "is your passport into Switzerland. +From there you will travel as a Swiss subject. You will present that +paper," and he indicated a second, "to Herr Baumgartner in Washington. +You will find him still at the Austrian embassy. He will give you +other instructions. Also, you will receive your pay through him, and +whatever other money is necessary." + +Hal bowed. + +"Very well, sir," he said. + +"I don't know that there is anything further," said General Rentzel, +"except to warn you that treachery means death." + +"I am aware of that, sir," returned Hal quietly. + +"Very good, then. Good luck to you." + +The general moved away. + +Hal sought Chester instantly, glancing at his watch as he passed along +slowly and without apparent haste. It was 10:30 o'clock. + +"It's time to get busy, Chester," he said quietly. "It's half-past +ten, and I may require an hour and a half. You get word to Gladys and +her mother to keep General Rentzel here under some pretext until +midnight. I'm off." + +"Am I not going with you?" demanded Chester. + +"No," said Hal. "I don't have time to wait, and the message must be +delivered to Mrs. Schweiring or her daughter at once. I'll pick +McKenzie up on the way. Good-bye." + +"Good luck," said Chester simply. + +Hal left the room quietly. In the hall he found McKenzie, whom he +motioned to follow him. McKenzie did so quietly. + +Outside Hal found the automobile which had brought them to the ball. +He leaped in and McKenzie followed. Hal gave quick directions to the +chauffeur to drive them home. The latter asked no questions. + +At the home of Mrs. Schweiring Hal ordered McKenzie to remain in the +car while the lad hurried into the house. He returned a moment later, +carrying a small grip. This he threw into the car and climbed in after +it. + +"We have important business with General Rentzel," he told the +chauffeur. "You will drive us there and then return to the ball for +your mistress." + +The chauffeur asked no questions. There were so many queer things +going on in Berlin that he was not even greatly interested. + +General Rentzel's office was in darkness when the car pulled up before +it. Motioning McKenzie to follow him, Hal hastened up the steps. The +chauffeur, in accordance with Hal's instructions, immediately +disappeared down the street with the car. + +In the darkness of the vestibule, Hal tried the door. + +"Locked," he said. "Lucky we came prepared." + +He opened the little grip he carried. + +Meanwhile, Chester had carried Hal's message to Gladys. The latter had +repeated it to her mother, and these two now shadowed General Rentzel +every place he moved, for they were fearful that he might decide at any +moment to leave the house. Chester kept his eyes on all three. + +Chester was plainly nervous. Had he been in the danger himself his +nerves would have been as hard as steel, but the inaction while someone +else was doing the work made him impatient and fanciful. + +Finally General Rentzel approached the Swiss minister and paid his +adieus. Then he moved toward the cloakroom. + +Halfway there he was intercepted by Mrs. Schweiring and Gladys. + +"You are not going so soon, your excellency?" questioned Mrs. +Schweiring. + +"I must," was the reply. "I have work to do at my office that will +keep me until far into the night." + +"I'm sorry," was the reply. "Have you seen my husband?" + +"Why, no." + +"I understood him to say that he had some business with you; perhaps I +was mistaken, however." + +Twice now the general had attempted to move on, but Mrs. Schweiring had +prevented it. He tried again, and she asked: + +"What time have you, your excellency?" + +General Rentzel glanced at his watch. + +"Half-past eleven," he said. + +"Surely, it is not that late," said Mrs. Schweiring. "Why, we have +only been here a short time." + +"Madame," said General Rentzel at this juncture, "I must ask you to +excuse me. I must be going." + +There was no reply the other could make to this without laying herself +open to suspicion. She stepped back, and the German secret service +chief passed on. + +Behind him the woman and her daughter wrung their hands. They had been +unsuccessful. In their minds they could see General Rentzel bursting +in upon Hal and McKenzie in the middle of their work. + +"What are we going to do?" cried the mother. + +"They must be warned!' cried the daughter. + +"But how?" + +"I will warn them myself. It is a long ways to the general's +quarters. He will be in no hurry. I can get there ahead of him." + +"But if you should be discovered?" + +Gladys shrugged her shoulders and was gone before her mother could +protest. + +Outside she dashed up to the Schweiring automobile and cried to the +chauffeur. + +"To General Rentzel's quarters! Quick!" + +The machine sprang forward with a lurch. + +Two minutes later, Gladys, peering from the car, made out as they +passed what she took to be General, Rentzel's machine. She urged the +chauffeur on even faster. + +Half a block from the general's quarters, she ordered her driver to +stop and then to take up position down a side street, where it was +dark, and wait for her. These instructions were obeyed without +question. + +Gladys hurried toward the house. + +There was no light to be seen as she ascended the steps and laid a hand +on the door knob. Nevertheless the girl moved silently, for she did +not know what servants might be in the house. + +The door opened without a sound. Gladys advanced into the darkness. + +From time to time she stopped as she moved along, but she was so afraid +that General Rentzel might arrive before she could warn Hal and +McKenzie that she wasted little time. + +She came to a door, which opened noiselessly. She peered into the +darkness, and in what appeared to be another room she saw what looked +like a star. + +The girl breathed a cry of thankfulness. She knew that she had found +what she sought. She moved forward more rapidly. + +As she walked along toward the light, she suddenly tripped over an +obstacle hidden by the mantle of darkness and fell to the floor. + +There was a crash that resounded throughout the house. + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +HAL GETS THE LIST + +When Hal and McKenzie stopped in the entrance way upon finding that the +door was locked, Hal took from the little grip he carried a long +skeleton key. This had been procured for him by Mrs. Schweiring, and +Hal knew that it would unlock almost any door. + +To gain entrance to the house, therefore, was but the matter of an +instant. + +From his grip again Hal produced a small flashlight, with which he +lighted their way. Thanks to the lad's previous visit to the house, he +knew right where he was going, so there was no time lost in search. + +Straight to the large safe in the general's private office Hal led the +way. There he passed the light to McKenzie and placed the grip on the +floor. + +"No chance it has been left unlocked, I guess," the lad muttered. +"However, I'll try it." + +He shook the handle. The safe was locked. + +"As I thought," said Hal. "Well, the rest will take time. Turn the +light on the lock, McKenzie." + +McKenzie obeyed. + +From his grip Hal took an ordinary cake of soap. This he proceeded to +rub around the lock and stuff into the cracks. This done to his +satisfaction, he stepped back and surveyed his work. + +"All right, I guess," he said. "I never tackled anything like this +before, but I think I know how it's done." + +The next article he produced from the grip was a small vial. One look +told McKenzie what it was. It contained nitroglycerine. This Hal +poured under the edge of the safe. Then he attached a fuse and lighted +it. Immediately he threw a heavy blanket, which was the last article +the grip contained, over the safe to muffle the sound of the explosion +that would occur in a few moments. + +"Get back in the corner and crouch down, McKenzie," said Hal, and did +the same thing himself. + +At that moment there was a crash in the adjoining room. Hal's revolver +leaped out, as did McKenzie's, and both dashed into the room. McKenzie +flashed the light across the floor, and there, just getting to her +feet, was Gladys. + +"Quick! You must fly!" she cried. "General Rentzel is on his way and +will be here at any moment." + +The fuse in the other room was burning fast, as Hal knew. The lad +determined, in that instant, that he would not leave the house without +getting the list for which he had come. + +He pulled Gladys back into the room where the fuse was fast burning to +the safe. McKenzie followed, and the three crouched down. + +A moment and there was a muffled explosion, followed by a flash of +fire. Smoke filled the room. With a cry to the others to stay where +they were, Hal dashed to the safe. It was as he hoped. The door had +been blown clear. + +Quickly Hal explored the contents of the safe. Then he gave a cry of +delight. His hand encountered what he felt sure was the book he +sought. He ran across the room with it to where McKenzie held the +flashlight and by its glow examined his prize. + +It was the list he sought. + +Hal hesitated one moment, and then he pressed the book into the hands +of Gladys. + +"Quick!" he said. "Out the window with you. Give this to Chester and +tell him to get out of Berlin at once. Tell him he will be followed +but that he must get through." + +"But you--"' protested Gladys. + +There came the sound of rapid footsteps in the next room. Hal picked +Gladys up in his arms, carried her to the window, and dropped her to +the ground as he said in a low voice: + +"To hesitate means failure. Do as I say and quickly." + +He returned to McKenzie's side. When he reached there McKenzie +extinguished his light. + +"Well, we've got the list," he said quietly. + +"We have," Hal agreed, "but our lives probably will pay the forfeit. +We must stay here until we are discovered. To follow Gladys would mean +her capture." + +"We won't have to wait long," said McKenzie grimly. "Here they come." + +It was true. + +Footsteps came toward them. Suddenly the room burst into light as +someone pressed an electric, light button. General Rentzel strode into +the room. + +His eyes fell upon Hal and McKenzie immediately. He said nothing, but +gazed about. Then he saw the shattered safe. He dashed forward with a +cry and examined the interior, carefully. Then his face turned white +as he faced Hal. + +"The list," he said in a hoarse voice, "where is it?" + +Hal smiled. + +"Where you will never get it, I hope," he replied quietly. + +General Rentzel strode forward with a shout. + +"They are spies! Seize them, men!" he cried. + +Hal's right arm shot out and the chief of the German secret service +sprawled on the floor. + +"To the stairs!" Hal cried to McKenzie. + +The Canadian needed no urging. Two German soldiers fell to the floor +under his quick blows and then McKenzie joined Hal on the steps which +fled upward from the rear of the room. + +Hall produced a revolver. McKenzie did likewise. + +"The first man who moves dies!" cried Hal, as he moved his revolver +from side to side. + +The men below, of whom there were perhaps a dozen, stood still. +Apparently each was afraid to make the first move. + +General Rentzel sat up and wiped his face with a handkerchief. + +"Shoot them!" he cried. + +From the rear of the crowd there was a flash of fire and a report. A +bullet sped over Hal's head. McKenzie's revolver flashed and a German +fell to rise no more. + +At this moment McKenzie took command. + +"Up the steps!" he cried. + +Hal realized that to hesitate meant instant death. He was, perhaps, +two steps above McKenzie, and he covered the rest in two leaps. There +he stopped and covered the room. He was in position to protect +McKenzie's retreat. + +McKenzie also leaped to the top step, and there, for a moment, they +were out of the line of fire. To reach them it was necessary for the +Germans to stand directly in front of the steps, and there was no man +below who felt called upon to face this certain death, in spite of the +hoarse commands of General Rentzel. + +But in a situation like this could not last long. Other officers and +soldiers, aroused by the explosion appeared on the scene. Hal realized +that their predicament was desperate. With a cry to McKenzie, Hal +darted back along the hall, turned into the first room he saw, flung +open the window and leaped to the ground. + +McKenzie was close behind him. + +Hal led the way along the street at a rapid walk, with McKenzie at his +heels. The lad turned down several side streets, doubling occasionally +on his tracks in an effort to throw off possible pursuers. As they +drew farther away from the house where they had been discovered they +encountered fewer and fewer people. Apparently the sound of the +explosion had not reached here. + +They were safe for the moment and Hal breathed easier. + +"Hope Chester has a good start," he said to McKenzie in a low voice. + +"He should have by this time," was the reply. "They figure, of course, +that we have the list." + +Hal would have replied, but as they passed a house at that moment a man +stepped from the door. Hal uttered an exclamation of pure amazement. + +The newcomer was dressed in costume that he had worn since the war +began. He looked much as upon the night that Hal first saw him. He +paid no attention to Hal and McKenzie at first, but Hal brought him +about with a word. + +"Stubbs!" + +It was indeed the little war correspondent of whose presence in Germany +Herr Block had told the three friends before they left Holland. + +Stubbs wheeled sharply. He saw Hal and turned pale. + +"Hello--hello, Hal," he gasped. "Wh--what are you doing here?" + +"Is that your house?" demanded Hal, indicating the one from which +Stubbs had just emerged. + +"Yes; why?" + +"Then we'll go in with you," said Hal quietly. + +"But I don't want to go in," declared Stubbs. + +"But we do," said Hal. "Meet my friend, McKenzie, Stubbs." + +"I don't want to meet him," declared Stubbs. "I tell you I'm in danger +here." + +"So are we," said Hal. "That's the reason we're going to take +advantage of your hospitality. Come on in, Stubbs. We've got to get +out of this country." + +"I'll never get out alive now that you've showed up," Stubbs mumbled. + +But he led the way inside. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +STUBBS IS CRESTFALLEN + +Inside, Stubbs struck a match. + +"I say! Hold up, there!" Hal exclaimed, and grasped the hand that held +the match and extinguished the flame. "We don't want any light in +here," he added. + +In vain Stubbs tried to pierce the darkness with his eyes to make out +the lad's features. + +"Humph!" muttered the little man. "What have you been up to now?" + +"Stubbs," said Hal, "the whole of Germany will be scouring the city for +us before long. We've got to get away from here." + +"Well," said Stubbs, "the whole of Germany is already looking for me, +but they haven't found me yet." + +"What are they hunting you for?" demanded Hal. "Surely, you haven't +harmed anyone." + +"Maybe not; but they've discovered who I am." + +"That you're an American war correspondent, eh?" + +"Why, no," said Stubbs quietly, "they've discovered that I'm here at +command of the American state department searching for a certain list +of names." + +It was Hal's turn to be surprised and he started back. + +"What's that?" he cried, believing that he could not have heard +aright. + +Stubbs repeated his statement. + +"But I thought--" began Hal. + +"And what business have you to think!" demanded Stubbs with sudden +anger. "Haven't I the same, right as you to do something for my +country?" + +"Of course, Mr. Stubbs, and I think all more of you for it, but at the +same time I never dreamed--" + +"Of course you didn't. Neither did anyone else, which is the reason my +services were accepted. That is, no one knew it outside of Germany, +but they seem to have spotted me here soon enough." + +"I see," said Hal. "Then you must have made an effort to get the list +of German agents in the United States." + +Stubbs gave an exclamation of amazement. + +"Who said anything about spies?" he asked. + +"Well, you didn't, to be sure," said Hal, "But as I happened to have +the list in my hands a few moments ago, I didn't need to be told." + +"You had it?" cried Stubbs, unconsciously raising his voice. + +"Yes." + +"'Where is it now?" demanded Stubbs eagerly. + +"Safe, I hope," replied Hal quietly, "but don't talk so loud, Stubbs. +I sent the list to Chester by a trusted aide, and I have no doubt he is +on his way out of the country with it now." + +"How'd you get it?" inquired Stubbs. + +Hal explained. + +"By George!" said Stubbs. "You fellows have all the luck. I tried and +failed." + +"Maybe you didn't know where it was," said Hal. + +"Didn't, eh? Say, let me ask you something. Didn't you think it was +rather strange when you approached General Rentzel's place that there +was no one around, eh?" + +"Well, such a thought had occurred to me," Hal admitted, "but I +supposed no one was on guard through overconfidence." + +"Do you want me to tell you where the guards were?" + +"Why, yes, if you know." + +"Well, I know all right. They were chasing me around the highways and +byways, if you want to know," Stubbs exploded. "They discovered me +trying to get into the house and I ran for my life. Well, this beats +the Dutch! I cleared the road for you and you grabbed the list!" + +Stubbs became silent. + +"At all events," said Hal, "we got the list--and that is what counts, +after all." + +"True," said Stubbs, and extended a hand in the darkness, which Hal +grasped warmly. "Well," he said, "we're all tarred with the same +brush, and it will give these Huns great delight to stand us all up +before a wall or with ropes around our necks in a bunch. The sooner we +get back to our lines the better for all our families." + +"But the question is, how?" said Hal quietly. + +"I've got a big automobile waiting for me about a mile from here," said +Stubbs. "If we can get into it we can go a long ways without +interruption." + +"They'll wire ahead," said Hal + +"So they will," Stubbs agreed, "but I've also got a pocket full of the +prettiest passports and other credentials you ever saw. I didn't chop +down my bridges behind me, as you seem to have done. Once in my car, +as I say, and we'll move away from here." + +"Then we may as well be moving," said McKenzie, who had not spoken +until that moment. + +"Right," Hal agreed. "But we must be careful. No telling how many +Germans are nearby, scouring the streets for us. Lead the way, +Stubbs." + +"That's right," said Stubbs, "pick me for the easy work." + +"I'll lead the way if the little man is afraid," growled McKenzie. + +Stubbs whirled on him in the darkness. + +"Look here!" he exclaimed, "I allow no man to talk to me like that. +Understand?" + +McKenzie was somewhat taken aback, but he growled again: + +"Then lead on and don't talk so much." + +Stubbs would have made another angry retort, but Hal nudged him to +move. + +Muttering to himself, Stubbs led the way to the street again. + +There was no one in sight as they emerged from the darkened house, and +they moved off down the street with rapid strides. Occasionally they +saw passing civilians, with now and then an officer or trooper or so, +but Berlin seemed to be sleeping securely in the knowledge that the +enemy was far from its door. + +Hal gazed at his watch by the glare of a street light. It was almost 4 +o'clock. + +"Two hours to daylight," he muttered. "We shall have to hurry." + +Fifteen minutes later Stubbs slowed down. + +"My automobile is in a small garage around the next corner," he said, +and added significantly, "if nothing has happened to it." + +"Let's get it then," said Hal. "We don't want to stand here." + +Stubbs moved on again and Hal and McKenzie followed him closely. + +There was no sign of a living person near the little garage. Stubbs +approached and attempted to throw back the closed door. It would not +budge. + +"Let me try, Stubbs," said Hal, pushing forward. + +He took from his pocket a short but well tempered piece of steel. He +found that the door was held by a padlock. He inserted the piece of +steel in the top, and, putting forth all his strength, broke the lock. + +There was a sharp report as the lock fell to pieces. + +"Quick, Stubbs!" Hal cried. "That noise will have aroused every sleepy +policeman within a mile." + +McKenzie lent a hand and the door was thrown back. Stubbs gave a gasp +of relief. The automobile was there. + +"You do the driving, Hal," cried Stubbs. "Pile in here, man," this to +McKenzie. "She's all ready to start. Come on." + +The others wasted no time in words. McKenzie scrambled in the back +seat alongside Stubbs, while Hal sprang to the wheel. A moment later +the automobile moved slowly from the garage. + +As the big machine came clear into the street, a bright light suddenly +flashed around the next comer and headed toward them. Hal knew in a +moment what it was. It was a motorcycle, bearing a policeman. There +was but one course to pursue, and Hal acted without hesitation. He +threw the machine into high and it dashed directly toward the +motorcycle. + +The man saved his life by swerving swiftly to one side. His machine +bumped the curb and threw the rider off. When he picked himself up the +automobile bearing the three friends was turning a corner, apparently +on one wheel for Hal had scarcely diminished the speed. + +The German drew his revolver and fired a shot ill the air. He was +sounding the alarm and summoning assistance at the same time. + +Quickly he righted his motorcycle, mounted, and made off in pursuit of +the high-powered automobile. + +At the sound of the German's shot, Hal increased the speed of the +automobile. + +"McKenzie!" he cried. + +McKenzie leaned forward so as to catch the words the lad shouted back +to him. + +"Get your guns ready!" cried Hal. "Don't let anyone come at us from +the rear." + +McKenzie understood. He repeated Hal's words to Stubbs, shouting to +make himself heard. + +"Can't anyone catch us from behind," Stubbs shouted back. "This car +will outrun anything in Germany." + +McKenzie made no reply, but looked to his guns. He knew that it was +not pursuing automobiles that Hal was afraid of; but high-powered +motorcycles in use in Germany would probably be able to overtake the +car no matter what its speed. + +So far, however, the road behind was clear. + + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TOWARD THE FRONTIER + +Hal set his course by instinct and the glow of the disappearing moon, +and a few moments after their swift departure, it seemed, they were +beyond the city itself, headed straight for the Dutch frontier. + +There was no pursuit, and Hal rightly judged the reason to be because +he had thrown pursuers off the track by several sharp turns before +leaving the city proper. + +After an hour's riding, Hal made out specks ahead that he took to be +automobiles. He increased the speed of the car slightly to make sure +of this fact. The car driven by Hal was gaining, but so slightly as to +be almost imperceptible. + +"Those fellows are hitting up a pretty swift gait," the lad muttered. +"I wonder why." + +The sound of a shot was suddenly swept back to Hal's ear. + +"Hello!" he muttered. "Trouble ahead." + +He slowed down, for he had no mind to mix up with the Germans so long +as it could be avoided. Suddenly the first automobile ahead came to a +stop. The second did likewise. Hal shut off his searchlight and +approached slowly in the darkness. + +It became plain, as he drew closer, that the first automobile had been +stopped by a pistol shot, which probably had punctured a rear tire. + +There came more pistol shots and then silence. Hal brought his own +machine to a dead stop. + +A few moments later one of the automobiles ahead, as Hal could see by +the position of its searchlight, began to turn in the road. Instantly +Hal flashed his own light on and sent the car forward. This he did +because he realized it would look suspicious should the flare of the +other light show Hal's car standing still in the road. + +The other car had now come about and approached Hal's machine. + +McKenzie and Stubbs both had been watching the proceedings ahead with +strained eyes. Now they were ready for Hal's words: + +"Guns ready back there. We'll pass if they let us alone." + +The cars came closer together. Suddenly Hal was struck with a thought +that sent a chill down his spine. Suppose Chester was in that car! +Maybe the pursuit he had witnessed was the pursuit of Chester. + +The cars were almost together now. Instead of turning off to the right +to allow the other to pass, as it seemed to have every intention of +doing, Hal only swerved slightly. Then, before the other car could +pass, he brought his own machine to a stop and sprang to the ground, +revolver in hand. McKenzie was close behind him. + +Only Stubbs remained in the automobile, and he, too, held a revolver +ready for instant action. + +A voice from the strange car hailed Hal. + +"Why do you stop us like this?" it demanded. + +"Want to see who you are," was the lad's reply. "A spy has escaped +from Berlin, and I have orders to search all vehicles." + +"You are mistaken," said the voice. "The spy has not escaped. We have +him here." + +"Good!" exclaimed Hal. "Nevertheless, I must satisfy myself that you +are speaking the truth and are what you represent yourselves to be." + +"Of course," returned the voice. "Approach." + +Hal went forward slowly, gun in hand, as did McKenzie. + +Hal now made out that there were four occupants of the car, besides the +man at the wheel and a figure stretched out in the tonneau. + +With his cap down over his eyes, he peered in. The men were in +civilian garb and Hal knew, therefore, that they must be members of the +secret service and not of the military. He knew, too, that they would +consequently be that much harder to handle. Nevertheless, he +determined upon a bold stroke. + +"Hands up, all of you!" he cried in a stern voice. + +His revolver covered the occupants in the front seat. McKenzie covered +the rear. + +"Here, what's the meaning of this?" exclaimed a man who seemed to be +the leader. "You fool! Haven't you been convinced yet that we are +what we say." + +"Perfectly," returned Hal quietly. "That's why I must insist that you +raise your hands. Instantly!" His voice hardened and his finger +tightened on the trigger. "Shoot without hesitancy," he warned +McKenzie. + +McKenzie's lips were set in a determined line. It was plain that he +would need no urging. + +"Well," said one of the Germans, "it's my belief you are also spies." + +"Hands up!" repeated Hal. + +"If you must have it you must!" exclaimed the first German. + +His hand flashed up and in it was a revolver. + +McKenzie's revolver flashed. The German dropped back. + +The man at the wheel released his hold on the steering apparatus and +also reached for a gun. Hal dropped him without changing his +position. + +One of the Germans, before either Hal or McKenzie could stop him, +hurled himself over the far side of the car. The other two raised +their hands. + +"That other fellow is probably bent on mischief," said Hal to himself, +"but we'll have to take a chance. Cover 'em" he ordered McKenzie, +"while I get their guns!" + +Hal advanced to the side of the car and deprived the two Germans of +their revolvers. Then he climbed in and motioned the Germans to get +out. After that he bent over the still form in the bottom of the car. +It was Chester. + +"Keep those fellows covered, McKenzie," he warned. "Don't let them +move. One of them may have the list." + +The Germans made no move under the muzzle of McKenzie's gun, held in a +steady hand. + +Hal lifted Chester's head to his knee. As he did so there was a sharp +report from nearby, quickly followed by a second, and Hal felt a slight +pain in his left arm. + +He dropped Chester's head and leaped to the ground. + +"That's the man who escaped," he said. "I'll have to get him, +McKenzie. You watch, these fellows closely." + +"It's all right, Hal," came a voice from the lads own car. "I got +him!" + +It was the voice of Stubbs, and the little man now came forward. + +"I stayed behind to cover you fellows," he explained. "The man who +jumped out of the car made a detour and came up to my car. From its +protection he took a shot at you. He didn't see me in the darkness, +though, and I beat him to it. He was so close I couldn't miss." + +"Thanks, Stubbs," said Hal quietly. "Now you look in the car and see +if you can't find some rope or blankets or something to tie these +fellows with." + +Stubbs returned shortly with several thin blankets, which Hal quickly +fashioned into an improvised rope. The two prisoners were bound. + +"Now search 'em for the list," said Hal. + +The war correspondent did so. There was no list to be found. + +"Search the one you just disposed of, Stubb,"' Hal ordered. + +The little man obeyed, and a moment later gave an exclamation of +triumph. + +"Here it is," he cried. + +"Good!" said Hal. "Now we'll lay these fellows where they can't move +to give an alarm." + +This, too, was but the work of a moment. + +"Lend a hand, McKenzie," said Hal. "We'll move Chester into our own car +and then move on. It is dangerous to remain here." + +Chester was gently transferred from one car to the other and laid in +the bottom. + +"You fellows see if you can revive him as we go along," said Hal. "We +have no time to waste." + +He sprang again to the wheel, and the car moved on. + +Daylight overtook the four friends as they sped along the country +road. Occasionally other automobiles flashed by, but they were not +molested. + +Under the administering hands of Stubbs and McKenzie, signs of life +soon became apparent in Chester's body. He moaned feebly once or +twice, and then opened his eyes. For a moment he did not realize where +he was, but with remembrance of the recent attack, he suddenly sat up +and aimed a blow at Stubbs, in whose lap the lad's head had rested. + +"I say! What's the meaning of this?" cried Stubbs. "What are you +trying to hit me for?" + +"Is that you, Stubbs?" asked Chester in a feeble voice. + +"You bet it's me, and I'm going to spank you good if you don't keep +quiet." + +"How'd you get here?" + +"That's a long story," replied Stubbs, "and we don't have time to tell +it now." + +"How do you feel, old man?" asked McKenzie. + +"Great Scott! You here, too?" exclaimed Chester. + +"Yes; and Hal is driving this car. You keep quiet now. We're in grave +danger and you must get all the rest you can. We may have need of your +services before long." + +Chester's head dropped back and his eyes closed. He sat up abruptly +again a moment later, however, and demanded sharply: + +"Where's the list?" + +"Safe," replied Stubbs quietly. + +Chester sank back again with an exclamation of satisfaction. + + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +MCKENZIE IN ACTION + +It was broad daylight now and Hat felt the necessity of traveling at a +slower speed than he had through the darkness of the night. +Accordingly he reduced the speed of the big car to not more than +thirty-five miles an hour. + +Stubbs leaned forward and called to Hal. + +"How far do you suppose we are from the Dutch border?" + +"Don't know," was the reply, "but it's a long ways. We're not more +than 70 miles from Berlin." + +Several times during the next few hours they were halted, but were +permitted to pass on, after showing their passports. Apparently the +Berlin authorities had not wired ahead, and Hal was unable to account +for this satisfactorily. + +"Something peculiar about it," he muttered, as he bent over the wheel. + +For the next few hours the automobile proceeded on its way without +interruption, save for a single stop to replenish gasoline and air. + +It was well along toward evening when Stubbs announced that the Dutch +frontier was only a few miles distant. Once over the line they would +be comparatively safe. + +A foreboding of trouble swept over Hal. + +Chester had slept during most of the trip thus far. McKenzie had +examined the lad carefully and discovered that he was suffering from a +flesh wound in the left side. The Canadian had bound this up as well +as he could as the automobile jostled along. + +His experienced eye told him there was nothing dangerous about the +wound. It was painful, of course, and Chester would naturally be stiff +in body for some time; but, providing the wound was kept clean, there +was no danger of infection. + +Now, at Hal's injunction, Stubbs aroused Chester. The lad opened his +eyes slowly. + +"How do you feel, old man?" asked McKenzie. + +Chester sat up and passed a hand across his forehead. + +"I don't feel any too playful," he said with a wry smile. "Where are +we, anyhow?" + +"Getting pretty close to the Dutch border," returned McKenzie. + +"What'd you want to wake me for?" Chester demanded of Stubbs. + +"Believe me," said Stubbs, "I didn't want to wake you up. It's usually +safer for all concerned when you and Hal are both asleep. I woke you +up because Hal told me to." + +"That's all right, then," said Chester. "But don't you try to rub it +into me, Stubbs, just because I've got a bullet hole in me is no sign +I'm a cripple, you know." + +"Maybe not," said Stubbs. "Here, take this gun." + +He passed a revolver to Chester. + +"What's the idea?" demanded Chester, taking the revolver; "going to +fight me a duel or something?" + +"Don't be a fool," said Stubbs. "We're still in Germany, remember. +You may need that gun before we get out." + +"All right, Stubbs," returned Chester. "Thanks." + +Ahead, Hal suddenly made out a large body of men in such position as to +block the road. He slowed down the car, and, leaning back, addressed +the others. + +"If I'm not mistaken," he said quietly, pointing, "just beyond lies the +Dutch border. Once across we are comparatively safe. At least the +Germans will not dare to follow us on to neutral ground. At the same +time, if we are apprehended by Dutch military authorities our mission +will be a failure, because we shall be interned. What is your advice?" + +"Get into Holland first and let matters take their course later," said +Chester quietly. + +"I agree with you," said McKenzie. + +"And I," said Hal. + +"Well," said Stubbs, "I don't. Not that it will make any difference, +of course, because you will do as you wish anyhow." + +"If you have any better plan, Stubbs," said Chester, "let's hear it." + +"I don't have any plan," declared Stubbs, "but seems to me you could +think of a better one. To rush through those fellows ahead means a +fight, a that's why you decided on that plan. I'm against a fight at +all hazards." + +"So I perceive," said McKenzie dryly. + +"Well; you stick along anyhow, Stubbs," said Chester. + +"Oh, I'll stick," said Stubbs, "but I'm going to tell you right now I +don't think I'm going to do you any good." + +"Well, if we are decided," said Hal, "we might as well go on. We'll +show our passports again and it may be we'll get through without +question. However, something tells me we are going to have trouble, so +get your guns ready." + +"If you think we're going to have trouble, I'm absolutely positive of +it," Stubbs mumbled to himself. + +However, each looked to his weapons and made sure that they were in +working order. + +"One of us has got to get through," said Chester in a low voice. "Who +has the list, Stubbs?" + +"Hal," was the response. + +"Then Hal must get through no matter what happens to the rest of us," +said Chester quietly. + +"Good lord!" said Stubbs. "Why didn't I keep that list!" + +As the large automobile approached, several of the Germans ahead +stepped directly into the road and one threw up a hand in a signal +demanding a halt. Hal made out that at this point there were perhaps a +dozen men, though to each side he saw countless other forms. These +latter, however, appeared no wise interested in the automobile and its +occupants, but went about their several duties. + +Hal put on the brakes and the automobile came to a stop a few feet from +the nearest German, who, it appeared, was a colonel of infantry. + +The German, followed by his men, approached the car and surrounded it. + +"Who are you?" he demanded. + +"Dutch war correspondents," replied Hal quietly. + +"Your passports," demanded the German. + +The four friends produced their passports and extended them to the +officer. The latter scanned them hastily, then cried: + +"As I thought. You are the men we want. Seize them!" This last +command to his soldiers. + +Instantly the dozen soldiers swooped toward the automobile, their +rifles leveled. At the same moment Hal sent the large automobile +forward with a jump. + +The German rifles spat fire. Revolvers appeared simultaneously in the +hands of Chester and McKenzie. Both sprang to their feet, and, each +holding to a side of the machine, they returned the fire, as Hal bent +over the wheel. + +"Crack! Crack!" + +Chester and McKenzie fired together. + +In spite of the movement of the car their aim was true, and two German +soldiers fell in their tracks. Stubbs still kept his seat. + +The automobile, with its first lurch forward, had mowed down several of +the enemy, and now dashed forward with a clear path to the Dutch +border. + +Behind, at command from the German officer, the troopers, still upon +their feet, fell to their knees, and, taking deliberate aim at the +rapidly moving car, fired. + +There was an explosion from the automobile. The car jumped crazily. +Chester, still standing, revolver in hand, was flung violently into his +seat, but McKenzie was not so fortunate. He toppled from the car head +foremost. + +One of the German bullets had punctured a rear tire. Hal brought the +machine to a stop. + +"Out and run for it!" cried Hal, and suited the action to the word. + +Chester clambered out with more difficulty, for the wound in his side +still pained him. McKenzie, strange as it may seem, had not been badly +hurt by his fall. He got to his feet, still clutching his revolver. +As the Germans hurried toward him, he raised the automatic and opened +fire. + +The first German pitched headlong to earth, as did the second. + +McKenzie gave ground slowly. + +With a swift look he saw that Hal had almost reached the Dutch border, +which he perceived was guarded by a squad of Dutch soldiers. Chester +also was limping in that direction. Stubbs, in spite of his opposition +to fighting, was lending the lad a helping hand. + +"They'll make it, if I can hold these fellows a minute," muttered +McKenzie. + +He faced the foe again, and from a pocket brought forth a second +automatic. + +"Not for nothing was I called the best shot in the northwest," he said +quietly. + +Hal's idea in not waiting to assist in the flight of the others, +McKenzie knew on the instant. The list they had risked so much to get +must be taken from German territory at all hazards. McKenzie knew, +too, that Chester and Stubbs were simply following instructions when +they also fled. It was every man for himself. A German bullet +whistled close to the Canadian. + +"Well," he said quietly, "I'll get a few of you before you drop me." + +He faced his foes unflinchingly. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SAFE AT LAST + +McKenzie's arms went up again--not shoulder high--just to his +hips. For McKenzie, in his early days, had been reckoned in the +Canadian northwest as the most deadly shot in the country. He fired +from his hips and aimed by instinct and not by sight. + +Each automatic flashed once and two more of the foe fell to the +ground. McKenzie staggered a bit as a German bullet plowed into his +shoulder. Then his revolvers spoke again. + +As he fought, the Canadian gave ground slowly. He seemed to bear a +charmed life. Two other bullets struck him--one in the arm and the +other in the thigh, but no one reached a vital spot. + +Hal, Chester and Stubbs, in the meantime, had reached and crossed the +Dutch border. There they were immediately taken in charge by order of' +the Dutch officer in command. Hal addressed the officer quickly. + +"Can't you do something for my friend?" he demanded, pointing to where +McKenzie was still battling against heavy odds. + +The Dutch, officer shook his head. + +"I would if I could," he said, his face flushed. + +"He is a brave man, and it is a pity for him to die thus. But Holland +is neutral. To interfere might embroil us." + +"But if I can show you how?" asked Hal eagerly. + +"If you can show me how, yes!" exclaimed the Dutchman. "Talk quickly." + +"We carry Dutch passports," said Hal quietly. "That should suffice. +However, cannot you send your men forward under the pretext that the +Dutch border at this point extends an additional one hundred yards? +That will be enough." + +"But--" + +"Oh, I know it doesn't, but that will be up to others than you. It +will be the subject of diplomatic negotiations. Will you?" + +For a moment the Dutch officer hesitated. Then he commanded an officer +who stood near him. + +"Captain Hodden! You will move forward with your company and inform +the foe that if he persists in firing on Dutch soil we shall be forced +to return it!" + +The Dutch captain seemed only glad for this excuse. He dashed away, +and a moment later Dutch troops advanced onto German soil. + +McKenzie, meanwhile, found that he had but two shots left in his +weapons. He glanced backward, and as he did so the Dutch troops +advanced. + +"If I can reach them," the man thought. + +He whirled, emptied his automatics into the face of his enemies, dashed +the now useless weapons after the bullets, and took to his heels, +zigzagging as he ran. + +The bullets in his body impeded his progress, but he reached the +advancing Dutch troops safety. There was a cry of anger from the +German lines as McKenzie found shelter among the Dutch troops. The +Germans halted, and an officer advanced. + +"I must ask you to deliver that man to me," he said to Captain Hodden. + +"I am sorry, but what you ask is impossible," was the reply. "This is +Dutch territory, and you advance further at your peril." + +"Dutch territory!" exclaimed the exasperated German. "You stand on +German ground, and the man you are protecting is a spy. I demand his +return." + +"You won't get him," was the reply, "and I am instructed to inform you +that the next German bullet that falls on Dutch ground will be +considered a hostile act against a neutral nation. It will mean war!" + +"I don't care what it means," shouted the German, now thoroughly +aroused. + +"Perhaps not," said Captain Hodden, "but your superiors may. I would +advise you to order your men to fall back." + +For a moment the German hesitated, and it appeared that he would risk a +breach of neutrality to capture McKenzie. At last he turned away. + +"Holland will rue this day!" he exclaimed, as he ordered his men to +retire. + +Captain Hodden now retreated to Dutch territory, where McKenzie was +turned over to the Dutch colonel. + +"Thanks for the reinforcements," he said quietly. "They would have +done for me sure." + +Hal, Chester and Stubbs crowded about and shook the Canadian by the +hand. The colonel asked to see their passports, and the four friends +produced their bogus documents. + +"So you are Herr Block, eh?" he demanded, eyeing Hal closely. + +Hal bowed, but did not reply. + +"As it chances," said the Dutch officer sternly, "I happen to be the +brother of Herr Block, so I know you are not he. You are under arrest, +sir." + +"For what?" demanded Hal. + +"For traveling under false passports, sir. You friends are under +arrest also. You shall be sent to Amsterdam under guard. And you told +me you were Dutch subjects!" + +"No I didn't," said Hal. "I told you we carried Dutch passports, and so +we do." + +"It amounts to the same thing. It seems I have broken Dutch neutrality +to help a batch of spies. You are all under arrest." + +He summoned Captain Hodden to take charge of the four friends. + +"You will be responsible for them," Colonel Block said. + +The captain saluted and marched his prisoners away. They were put in a +tent some distance away and a guard stationed over them. They were not +searched. + +"Well," said Hal, "we're out of Germany, but, it seems to be a case of +out of the frying-pan into the fire." + +"They can't shoot us as spies," declared Stubbs. "Holland is not at +war and we have not been active against her." + +"No, but they can take this list away from me," said Hal, "and it has +to go to Washington." + +"Then we'll have to get out of here," said McKenzie. + +"A nice job," declared Chester, "and two of us wounded. By the way, +McKenzie, your wounds need attention. I'll call the Dutchman and have +you fixed up." + +He hailed the guard outside, who in turn passed the word for the +captain. The latter appeared a short time later, and Chester explained +what he wanted. The captain moved away and fifteen minutes later a +Dutch physician entered the tent ad dressed McKenzie's wounds. + +"Well, that feels some better," said McKenzie with a laugh, as the +surgeon departed. "I feel as good as new now." + +The four were kept in the tent all night, and early the next morning +were informed that they would be taken to Amsterdam at noon. The trip +was made under heavy guard, and that evening the four friends found +themselves secure in a military prison in the Dutch capital. + +"We're safe enough here, that's certain," declared Stubbs. + +"We're safe enough, if you mean we can't out," Hal agreed. "But in +some way or other this list must be delivered to General Pershing." + +"Show the way, and we'll do it," declared Chester. + +As the friends discussed possible plans, a visitor was ushered in. +This proved to be Herr Block, the man who had assisted them to get into +Germany and who only a few moments before had learned of their arrest. + +"It's too bad," he said. "So near and yet so far, as you Americans +say, eh? Tell me, is there anything I can do for you. + +"You might get us out of here," said Hal. + +Herr Block smiled. + +"Easily said, but not so easily done," he made answer. "However, I +have no doubt it can be arranged." + +"You do?" exclaimed the others. "How?" + +"Well," said Herr Block, "you would be surprised if you realized the +extent to which Holland's sympathies are with the Allies. Of course, +it must not appear on the surface for it would mean war with Germany--and +we are not ready for war now. However, I shall see that the door +to your cell is left open tonight. When your jailer comes with your +meal he will drop his keys. You will rap him over the head with +something, that it may not look as though he were implicated. Then +walk out of the jail and come to my quarters. No one will molest you." + +"By Jove," said Hal. "That's simple enough." + +"Your meal will be brought in half an hour," he said. "I shall be +waiting for you at eight. You know the way to my quarters?" + +"You'd better give me the necessary directions," said Hal. + +Herr Block did so and took his departure. + +"It all sounds simple enough," said Stubbs, "but it doesn't sound good +to me." + +"Don't croak, Stubbs," said Chester; "you ought to be glad to get out +of here." + +"Oh, I'll be glad enough to get out, but it doesn't sound plausible." + +"Truth is stranger than fiction, Stubbs," said Hal. + +"It'll have to be this time to convince me," declared the war +correspondent. + +The four became silent, awaiting the arrival of the jailer. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE RETURN + +It was half-past seven when the jailer entered the cell in which the +four friends were imprisoned. He carried a large tray, on which was +loaded food. As he entered the cell, he dropped his heavy key ring. +Hal pounced upon it. + +The man's back was toward him. The lad raised the heavy ring, but he +did not strike. + +"Here, jailer," he said; "you've dropped your keys." + +The jailer looked around. Hal hoped he would spring forward, that he +might have an excuse for striking, but the man only said simply: + +"You know what to do with them." + +He turned his back again. For a moment Hal hesitated. + +"Well," he said finally, "if it has to be done, the sooner the better." + +He raised the heavy bunch of keys aloft again, and brought it down on +the jailer's head. The man dropped to the floor and lay still. Hal +threw the keys down beside him. + +"Hope I didn't hurt him too much," he muttered. He turned to the +others. "Now," he said, "shall we eat of this food or shall we leave +at once?" + +"Let's get out of here," said Stubbs. "We can eat any time. Something +may turn up to defeat our plan." + +But nothing did. + +Hal led the way from the cell and along a long corridor. At the end +were steps, which the friends mounted quietly. At the top they found +it necessary to pass through what appeared to be the office of the +superintendent, or whoever was in charge. Inside a man sat at a desk. + +Hal hesitated a moment. He knew there was little prospect of all +passing through without attracting the man's attention, and he had no +means of knowing whether this man was a party to the plot or not. + +However, the lad moved forward again, and the others followed without +question. + +The man at the desk shifted his position, and Hal stepped quickly +toward him, his fist ready to strike. He caught low words: + +"Hurry up and get out of here." + +The lad's hand dropped to his side, and he made haste toward the door +on the far side of the room. Through this all passed safely, and Hal +stood before a door he felt sure led to the street. The door opened +easily, and Hal, Chester, McKenzie and Stubbs passed out into the +darkness. + +Stubbs heaved a sigh of pure relief. + +"Well, we did do it," he muttered. "I didn't believe it possible. +Wish I had some of that grub now." + +"Wouldn't be surprised if Herr Block could rustle us up something to +eat," said McKenzie. "He seems to be a right resourceful sort of a +customer." + +Hal found Herr Block's quarters without difficulty. It appeared that +Herr Block had anticipated that they would be hungry, for he had a +tempting repast already spread when they arrived. To this the four +friends did full justice, for they were, indeed, hungry. + +"Now," said Herr Block when they had finished, "if you will tell me +what success you had on your mission and how you managed I will +appreciate it. After that, I will see you safely into your own lines. +I have a large automobile waiting, and you may depart at any time; but +I am greatly interested in your adventures." + +Hal was nothing loath, and recounted the manner in which he and +McKenzie had secured the list of coveted names. + +"Now, Chester," he said when he had concluded, "it's your turn. You +haven't told us yet how you left the house and how you chanced to be +discovered." + +"My adventures don't amount to much," replied Chester. "I left the +ball with Mrs. Schweiring. We were somewhat alarmed at Gladys' +disappearance, but there was nothing we could do but wait." + +When Gladys came rushing into the room, she thrust the list into my +hand, and told me what had happened, and that I must fly. I +commandeered the Schweiring automobile, and took to the road. I don't +know how the Germans got wind of my departure, but soon after I left +the city I knew I was being followed. + +"There was nothing I could do but try and outrun my pursuers, whoever +they were. It soon became apparent, however, that this was impossible, +because the pursuing machine was too high-powered. Nevertheless, I +determined to go as far as possible and leave something to chance. + +"My pursuers fired at me several times, but they didn't hit anything so +far as I could discover. All of a sudden, however, my engine went +dead. I yanked out my automatic, determined to give battle. I fired at +a man who alighted from the pursuing car when it stopped, but I must +have missed him. Before I could fire again a bullet hit me, and that's +all I remember until I woke and learned that Hal, McKenzie and Stubbs +had saved me." + +"Well, you have all had an exciting time," declared Herr Block. "I +wish that I could have been with you. However, this war is not over +yet, and, personally, I do not believe that Holland will maintain her +neutrality to the end. In that case, I still may have opportunity of +lending a hand." + +"You have already lent a hand," declared Hal, "and you must know that +when you lend a hand to the Allies you are also helping your own +country, and, ultimately, the cause of the whole world." + +"I believe that to be true," replied Herr Block quietly; "otherwise, I +would not have raised a hand to help you. Germany must be crushed. +There is no room for doubt on that score. If Germany wins, what nation +in the whole world is safe?" + +"True," said McKenzie. "It's too bad the world could not have realized +that a long time ago. The war might have been over by this time." + +"As it is," Herr Block agreed, "the war will not be over for years. +But come, I am keeping you here idle when I know you are all anxious to +be about your work." + +He led the way to the street, where a large touring car awaited them. + +"I'll drive you as far as the border myself," said the Dutchman. + +The four friends climbed in, and the car dashed away in the darkness. + +For perhaps four or five hours they rode along at a fair speed and +soon, Hal knew, they would once more be within their own lines. + +It was half-past four o'clock in the morning when Herr Block stopped +the car and said: + +"I'll leave you here. You must make the rest of the trip alone." + +"Great Scott! You can't get out here in the middle of the wilderness," +said Hal. + +"Don't worry," laughed Herr Block. "I haven't far to go. If you'll +look to the right there you will see the lights of a little town. I +shall be able to get a conveyance there for my homeward journey. I +brought you this way because it will save time and trouble." + +He stepped from the car, then reached back and extended a hand to Hal, +who had taken his place at the wheel. + +"I'm awfully glad to have met you," he said quietly, "and I am glad to +have been of assistance to you. I trust that we shall see more of each +other at some future time." + +"Thanks," said Hal, gripping the other's hands. "If it hadn't been for +you our mission would have failed. We shall never forget it." + +Herr Block shook hands with the others, and then disappeared in the +darkness. + +"A fine fellow," said Hal, as he sent the car forward. + +"You bet," Chester agreed. "I hope we shall see him again." + +Stubbs and McKenzie also had words of praise for the assistance given +them by Herr Block. + +Dawn had streaked the eastern sky when the four friends made out the +distant British lines. Chester gave a cheer, which was echoed by the +others. + +"At the journey's end," said Hal quietly. + +As the automobile approached the British line, an officer, with several +men, advanced with a command "Halt." Hal obeyed, and leaped lightly +from the car. + +He identified himself to the satisfaction of the British officer, and +Hal swung the car sharply south, heading for the distant American +sector of the battle front. + +They were forced to go more slowly now, as the ground came to life with +soldiers, so it was almost noon when they came in sight of that section +of the field where the American troops were quartered. + +Leaving McKenzie and Stubbs in the car, Hal and Chester made their way +to the headquarters of General Pershing. They were admitted +immediately. + +"Back so soon?" exclaimed General Pershing, getting to his feet. "I +was afraid--" + +From his pocket Hal produced the list of German spies in America. + +"Here, sir," he said quietly, "is the list." + +General Pershing snatched it away from him and scanned it hastily. +Then, turning to the lads, he said very quietly: + +"You have done well, sirs. Your work shall be remembered. You will +both kindly make me written reports of your mission." + +He signified that the interview was at an end. Hal and Chester +saluted, and left their commander's quarters. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A GLANCE AT THE WAR SITUATION + +The apparent deadlock on the western front from the North Sea, through +that narrow strip that remained of Belgium, Flanders and France almost +to the borders of Alsace-Lorraine, had been maintained for so long now +that the world was momentarily expecting word that would indicate the +opening of what, it was expected, would be the greatest battle of the +war since Verdun. + +It was known that Germany, confident because of the disruption of the +Russian armies, had drawn heavily upon her forces on the eastern +front. The world waited for some announcement of where the Kaiser +would strike next. + +The blow was delivered in Italy. Field Marshal von Hindenburg, the +greatest military genius the war had yet produced, left his command on +the west front and hurried into Italy, succeeding General von +Mackensen, who had been in command originally. + +The Italian troops fought hard to maintain the ground they had won from +the Austrians the spring and summer before; but in two days the +Austrians, reinforced by German troops, and commanded by, German +officers, had won back all they lost in two years of war and penetrated +to the heart of Italy itself. + +The world stood aghast at the mighty Teutonic offensive, before which +the Italian troops, seasoned veterans that they were, were like chaff +before the wind. + +The Allies became alarmed. + +Von Hindenburg's blow in Italy, if successful threatened to dispose of +one country entirely, and would endanger the French and British troops +from the rear. It was decided to reinforce the Italians with French +and British troops. + +At the same time, it became a part of the plan of the general staff to +strike hard in Flanders and in the Cambrai sector, while the Germans +were busily engaged elsewhere. It would, indeed, be an auspicious +moment to strike. + +Since the days when the Germans had been beaten back by the French at +Verdun, Teuton offensives had been few and far between. It had been +the Allies who had advanced after that, with the one exception of the +Austro-German offensive being made in Italy. The ground that the +British and French had won, now they held. From time to time they +pushed their lines farther to the east, consolidated their positions +and made ready to move forward again. + +It was plainly apparent that success was crowning the efforts of the +British and French on the western front. The Germans now and then +launched heavy local attacks, but these apparently were more for the +purpose of feeling out the strength of their opponents than with any +idea of concerted advance. + +British troops in Egypt were pushing on toward Jerusalem and it seemed +that it was only the question of time until the Holy City would fall. +Once Turkish rule there had been broken, it was a foregone conclusion +that the Ottomans would never regain a foothold. + +The thing of chief concern to the Allies was the internal conditions in +Russia. Revolt had succeeded revolt in the land of the Muscovite, and, +as rulers replaced rulers, it was hard to tell what the next day would +bring forth. + +Conditions had not reached such a pass, however, that the German +general staff felt safe in releasing the bulk of its great army on the +eastern front. Therefore, although it appeared that Russia was about +to give up the fight, a million and a half of the Kaiser's best troops +were held on the Russian front. + +It was known to the Allied governments that German efforts were at the +bottom of the Russian troubles, and the diplomatic corps had been hard +at work trying to offset this. As time passed, however, it was +realized that Russia's aid could no, longer be counted upon. + +With the entrance of the United States into the war, with the American +nation's unlimited resources in men and money, the cause of the Allies +took on a more roseate hue. True, it would require time to put the +American fighting machine into shape to take the field, but once its +energies had been turned to making war, even Germany knew that America +would put her best foot foremost. + +The latest British successes had been in the vicinity of Vimy Ridge, +which position, believed by the Germans to be impregnable, had been +carried by Canadian troops in a single attack. German counter-assaults +in this sector had failed to dislodge them, and there they remained +secure. + +The Canadians had launched this attack in April soon after the United +States had declared war on Germany. Now, in November, their lines +still held despite the pounding of big German guns and infantry and +cavalry assaults. + +As the Germans continued to push forward in Italy, threatening the city +of Venice--called the most beautiful in the world--General Sir +Douglas Haig, the British commander-in-chief, prepared himself for a +blow in Flanders, and also for a drive at Cambrai, one of the most +important German military centers. + +Preparations for this attack were made quietly, and without knowledge +of the enemy; so, when the attack came, the Germans were taken +absolutely by surprise, and only escaped annihilation by the masterful +direction of Field Marshal von Hindenburg, who hurried from the Italian +front in time to stem the tide. + +American troops in France at this time numbered not more than 125,000 +men--these in addition to several detachments of engineers who had +been sent in advance to take over French railroad operations in order +to release the French for service on the fighting line. Many of the +Americans who had fought with the Allies in the early days of the +struggle, before Uncle Sam cast in his lot with them had returned to +America and joined their own countrymen in the expectation that they +would soon return to the front. + +The American Army was being put in readiness as fast as possible, but +it was known that months of intensive training would be necessary to +fit it for its share of fighting at the front. Preparations were being +rushed, however, to send the national guard units across. These would +form the second contingent of Americans to reach France--the first +having been composed only of regulars. + +American troops in France so far had seen little actual fighting. +Their activities had been confined mostly to beating off trench raids +and launching an occasional bomb attack on the German dugouts so close +to them. Several Americans had been killed in one of these +attacks--forming the first United States casualty list. Others had been +wounded, and some were missing, believed to be prisoners in the German +lines. + +Hal and Chester had been in the midst of the Canadian advance and +capture of Vimy Ridge. Immediately after the battle they had left the +fighting front and returned to America, where they spent several months +training reserve officers at Fort Niagara. Because of excellent +service there, they had been honored by being numbered among officers +who went with the first expeditionary force under General Pershing. + +Both lads had been among the American troops who beat off the German +trench raid which accounted for the first United States casualties, and +they had performed other services for General Pershing, as have already +been recounted. + +Americans though they were, each felt that he would rather be where +action were swifter than lying idle in the trenches with their +countrymen. It was hard telling how long it would be before the +British and French general staffs would consider the American troops +sufficiently seasoned to take over a complete sector of the battle +line, and for that reason, the "Sammies," as they were affectionately +called at home, were unlikely to see any real fighting for some time. + +In fact, it developed that when General Haig finally launched his +drive, only British, Irish, Welsh and Scots were used. The Americans +had no hand in the fighting. + +Hal and Chester, after reporting to General Pershing following their +return from the German lines, returned to the automobile where they had +left McKenzie and Stubbs. + +"There are no orders for us," said Hal, "so we may as well hunt our +quarters and get a little rest." + +Upon inquiry they learned that their own company, in the trenches when +they left, had been moved back to make place for another contingent. +This was in line with the policy of seasoning the American troops. +Their own company, therefore, they found somewhat removed from the +danger zone. + +"Of course, it's better to be in the trenches, where there is a chance +of action," Chester said, "but when a fellow needs sleep, as I do, I +guess it's just as well that we're back here." + +"Right you are, Chester," said Stubbs, "and if you have no objections +I'll bunk along with you boys." + +"Help yourself, Stubbs," laughed Chester. "Guess we can make room for +you." + +"It's daylight yet," said Stubbs, "but I'm going to bed just the same. +Lead the way, Chester." + +Chester needed no urging, for he could scarcely keep his eyes open. +McKenzie hunted his own quarters, and soon was fast asleep. + +Hal and Chester also soon were in slumberland, and Stubbs' loud snoring +proclaimed that the little man's troubles were over for the moment at +least. + + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE EVE OF BATTLE + +"Good news, Chester." + +"That so? What is it?" + +Hal glanced about him. There was no one near. "Little work for us to +do," he said quietly. + +"What kind of work?" + +Hal did not reply directly to this question. + +"How's your side?" he demanded. + +"All right. Why?" + +"Wound hurt you much?" + +"No. Hardly know it's there. But what's all this about, anyhow?" + +"Well," said Hal, "there is about to be a battle." + +"That so? Good. How do you know?" + +"General Pershing just told me. That's why I want to know how your +side is. We've orders to report to General Haig in person." + +"Oh," said Chester, somewhat disappointed, "I thought you meant the +American troops were going to get into action." + +"Well, they may get into action, too. I don't know. But this, to my +mind, is the biggest undertaking since the Somme." + +"Sounds good," said Chester, greatly interested. "Let's hear more +about it." + +"I don't know much more about it. I was summoned to General Pershing's +tent, and he gave me a message to carry to General Haig. Told me to +have you report to General Haig also if your wound had healed +sufficiently." + +"It's healed sufficiently for that," Chester interrupted. + +"That's what I thought you'd say, no matter how badly it might pain +you. Anyhow, General Pershing said we might be in time to see some +action." + +"Did he indicate the nature of it?" + +"No, but I drew my own conclusions. I'll tell you why. Remember those +tanks we had here experimenting with?" + +"You mean the armored tractors--those things that climb fences, +trenches, and things like that?" + +"Yes." + +"Sure I remember them. Why?" + +"Well, they're all gone--been ordered back to the British lines. +Therefore, something is going on." + +"Oh, pshaw!" said Chester. "That may mean only a local attack some +place. I thought you knew something." + +"Wait a minute now. I know more than you think." + +"Well, let's hear it then." + +"Infantry and cavalry are being massed in the sector that would lead to +Cambrai, if a drive were successful." + +"You're sure of that?" + +"Perfectly. I have it from Captain O'Neill, who knows what he's +talking about." + +"That may mean something," Chester agreed, nodding his head. + +"May mean something? Of course it means something. Besides, our +aeroplanes are more active than usual, probably to keep the enemy back +so they can't anticipate the attack." + +"The Germans will suspect something then," declared Chester. + +"Maybe. But there is something in the air. You can bank on that." + +"Well, I hope so," declared Chester. "We haven't had any real fighting +for a long while now." + +"Don't forget you've a bullet hole in you still," smiled Hal. "You're +not as good as new, you know." + +"I can still answer for a couple of Germans," replied Chester with a +smile. + +"I guess you're right. But come, we must be moving." + +The two lads left their quarters and sought their horses. As they +mounted Stubbs approached. + +"Where to?" he demanded. + +"We've a mission to General Haig," said Hal. "Why?" + +"Wait till I get a horse and I'll go along," said Stubbs. + +He hurried away. + +"I don't know whether he should go with us or not," muttered Hal. + +"If you think that, let's don't wait for him," returned Chester. + +"Good idea," Hal agreed, and put spurs to his horse. + +Chester followed suit. + +For ten minutes they rode rapidly, and then Hal slowed down. + +"Guess we've lost him, all right," he said. + +But they hadn't. A short time later Hal, glancing over his shoulder, +made out the form of a solitary horseman hurrying after them. The +rider made gestures as Hal looked, and the lad perceived that the man, +whoever he might be, desired them to wait. Therefore, having forgotten +all about Stubbs, the lad reined in. Chester did likewise. + +"Hello," said Chester, as the rider drew closer. "It's Stubbs." + +"Tough," Hal commented. "I had forgotten about him. However, we don't +want to hurt his feelings. He's seen us now, so there is no use +running." + +They sat quietly until Stubbs drew up alongside. + +"What's the idea of running away from me?" the little man wanted to +know. + +"Running away, Mr. Stubbs?" questioned Chester. "Surely you must be +mistaken. Why should we run away from you?" + +"That's what I would like to know," declared Stubbs. "Didn't I tell +you to wait for me?" + +"Did you, Stubbs?" This from Hal. + +"Did I? You know deuced well I did. You're not deaf, are you?" + +"Well, no," said Hal, "but your memory, Mr. Stubbs, how is that?" + +Stubbs glared at the lad angrily. + +"There is nothing the matter with my memory," he said, "as you'll find, +if you ever have occasion to need me." + +"Come now, Stubbs," said Chester. "You do us both an injustice. You +must explain yourself." + +"Great Scott!" Stubbs burst out. "Explain, must I? What do you mean, +I must explain?" + +"Hold up a minute, now, Stubbs," said Hal. "You're all tangled up +here. You've forgotten what you are talking about." + +"Tangled? Forgot?" sputtered Stubbs. "What do you think I am, a +fool?" + +"Well, I didn't say so, did I Mr. Stubbs?" Hal wanted to know. + +"That means you do, eh?" grumbled Stubbs. + +"Well, all right, think what you please. What I asked you was this: +Why did you run away from me?" + +"What makes you think we ran away, Stubbs?" asked Chester. + +"What makes me think it? Why shouldn't I think it, I ask you? Why +shouldn't I think it? I ask you to wait till I get a horse, and when I +come back, you're gone." + +"Maybe we didn't hear you, Mr. Stubbs," put in Hal. + +"And maybe you did," exploded Stubbs. "Now, if you don't want my +company, all you've got to do is to say so." + +"Stubbs," said Chester, "you know we'd rather have your company than +that of--of--of, well, say three wildcats." + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Hal. + +"Think you're funny, don't you?" said Stubbs, gazing at Chester with a +scowl. + +"Not so funny as you and the wildcats, Stubbs." laughed Chester. + +Stubbs wheeled his horse about. + +"I can see I'm not wanted here," he said with dignity. "Therefore, I +shall not bother you." + +He rode back the way he had come. + +"It's too bad," said Hal. "We've offended him and he's awfully angry." +He raised his voice and shouted: "Hey, Stubbs! Come back here." + +Stubbs did not deign to turn his head. + +"He's mad all right," Chester agreed. "But hell get over it. Besides, +it's just as well. We should not take him with us." + +"You're right, Chester. Come, we have no time to waste." + +The lads again put spurs to their horses and galloped rapidly along. + +It was late afternoon when they rode up to General Haig's tent, and +announced their errand. They were admitted to the general's quarters +immediately, and Hal presented his message. + +"General Pershing informs me," said General Haig at length, "that if I +have need of you, I may use you." + +The lads bowed. + +"As it happens," said General Haig, "I do have need of you at this +moment. You have, perhaps, surmised that we are about to strike?" + +Again the lads bowed. + +"Good. This attack will be made with the third army, under command of +Sir Julian Byng. I have dispatches for you to carry to him. Also, you +will attach yourselves to his staff during the engagement. I will +write him to that effect." + +General Haig scribbled hastily, and then passed several documents to +Hal. + +"Deliver these immediately," said the British commander. + +Hal and Chester saluted, left the tent, mounted their horses, and +dashed rapidly away. + +They reported to General Sir Julian Byng at 6 o'clock. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE ADVANCE + +The advance of the British troops under Sir Julian Byng, who was to win +in this engagement the sobriquet of "Bingo" Byng, marked a departure +from rules of warfare as it had been conducted up to date in the +greatest of all conflicts. Heretofore, heavy cannonading had always +preceded an advance in force. Heavy curtains of smoke from the great +guns had been flung over the enemy's lines to mask the movements of the +attackers. + +While this smoke curtain had protected, to some extent, the movements +of the assaulting party, it also had the effect of "tipping off" the +foe that an attack was about to be launched. Now the British were +about to advance without the protection of the smoke screens. + +But General Byng's army moved forward in the wake of even a more +formidable protection than smoke. + +British "tanks," armored tractors, showed the way. + +General Byng's attack covered the whole length of what had become known +as the redoubtable and supposedly impregnable "Hindenburg line," so +called because it had been established by that greatest of all German +military geniuses, Field Marshal von Hindenburg. From Drocourt, just +to the northwest of Douai, the line stretched for forty miles in a +fairly straight line down through Vitryen-Artois, Villiers, Cagnocourt +to Queant and Pronville, thence on to Boursies, Havrincourt, Gour +Zeacourt, Epehy and St. Quentin. + +The first, or upper section of this line--from Drocourt to Queant--was +called the Wotan line. The lower section had become known as the +Siegfried line. Both together formed the general scheme of the +Hindenburg front. + +It was along this line, then, that the British struck on the morning of +Nov. 20, 1917. The drive had for its chief objective the capture, or +possible isolation, of Cambrai, one of the most important positions in +this sector in German hands. Cambrai was a railroad center in those +days, a terminus from which the German general staff supplied various +points of the long line with munitions, food and men, the latter when +required. + +The capture of Cambrai, it was apparent, would mean the ultimate fall +of St. Quentin and Lille, both points of strategic advantage. + +General Byng ordered his third army forward shortly before daylight so +that when the moment came for the first blow his men would have +daylight with which to go about their work. + +As has been said, there was no preliminary bombardment of the enemy's +positions sufficiently in advance to give the enemy time to prepare his +resisting measures. Instead of the uprooting barrage, British tanks +cleared the path for the infantry, and what few cavalry was used in the +attack. Thus the enemy was given no warning. + +The attack was a complete surprise--and a surprise attack in this +great war had been called well nigh impossible. Even the German air +service was fooled. As a result of its inability to anticipate General +Byng's movements, the German fighting machine naturally lost some of +its efficiency. + +As dawn broke, the British tanks bore down on the foe steadily and +without the appearance of undue haste; in fact, the tanks could not +have made haste had such been General Byng's plan. Formidable +instruments of warfare that they are, they do not number speed among +their many accomplishments. + +Hundreds of these tanks, bearing every resemblance to mythical monsters +of a prehistoric day, crawled across the ground that separated the +opposing armies. What must have been the surprise of the German +general staff when the break of day showed these monsters so near? + +Having had no warning of the impending attack, the enemy naturally was +taken at a disadvantage. The warning of the advance was flashed along +the German first-line defenses the moment daylight disclosed the +hundreds of tanks advancing to the fray. The second-line defenses were +made ready to withstand an attack should the first line be beaten back, +and, although it was not within the comprehension of German leaders +that it could be possible, the third-line defenses also were made ready +to repel the invaders. + +Between the German first-line trenches and the British front at this +point the distance was something under half a mile. Between the +various German lines of defense, the distance was almost an even mile. +As the British tanks advanced across the open ground, smashing down +barbed-wire entanglement and crawling in and out of shell craters as +though they did not exist, defenders sprang to their positions. +Rapid-firers opened upon the British from every conceivable angle; but +the shells dropped harmlessly from the sides of the armored tanks. The +tanks just seemed to shake their heads and passed on. + +Behind the tanks the infantry advanced slowly, flanked here and there +by squadrons of cavalry, the horses of which could hardly be held back, +so anxious did they seem to get at the foe. + +The British tanks spat fire from the rapid-fire guns that formed their +armament. Streams of bullets flew into the German lines, dealing death +and destruction. + +From the rear the great British guns dropped high explosive shells in +the German trenches. + +The German first-line defenses, prepared with days of hard labor, and +formed of deep ditches, of concrete and pure earth, offered no +difficulties to the British tanks. Straight up to these emplacements +they crawled, shoved their noses into the walls, and uprooted them; +then crawled calmly over the debris. + +Into the gaps thus opened, the British infantry poured, while +cavalrymen jumped their horses across the gaps and fell upon the foe +with sword and lance. + +The Germans fought bravely, but they were so bewildered by this +innovation in the art of warfare that their lines had lost their +cohesion long before the tanks plowed into them, and they scattered as +the British "Tommies" dashed forward, after one withering volley, with +the cold steel of the bayonet. + +Here and there small groups collected and offered desperate resistance, +but their efforts to stem the tide of advancing British were in vain. + +An hour after daylight first-line defenses of the entire Hindenburg +line were in the hands of the British. + +But General "Bingo" Byng was not content to rest on these laurels. He +ordered his left wing--those of his troops who had advanced against +the Wotan line--to advance farther, and also threw his center into +the conflict again. Troops opposed to the Siegfried line he held in +reserve, that he might strike a blow in that sector of the field should +his main attack fail. + +Again the British on left and center dashed to the attack. Again the +tanks plowed over the uneven ground, and advanced against a second +apparently impregnable barrier. Flushed with victory, the British +"Tommies" cheered to the echo, as they moved forward gaily. + +Many a man fell with a song on his lips, as he stumbled across the +shell craters that made walking so difficult, for the Germans from +their second-line defenses poured in a terrible fire, but the others +pressed on as though nothing had happened. There was no time to pause +and give succor to a wounded comrade, the command had been to advance. +Besides, the Red Cross nurses and the ambulance drivers would be along +presently to take care of those who could no longer take care of +themselves. It was hard, many a man told himself, but he realized that +the first duty was to drive back the foe. + +Shell after shell struck the British tanks as they waddled across the +rough ground. One, suddenly, blew into a million pieces. An explosive +had struck a vital spot. For the most part, however, the shells fell +from the armored sides like drops of water from a roof. + +German troops lined the second-line defenses and poured a hail of +bullets into the advancing British. It was no use. The British +refused to be stopped. + +Straight to the trenches the tanks led the way, and nosed into them. +Down went emplacements that the Germans had spent days in making +secure. The tanks rooted them up like a steam shovel. Men fled to +right and left, and there, at command from their officers, paused long +enough to pour volleys of rifle fire into the Britons, as they swarmed +into the trenches in the wake of the tanks. + +From the second-line defenses the tanks led the way to the third line, +where they met with the same success. This, however, took longer, and +when the British found themselves in possession of these, with Cambrai, +the immediate objective, less than four miles away. General Byng +called a halt. He felt that his men had done enough for one day. +There would be a renewed attack on the morrow, but now he realized that +the most important thing was to straighten out his lines, consolidate +them against a possible counter-assault, and work out his plan of +attack for the following day. + +Therefore, the "Tommies" made themselves as comfortable as possible in +their newly won positions. Prisoners were hurried to the rear, and +captured guns were swiftly swung into position to be used against their +erstwhile owners should they return to the fight. + +In these positions the British third army spent the night. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE ADVANCE CONTINUES + +The British losses had been heavy, as was only natural in view of the +nature of the work they had accomplished. But the German casualties +had been tremendously greater. This, no doubt, was because of the fact +that the German general staff had been taken by surprise and had had no +time to prepare against the attack. + +The British, according to the report of General Byng, on the first +day's offensive, had captured in the neighborhood of 5,000 prisoners. +Of artillery and munitions, great stores had fallen into the hands of +the victors. + +It was a great day for Old England and all her Allies. The victory was +the greatest achieved by the Allies since the Battle of the Marne. + +Cambrai was almost in the hands of the British. The importance of the +victory could not be estimated at that time, but every soldier knew +that if the enemy could be driven from Cambrai it would necessitate a +realignment of the whole German defensive system in Flanders and along +the entire battle front. With the victory the British menaced the main +German line of communications--Douai, Cambrai and St. Quentin. + +Around Lavasquere, formidable defenses, known as Welsh Ridge and +Coutilet Wood, had been, captured. Flesquires had been invested and +the Grand Ravine crossed. Havrincourt was in British hands. + +Trench systems north of Havrincourt and north of the west bank of the +Canal du Nord also had been captured. The Masnieres Canal was crossed, +and the British had stormed and captured Marcoing Neufwood. East of +the Canal du Nord, the villages of Graincourt and Anneux were now in +possession of General Byng's men; while west of the canal the whole +line north to the Bapaume-Cambrai road was stormed. Bonaires hamlet +and Lateau Wood had been captured after stiff fighting. + +East of Epehy, between Bullecourt and Fontaine les Croisilles, +important positions also had been captured by the gallant "Tommies." + +"The enemy was completely surprised." + +This was the laconic message sent to Field Marshal Haig by the man who +had led the British to victory, as he rested until the morrow. Along +the entire forty-mile line the attack had been successful. + +There were no American troops in General Byng's drive. The forces were +composed solely of English, Scots, Irish and Welsh--a combination +that more than once before in this war had proved too much for the +Germans to combat successfully. + +It was a happy army that slept on reconquered territory on the night of +November 20,1917. Men talked of nothing but the most glorious victory +since the Marne. They knew that the offensive in all likelihood would +be resumed the following morning, and most of the troops turned in +early that they might be fit on the morrow to make the foe hunt a new +"hole." There was no doubt in the breasts of the "Tommies" that the +following day would take them nearer to Cambrai and, consequently, +Berlin. + +Hal and Chester had had no active part in the first day's fighting. +They had stuck close to headquarters of General Byng, and several +times, while the fighting was at its height and the general was short +of aides, each of the lads had carried messages for him. Both chaffed +somewhat because of the fact that they were not in the midst of the +fighting, but they bided their time, confident that they; at length, +would get a chance for action. + +They had followed the advance of the British troops with admiring +eyes. It was, indeed, an imposing spectacle. + +"Wonder if our Canadian friends are in this attack?" asked Chester. + +"I don't believe so," declared Hal. "I suppose they are still at Vimy +Ridge. They're still needed there, you know." + +"That's so, but they would be good men to have around at a time like +this." + +"These fellows seem to be doing fairly well, if you ask me," said Hal +dryly. + +Then the conversation languished, as the lads looked toward the +fighting front. + +As it developed, Hal and Chester soon were to see their Canadian +friends again. During the night several divisions of Canadians were +hurried to General Byng's support that he might have fresh blood in his +ranks when he renewed his attack against the Hindenburg defenses. And, +as it chanced, the commander of one of these divisions was the lad's +old friend, Colonel Adamson-general now, however. + +Hal and Chester were standing close to General Byng when announcement +of the arrival of the Canadians was brought to him. All of the +general's aides were busy. He espied Hal and called to him. + +"You will carry my compliments to General Adamson," he said, "and tell +him to go into camp for the night. Instructions will be sent him +before morning." + +Hal saluted, mounted his horse, and dashed away. + +General Byng summoned Chester to his side. + +"Come with me," he said. + +He led the way into a tent that had been erected hastily, and which +served him as field headquarters. There the general scribbled hastily +for some minutes, then passed a piece of paper to Chester. + +"You will ride after your friend," he said, "and present this to +General Adamson. Then you had better turn, in for the night. You may +stay with General Adamson's command and lend what assistance there you +can." + +Chester was soon speeding after Hal. + +General Adamson recognized Hal instantly when the lad reported to him, +and professed pleasure at seeing him again. He also saluted Chester, +when the latter arrived a short time later. + +"And so you are going to stay with me, eh?" he said. "Well, I have no +doubt I shall be able to make use of you. However, you'd better turn +in now. I suppose we'll be at it bright and early in the morning." + +General Adamson proved a good prophet. + +Hal and Chester met several men whom they had known when they were with +the Canadian troops at the capture of Vimy Ridge, and these expressed +delight at seeing the lads again. A young officer invited the lads to +spend the night in his quarters, and they accepted gratefully. + +They followed General Adamson's injunction and turned in early. They +were very tired, and they were asleep the moment they hit their cots. + +It seemed to Hal that he had just closed his eyes when he was aroused +by the sound of a bugle. It was the call to arms, and the lad sprang +to his feet and threw on his clothes. Chester also was on his feet, +and the two lads dashed from the tent together. + +They made their way to General Adamson's quarters, where they stood and +awaited whatever commands, he might give them. + +The Canadian troops were all under arms. Each and every man was eager +for the fray. They had not been in the battle the previous day, but +they had heard full accounts of British success and they were +determined to give a good account of themselves when the time came. + +And the time came soon. + +It was just growing light when the British army launched the second +day's drive. + +Along the whole forty-mile line the troops under General Byng advanced +simultaneously. This time, however, the Germans were not caught +napping. They anticipated the second attack by the British, and a +terrific hail of shells and bullets greeted the Allied troops, as they +moved across the open ground. + +But these men were not raw troops. Hardly a man who could not be +called a veteran. They advanced as calmly under fire as though on +parade. Men went down swiftly in some parts of the field, but as fast +as one dropped, his place was instantly filled. The lines were not +allowed to break or be thrown into confusion. + +The Canadian troops advanced calmly and with a sprightliness that +seemed strange for men used to the grim work of war. There was +something in their carriage that told their officers that they would +give a good account of themselves this day. + +General Adamson eyed his men with pride, as they moved off in the +semi-light. He dispatched Hal with a command to Colonel Brown, +commander of one regiment, and Chester to Colonel Loving, commander of +another. As it chanced, these two regiments were marching together, so +the two lads once more found themselves together in the midst of an +advancing army. + +Their messages delivered, they did not return to General Adamson, and +without even asking permission of their superiors, ranged themselves +behind. Colonel Loving, and pressed forward with the troops. + +Colonel Loving and Colonel Brown, besides Hal and Chester, were the +only mounted men with the Canadian advance. Ten minutes after the lads +had gone forward, Colonel Loving dismounted and turned his horse over +to one of his men, who led it toward the rear. Colonel Brown followed +suit. Hal and Chester did likewise. + +"Good idea," commented Chester. "We make too good targets there." + +Hal nodded, and looked toward the front. + +The British tanks again led the way. Bullets whistled over the heads +of the Canadians. Hal saw that the first-line German defenses were +less than 200 yards away. + +"Good." he told himself. "Now for the battle." + +The first British tank nosed into the German trench. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +TANK FIGHTING + +The early stages of the morning fighting were repetitions of the first +day's advance. Success perched upon British standards from the first. +Try as they would, the Germans were unable to hurl back the British +infantry, which advanced steadily under the protecting wings of +countless armored tanks. + +Every now and then one of these terrible instruments of warfare burst +to pieces, killing its crew, as a German shell struck in a vital spot, +but, for the most part, they advanced unharmed. + +Over the German trenches they plowed their path, as though there was +nothing in the way to bar their progress. Walls, earth, and human +bodies were crushed beneath them, and they passed on as though nothing +had happened. In vain the Germans charged straight up to their sides. +There was nothing they could do when they reached the monsters, except +to fire ineffectual rifle shots in an effort to penetrate the apertures +and reach the gunners, or to hurl hand grenades, which had no effect. + +Each time the enemy charged it was never to return. While they wasted +their energies attempting to put the tanks out of commission, British +infantry mowed them down with, rifle fire. At length these attempts +were given up. + +The Germans, after an hour's desperate fighting, deserted their +first-line trenches, and sought the shelter of the second; from these +they were driven to the third. + +Hal and Chester found themselves in the midst of the fighting, +alongside the heroic Canadians of Vimy Ridge fame. The part of the +field in which they found themselves was to the extreme north of the +Hindenburg line, almost opposite Douai. + +Time after time the Canadians drove the foe back at the point of the +bayonet. The Canadians, it appeared soon after noon, had been the most +successful of the entire British army. They had pushed their lines +almost to Douai. To the south, General Byng's forces had not advanced +quite so far. + +Suddenly there was an explosion inside a tank scarcely a hundred feet +from Hal and Chester. Great clouds of earth ascended into the air. +The tank stopped stock still. Apparently it was undamaged, but it +proceeded no further. A moment later, the armored door swung open, and +the half-dozen men who composed its crew got out. + +"Something the matter with the engine," one said in reply to a question +by a Canadian officer. + +Members of the tank's crew secured rifles and joined the advancing +infantry. Hal pressed close to Chester. + +"I've a hunch I can fix that thing so it will run," he shouted to make +himself heard above the din of battle. + +"Lets have a try," Chester shouted back. + +The boys left their places in the line, and approached the tank. Hal +climbed inside first. Chester followed him. + +He bent down and tinkered with the engine. It was not the first time +the lads had been inside a tank, so they were fairly familiar with the +mechanism. + +After some tinkering, Hal gave an exclamation of satisfaction. + +"She'll go now," he cried. + +He opened the throttle, and the machine moved forward. Hal brought it +to a stop almost immediately. + +"We can't man all these guns," he cried. "We must have a crew." + +Chester alighted and approached a captain of infantry who was passing +at that moment. + +"We want a crew for this tank!" he exclaimed. "Can you give me four +men?" + +"Take your pick," the captain called back. + +Chester motioned four stalwart Canadians to follow him. They entered +the tank not without some foreboding, for it developed that none had +been mixed up in such warfare before. But they were not afraid and +took the places Hal assigned them. + +"You can handle these guns, can you?" Hal shouted. + +The men nodded affirmatively. + +"All right. Take your places. Looks like there is ammunition enough +there for a week. Ready?" + +"Ready, sir," one of the men answered. + +Chester made the door secure, and Hal now moved the tank forward. + +Straight over the German trench plunged the car tilting first to the +right and then to the left, as one side or the other sunk into a deep +hole. But, although it jostled the crew considerably, it did not roll +over, as it seemed in imminent danger of doing. + +The other tanks had gone forward some time before; so had the mass of +the infantry. Hal's tank now lumbered forward in an effort to overtake +the others. It moved swiftly enough to push ahead of the soldiers +afoot, and gradually it overtook the others, which went more slowly in +order that the infantry might keep pace with them. At last the lads +found themselves on even terms with the most advanced tank. + +Perhaps a dozen of these monsters, pressing close together, now made a +concerted attack on the second-line German trenches. Down went +barbed-wire entanglements directly in front of the trenches. There was +a loud crash as the tanks pushed their noses into the trench itself, +and threw out rocks, boards, and earth in shattered fragments. The +troops poured into the trenches behind them. + +Half an hour's desperate fighting in the trenches and the Germans +fled. As the tanks would have pushed along further, a bugle sounded a +halt. Instantly the infantry gave up pursuit of the enemy, and all the +tanks came to a stop--all except the one in which Hal was at the +throttle. + +"Whoa, here, Hal!" shouted Chester. "Time to stop. Can't you see the +others have given up the pursuit?" + +"I can't stop!" Hal shouted back. "The blamed thing won't work." + +Every second they were approaching where the Germans had made a stand. + +"Come about in a circle then and head back!" shouted Chester. + +Hal swung the head of the tank to the left. It moved perhaps two +degrees in that direction, then went forward again. + +"Something the matter with the steering apparatus!" Hal shouted. "I +can't turn it. I can't stop it. I can't shut off the power, and the +brakes won't work." + +"Let's jump for it, then!" cried Chester. "We'll be right in the +middle of the enemy in a minute." + +The tractor was still spitting fire as it advanced. It was plain that +the Germans took the advance of the single tank as a ruse of some kind, +which they were unable to fathom. They could not know that the +occupants of the tank were making desperate effort to stop its advance +or bring it about and head back toward the British lines. + +From the British troops shouts of warning arose. Crews of other tanks +had now dismounted, and these men added their voices to those of the +others calling upon the apparently venturesome tank to return. These +men could understand the advance of the single tractor no more than +could the Germans. + +"The fools!" shouted one man. "They'll be killed sure; and what good +can they do single-handed against the whole German army?" + +But the tank driven by Hal took no cognizance of the remarks hurled +after it; nor did it swerve from its purpose of waddling straight up to +the foe. + +"Let's jump!" called Chester again. + +"We'll be killed sure, or captured if we do," said Hal. + +"Well, we'll be killed or captured if we don't," declared Chester. + +"Exactly. It doesn't make any difference just what we do, so I'm in +favor of seeing the thing through." + +"By Jove!" said Chester after a moment's hesitation, "I'm with you!" + +He explained the situation to the man. + +"Let's go right at 'em, sir," said one of the Canadians, grinning. +"Maybe they won't hit us with a shell. We'll shoot 'em down as long as +we have ammunition--and it's about gone now." + +"Suits me," said Hal quietly. + +The other men nodded their agreement. + +So the tank still waddled forward. With but one foe now to contend +with, the Germans braved the fire of the single gun, advanced and +surrounded the tank. + +"Surrender!" came a voice in German. "Surrender or we shall blow you +to pieces." + +Hal smiled to himself. + +"Can't be done, Fritz," he said quietly. + +At the same moment one of the crew fired the last of the ammunition. + +"Well, we've nothing left but our revolvers," said Chester. "Here +goes." + +He poked his weapon out one of the portholes, and emptied it into the +foe. + +"Give me yours, Hal," he said. + +Hay obeyed, and the contents of this also was poured at the enemy. + +"That settles it," said Chester. + +One of the Canadians drew out a cigarette and lighted it. + +"Might as well be comfortable," he said. + +Outside, the Germans danced wildly around the car, shouting demands for +surrender, all the while bombarding the tank with rifle and revolver +fire. + +"No use, Fritz," said Hal. "We just can't, whoa!" + +The tank had stopped abruptly. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +PRISONERS + +"Now what do you think of that?" Hal muttered to himself. "Must be a +German tank, I guess. Seems to know when it gets home. Well, what +now, Hal?" asked Chester. + +"You know as much about it as I do," said Hal grimly. "See all that +merry gang outside dancing around us? Guess we'll have to surrender. +We can't fight with nothing to fight with." + +"You're right, Sir," said one of the men. "No use staying here and +being blown up when we can't fight back." + +As the occupants of the tank so far had made no signs of complying with +the German demand for surrender, bullets were still being rained upon +the tractor. Hal now took a handkerchief from his pocket, put it on +the end of his empty revolver, and poked it through the porthole. + +A cry of triumph went up from the outside, and the firing ceased. + +Chester threw open the door of the armored car, and, with Hal and the +four members of the crew, got to the ground. An officer approached +them and saluted. + +"You are my prisoners, Sir," he said. + +"So it seems, captain," said Hal with a smile. "Well, it can't be +helped now." + +He passed over his empty revolver, the only weapon he possessed. +Chester followed suit. The members of the crew had no arms. They had +discarded their rifles when they entered the tank. + +"I shall conduct you to Colonel Hertlitz," said the German captain. +"Come." + +The four followed the German officer far back into the German lines, +where the officer ushered them into a tent where sat a German officer +whose insignia proclaimed him a colonel of infantry. + +"These are the men who manned the armored car, sir," said the captain. + +"Take the men and lock them up safely," was the reply. "Send my +orderly to attend me while I converse with these officers. See, too, +that the captured car is made safe." + +The captain withdrew and the colonel's orderly entered, and stood at +attention. The four Canadian members of the tank's crew were ordered +to the rear, but for the night they would be kept in the lines behind +the trenches. + +"You are brave young men," said the colonel to Hal. "I watched you +advance into our army single-handed. At the same time, it was a fool's +trick--or a youngster's." + +"We're not so brave as you would think, sir," said Hal with a slight +smile. "Neither are we such fools. We would gladly have turned about, +but the thing wouldn't work; neither could I stop my engine." + +"Oh-o! I see," said the colonel. "I took your deed for an act of +bravery, and for that reason I had planned to have you particularly +cared for, so it was only an accident, eh? Orderly, have these fellows +locked up with the others." + +"We're officers in the United States Army, sir," Hal protested, "and, +as such, are entitled to treatment as becomes our rank." + +"You are American pigs!" was the angry response. "So American troops +are really in France, eh? I never believed they would come. America +is a nation of cowards." + +Hal took a threatening step forward. + +The German did not move from his chair, but called to his orderly: + +"Take them away." + +A moment later a file of soldiers entered and Hal and Chester were +escorted from the colonel's quarters. An hour later they found +themselves in a tent behind the German trenches together with the four +Canadians who, such a short time before, had formed the crew of the +tank that had advanced single-handed into the German lines. + +"You went and spoiled it, Hal," Chester muttered when they were left to +themselves again. + +"Well, I was just trying to be honest. They say 'honesty is the best +policy,' you know." + +"That's all right," said Chester, "but you don't have to go around +telling how honest you are." + +"I'll admit I put my foot in it," Hal a I greed. "But here we are, six +of us, captured by the enemy with the chances that our days of fighting +are over." + +"Never say die," said Chester. "We've been in some ticklish places +before now and we're still alive and kicking." + +"We'll hold a council of war," Hal decided. "I don't know your names," +he said to the Canadians, "but I take it you'll all be glad to get out +of here if possible." + +"You bet," said one. "I've no hankering for a German prison, sir." + +"Good! Now what are your names?" + +"Crean, sir," said the man who had spoken. + +"Yours?" said Hal, turning to the next man. + +"Smith, sir." + +The other two men admitted to the names of Jackson and Gregory. + +Hal then introduced Chester and himself. + +"This is not the first time we've been captured by the enemy," he +explained, "and we've found that because escape is looked upon as such +a remote possibility, it is much simpler than in days when wars did not +cover so much territory as the whole world." + +"We're with you in anything you decide, sir," said Smith. I + + +"You can count upon us to the finish," Crean agreed. + +"I was sure of it," said Hal quietly. "Now, we'll take stock. Of +course, we've no weapons." + +"Nothing that looks like one," Chester agreed. + +"The first thing, then," said Hal, "is to secure weapons. Makes a +fellow feel a bit more comfortable if he has a gun in his hand." + +"Or even a sword, or a knife, sir," said Gregory. + +"Well, I'm not much of a hand with a knife," Chester declared. "I have +been slashed a couple of times, but every time I think of a knife being +drawn through my flesh it makes me shudder. Now, a gun is another +matter." + +"I agree with you, Chester," said Hal. "However, if we can't get guns +we won't turn down knives if we can get our hands on them." + +"Right you are, sir," said Gregory. "Now, I've lived long enough in +the northwest to realize the value of a good knife when I get my hands +on it. A weapon is a weapon after all, sir." + +"Only some are better than others," Smith interrupted. + +"We won't argue about that," said Hal, "since we have decided that the +first thing we need are weapons. Of course, that means that first we +must have one weapon. One will mean others. Now, I'll suggest this: +I'm no pickpocket, but someone will come in here directly to give us +food or something, and I'm no good if I can't, relieve him of a gun or +a knife, providing I get close enough to him." + +"And then what?" demanded Chester. + +"One thing at a time, old man," said Hal. "We'll have to leave most of +this to chance." + +"Anything suits me," Chester declared. "Listen, I think someone is +coming now." + +Chester was right. A moment later the officer to whom the lads had +surrendered entered the tent. He greeted the lads with a smile. + +"I've heard of your treatment," he said. "I won't presume to criticize +my superior officer, but I just want to say that I admire your bravery +no matter what brought you into our lines." + +"Thanks," said Hal. "We appreciate it. I suppose I should have kept my +mouth shut, but I guess it won't make any difference in the long run. +What will be done with us, do you suppose?" + +"Well, you are prisoners of war, of course," was the reply. "You'll +probably be sent to a prison camp until peace is declared--and nobody +knows when that will be." + +"You're right on that score," said Hal. "Oh, well, I guess we should +consider ourselves fortunate that we are prisoners rather than dead +soldiers."' + +"And yet you don't," said the German with a smile. + +"Well, no, that's true," Hal admitted. "'I just said we should." + +"I must be going now," said the young German, "So I'll say good-bye. I +hope I may see you when the war is over." + +"Thanks," said Chester. + +He extended a hand, which the German grasped. Hal pressed close to the +man's side with extended hand, which he offered as the German grasped +Chester's fingers. + +As the lad stood close to the German, his left hand stole forth +cautiously, and dropped to the revolver which the German carried in a +holster at his side. + +He removed the weapon so gently that the German did not feel his +touch. Quickly Hal slipped the revolver into his coat pocket, and then +grasped the man's hand as Chester released it. + +"Good-bye," he said quietly. "I'm sure I second your wish." + +The German bowed and left the tent. + +Chester turned to Hal and said in a low voice: + +"Get it?" + +Hal nodded. + +"You bet!" said he. + + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A STRANGE PROCEEDING + +"Lieutenant," said the Canadian named Gregory, "before I joined the +army I was considered somewhat of a detective in Montreal. I've had +some experience with pickpockets. It's a pleasure to see you work." + +"That sounds like rather a left-handed compliment," said Chester with a +smile, while Hal and the others laughed. + +"Nevertheless, it was very neatly done," said Gregory. + +"Well, Hal," said Chester, "you've got one gun, what are you going to +do with it?" + +"Hold your horses, old man," returned Hal. "Nothing was ever gained by +too great haste. Something will turn up." + +Something did a moment later in the form of the German officer who so +recently had left the tent. He came in quickly, looked around, and +stood undecided. + +"Why, I thought you'd gone, captain," said Chester, though his heart +sank. + +The lad realized the import of the other's return. + +"I've lost something," said the German. + +"What was it?" asked Hal. + +"Well, it's my revolver," said the German. "I thought maybe I had +dropped it here." + +"Hope you didn't expect to find it if you had?" said Hal. + +The German laughed good-naturedly. + +"Maybe not," he said. "However, I'm going to ask you if any of you +have it." + +"If we had," said Hal quietly, "I'll guarantee we wouldn't stay here +half an hour." + +The German looked at Hal keenly. Apparently he took the lad's answer +for a denial, for he said: + +"Well, all right. I just thought I'd make sure. I know you wouldn't +lie about it." + +He bowed again and was gone. + +"Well, by George!" exclaimed Hal. "I didn't tell him I didn't have his +gun, did I?" + +"You did not," said Chester, "but you seem to have convinced him that +you didn't have it." + +"It's just as well," said Smith. + +Five minutes later a German soldier entered, bearing a tray on which +was water and dry bread. + +"Well, well," said Hal. "What a feast for the hungry, eh?" + +He took the tray from the man's bands, while Chester edged closer to +him. When the man left the tent, Chester produced an object which he +held aloft. + +"Something for you, Gregory," he said. + +Gregory eyed the object in surprise. It was a long-handled knife. + +"I just happened to see it sticking in his belt," said Chester. + +"I believe that you two fellows have been fooling us," said Gregory +with evident sincerity. "Come, now. What was your occupation before +you joined the army?" + +"Well, it wasn't picking pockets, if that's what you mean," said +Chester with a laugh. + +"If this thing keeps up," said Crean, "we'll soon have weapons enough +to equip a first-class arsenal." + +"And that's no joke," said the man called Jackson. + +"We can't hope for any more such luck," said Hal quietly. "We'll have +to create what opportunities come to us now." + +"You take this knife, Gregory," said Chester. "I wouldn't know what to +do with it." + +Hal approached the canvas door to their prison and poked his head out. + +"Get back there!" came a guttural command in German. + +Hal spied a sentry standing before the tent. + +"Hello," he said pleasantly. "Didn't know you were there. All by +yourself, too, eh?" + +"Not much," was the reply. "There's a man in the rear, too." + +"I just wondered," murmured Hal. + +"Get back inside," commanded the guard. + +"Oh, all right," said Hal, "if you are going to be nasty about it. +But, say, do you have a pack of cards you can lend us?" + +"No, I don't," said the guard. + +"Well, all right," and Hal would have withdrawn but the German halted +him. + +"I didn't say I didn't have a pack," he said. + +"But I heard--" + +"No, you didn't. I said I didn't have a pack to lend." + +"Well, what's--?"' + +"I've a pack to sell," said the guard. + +"Oh, I see," said Hal. "Rather hard up, are you." + +"If you mean I have no money, yes." + +"I've a few German coins, I believe," said Hal, and explored his +pockets. "I'll give you these for the pack of cards." + +He held forth two coins. + +The German grunted. + +"All right," he said. + +He produced a pack of cards, and took the money Hal extended. + +"Times must be getting hard in Germany," said Hal suggestively. + +Again the German granted. + +"We don't have any bread, and we don't have any meat," he declared. "I +haven't had a good meat for a year, it seems." + +"It'll be worse before the war's over," said Hal pleasantly. + +The German grounded his rifle with a thump. "Don't you think I know +it?" he demanded with some heat. + +"Well, don't get angry," said Hal, struck with a sudden idea. + +"You've got some money," he said. + +"Not very much." + +"Well, I'll tell you something. We're going to have a little card game +inside. I don't have any too much money, either, and I'd be glad to +win some. What's the matter with you sneaking in and getting in the +game? Your money's as good to me as anyone else's." + +"And an officer'll come along, and I'll face a firing squad," grumbled +the German. + +"Pshaw!" said Hal. "Nothing risked nothing gained, you know. Besides, +we're in an out of the way place here. When will you be relieved?" + +"Not before 10 o'clock." + +"And it's only a little after six now. However, if you won't, you +won't. You know your own business best." + +The German smiled an evil smile. + +"Have you any objection to my inviting another in the game?" he asked. + +"Not a bit. Who?" + +"The man who is guarding the tent in the rear. He will come in handy, +too. If you should try to escape, we'd do for you. We will be armed, +and you won't." + +"Who said anything about trying to escape?" demanded Hal. "This is to +be a little friendly game of poker." + +"Poker?" exclaimed the German. + +Again his eyes gleamed. + +"You go back in the tent," said the guard. "I'll probably be along +later with my friend. I need the money, and will take a chance." + +"Good!" said Hal, and disappeared within. + +Hal explained the situation to the others, and added: + +"Of course, the man's idea is that he and his friend, by playing +together, will win by cheating. Well, that doesn't make any difference +to us. Let them have the money. All we want is to get out of here. I +don't know much about playing cards, anyhow. But let no man make a +move until I give the word." + +The others nodded their understanding of this to him. + +"We may as well get started, so it won't look bad," said Chester. + +The six seated themselves on the ground, and Gregory dealt out the +cards. + +"I can't understand how a man will take a chance like this guard," said +Chester. + +"He says he needs money," declared Hal. + +"But even so," said Chester, "he should have sense enough--?" + +"You haven't forgotten he is German, have you?" demanded Jackson. "I +was brought up among them to some extent. One idea is all a true +German's head will hold at one time. That's the truth. And if he gets +an idea in his head, you can't get it out. + +"Shh-h!" said Hal. "Here comes someone." + +A moment later the guard with whom the lad had conversed entered the +tent. A second man followed him. + +"Quiet!" whispered the first guard. + +The two men sat down among the others. Each laid his rifle within easy +reach of his hand, and each loosened a revolver in his belt. + +"Go on with the game," said the first German in a low voice. + +Gregory dealt out the cards. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +FLIGHT + +It was not Hal's intention to attempt a break for liberty as soon as +the Germans entered the tent. He knew that the two men would be on +their guard at least until their interest in the game had overcome +their vigilance. + +Neither Hal nor Chester were proficient in card playing. The game of +poker had not been included in their education. Nevertheless, each +knew the value of the cards, and they felt that a situation like this +would justify their taking a hand, considering the ends in view. + +The German with whom Hal had conversed just outside the tent had poor +luck from the start, but his companion won. So far the men had made +no, attempt to play together, thus taking advantage of their +prisoners. But it wasn't long before they did. + +There came a time when Gregory noticed this. He grew angry. + +"Here!" he exclaimed. "That kind of playing won't go. This is a +friendly game, and I don't stand for that kind of work." + +The Germans looked up in well-simulated surprise. They indicated by +gestures that Gregory was doing them an injustice; the game proceeded. + +As time passed both Germans won now, Naturally, both grew more and more +interested in the game. And at last the moment for which Hal had been +waiting presented itself. + +The Germans still had their rifles close to their sides, and from time +to time their hands toyed with the revolvers in their belts. + +Hal, after a hand had been played out, arose and stretched himself. +The German eyed him suspiciously for a moment, but, as he appeared +about to sit down again, they turned their attention to the cards, +which Chester dealt them. + +Suddenly Hal whipped out the revolver he had taken from the German +officer earlier, and, taking a quick step forward, covered the two +men. + +"Hands up!" he exclaimed in German. + +The cards fell, to the ground, as Chester and the Canadians got to +their feet. The Germans sat still. Then, slowly, their hands went +into the air. + +"Quick, men!" said Hal. "Get their revolvers and guns." + +This was the work of an instant. The six friends now were armed with +three revolvers, two rifles, and one long knife. + +"What'll we do with these fellows?" demanded Chester. + +"We'll tie 'em up and gag 'em," said Hal without hesitation. "We can't +afford to have them raise the alarm." + +"We've no rope, nor anything that looks like rope," said Chester. +"What'll we tie 'em up with?" + +"Their own clothing will have to serve the purpose then," said Hal. + +Quickly the Germans were stripped to their underclothing. Their shirts +were torn in strips, and they were securely bound. Handkerchiefs were +used as gags. + +"There," said Hal, when this was accomplished. "I guess that will hold +them safe enough." + +"It'll have to hold them," said Chester. "Now what?" + +"Now to get out of here," said Hal. + +"Look here, Lieutenant," said Jackson, "we can't go far in these +uniforms, you know." + +"Of course I know it," Hal declared. "We can go far enough to tap a +few Germans over the head, though, maybe, in which event there will be +uniforms enough of the proper kind to go around." + +"Right you are, sir," agreed Crean. "Lead the way." + +Making sure that the Germans who had been bound would be unable to +release the improvised ropes, Hal moved to the entrance of the tent and +looked out. It was very dark outside, and Hal could see nothing. + +"Guess the way is clear," he whispered, "but it's so dark out there you +can't see a thing. However, we'll take a chance, and we'll head toward +the front, for that's the direction in which we want to go." + +The others followed him from the tent. + +For perhaps five minutes they walked along without interruption, but at +the end of that time Hal, still in advance, made out a form approaching +them. He stopped in his tracks, and the others also stood stock +still. + +Hal now perceived that there were two figures advancing instead of +one. He reached back a hand and pulled Chester to his side. The two +lads moved forward together. + +In the darkness it was impossible for the men who moved toward them to +make out the lads' uniforms, so, though they perceived the approaching +figures, they naturally took Hal and Chester for their own kind. + +They moved slightly to one side in order that Hal and Chester might +pass. Instead, the lads stepped quickly up to them and shoved their +guns in their faces. + +"Silence!" said Chester quietly. "Silence or you are dead men!" + +Chester's tone left no room for doubt, and the Germans stood still +without a word. Hal now made out that they were officers--both +lieutenants. + +"Take off your clothes," said Hal briefly. + +The Germans understood the lad's plan, but under the muzzle of two +guns, they did not protest, and quickly stripped to their +under-garments. Hal and Chester each took possession of one of the +officer's revolvers. Then, covering the two men, Hal said: + +"Get into one of those uniforms while I keep them covered, Chester." + +Chester obeyed promptly, and then he, in turn, covered the men while +Hal changed clothes. + +The lads now escorted their prisoners back to where the four Canadians +still stood in the darkness. There they explained the situation. +Willing hands tore the clothes that the two boys had discarded, and the +Germans, still in their underclothing, were hastily bound and gagged. + +The party of British moved on again. + +"Four more uniforms and a couple of more guns, and we are O. K.," said +Chester quietly. + +Fortune again smiled on them a few moments later. A party of three +German soldiers approached. These were quickly covered, and the same +procedure gone through with. A few moments later all except Gregory +were attired in German uniforms. + +"Don't worry, old man," said Chester with a laugh. "We'll soon have +one for you, too." + +"It's not that I am fond of a German uniform," said Gregory, "but I +just like to be in style." + +The friends now passed several groups of Germans, but the latter were +in such large numbers that they did not accost them. + +"What we want is just one man, or possibly two or three," said Chester. +"We don't want to tackle so many that there may be a fight." + +At length their patience was rewarded. A solitary figure came toward +them. Hal stepped forward and accosted him. + +With a gun poked under his nose, the German gave back a step. + +"What's the matter?" he demanded. "Are you crazy?" + +"Not a bit of it," said Hal, "but I want your clothes." + +"Well," said the German, "you won't get them. This is no time of the +year for a man to be walking around with no clothes." + +"Nevertheless, I must have yours," said Hal. + +Chester came up at that moment, and his revolver, glistening in the +darkness, lent added weight to Hal's words. + +"Oh, well, of course, if you insist," said the German. + +He quickly stepped from his uniform, which Chester tossed back to +Gregory, who donned it hastily. As hastily the German was bound and +gagged, and Hal, Chester and the four Canadians moved forward again. + +"We're safe enough for the moment," said Hal, as they walked along. +"The enemy will have no suspicion that we are other than we pretend to +be until daylight, when one look at your Canadian faces will give the +whole thing away." + +"That means," said Chester, "that we should be beyond the German lines +before daylight." + +"Exactly," said Hal, "though how we shall do it is still the question." + +"We've come along pretty well so far," said Gregory. "We won't give up +now." + +"Who said anything about giving up?" Chester wanted to know. "Of +course, we won't give up. Have you any idea where we are, Hal?" + +"Well, I should judge we are pretty close to the town of Cambrai. +Personally, I believe the best plan would be to head in that +direction. I judge it to be directly south." + +"But it is within the German lines," Chester protested. + +"True, but once there we may be able to find a hiding place. In the +open we wouldn't have much chance if we failed to get beyond the lines +before daylight overtook us." + +"You may be right," said Chester. "Once in Cambrai, providing we can +find a hiding place, we can figure out a means of leaving the German +lines." + +"Exactly," said Hal, "and with a better chance of success." + +"Suit you, men?" asked Chester. + +"You're the doctor," said Gregory. "Lead the way. We'll follow." Hal +and Chester turned abruptly to the left. "South it is, then," said +Hal. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +INTO CAMBRAI + +As it developed, the distance to Cambrai, one of the chief points in +the German line of communications, was comparatively short. + +As the six plodded along through the darkness there was no +conversation. None of the Canadians spoke German, and Hal and Chester +had instructed them to be silent, for the sound of a few English words +would have done more to destroy the success of their venture than any +other possible thing. As for Hal and Chester, both of whom spoke +German fluently, neither felt like talk. + +It was almost midnight when the lads saw before them what appeared to +be the lights of a small town. Approaching closer, they saw that they +were, indeed, approaching a settlement of some kind. + +"Cambrai, do you suppose?" asked Chester. + +"Don't know," returned Hal. "Probably is. I understand that Cambrai +is about the largest place around here, and this seems to be quite a +sizable village." + +Half an hour later they set foot in the streets of the little French +city, in German hands now for more than three years. + +"We'll hunt a house with a light and see if they'll put us up for the +night," said Hal. + +Down a side street they saw a house somewhat larger than the others. +Several lights showed from the windows. + +"Somebody up, at all events," said Chester. + +"Trouble is, Germans may already be quartered there," said Hal. + +"Well, we'll have to take a chance," said Chester grimly. + +"Right. So the sooner we try the better." + +Hal led the way, and knocked on the door. Came the sound of hurried +footsteps within, and a moment later the door was thrown open. An old +woman poked her head out. + +"What do you want?" she demanded. + +"A place to sleep," replied Hal, in excellent German, although the +woman had spoken in French. + +"There is no place here for you!" exclaimed the woman, and would have +shut the door. + +But Hal was too quick for her. He shoved a foot in the door, and thus +prevented its closing. + +"Come, my good woman," he said. "We mean you no harm, but we must have +a place to spend the night." + +"How many of you are there?" asked the woman. + +"Six," replied Hal briefly. + +The woman threw up her hands in a gesture of dismay. + +"I can't possibly take care of so many!" she exclaimed. + +"But we are all coming in," declared Hal, who realized that the sooner +they were off the streets the better. + +He pushed the door open and went inside. Chester and the four +Canadians followed him. + +"Which way, madam?" asked Hal. "Upstairs?" + +The old woman nodded, and led the way up a flight of winding steps. + +"I've only one room," she said, "so you will have to make the most of +it." + +"That will be satisfactory," said Hal. "We don't like to inconvenience +you." + +"You don't, eh?" exclaimed the woman. "You're the first who wear that +uniform who haven't gone out of their way to inconvenience me, and all +other French women." + +"Come, come," said Hal. "I'm afraid you are too hard on us." + +"I'm not half as hard on you as the French and British will be when +they get hold of you!" exclaimed the woman angrily. + +Hal looked at her in surprise. He supposed that all women in territory +conquered by the Germans had long since realized the value of keeping a +silent tongue in their head. Aloud he said: + +"I would advise you to be more careful of your speech. If words like +those came to the ears of the general staff, you probably would be +shot." + +"You can't frighten me," declared their hostess. "'I say what I +please, Germans or no Germans." + +"Well, suit yourself," said Hal, "but don't forget that I have warned +you." + +"Thank you," sneered the woman. "Here's your room," kicking open the +door at the top of the stairs. "You can sleep there if you wish, but I +hope the British have arrived when you wake up again." + +She waited for no reply, but descended the stairs hastily. + +"By Jove!" muttered Hal. "The Germans snared a Tartar when they caught +her." + +"They certainly did," Chester agreed with a smile. "Great Scott! +Seems to me she could have given us a candle or something. It's as +dark as pitch in this room." + +"You fellows stay here," said Hal. "I'll go down and remind her that +she has been negligent in her duty as hostess." + +Hal descended the stairs quietly. As quietly he passed through the +room that in days of peace apparently had served as a parlor, and moved +toward a door beyond, under which a light streamed. + +"Guess she's in there," said Hal. + +He laid a hand on the knob and opened the door. + +As he did so there was an exclamation of alarm. Hal, in the light +beyond, saw a form disappear into another room. The old woman ran +toward him. + +"What do you mean by coming in here without knocking?" she exclaimed +furiously. + +"Why--why, I didn't know--" Hal began. + +"Of course you didn't know," shouted the woman. "But I'll have you +understand that you can't make free of my house, though you be the +Kaiser himself." + +From the folds of her skirt she suddenly produced a large revolver, +which she leveled squarely at the lad. Hal stepped back. + +"Here, my good woman," he said. "Put down that gun. Don't you know +that a single shot will arouse the whole German army. You couldn't +escape." + +The woman hesitated, and the revolver wavered. Before she could bring +it to bear again, had such been her intention, Hal seized her arm, +twisted sharply, and the revolver fell to the floor with a clatter. + +"I'm afraid you're not to be trusted with that gun," the lad said +quietly. + +He stooped, picked up the weapon, and stowed it away in his own pocket +with this mental comment: + +"One more weapon for our own little army." + +"You're a brute," gasped the woman. "You're just like all Germans." + +"Silence," said Hal. "I have heard enough from you. What I came here +for was to tell you that you had neglected to furnish us with a light. +Now I shall have to look in yonder closet, where I saw a man secret +himself as I came in." + +The old woman flew across the room and stood defiantly in front of the +closet door. + +"You can't go in there!" she exclaimed. + +"I can't, eh?" said Hal. "Why can't I?" + +"Because I say you can't." + +"That is a very poor reason," said Hal. "Either you will stand aside +now, or I shall call my men." + +The woman realized the force of this reasoning. With a gesture of +resignation she stepped aside. Hal advanced. + +"I hope he shoots you through the door," said the woman to Hal. + +"Thanks for the hint," said Hal dryly. "I'll keep out of the line of +fire." + +He approached the door from the side, and, standing close, called: + +"Whoever you are in there, come out." + +There was no response, and Hal called again. + +"I've got the door covered," the lad shouted, "and if you don't come out +I shall fire through it." + +Slowly the door moved open. Hal stepped quickly aside, for he did not +wish to be taken unaware. He seized a chair and sent it spinning +across the floor. The ruse succeeded, for the man inside, taking the +noise made by the chair for the sound of Hal's feet, stepped quickly +forward and pointed a revolver in that direction. + +This meant that Hal stood directly behind the newcomer. Smiling to +himself, Hal raised his revolver and said quietly: + +"Drop that gun or I'll bore a hole through you. No, don't bother to +turn first." + +Realizing that he was absolutely in the other's power, the newcomer +obeyed. The revolver fell clattering to the floor. + +"Now," said Hal, "I'd like to have a look at you. Please turn around." + +Slowly the other turned, and, as Hal caught sight of the man's face, +his own revolver dropped to the floor and he sprang forward with +outstretched hand. + +"Major Derevaux!" he cried. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE MAJOR EXPLAINS + +The man who had emerged from the closet gazed at Hal in amazement. + +"Who are you?" he exclaimed, taking a step forward. + +"What! Don't you know me?" exclaimed Hal. + +The other peered at him intently. Then he uttered an exclamation of +pure astonishment. + +"Hal Paine!" he cried. "Is it really you? And what are you doing in +that uniform?" + +"I might ask you, major, what you are doing out of uniform?" laughed +Hal, as he grasped his old friend's hand. + +"Well, I'm here on business," explained the major. + +"And I'm here trying to get out of the German lines," said Hal. + +"And where is Chester?" asked the major. + +"He's upstairs, waiting for me to bring up a candle that he may have +light," said Hal. "By George! It's good to see you again. Let me +see, it has been almost two years since I last saw you in France." + +"Yes, it's been all of that," agreed the major. + +"And what of our old friend Anderson? Do you know what has happened to +him?" + +"No," said Hal, "the last indirect word I had of him he had been sent +to Mesopotamia. I have not seen him for many months. But, tell me, +what are you doing here?" + +"It isn't a very long story," said Major Derevaux. "As you perhaps +know, General Byng's drive against the Germans has been one of the +greatest successes since the Battle of the Marne." + +Hal nodded. + +"Well," the major continued, "I have been stationed with General Pitain +at Verdun, where I last saw you. Now we know that the Germans have +drawn heavily from other fronts to make possible the Italian invasion. +Other fronts now will have to be weakened to hold back General +Byng--even to launch a counter-offensive, for we all know that Hindenburg +will strike back. That leaves the Verdun situation somewhat in the +air." + +"I see," said Hal. "If you can make sure that the Verdun front of the +enemy has been weakened, the French will strike there." + +"Exactly," said the major. "Then there is another possibility. It may +be the plan of the German general staff to make a show of force here +and then, when we are feeling secure before Verdun, to deliver a +lightning-like blow there. Those are the things I am commissioned to +learn." + +"I see," said Hal again. "But how does it happen I find you here?" + +"It's very simple. This woman here is a distant relative of mine. She +is a patriot to the soul. Under the gruff exterior which you have seen +she is the most kindly soul in the world. She is risking her life +every minute she remains here, for she is accounted one of the most +successful of French spies." + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal. "You don't mean it. Why, her very +actions toward us, if used toward other Germans, it strikes me, would +mean a firing squad for her." + +"That," laughed Major Derevaux, "has been her greatest asset. The +Germans are not particularly fond of her, that's a fact. She attacks +them with a sharp tongue, but for that very reason she is looked upon +as harmless. Come, I'll introduce you." + +Major Derevaux led the way across the room to where the woman had been +eyeing the two in the utmost astonishment. + +"Lieutenant Paine," said the Major, "I take pleasure in presenting you +to Mademoiselle Vaubaun. Mademoiselle, this is Lieutenant Paine, of +His British Majesty's service." + +"I must correct you, major," said Hal, smiling and acknowledging the +introduction. "Lieutenant Paine, U.S.A." + +"Oh--o!" said the major. "So you are fighting with your own +countrymen at last, eh?" + +"I am, thank goodness," said Hal. "But can this indeed be Mademoiselle +Vaubaun? I have heard of her before, but I judged that she was a young +woman." + +Major Derevaux smiled. + +"And a consummate actress," he said. "Mademoiselle, will you grant my +friend the lieutenant a look at your true self?" + +"If this young man is a friend of yours, Raoul, he is a friend of +mine," said the woman. + +She removed a cap from her head, straightened herself up and shook down +her hair. Then she passed a hand several times over her face, and when +Hal looked again there stood before him a girl in her teens. + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal, and started back. + +In a few words he now explained his own presence in the German lines, +together with that of Chester and the four Canadians. + +Mademoiselle Vaubaun, in turn, told the lad how she had been left in +Cambrai when German troops had swept across Belgium and France in the +early days of the war, and how, from time to time, she had found it +possible to send word to the French and British staffs of impending +German movements. + +"But how about me and my friends?" inquired Hal. + +"I can hide you all, too. Beyond the room in which your friends are +now is a second room and beyond that a false wall. It is there, I will +hide the major. I was about to take him there when you came to the +door tonight. There is room for all." + +"Then I shall return to my friends," said Hal. "I have been gone so +long Chester will fear something has happened to me. Will you go with +me, major?" + +"To be sure. I shall be glad to see Chester again. May we have a +light, Antoinette?" + +"I will lead the way myself," said the girl. "It will be as well that +you go to your hiding places now." + +She lighted the way upstairs with a candle. + +In the darkened room above, Chester and the Canadians had been waiting +impatiently. Chester had come to the conclusion that something had +happened to Hal and was about to go down and hunt for him. As the +light came upstairs, however, he drew back. + +"It's all right, Chester," Hal called. "Here is the light and an old +friend to greet you." + +"Old friend," said Chester in surprise. "I didn't know I had any +friends on this side of the line." + +"Well, have a look at this man and see if you recognize him," said Hal, +and pushed Major Derevaux forward. + +Chester took one look at the major and then dashed forward with hand +out. + +"Major Derevaux!" he cried. + +The two clasped hands warmly. + +"Now, Chester," said Hal, "I want you to meet our hostess, Mademoiselle +Vaubaun." + +Chester bowed in acknowledgment of the introduction, then added: "I +suppose it was your mother who admitted us some time since?" + +The girl laughed lightly. + +"Why, no," she said. "I admitted you myself."' + +"But--but--" said Chester, nonplussed. + +"I'm not surprised at you, Chester," said Hal. "Cannot a woman or a +girl wear a disguise as well as you?" + +"By Jove!" said Chester. "I hadn't thought of that. So that was it, +eh?" + +"Yes, that was it," said the girl. + +The Canadians now were introduced around, after which the young girl +said. + +"Come. I may as well show you to your hiding places. It is as well +for you to be there as here. There is no telling when some of the +Germans may arrive." + +"But aren't you afraid to be among them alone?" asked Hal. + +"Pshaw!" exclaimed the girl. "Who would hurt a harmless old woman?" + +She led the way into the room beyond, walked across and pressed a +hidden spring in the side of the wall. Instantly a secret door moved +open. + +"It can be opened from within as well," said the girl. "You may have a +light here if you wish. The door is so constructed that the rays +cannot be seen from without. I shall leave you now. My only +injunction is, do not talk too loud. I'll bring you food and water in +the morning." + +She bade them good-night and took her leave. + +The friends talked in low tones for some moments, then stretched out on +the floor and soon were fast asleep. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +ANTOINETTE "MAKES GOOD" + +True to her word, Antoinette appeared with food and drink early the +following morning. She was again disguised as an old woman, and Hal +and Chester could scarcely believe that a wig and a few dabs of paint +could possibly conceal the girlish face they had seen the night +before. + +"I have had word to prepare a big dinner for a dozen officers of the +general, staff," the girl informed Major Derevaux, "so it may be that I +shall have the necessary information by nightfall." + +"Let us hope so," said the major devoutly. + +"And let us hope that you are not risking your life in getting it," +said Hal. + +"Thank you," said Antoinette. "I assure you I shall be very careful. +Now, you must all remain here quietly today. You may be able to leave +soon after dark." + +She left the hiding place and closed the secret door behind her. + +"And after we leave the house, then what?" asked Hal of Major +Derevaux. + +"Don't you worry," said the major with a smile. "All that has been +taken care of. Ten minutes' walk from here is a large army airplane. +It brought me here and it will take us all back again." + +"All of us?" exclaimed Hal. + +"Yes," the major replied. "I have made trips in it before. The +machine will carry ten passengers beside a pilot." + +"And you do the driving, eh?" said Hal. + +"No," said the major. "I have never learned the art. The pilot is +with the craft." + +"You mean he is in hiding in the woods?" + +"Exactly." + +"Great Scott!" cried Hal. "I wouldn't care about his job. Your job +now isn't so bad, because you've a chance of action. But just think of +sitting in a woods and waiting--waiting--never knowing what minute +you are likely to be discovered." + +"It is hard," agreed the major. "And here I am refreshed by a night's +sleep, while he must remain there in the cold with his eyes open every +minute." + +"If he is discovered, then what?" asked Chester. + +"His instructions, if discovered," said the major, "are to attempt to +escape, leaving me behind." + +"In which event," said Chester, "you'd have a hard time getting away." + +"That's true. But nothing risked nothing gained, you know." + +"True enough," said Hal. "Well, we must take what comes, but I hope +Mademoiselle Vaubaun does not get mixed up in any trouble." + +"You seem to take rather a great deal of interest in the fair +Antoinette," said Chester slyly. + +Hal's face turned red. + +"Well, why shouldn't I?" he demanded. "No one likes to see a girl or a +woman mixed up in this kind of business." + +"Are you sure that is it?" demanded Chester. "Or is it just because it +chanced to be Mademoiselle Vaubaun?" + +"What do you mean?" exclaimed Hal angrily. + +"Oh, no offense, no offense," declared Chester. "I was just talking to +hear myself talk--maybe." + +Major Derevaux smiled. + +"Antoinette is a very nice girl," he said. "I'm sure she would +appreciate Hal's interest in her. I'll tell her about it." + +"I say! Don't do that!" exclaimed Hal in some confusion. + +"Ha, ha!" laughed Chester. + +Hal sat down again, his face still burning. + +Even the Canadians joined in the general laugh, and Hal himself +smiled. The joke was on him, and he was not the lad to get angry. + +"Oh, well, have it your own way," he said. "It does no good to deny +it." + +The day passed slowly. + +Antoinette did not appear at noon with food and water, as the others +had expected she would. + +"Probably busy serving the German officers," said Hal. "What's the +difference, though. We can get along very well without one meal." + +Night came, though to those in the little secret room it was not +apparent that darkness had fallen. Hal glanced at his watch. It was +after 7 o'clock. + +"It's funny she hasn't come yet," he declared. + +"Who do you mean by she?" asked Chester. + +"Why, Antoinette," said Hal. "I--" + +"Oh, sure," said Chester. "I know who you meant, all right. So you +are calling her by her first name already, eh?" + +"Look here," said Hal, "I don't think that is a bit funny." + +"I apologize, old man," said Chester quickly. "I shouldn't have said +it." + +"Say no more about it then," said Hal. "I am afraid, though, that +there is something wrong downstairs." + +"I am beginning to think the same thing," declared Major Derevaux. "I +wonder if it would not be well for one of us to sneak out and have a +look?" + +"I don't believe it would do any harm," declared Hal. "I'll go." + +Chester was about to joke Hal again, but he changed his mind and held +his tongue. + +"I agree," he said. "If you want to go, Hal, we'll wait here." + +"Good. If I have not returned in fifteen minutes you will know +something has happened. In that event, I would advise that you all +come down together, lend me a hand if I'm still in the house and in +condition to be helped, and we'll all make a break for the airship." + +"That is satisfactory," said Major Derevaux. + +"And if I'm not in condition to be helped," said Hal, "go along without +me. You will not have time to be burdened with excess baggage." + +The others nodded and Hal gently slid open the secret door. + +"Remember," he whispered back, "fifteen minutes." + +The door closed behind him. + +Hal made his way quietly through the two rooms that led to the stairs, +and as quietly descended. As he passed through the parlor and +approached the room in which he had met Major Derevaux the night before +he heard the sound of voices. He paused and listened. + +One he made out was a male voice, which he took to belong to a German +officer. The second was that of Mademoiselle Vaubaun. Then a third +voice boomed out. This, Hal knew, was that of a second German. + +Hal approached the door and put his eye to the key-hole. Then he +started back and whipped out his revolver. + +In the center of the room sat Antoinette Vaubaun. She was no longer +attired as an old woman. She was the girl that Hal had seen the night +before. Her hair hung down her back. It was perfectly plain to the +lad that she had been discovered. Her face, though pale, was set +sternly. Hal listened to the conversation that ensued. + +"So you are a spy, eh?" said a big German officer who sat on her +right. + +The girl made no response. + +"Why don't you answer?" demanded the third occupant of the room, a +heavily bearded man, and shook his fist threateningly in her face. + +"I'll answer only what I choose to answer," returned Antoinette +quietly. "Neither you nor the whole German army can make me talk." + +"Is that so?" sneered the first man. "I suppose you've heard of the +fate that came to an English nurse called Edith Cavell, eh?" + +"I have," replied the girl angrily, "and it was crime for which Germany +will have to pay some day. But you can't frighten me." + +"You, too, will be shot as a spy," declared the larger German. + +"And do you think that frightens me? I have done a whole lot for my +country. Many times I warned my countrymen of an impending German +attack. I am only sorry that I shall no longer have the opportunity." + +"What!" exclaimed the German. "You admit it!" + +"Of course I admit it. Why not?" + +The German took a step toward the girl and raised a hand as though he +would strike. + +This was more than Hal could stand. He sent the door crashing in with +a swift kick and dashed into the room. + +It would have been possible for Hal to have shot the German where he +stood, but the lad was so angry that he wanted a word with him first. + +"You big, hulking coward!" he cried. + +Both Germans dropped their hands to their revolvers. + +Hal's revolver flashed fire. + +The German nearest the young French girl clapped a hand to his forehead +and sank to the floor. + +There was a flash as the second German fired. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A FIGHT FOR FREEDOM + +Hal felt a stinging sensation in his left side. He paid no attention +to this however, but, dropping suddenly to the floor, turned to face +his adversary. He saw in that instant the reason the German's bullet +had not penetrated a vital spot. + +As the German had fired, Antoinette, with a quick movement, had grasped +at his arm. She had not succeeded in turning the revolver from its +victim, but she did manage to spoil the man's aim. Therefore, the +bullet had glanced off one of Hal's ribs. + +He now held the advantage, and yet it was not an advantage, for, +realizing that he was facing almost certain death, the German had swung +the girl in front of him and was using her as a shield. + +"Shoot! Don't mind me!" Antoinette called. + +But Hal would not fire without first making sure that he would not hit +the girl. The German had succeeded now in freeing his hand, and, +pointing the revolver over the girl's shoulder, pulled the trigger +again. + +Hal escaped this bullet by a quick spring aside, and, before the German +could fire again, he had skipped forward, darted back of his opponent, +and gripped him with his left hand by the throat. + +Antoinette clawed so furiously at her captor that the German suddenly +released her with a cry of anger, and swung about to confront Hal. He +struck out so viciously that Hal stepped back to avoid the blow. The +German again raised his revolver, but Hal, moving quickly forward, +again struck at the German's revolver with his own--he had no time to +raise it to fire. The German's revolver was knocked from his grasp, +but Hal also lost his grip on his weapon and both went clattering to +the floor together. + +Realizing that he was no match for his heavier opponent if they came to +hand grips, Hal stepped quickly back and threw himself into an attitude +of defense. It was the lad's plan to stand off, if possible, and +spar. + +But the German had no mind to indulge in this kind of fighting, of +which he had not the slightest knowledge. He came forward with a +rush. Hal side-stepped and planted his right fist with great force +above his opponent's left ear. The German staggered, but he did not go +down. Before he could recover, Hal struck twice again--right and +left, but neither blow found a vulnerable spot. + +The German uttered a terrible roar of anger and charged again. This +time Hal was not successful in avoiding the rush and the man's arms +went about him. Hal felt his breath leaving his body as the German +squeezed. + +In vain the lad struck out right and left. Several times he felt his +blows land, but there was no power behind them now. + +As Hal struggled with the German, Antoinette had picked up one of the +revolvers and circled around behind the struggling figures, trying to +find an opening that she might fire without risk of hitting Hal. None +presented itself. + +Hal was gasping for breath. His mouth was open and his tongue hung +out. Suddenly the lad's struggle relaxed and he became limp in the +German's arms. The latter threw the boy's inert body from him roughly, +and as he did so Antoinette fired. The German staggered as the bullet +struck him in the side. As he turned to face her the girl fired +again. + +The German dropped to the floor and the bullet passed over him. Before +the girl could aim again, the man had seized a revolver from the floor +and covered her. + +"Drop that gun!" he cried. + +There was nothing for Antoinette to do but obey. She dropped the +revolver. + +"Sit down!" the German commanded. + +Again the girl obeyed. + +Her captor now saw signs of returning consciousness in Hal. He walked +across the room, and, still keeping his revolver ready in one hand, +stooped and picked Hal up with the other. + +He deposited the lad on a sofa near the girl. + +"Now I've got you both, so there'll be a double execution," he +growled. "I'll just sit here and guard you till some of my men turn +up." + +Meanwhile, upstairs, Chester, Major Derevaux and the four Canadians had +waited impatiently. The sound of revolver shots below had not carried +to their ears. Chester closed his watch with a snap. + +"Time's up," he said quietly. "They must have nabbed Hal. Let's go +down." + +There were no objections offered, so Chester led the way. + +The American lad, the French officer and the four Canadian troopers +descended the stairs as quietly as had Hal, and as quietly approached +the door to the room where the German officer now guarded his +captives. Chester peered through the key-hole and took in the +situation at a glance. + +Chester, however, used more caution than had Hal. Also he chose to +proceed with strategy rather than force. Now, the lad realized, was a +time when his German uniform would stand him in good stead. He +explained his plan in whispers, and as the others stood back out of the +way, Chester walked calmly into the room. + +The German officer rose to his feet. He did not know Chester from +Adam, of course, but he recognized the uniform. + +"Glad you've come, lieutenant," he said. "I've had a deuced hard time +here. As you may see, I have been shot in the side. Colonel +Brewsterberg has been killed. I'll ask you to take charge of my +prisoners." + +"Very well, sir," said Chester, and produced a revolver. + +The German officer returned his revolver to his holster and made as +though to leave the room. + +"One moment," said Chester sharply. + +The German stopped in his tracks and eyed him in surprise. + +"I'll thank you for your gun," said Chester. + +A great light broke upon the German. + +"I see! I see!" he exclaimed. "Another one!" + +His hand groped for his revolver. + +"Be sure you keep your finger off the trigger," said Chester +pleasantly. + +For a moment the German hesitated and it was apparent to Chester that +he was considering resistance. + +"I wouldn't if I were you," said the lad quietly. + +The German shrugged his shoulders, then took out his revolver and +passed it to Chester, holding it by the muzzle. + +"Thanks," said Chester. "Now sit down over there." + +He motioned to a chair and the German sat down. + +"All right, major," called Chester. "You can come in now." + +Major Derevaux entered the room, followed by the four Canadians. The +German prisoner looked at them in amazement. Apparently he thought the +whole Allied army was about to follow them in. + +"Major," said Chester, "you stand guard over that fellow. I'll have a +look at Hal." + +"I'm all right," said Hal, as Chester approached him. "Bullet struck +me in the side, but it is nothing dangerous, I guess. That big German +there nearly choked the life out of me, though. He's a hard customer." + +Chester staunched the flow of blood in Hal's wound, and the latter +announced that he was fit as a fiddle. + +"The thing to do now is to get out of here," he said. + +Under Major Derevaux's direction, Gregory and Crean had securely bound +and gagged the prisoner. + +The major now approached Antoinette. + +"Have you learned anything?" he asked. + +"Yes," replied the girl quietly. "The next German attack will be made +day after tomorrow on this front, in an effort to recapture ground won +by General Byng. There will be no activity now in the Verdun sector." + +"But will the enemy weaken his lines there?" + +"Such is not the plan. The general staff believes that there are +enough men on this front to go through." + +"Good!" said the major. "That's what I came all this way to learn. +But how were you discovered, Antoinette?" + +"My wig came off," replied the girl. "One of the Germans tapped me +playfully on the head, and his ring caught in my hair. The next thing +I knew I was a prisoner." + +"It's too bad," said the major. "We have lost a valuable assistant +now. Of course, there is no use in your remaining here longer. You +must go with us." + +"But I would so like to stay," murmured the girl. + +"But you can't," said Hal eagerly. "You can see that, can't you?" + +Antoinette nodded her head. + +"Yes, I must go," she said quietly. + +"Then let's be moving," said the major. + +The girl got to her feet. Chester led the way to the back door. But +as he would have thrown open the door and stepped out, he moved back +inside with an exclamation. + +"What's the matter?" demanded Hal in some alarm. + +"Matter?" exclaimed Chester. "The yard is full of Germans!" + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +NEW ARRIVALS + +Hal gave a long whistle. + +"Now, that's what I call hard luck," he said. "Do they know we're in +here?" + +"I judge not," replied Chester. "They seem, to be waiting for +something." + +"Maybe they're waiting for our friend, whom we have tied up here, said +Major Derevaux. + +"By Jove! I hadn't thought of that," said Hal. "We may be able to +make use of him." + +The lad stepped quickly across the room and lifted the German to his +feet. + +"I'm going to remove your gag," he said quietly, "but I want you to +understand that if you make an outcry you'll never live to make a +second. Do you understand?" + +The German signified that he did. + +"All right, then," said Hal, "out comes the gag. Chester, keep your +gun in the middle of his back. We can afford to take no chances." + +"Now," said Hal, "I want you to show yourself at the door and order +your men there away." + +The German eyed the lad angrily. + +"So you want me to help you escape, eh?" he said. "Well, I won't do +it." + +"We're desperate," said Hal quietly. "If you don't I give you my word +you shall be shot." + +"Pooh!" sneered the German. "One shot and you will all be killed." + +"But you won't be here to see it done," returned Hal. "Now I am not +going to waste time with you. I shall count three, and if you have not +decided by that time to do as I order, you will die. Chester, do you +understand?" + +"You bet I do," declared Chester. + +"Very well," said Hal. "One! Two!" Still the German made no move. +"Three!" said Hal. + +The hammer on Chester's revolver clicked. + +"Hold on!" cried the German. "I give in!" + +Chester drew a breath of relief. He couldn't have shot the man down in +cold blood and he knew it. He lowered his revolver a trifle, but still +kept the man covered. + +"Go to the door and order your men away from here," Hal ordered the +prisoner. + +The German strode toward the door. + +"Careful," said Chester in a low voice. "One false move and it will be +your last." + +Again he pressed his revolver against the German's back. + +"Do you think I'm a fool?" exclaimed the prisoner. "I'm not going to +be killed if I can help it. Take that gun away." + +"Not until you have done as commanded," returned Chester quietly. + +The German opened the door and stepped outside. Chester, still feeling +perfectly safe in his German uniform, accompanied him. + +"Men," said the German, addressing the soldiers, "I find that I shall +not have need of you tonight. You will a return to your quarters." + +The soldiers, who had stood at attention as the officer addressed them, +at command from a minor officer, wheeled and marched away. + +Chester marched his captive back inside. + +"There," said the latter. "That's done; now what are you going to do +with me?" + +"We'll have to tie and gag you again," said Chester. "You will be +found and released in the morning." + +"And probably court-martialed and shot if this night's proceedings ever +leaks out," muttered the German. "However, there is no help for it." + +He suffered himself to be bound and gagged without opposition, and Hal +then stretched him out on the floor again. + +"Now," said the lad, "I guess our way is clear once more." + +He moved toward the door, with the others following. Glancing out, he +raised a hand suddenly and motioned the others to silence. + +Outside two figures approached the house cautiously. + +Hal called Chester to his side and the two watched the approaching +figures. It was too dark outside to distinguish the features of the +men who approached, but there was no room for doubt that they were +enemies. + +"Back inside and put out the light," whispered Hal. "They're coming +in." The light was extinguished promptly. Then Hal added: "Be ready +to grab them and stifle their cries the minute they are inside and I +have closed the door behind them." + +Those in the house stood silent. + +A moment later the door moved cautiously inward. Then two shadowy +forms stepped inside. Immediately Hal kicked shut the door behind them +and sprang forward to lend a hand to Chester and Major Derevaux, who +had pounced upon the strangers as they entered. + +"Don't let them cry out and don't kill them if you can help it," the +lad cried. + +The struggle raged furiously in the darkened room for some moments. +Then Hal and Chester found themselves sitting upon one of the +intruders, the latter with a revolver pressed to the man's forehead. + +Gregory and Crean also had taken a hand in the struggle, and, with +Major Derevaux, now held the other man helpless. + +"Strike a light, Antoinette," called the major. + +The girl obeyed, and then for the first time the lads were able to get +a look at their prisoners. + +"By the great Horn Spoon!" ejaculated Chester, after one look at his +prisoner. "I'll take my oath that this man is Stubbs." + +At the same moment a cry of astonishment was wrung from Major +Derevaux. + +"Anderson!" he cried. + +Chester and Hal got to their feet. The former twisted his hand in the +collar of his prisoner and lifted him to his feet. + +"Stubbs!" he said severely, "you should know better than sneak upon a +fellow in the dark. You are liable to get hurt." + +"I wouldn't have sneaked up, if I had known you were here," growled +Stubbs. "I would have come up openly and with my gun shooting." + +"My, my!" said Chester. "Little man's getting bloodthirsty. But +didn't I hear someone mention the name of Anderson." + +"You did," replied a voice, and Chester found his hand gripped by none +other than his old friend, the British colonel. "By George! I'm glad +to see you again," continued Anderson, "though I must say that this is +rather a strenuous reception for a couple of old friends." + +He also shook hands with Hal. Major Derevaux and Stubbs expressed +pleasure at seeing each other again. Then Hal demanded: + +"Where did you get hold of Stubbs, Anderson?" + +"I found him back in the British lines," said the colonel. "I was +detailed to come here to see a woman who lives in this house and to +bring a companion for the journey. I asked Stubbs to accompany me, and +he was glad of the chance." + +"What!" exclaimed Hal. "You mean you brought Stubbs where there was +danger and he didn't protest." + +"No, I didn't protest," declared the little war correspondent. "But I +protest now. I didn't sign up for any adventures in your party, and +neither will I; you can bet on that." + +"If you didn't know him, you'd think he was afraid," laughed Colonel +Anderson. + +"I am afraid," declared Stubbs. "I'm afraid to go fooling around with +these two," and he indicated Hal and Chester with a sweeping gesture. +"I'd rather fool around with dynamite." + +"Well, we can't stay here any longer," said Major Derevaux, and in a +few words explained to Colonel Anderson what had happened. "What was +the nature of your business here?" he asked. + +"About the same as yours," returned the colonel with a laugh. "But, +as you say, there is no need to linger now. You have learned what I +Came to find out. We may as well be moving." + +"How'd you come, an airship?" asked the major. "Yes; and you?" + +"Same way." + +"Then we may as well get both machines back. I'll take half of your +party. My plane is only about a hundred yards from here." + +"My plane is not much farther--in a little woods there." + +"By Jove! So is mine. Wouldn't be surprised if they were near the +same spot. Well, let's be moving." + +Colonel Anderson led the way from the house, and the others followed +him through the darkness. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A NEW VENTURE + +It was three days later and Hal and Chester sat in their own quarters +in the shelter of the American lines. The flight from the German lines +had been made safely. The aeroplanes had been found where Colonel +Anderson and Major Derevaux had left them. + +These had ascended without knowledge of the Germans, and had started on +their homeward flight before being discovered. Then there had been +pursuit, but they had landed without being so much as scratched. + +"Well," said Hal, rising and picking up a pile of papers, "I've studied +these maps until I know them by heart. Now if someone can tell me what +it's all about, I'll be obliged." + +"Same here," Chester agreed. "Funny, when you stop to think about it. +Here they give us these maps and tell us to stuff our heads full of +them. Well, my head is full, all right." + +"And mine--Hello, here comes someone." + +"It's Captain O'Neill. Maybe he'll, be ready to explain now," said +Chester. + +A moment later the American captain entered the tent. The boys +saluted. The captain came to the point at once. + +"You are both familiar with airplanes?" he asked. + +The lads nodded. + +"So I understand," said the captain. "Also I hear that several times +you have landed upon unfamiliar ground, and in the dark. I am +informed, too, that you are always willing to take desperate risks. Am +I right?" + +"We are glad to do what we can," returned Chester quietly. + +"Understand," said the captain, "you will be asked to land not only in +the dark but behind the enemy lines, not knowing who or what is below." + +"We understand," said Hal quietly. + +"I have come to offer you this opportunity," said Captain O'Neill +quietly. "Tonight--the exact time is 10 o'clock--we attack in +force. In comparison, the assaults before this have been as nothing. +I say we, but I mean chiefly, of course, the French. There will be +some American troops in the advance, however. The mission I am now +offering you was turned over to us by the French general staff." + +"We shall be glad of the opportunity to aid, sir," said Hal. + +"Good!" said Captain O'Neill, and continued: "One element alone is +uncertain; one only is to be ascertained. The force and disposition +of the defending troops in shell holes, in their concrete 'pill-boxes,' +in their flanking trenches all have been ascertained. They will be +blasted out by our artillery. But they have additional forces below +the ground, in great caverns too far down to be reached by our shells; +they are tremendous underground works concealing whole battalions, many +thousands of men, whose presence is known; but the entrances and the +means of egress from those great caverns have so far eluded us. + +"We have discovered some of these entrances," he continued, "but +immediately they have changed. At present we do not know them. But at +10 o'clock tonight the points from which the German reserves will +emerge must be instantly and accurately marked. When our infantry goes +over the top and the Germans order their shock troops out from the safe +underground refuges to meet our men, we must know the points where the +enemy battalions are coming up. Some of these points will be cared for +by French already in position to inform us. I offer to you the +opportunity of marking others of those points." + +"We shall be glad," said Hal simply. + +"Very well. You understand, of course, that you will be killed if +discovered. Both of you come with me." + +He arose, and Hal and Chester followed the captain to his motor-car, +which they entered and drove to the main road, over which German +prisoners captured early in the day were still streaming to the rear. +Overhead a few aeroplanes still buzzed--combat and fire control and +staff "observation" machines seeking out their aerodromes in the +dark. It grew dark so quickly now that Hal, looking up, saw the +colored flash of the signal lights from a pilot's pistol; they burned +an instant red and blue and red again as they dropped through the air; +and, in response to the signal, greenish white flares gleamed from the +ground to the right, outlining the aviation field; then the flying +machine, which had signaled, began to come down. + +From far beyond the drum fire of artillery rumbled and rattled. + +The car ran up a side road and halted before a little hut. Captain +O'Neill alighted. + +"We bad the misfortune, in the attack this morning," he said, "to lose +one of our most useful people. The enemy had employed him, recently, +in excavating certain of their great underground stations, which I have +mentioned; but last night they had him in a front-line trench, which we +took this morning. He has volunteered to return to his post, if we can +place him behind the lines, but, I regret, he is in no condition for +further service. Therefore, we must send a substitute." + +Captain O'Neill led the way into a candle lighted room, where a man was +lying in bed. Civilian clothes--the rags of a French refugee from +the other side of the lines--hung on the wall beside him. The man +was very weak, with hands which drooped from the wrist as he half sat +up as the captain entered. The man's name, the captain informed the +lads, was Jean Brosseau. + +Captain O'Neill produced a map, a duplicate of the ones which the lads +had been given several days before. The man in bed now detailed to +them the exact nature and purpose of the markings and spots. It was +all lined off into little squares and oblongs, each described with a +letter and number. These were for the guiding of the guns--because, +for each tiny square on the German side of the lines, there was a +battery or a couple of batteries behind the French front, whose +business was solely to sweep that square with high explosive shells, +gas shells and shrapnel, when the battle was on. + +To escape those shells, the Germans again were burrowing, Brosseau +pointed out. Some places they had burrowed far too deep to be +endangered by shells; but their ways of egress were not known. These +were covered with camouflage. + +Hal took down the shirt from the wall; vermin crawled in it. Captain +O'Neill had not made the mistake of having it steamed or washed or +disinfected; vermin and filth of underground communications soiled the +rags of Jean Brosseau's jacket, his trousers, his cap. Hal, without +ceremony, stripped off his uniform and underclothes. His body was +clean and without calluses; the cleanliness was soon remedied. Then he +dressed, to give him all the time possible to become accustomed to the +garments of a French citizen in the hands of the enemy. + +The reverberations of the guns outside had increased mightily; they +seemed to double again to topmost intensity. Captain O'Neill frowned a +little as he heard them and glanced at his watch. A motorcycle +clattered up and stopped outside; a man knocked at the door, delivered +a message to Captain O'Neill, and departed. Captain O'Neill read the +message and tore it to bits. Hal and Chester waited without question; +but the sick man had to ask: + +"We have lost ground, sir?" + +"No, no! All goes well--very well, except for us here," Captain +O'Neill replied. "The time is moved forward; that is all." + +He bent again over the map. + +"There will not be time now if you are taken far back of the German +lines where an aeroplane may come down unobserved. There will not be +time," he repeated to Hal, "for you to work forward to the position +where you must be." + +"What's the matter with coming down near the position where we're +wanted?" asked Hal. + +"Near their lines?" Captain O'Neill questioned. "There will be men all +about, of course; you will be observed." + +"What's the matter with coming down observed sir?" said Chester. + +"Observed," repeated the captain. "How do you mean?" + +"It is something we have talked of before," said Hal. "We have often +considered this method of getting a man down inside the German lines, +even in a section where discovery is certain. A machine goes up +carrying bombs, perhaps; it drops them and attracts anti-aircraft +fire. It appears to fall, sir, and comes down in that way." + +Captain O'Neill's brows drew together, puzzled, but he was patient. + +"But I do not see the advantage," he said. + +"It falls in flames, sir," said Hal. "The pilot ignites it when it +begins to drop." + +"Proceed," Captain O'Neill bade. + +"The men found in it are killed," continued Hal "'killed by the +shrapnel fire--also, of course, they burn with the aeroplane. It is, +to all observers, a bombing biplane shot down in flames." + +"And you think such a plan will succeed?" asked the captain. + +"I feel sure of it, sir." + +"Well," said Captain O'Neill, "you are the two who must take the +chances. You have my permission to adopt your own plans." + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +OVER THE LINES + +"You will carry these with you, of course," said Captain O'Neill, +"those who will be found in, the plane?" + +"Yes, sir," said Hal. "They need not be aviators, but merely in +uniform." + +"You drop from the machine as she strikes, I suppose?" said the +captain. "She will run after that, of course." + +"Certainly it will leave us unsuspected," said Chester. "It will aid +our escape. Certainly no one would suspect a man had planned to fall +in flames." + +"You have suggested enough," said the captain. "Your idea alters +much. Meet me in half an hour. Everything will be prepared." + +He named a place and left the hut. + +Jean Brosseau bent forward in bed, his eyes burning. + +"When Captain O'Neill gives you final instructions he may tell you to +employ certain people on the other side. Here!" he motioned for the +map again, "I shall point out to you where they are." + +He took a pencil and made a dot toward the corner of one of the +squares. + +"In the old military maps a house stood there," he said. "My father's +house it was. There was also a stable; there was also a cellar, which +the Germans have discovered, but beyond it was an old cellar quite +concealed. Our people, at different times, have hidden there. There +are both men and women there now. They will help you if they can." + +Jean Brosseau fell back on the bed and closed his eyes. + +An hour later Hal climbed into the pilot seat of the biplane that +Captain O'Neill had placed at their disposal. He felt somewhat +uncomfortable in his ragged attire, but he knew that he could not be +attired in better costume for the undertaking. Chester also had +discarded his civilian clothes and donned rags. + +The big "bus," as the airplanes were called, with propeller whirling, +lumbered over the ground; the smoothness of flying came to it and, +deafened to everything but the clatter of the motor and the thrash of +the air-screw, Hal gazed down. Points of light, yellow and red and +some almost white, glowed on the ground. Some of these marked +villages, encampments; others signified nothing at all--decoys to +attract the "eggs" of the German night flying falcons. + +They neared the lines, and the strip of "No Man's Land," with the +pocked and pitted streaks of defenses on both sides, gleamed white and +spectral green under the star-dashed shells. An infantry attack was +going on; Hal could see the shapes of men as they flattened; they were +pinched to dots when they jumped up and then they spread out again. + +Before them burst the frightful fireworks of their own barrage; behind +them, and above, that of the enemy. + +Hal shivered in the cold; it was very chill there flying high above the +lines, and he wore but the rags of Jean Brosseau. Directly below them +the land had become black again, specked only by little points of +light, yellow, ruddy, white; some of these, like the lights behind the +French lines, perhaps marked hamlets, encampments; others were mere +decoy-lights; others--they showed but for the briefest second when +the biplane passed overhead were the guiding lights for the French and +American pilots. These were set in chimneys by the French behind the +German lines; any light, if seen by Germans and recognized, might cost +the annihilation of a family, or a neighborhood; many times such lights +had cost such savage penalty. Still, they were set. + +Hal and Chester warmed at sight of them this night as never before. +They were going to the people who had set those lights. + +The biplane banked and circled. Below was the square where the +airplane was to be shot down. Troops were moving through those fields, +undoubtedly, advancing in single file through communication trenches or +dashing from shell hole to shell hole; other troops lingered in dugouts +underground. The French batteries played all over those fields, +spraying down shrapnel, detonating the frightful charges of high +explosives. But at an hour before the appointed time--at 9 o'clock--the +French batteries would remit their fire for ten minutes upon the +square where the biplane should fall. Hal looked at the clock fastened +before him. It was two minutes to 9; he could see, directly below, the +crimson splash of the great French shells; a little way to the side +showed the flashes of the German heavy batteries making reply. + +Now, as though smothered by the German fire, the French batteries +ceased. It was 9 o'clock, and Hal circled above the German batteries, +which were firing, and Chester released the first bomb. Before it +struck and burst, he let go another. He laid a third "egg" close +beside a German battery--so close that the battery ceased to fire; +but before the fourth dropped the anti-aircraft guns were going. +Chester could hear, above the racket of the motor and the air-screw, +the "pop, pop" of smashing shrapnel. They ran through the floating +smoke of a shell, the acrid ether-smelling stuff stinging their +nostrils. The beams of searchlights swept into the air. Hal circled +more carefully and deliberately dropped lower; Chester let two more +bombs drop near the batteries; he cleared the frames of the last pair +of "eggs," and, leaning forward, struck Hal's shoulder to tell him so. + +The phosphorus-painted face of the altimeter showed the pointer +registering less than 2,000 feet; before the breaking German shells +should do, in fact, what it was to be pretended they had done, Chester +reached up and ignited the preparation smeared over the top plane. +Yellow flames flared up, and, to keep them above and behind, Hal +pointed the nose of the biplane far down and let her fall. + +He turned, as he let the machine dive, back toward the French lines. +Then, as the German antiaircraft gunners saw their target flashing +clear in flames and they strewed their shrapnel closer before it, the +biplane fluttered and fell, no longer diving under guidance, but out of +control. + +Chester jerked about to Hal; over the forms strapped between them, he +saw Hal's face in the light of the flame. Hal was not hit; he had +merely let go of the controls. It was part of the plan to let the +machine fall out of control. But, for a moment, it was too much as if +Hal had been hit. + +The biplane side-slipped, "went off the wing," sickeningly, dropping +down spinning. Then, suddenly, with a catch of a well-made, +well-balanced plane, the inherent stability asserted itself, and the +planes caught; the big "bus" fluttered like a falling leaf, "flattened +out," and rested; now, it side-slipped again and fell, and Hal did not +touch the controls. + +Chester, looking down, saw that the flashes of the guns off to the side +had come halfway to him; if the falling plane caught itself again after +the same amount of drop, side-slipping, it would hover not too far from +the ground before going "off the wing" again. That is, it might. + +Anyway, the flames which had caught the wing fabric and were blazing +the breadth of the wings above and jumping back now to the rudder and +the tail were kept above; and to anyone on the ground the illusion of a +machine shot down, burning and out of control, must have become +complete. + +Chester held on, not breathing. The momentary flutter and hover of the +machine was over. It was dropping down again in a wild, sliding +swoop--yet Hal made no move to stop it even when it half turned over. + +Soon, however, he made a move, and, before the slide had gone too far, +he caught it as before it had caught itself; it fluttered, hovered, the +flames streaking up straight above it; the ground now just below. Then +it went "off the wing" again and crashed. + +Chester, leaping clear at the instant of the impact, stumbled and fell +on his face and rolled down a shell hole. He caught himself, half +stunned and dizzy, and tried to crawl back toward the burning plane. +But Hal blundered against him and carried him back. + +"All right," Hal whispered. "Are you?" + +"All right," said Chester. "Great landing. I've fixed things back +there. Time to be moving. Got your grenades?" + +"You bet." + +"All right. Good luck." + +Their orders were to part now. Chester crawled one way, Hal the +other. The biplane was burning with a great deal of smoke, which +smothered the glow on the side they had leaped. And no German was +near; they could be very sure of that. The gasoline now was ignited, +and the wreck was blazing beautifully. The machine was known, of +course, to be a bombing machine, shot down during operations. No one +would know how many bombs had come down with it; no one would come +close until after the flames had burned down. Then the Germans would +find the "pilot" and the "bomber," the two still forms the lads had +strapped to the machine before leaving their own lines. Everyone would +be accounted for; no search for more would be made. + +Both boys now were ready for their desperate work. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +DESPERATE WORK + +Chester, having crept a hundred yards, hugged down into another hole +and waited. The Germans who had been about now approached the glowing +heap of the biplane. What they found seemed to satisfy them. At least +they raised no alarm. The shells from the far-off trench guns, which +had been breaking in the fields both to right and to left, began +searching about here now and scattered them. Chester moved forward +toward the lines. And, as he moved, the shells which had been bursting +in that direction, ceased. + +The feel of the far-off hand of Captain O'Neill and of his +superiors--the men who had planned this desperate venture--thrilled through +him. Until five minutes to 10 o'clock he would be cared for, Captain +O'Neill had promised. The French artillery, opening a path through its +fire, would throw its shield around him. Simultaneously, it would be +opening another path to Hal, advancing off to the right. Where all the +Germans, who held that ground, burrowed below in dugouts or crept and +ran through the deep defiles of communication trenches, Hal and he +could go at will over the ground and so far as the shells from the +French batteries were concerned, be perfectly safe. + +Chester stole on through the blackness. Shells were breaking a hundred +yards before him, behind him, off to both sides, but no shell came +closer. Now, if he remembered rightly, the shells would cease in the +square ahead and to the left; he moved that way--and they stopped. +Over the ground which he had crossed, shells were bursting again now. +When he halted once more, the frightful hurricane of high explosives +swept before him, on both sides and behind--but not close to him. So +for many minutes he advanced. + +It was strange, when used to dodging shells behind his own lines and +when accustomed to twist and turn and dive and tumble in the air to +avoid the burst of anti-aircraft shrapnel, to feel shells falling like +a bulwark about him. That was what they were. For the present, at +least, the shells gained for him and gave to him the sole use of the +surface of the earth there behind the German lines. + +Troops were all about, of course; but all were hiding. They could not +imagine anyone purposely advancing through the open there; they could +not imagine anyone surviving if he tried it. They noticed, +undoubtedly, that the fall of the French shells intermitted for a +moment in this direction and that; but when any of them went out the +shells burst upon them again and annihilated detachments. The cease +and the start again of the French fire seemed merely capricious, to +tempt them out to destruction. Not having the pattern of the pass by +which the two boys advanced, they could not suspect any pattern about +it. + +And now Chester no longer could trust his own memory of that pattern. +He went to the bottom of a deep shell crater, and, lying upon his +stomach, he took a scrap of map from under his shirt and spread it +below him. He took a tiny electric torch from his pocket and illumined +the sheet dimly. A series of squares, into which that sector was +divided, marked his path for the front--each square of the series +numbered in ink and designated by a time, such as 32, 24, 19, 16, 10 +and so, forth. They told the moment before 10 o'clock, at which, upon +the square marked, the French fire would cease, not to start again +until the fire ceased, at the next lowest minute, upon the next +square. Down to five minutes to 10 o'clock they showed the safe path, +after that friend and foe alike on this side of the German lines must +shift for themselves. + +Chester's mind caught the pattern of the next numbered square; he +repeated to himself the time intervals. He climbed up out of the shell +hole and swiftly passed the next square as the shells began falling +behind him. Had Hal, off there to the right four squares away, now, as +good luck as he? Or, was the French fire opening a path for no one +there now? + +By the ceasing of the shells on this square it was 24 minutes to 10 +o'clock--the hour when the French forces would stream over the top. +And for ten minutes, upon the square, the French fire would cease. +That was because it was upon this square that Hal and Chester--if +both survived to reach it--would meet. It was under the ground in +this numbered ten minutes to 10 o'clock--that the French were hidden, +of whom Jean Brosseau had told. And as Brosseau had expected and +hoped, Chester and Hal--or whichever of them survived to this +square--were ordered to employ those people. + +Chester crept forward, searching for the ruins of the house to mark the +spot. There was a communication-trench some yards away to the left of +it, he remembered. He could hear them working upon it now, calling to +each other as the shells had given them a few minutes respite. He +crept by them and came upon stones--the square stones of the walls of +a house demolished and scattered. Only one house had been at that +point, and, crawling carefully, he dropped into the pit of the cellar. +There, in that cellar, Hal and he were to meet, if Hal yet lived. + +Hal was not there; he had not been there. The heap of old charred +beams and rubbish, which covered the opening of the tunnel to the +French hiding in the old cellar deeper and beyond, was undisturbed; he +heard no sound except that of the shells and the scraping and voices of +the Germans at work thirty yards away. + +Chester flattened down upon the rubbish of the cellar; he raised a +black beam a little and thrust himself under. Feeling ahead, he found +more rubbish, which he cleared; and then, beyond, his hand found +emptiness and the smell of earth--and the odor of people and the +closeness of foul air. But there was no sound ahead. + +He crawled his length and then spoke quietly in French: + +"I come for the redeeming of France," words which he had been ordered +to use upon his arrival. + +He got no reply from the silence ahead; so he said again: + +"I am not Jean Brosseau; he sent me. I come to ask your aid." + +"Aid?" a voice repeated; "aid?" + +Chester lighted his little torch again, and men's faces showed before +him. + +"Quick!" one of the men said. "Get away. It's a trap!" + +"The Germans have taken us," said a second voice. "We--" + +His voice stopped and choked. It was stilled forever, Chester knew. +He could not see--he had extinguished his light. + +A revolver was fired in his face, but the bullet went over him. He +pressed to one side of the tunnel as he pushed back, and the next +bullet went into the sand where he had been. He was back under the +beams; and the Germans, choking, fired no more. + +Someone pulled at his leg. Someone jerked him out and pulled him +up--it was Hal. + +"The people in there were taken," said Chester quietly. "They--" + +"You've still got your grenades," said Hal. "I've got mine. We can do +it alone, with luck!" + +The Germans, working on the tunnel off to the left, yelled at each +other to jump for cover, for the French shells were coming again. They +burst all about--except now, just ahead, where Hal and Chester were +running. Two minutes they had to run and crawl and run again across +the square, three minutes for the next one. Then, again, they parted. +Two squares to the left, two minutes for one, three for the next--Hal +was to go; two squares to the right--for three minutes and two the +French fire was to be remitted--Chester must travel. There were two +other small squares to be spared for five minutes to provide for help +which might have been gained from the refugees' dugout. + +Those squares were being spared now, anyway. + +But the minutes of respite for all were finishing fast. + +It was five minutes to 10 o'clock and Chester, running bent over, +stumbled and fell; the frightful concussion of great high explosive +shells, bursting close to him, shook and battered him. He hugged down +into a hole, and from about his neck, he drew a flat bag, which held a +gas mask; he adjusted it quickly. Shells were striking about him, +which did not break; but from the butts of these fumes were floating. +The Germans, showing in the light of the star-shells, had become +snouted creatures in their gas helmets. + +They appeared only for an instant, as, jumping up from one trench, +where the shells were falling, they rushed to another deep defile. +Half a score, who had shown themselves in one group, vanished; and +Chester was buffeted again by the shock of high explosives. + +Gas and still more gas followed high explosives again. + +Chester, creeping now, got, even through his mask, smarting, searing +twinges of the gas. He was among bodies and wounded men. Their masks, +when, they fell, had become torn or broken. The gas had got them. + +Five minutes to 10 o'clock had passed. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE ATTACK + +It was three minutes to the attack or less, and the hurricane fire of +the French artillery swept cyclonic over the German lines. + +A thousand yards away, more or less, as the ground gave advantage, the +French front-line trenches were filled with men awaiting the hour of +10--two minutes off now--to go over the top. + +The German batteries, behind, knew that the time was near; but just +when it would be, in two minutes, or in ten or in an hour-they did not +know. When the fire of the French guns lifted, they did not know +whether it would be to let the poilus assault, or whether it would be +only to trick the German infantry and machine-gun men out of their +tunnels and dugouts to meet the frightful fall of the French hurricane +fire again. + +But the German guns doubled their response now when the French trebled +theirs. + +One minute to 10 o'clock! + +Chester, lying in a shell hole with, his bag, of grenades open before +him, felt a shock on his back. A bit of shell or shrapnel had struck +him, but he moved his arms and, except for the stinking pain, he was +all right. He choked--and instantly held his breath. A bit of +metal, flying from somewhere, had pierced his gas mask. The tear was +right before his mouth. He thrust the fabric into his mouth and bit +it, holding it tight between his lips. That patched the hole; there +was no other. He breathed again without choking. + +Ten o'clock! + +From over the German front-line trenches, a half mile or more forward, +the storm of the French artillery fire had lifted--lifted to add to +the cyclone of shells sweeping the reserve lines. The German +star-shells, rising and floating and glaring constellations, spread +their garish light over the front, and showed the French charging +forward in the open. + +They rushed onward, few falling, almost unopposed. For the Germans in +the front-line trenches--those who had not been withdrawn under that +hurricane of shells-were dead or crouched down, stunned, and in +stupor. + +The French took the advanced trenches, the second supporting, and came +on. + +Now, from the "pill-boxes"--the few scattered points for machine-gun +support which the artillery had not found--resistance came. The +French, though fewer, came on. + +Before Chester, lying with his bag of grenades open at the edge of a +shell crater, the ground suddenly opened and, a great causeway gaped +down into the earth. Where solid ground had seemed to be, men were +rushing forth--German infantrymen with rifles and bayonets fixed to +the counter-attack. + +Off to the right twenty yards another such gap yawned in the ground. +And Chester, rising, hurled a missile from the bag he had carried. + +It burst among the emerging men; he hurled another. A leap of blue +flame, which flared high and blinding, followed its detonation. He +hurled at the other causeway, first halting by a bomb the out rush of +men; and thus he marked the mouth of this second causeway the next +instant by a sheet of blue game. + +Off to the side, 200 yards, blue flames shot up and glared. Hal was +alive, that meant--at least, he had been alive a moment ago, calling +shells upon himself from the French batteries, as well as attack from +the Germans coming from the ground. + +For the shells already were arriving; one burst just beside the great +causeway and blocked it. + +The shell annihilated the men rushing at Chester. He rolled over, deaf +and unseeing. Shells were coming true and straight. An aeroplane +appeared overhead so close down that Chester could see it plainly in +the light of the star-shells when his sight came back. Aeroplanes were +guiding the guns and dropping aerial torpedoes. + +One landed in the mouth of that other causeway and blew it out of +shape, and this was the last thing which, for a long time, Chester +remembered. + +When Chester opened his eyes, he lay on a bed with the whitest of +sheets. For a moment he could remember nothing, then the details of +the great battle carve back to him. + +His first thought, naturally, was of Hal. He sat up in bed. There, in +another bed in the center of what Chester now recognized as a hospital +tent, lay Hal, his head swathed in bandages. + +"He's safe, anyhow," said Chester to himself. + +The lad passed a hand across his head, and ascertained that his head +also was wrapped tightly, and that there were more bandages around his +body. + +"Wonder what's the matter with me?" he muttered. "I don't remember +being hit, and here I am all wrapped up like a baby doll. I must be in +pretty bad shape." + +Nevertheless, now that his mind had been eased regarding Hal's safety, +Chester soon closed his eyes, again and slept. + +It was late the following day that the lad was aroused by the sound of +voices at his bedside. One voice he recognized as Hal's, the other +came to him later. It was the voice of Stubbs. + +Chester opened his eyes, and gazed at the little war correspondent. +The latter spoke first. + +"The sleeper awakes," he said to Hal. "See, Chester thinks it's time +to get up, and I'm not a bit sure he isn't right. He's been in bed for +four days now. That's longer than I ever slept." + +"I'm not so weak I can't get out of here and pull, your nose," declared +Chester, sitting up. + +Anthony Stubbs grinned. + +"I feel pretty safe right here," he said. + +"What's the matter with me, anyway?" demanded Chester. "Hello there, +Hal. What's the trouble with you? You seem to be pretty well bunged +up." + +"Guess neither of us is going to die," said Hal with a smile. "The +doctor tells me that we both have holes in our heads, and that we have +a few pieces of shell in our legs and bodies. He says we are about the +luckiest pair he ever saw." + +"How long does he figure we must stay in bed;"' Chester wanted to +know. + +"He said something about thirty days," said Stubbs, with another grin. + +"Then he's barking up the wrong tree," Chester declared. "I don't feel +exactly lovely, but I know I'm not going to stay here a month. Any +broken bones, Hal?" + +"No; and neither have you, according to the doctor. He said that we +should be able to get about in a week or two." + +"Well, that's a little better," Chester grumbled. "What do you mean by +telling me a month, Stubbs?" + +"I didn't say he said a month," Stubbs protested. "I said the doctor +said something about thirty days, and so he did. He said that most men +would have to lie in bed thirty days with your wounds, but that he felt +you would be able to leave the hospital sooner because of a pair of +remarkably fine constitutions." + +"I think you were trying to have a little fun with me, Stubbs," Chester +declared. + +"You know I wouldn't joke with a sick boy," said Stubbs. + +"No, I don't know it, either, Stubbs; and when I get out of here, I +shall make it a point to get even with you." + +"To get even?" Stubbs exploded. "You listen to me. You're even and a +long ways ahead right now. In fact, you're so far ahead that I +couldn't get even with you in a life time. However, when you get well, +I'm going to have a try." + +"You'd better not fool with me, Stubbs," said Chester. "I'm liable to +get out of here right now and have a little bout with you." + +"Well," said Stubbs, "I can lick you now." + +Chester grinned. + +"Guess you're right," he said. "Maybe I had better postpone it. By +the way, did the attack succeed?" + +"Did it?" exclaimed Stubbs enthusiastically. "I rather think it did. +The French have advanced from four to five miles into the enemy's +lines; and I overheard a man say if it had not been for your work in +bottling up the enemy underground the French would have been surprised +and hurled back." + +"Well, I'm glad we helped," said Hal simply. + +"And I'll be glad when we can help some more," declared Chester. "It +won't be long before we are up and doing again." + +"I should think you had had enough," said Stubbs. + +"We haven't, though," said Hal. "Now, run away, Mr. Stubbs, and come +back later. I want to take a little snooze." + +"Same here," said Chester. + +Both made themselves as comfortable as possible under the +circumstances. And while they are taking a much-needed rest, we will +bid them a brief adieu, only to meet them later on in a succeeding +volume, entitled: "THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; OR, OVER THE +TOP WITH UNCLE SAM'S WARRIORS." + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders, by +Clair W. 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Hayes + +Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6083] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on November 3, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by Sean Pobuda. + + + +THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS + +Or The Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge + +By Clair W. Hayes + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A NEW USE FOR A DICTAPHONE + +The rain fell in torrents over the great battlefield, as Hal Paine and +Chester Crawford, taking advantage of the inky blackness of the night, +crept from the shelter of the American trenches that faced the enemy +across "No Man's Land." + +In the trenches themselves all was silence. To a spectator it would +have seemed that the occupants were, either dead or asleep; yet such +was not the case. + +It is true that most of the men had "turned in" for the night, sleeping +on their arms, for there was no means of telling at what moment the +enemy might issue from his trenches in another of the night raids that +had marked this particular sector for the last few weeks; but the ever +vigilant sentinels stood watch over the sleeping men. They would sound +an alarm, should occasion demand, in ample time to arouse the sleepers +if an enemy's head appeared in the darkness. + +Hal and Chester, of course, left the American trenches with full +knowledge of these sentinels; otherwise they might have been shot. + +Once beyond the protecting walls of earth, they moved swiftly and +silently toward the German trenches less than a hundred feet away -- +just the distance from the home plate to first base on a baseball +diamond, as Hal put it -- ninety feet. + +These two lads, who now advanced directly toward the foe, were +lieutenants in the first American expeditionary force to reach France +to lend a hand in driving back the legions of the German Emperor, who +still clung tenaciously to territory he had conquered in the early +stages of the great war. These boys had, at one time, been captains in +the British army, and had had three years of strenuous times and +exciting adventures in the greatest of all wars. + +Their captaincies they'd won through gallant action upon the field of +battle. American lads, they had been left in Berlin at the outbreak of +hostilities, when they were separated from Hal's mother. They made +their way to Belgium, where, for a time, they saw service, with King +Albert's troops. Later they fought under the tricolor, with the +Russians and the British and Canadians. + +When the United 'States declared war on Germany, Hal and Chester, with +others, were sent to America, where they were of great assistance in +training men Uncle Sam had selected to officer his troops. They had +relinquished their rank in the British army to be able to do this. Now +they found themselves again on French soil, but fighting under the +Stars and Stripes. + +On this particular night they advanced toward tile German lines soon +after an audience with General John J. Pershing, commander-in-chief of +the American expeditionary forces . In one hand Chester carried a +little hardwood box, to which were attached coils of wire. In the +other hand the lad held a revolver. Hal, likewise, carried his +automatic in his hand. Each was determined to give a good account of +himself should his presence be discovered. + +It was unusually quiet along the front this night. It was too dark for +opposing "snipers" -- sharpshooters -- to get in their work, and the +voices of the big guns, which, almost incessantly for the last few +weeks, had hurled shells across the intervening distance between the +two lines of trenches, were stilled. + +Hal pressed close to Chester. + +"Rather creepy out here," he said. + +"Right," returned Chester in a whisper. "I've the same feeling +myself. It forebodes, trouble, this silence, to my way of thinking. +The Huns are probably hatching up some devilment." + +"Well, we may be able to get the drift of it, with that thing you have +under your arm," was the other's reply. + +"Sh-h!" was Chester's reply, and he added: "We're getting pretty +close." + +They continued their way without further words. + +Hal, slightly in advance, suddenly uttered a stifled exclamation. +Instantly Chester touched his arm. + +"What's the matter?" he asked in a whisper. + +"Matter is," Hal whispered back, "that we have come to a barbed-wire +entanglement. I had forgotten about those things." + +"Well, that's why you brought your 'nippers' along," said Chester. "Cut +the wire." + +Hal produced his "nippers." It was but the work of a moment to nip the +wires, and again the lads advanced cautiously. + +A moment later there loomed up before them the German trenches. Hal +stood back a few feet while Chester advanced and placed the little +hardwood box upon the top of the trench, and scraped over it several +handfuls of earth. The lad now took the coil of wire in his hand, and +stepped down and back. The lads retraced their steps toward their own +lines, Chester the while unrolling the coil of wire. + +The return was made without incident. Before their own trenches the +boys were challenged by a sentinel. + +"Halt!" came the command. "Who goes there?" + +"Friends," returned Hal. + +The sentinel recognized the lad's voice. + +"Advance," he said with a breath of relief. + +A moment later the boys were safe back among their own men. + +"If the Germans had been as watchful as our own sentries, we would have +had more trouble," said Hal. + +"Oh, I don't know," was Chester's reply. "I saw a German sentinel, but +he didn't see me in the darkness." + +"It was his business to see, however," declared Hal. + +"Well, that's true. But now let's listen and seen if we can overhear +anything of importance." + +Chester clapped the little receiver to his ear. Hal became silent. + +Ten minutes later Chester removed the receiver from his ear. + +"Nothing doing," he said. "I can hear some of the men talking, but +they are evidently playing cards." + +"Let me listen a while," said Hal. + +Chester passed the receiver to his chum, and the latter listened +intently. For some moments he heard nothing save the jabbering jargon +of German troopers apparently interested in a card game. He was about +to take the receiver from his ear, however, when another voice caught +his attention + +He held up a hand, which told Chester that something of importance was +going on. + +"All right, general," said a voice in the German trenches, which was +carried plainly to Hal's ear by the Dictaphone. + +"Stay!" came another voice. "You will also order Colonel Blucher to +open with all his guns at the moment that General Schmidt's men advance +to the attack." + +"At midnight, sir," was the reply. + +"That is all." + +The voices became silent. + +Quickly Hal reported to Chester what he had overheard. + +"It's up to us to arouse Captain O'Neill," said Chester. He hurried +off. + +Hal glanced at his watch. + +It was 10 o'clock. + +"Two hours," the lad muttered. "Well, I guess we'll be ready for +them." + +A few moments later Captain O'Neill appeared. He was in command of the +Americans in the first line trenches. These troops were in their +present positions for "seasoning" purposes. They had been the first to +be given this post of honor. They had held it for several days, and +then had been relieved only to be returned to the front within ten +days. + +At command from Captain O'Neill, Hal made his way to the, south along +the line of trenches, and approached the quarters of General Dupres. +To an, orderly he announced that he bore a communication from Captain +O'Neill. + +"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed the French commander, when Hal had delivered his +message. "So they will attack us in the night, eh? Well, we shall +receive them right warmly." + +He thought a moment. Then he said: + +"You will tell Captain O'Neill to move from the trenches with his +entire strength. He will advance ten yards and then move one hundred +yards north. You may tell him that I will post a force of equal +strength to the south. He will not fire until my French troops open on +the enemy." + +Hal returned and reported to Captain O'Neill. + +It was plain that the American officer didn't understand the situation +fully. However, he simply shrugged his shoulders. + +"General Dupres is in command," he said. "I guess he knows what he's +doing or he wouldn't be here." + +Captain O'Neill gave the necessary commands. The American troops moved +from the trenches in silence. There was a suppressed air of +excitement, however, for each man was eager for the coming of he knew +not what. + + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE AMBUSH + +At the point decided upon for the American troops to take their stand +was a collection of shell holes. In order that the attack upon the +Germans might have all the elements of surprise when it came, Captain +O'Neill ordered his men into these holes to guard against any +possibility of surprise. + +Now, it is an undoubted fact that when a man curls himself up with two +or three preliminary twists, after the fashion of a dog going to bed, +in a perfectly circular shell hole on a night as black as this, he is +extremely likely to lose his sense of direction. + +That is what happened to Private Briggs, of the American forces. + +The Americans lay in silence, awaiting the moment of the surprise. +Suddenly it came. From the position held by the French broke out a +fusillade. The Germans had approached closer. + +Captain O'Neill and his followers got to their feet and dashed upon the +enemy -- all but Private Briggs. + +Besides his rifle, each man was armed with hand grenades - bombs -- +which he carried in his pockets. + +When Private Briggs sprang to his feet, it took him so long to untangle +himself that the others had gone on ahead of him. + +He could see no one. + +However, want of courage was not one of his failings. He determined +upon a plan of his own. While the other combatants were locked in a +death grapple, he would advance by himself to the German trenches and +hurl his grenade. + +To think with Private Briggs was to act. He advanced at a run. + +Suddenly a parapet loomed up before him. In this same parapet, low +down, Briggs beheld a black and gaping aperture -- plainly a loophole +of some kind. Without a moment's hesitation, Briggs hurled a Mills +grenade straight through the loophole, and, forgetting for the moment +that others of his troop were not with him, uttered a wild screech! + +"Come on, boys!" + +He leaped to the top of the trench by himself, and jumped from the +parapet -- into his own trenches. Having lost his sense of direction, +he had charged the wrong way. + +As the bomb exploded in the French trenches, men rushed toward him. +Still grasping several bombs, Briggs stared at them in wide-eyed +surprise. An officer rushed up to him. + +Briggs explained the situation. Fortunately, no one had been wounded +by the bomb. + +"You Americans! You Americans!" exclaimed the French officer. "But +go!" he commanded. "Your men are out there," pointing; "do you not +hear the sounds of conflict? If you charge there with the courage with +which you have charged here, you may be of some use after all." + +Briggs wasted no time. With a flush on his face, he again leaped to +the parapet, and, a moment later, disappeared in the darkness, running +as swiftly as he could to where firing indicated that the battle +raged. + +Meanwhile, what of Hal and Chester, and the American troops? + +As the Americans poured from their shell holes after the first outburst +of firing, they dashed toward where they could make out the forms of +German infantry close at hand. + +From beyond, the French, who had taken up a position as the French +commander had outlined to Hal, poured a withering fire into the foe. +The German officer in command immediately halted his advance, wheeled +his men, and gave battle to the French. + +At almost the same moment the Americans dashed upon his men from the +rear. One volley the Americans poured into the Germans, then their +arms drew back and an avalanche of hand grenades sped on their mission +of death. The execution was terrific. + +In vain the German officers attempted to hold their men to the work in +hand. Teuton ranks lost formation, and, as the Americans advanced with +the bayonet, the enemy broke and fled. + +The German surprise had failed; it had been on the other hand. + +As the Germans retreated, the Americans pursued. A body of troops, led +by Hal, came, upon an isolated group of the enemy. + +"Surrender!" cried Hal. + +The Germans needed no second offer. Their guns went to the ground at +the lad's words, and they raised their hands in the air. They were +made prisoners and sent to the rear. There was one officer among them +-- a captain. + +At the command from the French general, pursuit of the enemy was +abandoned, much to the disgust of the American troops, who were for +pursuing the Germans clear to their trenches, and beyond, if possible. +Hal and Chester, however, realized the wisdom of the French commander's +order, for there was a possibility, should the French and Americans +advance too close, of their being set upon by overwhelming numbers from +the German trenches, or of their being caught by batteries of +rapid-firers, which most likely would have meant extermination. + +As the French and Americans moved back toward their trenches -- the +engagement had consumed only it few minutes -- Hal and Chester saw a +man come flying toward them. This, although the lads did not know it +at the time, was Briggs. + +Straight past the American troops Briggs sped, and disappeared in the +darkness beyond. + +"Hello!" said Hal, "that man is an American. Wonder where he's going?" + +"It's Briggs, sir," said a man in the ranks. "He has queer spells some +times. Can we go after him, sir?" + +Hal put the question up to Captain O'Neill. The captain hesitated. + +"My friend and I will go," said Hal. "We've been in this fighting game +too long to take unnecessary chances, sir, but I don't like to see the +man get into trouble when we can save him." + +'Very well," said the captain; "you have my permission, but don't go +too close." + +"I'd like another man, sir." + +"Take your choice." + +Hal glanced at the men, and called: + +"McKenzie." + +A soldier stepped forward. This man, at one time, had been a top +sergeant in the British army. He had served through the Boer war in +South Africa. Hal had met him at the Fort Niagara training camp a few +months before, and, while the man had failed to obtain a commission +there, Hal had been able to have him enlisted in the regular army. + +"Will you go with us, McKenzie?" asked the lad. McKenzie saluted. + +"Glad to, sir," he replied. + +"Good! Then come on," said Hal. "We are wasting time here." + +Hal led the way at a rapid trot. He feared that Briggs had already +approached too close to the German trenches, and the distance was so +short that there was little likelihood of overtaking the man before he +reached the trenches. The only salvation was, so far as Hal could see, +that Briggs might have stopped before he reached the trenches. + +As the three pushed forward, there came a sudden explosion ahead, +followed closely by a second blast. The three redoubled their speed, +and, a moment later, came in sight of the German trenches. + +A strange sight met their eyes. + +There, upon the top of the German parapet, stood Briggs. His right arm +was raised and in it the lads could see a bomb. Apparently the +explosions a moment before had come from the same source. + +As the three looked on, Briggs sent another bomb hurling down into the +German lines. There was a third blast. + +"Great Scott!" cried Chester. "How can he get away with that? Why +don't they shoot him?" + +"They're trying," said Hal. "You can hear the bullets. They are +flying over his head!" The lad raised his voice in a shout: "Briggs! +Come down here!" + +Briggs glanced down. Hal, Chester, and McKenzie had approached close +now, and Briggs made out their features as he gazed down. + +"One moment, sir," he said, "and I'll be with you." + +Deliberately he drew back his arm again, and, a moment later his last +bomb was hurled into the foe. As the explosion resounded from the +German trenches, Briggs leaped down lightly, approached Hal and +Chester, and saluted. + +"I'm ready now, sir," he said. + +"Then run!" cried Hal. + +The four suited the action to the word, and dashed back toward the +American trenches. From behind a volley a rifle fire crackled after +them. + +"Anybody hit?" cried Hal, as they dashed along. + +There were four negative answers. + +Five minutes later the four were safe in the American trenches. + + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DANGEROUS MISSION + +It was noon of the following day. Hal and Chester stood at attention +before General Pershing, the American commander-in-chief. The latter +gazed at them long and earnestly. With a half shrug he muttered, as he +turned to his desk: + +"But they are so young." + +The words were not meant for the lads' ears, but Hal and Chester +overheard them. Hal spoke: + +"If you please, Sir," he said quietly, "we are not so young as you seem +to believe. To me, Sir, our experience seems very old." + +General Pershing glanced up from a pile of papers he was perusing. +Again he looked at the two lads in silence. The two boys bore the +close scrutiny unflinchingly. At length General Pershing got to his +feet, and, approaching Hal and Chester, laid a. hand on the shoulder of +each. + +"You are brave youngsters," he said quietly. "From what you have done +since the American troops reached France, I know that Marshal Joffre +and General Haig have not spoken too highly of you; and yet," here the +American commander hesitated a moment before continuing; "and yet the +piece of work I have in sight will entail, perhaps, more danger, more +finesse, and more resourcefulness than any mission you have ever +undertaken." + +"You will find that we shall not be found wanting, sir," said Chester +respectfully. + +"I am sure of that," was General Pershing's response. "It isn't that I +question your courage or your resourcefulness; but, because of your +youth, in this particular business, I question your wisdom. It is a +task for older and wiser heads, but --" + +General Pershing broke off and became silent. Hal and Chester did not +interrupt his meditations. At length the general continued: + +"I wish to say before going any further that this mission, if you +undertake it, in all probabilities, will mean death for one of you. It +is for this reason that the task in hand requires the services of at +least two men. One to go and come back, and the other to go -- and +come back if he can. It may be that neither will return, and yet one +must return if the safety of his country is to be maintained." + +"We shall do our best, sir, if we are entrusted with the mission," said +Chester quietly. + +Again General Pershing hesitated. Then he took his decision. + +"Draw up stools here," he said, and made room at his desk. + +The lads did so. General Pershing spoke in a low voice. + +"You both undoubtedly know," he said, "that since the American +declaration of war on Germany, the activity of German agents and spies +in the United States has grown to startling dimensions?" The lads +nodded and General Pershing continued: "Very good. Now, I have before +me a cable, in code, from the state department, which advises me that +the department of state must have, at all hazards, a list of the most +important German agents in America. It is essential. Here," the +general pushed a slip of paper in front of the lads, "is the +translation of the code message." + +Hal and Chester glanced at the paper. It read: + +"German prime minister has lists of agents and spies in United States. +Realize it is not in your province to get list, but would enlist your +aid, because our diplomatic agents have all left Germany. List is +essential to safeguarding coast defenses and munitions plants. Do what +you can." + +The message was signed by the secretary of state. + +Hal passed the paper back to General Pershing. The latter eyed him +keenly. + +"'You realize the dangerous nature of the work?" he questioned. + +"Perfectly, sir; also its importance. We shall be glad to undertake +it, sir." + +"Very well. Now I have a little information that may be of value. In +another code message from the state department I am advised that +efforts are being made to get a member of the diplomatic staff back +into Berlin. There is one person in the German capital whom you may +trust." General Pershing lowered his voice. "That person," he said, +"is the wife of the German undersecretary for foreign affairs. She is +an American woman, and upon several occasions has been of service to +her own country. Her name is Schweiring." + +"We shall remember, sir," said Chester. + +"Now," said General Pershing, "I have no advice to offer as to how you +shall reach Berlin, nor how you shall go about your work. Once in +Berlin, however, you will have to be governed by circumstances. You +speak German, I am told?" + +"Like natives, sir," said Hal with a grin. + +"Very well. I shall see that you are granted indefinite leave of +absence. There is just one thing more. I want to say that I do not +like to ask my men to become spies." + +"Why, sir," said Chester gravely, "it's all for our country; and the +day when a spy was looked down upon has gone. It is just another way +of serving ones country, sir." + +"Nevertheless," said General Pershing, "the punishment is the same as +it has been down the ages: death." + +"If caught," Hal added with a smile. + +"True," was his commander's response, and a slight smile lighted, up +his own features. + +He arose and extended his hand. Both lads shook it heartily. + +"I hope," said General Pershing, "that you may both come through +safely. But if you don't -- well, good-bye. I don't need to tell you +that if one can get through with the list that, from the nation's +standpoint, what happens to the other is insignificant." + +"I have a request to make, sir," said Hal, as they turned to go. + +"Consider it granted," replied his commander. + +"It is this," said Hal. "I believe that it would be well for us to +take a third man along. It may be that he will never reach the German +lines, but he should prove of help for the other two." + +"Have you the man in mind?" asked General Pershing. + +"Yes, sir. A man named McKenzie, a private in our troop. He's a +Canadian, and has seen years of active service. Also, as I happen to +know, he speaks German fluently." + +"I shall give you a paper authorizing his indefinite leave of absence," +said General Pershing. + +He scribbled a few words on a piece of paper, and passed it to the +lad. The boys drew themselves to attention, saluted, and left. + +"A pretty ticklish piece of business," said Chester quietly, as they +made their way to their own quarters. + +"Rather," said Hal dryly; "and still it must be done. The safety of +America depends upon the success of our mission. It may be well that +it has been entrusted to us rather than to older men. We are less +likely to be suspected if we reach Berlin safely. Besides, we have +been there before, and are somewhat familiar with the city." + +"Yes," said Chester grimly, "we've been there several times before. I +recall that we went there once very much against our will -- +prisoners." + +"Well, we didn't stay very long," said Hal. + +"Let's hope we don't stay for keeps this time either," said Chester. +"To tell the truth, I don't think much of this spy business myself." + +"Somebody has to do it," Hal declared. + +"Of course, but I am not very fond of that sort of work." + +"If you don't want to go -" Hal began, but Chester interrupted. + +"Of course, I want to go if it must be. I am ready to do what I can +for my country in whatever way I may." + +"I knew it," said Hal; "I was only fooling. Come, we will acquaint +McKenzie with his work. And if he comes safely through this, I feel +confident he will not remain long in the ranks." + +The found McKenzie, the erstwhile Canadian sergeant, in his tent. + +"McKenzie," said Hal, "you are about to take a trip, I see." + +"That so, sir? I hadn't heard of it." + +"Yes," Hal continued. "I heard a man say you were about to go to +Germany." + +"And the man," said McKenzie, "was --" + +"General Pershing, McKenzie." + +"Very well, sir," said McKenzie, to whom the few words told the story +of important work to be done. + +"In that event, I presume that General Pershing has seen fit to allow +me leave of absence." + +"He has, McKenzie. I shall present the order to Captain O'Neill at +once. In the meantime, see that your guns are cleaned, and that you +have an extra supply of cartridges. We may need them. Also, leave any +papers or other marks of identification behind. When you are ready, +come to my quarters." + +"I shall be there in half an hour, sir." + +Hal and Chester made their way to Captain O'Neill's quarters. Hal +presented the papers, granting leaves of absence to the three. + +"Hm-m," muttered Captain O'Neill. "Something up, eh? Well, I wish I +were going with you." He extended a hand. + +"Good luck," he said quietly." + + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +INTO GERMANY + +"We'll have to have a leader for this party," said Hal, "one whose word +shall be law. I'm agreeable to Chester." + +"I'd rather have you," said Chester. + +McKenzie also voted for Hal, who already had done him some service. +This agreement, stood. + +"All right," said Hal. "Now that I'm in command, I'll outline the +course of procedure. We'll go from here to the Dutch border." + +"How about passports?" Chester wanted to know. + +"That's simple enough. You remember the time when we drew up a set of +fake passports representing ourselves to be correspondents of the New +York Gazette? We'll follow the same plan, except that we each will be +represented as correspondents of different papers. See, I've already +drawn, them." + +"I see," said Chester, "but American passports won't be honored in +Germany now." + +"But they will be in Holland," said Hal. "We'll see what can be done +about having them changed there. Now, let's see if we know who we +are." + +He passed the fake passports to the others. + +"I'm Barney McCann, eh?" said McKenzie, gazing at the paper he held in +his hand. "Oh, well, I guess I can talk Irish as well as German if I +have to. And I represent the Chicago Mail." + +"I'm still Chester Crawford," said Chester, "and I represent the New +York Gazette." + +"I'm Hal Paine, and I represent the Philadelphia Globe," said Hal. +"We'll probably have to change our names when we go over the German +border, but these should answer their purposes in Holland. +Fortunately, we have learned a few things from Stubbs, so we are not +unfamiliar with the workings of a newspaper." + +"Guess we had better get out of these uniforms," said Chester. + +"Right. We'll don suits of plain khaki, such as Stubbs wears, and +we'll equip ourselves with the necessary paraphernalia." + +This was a simple task, and several hours later, horseback, the lads +made their way toward where British troops, supported by French, were +close to, the border of The Netherlands. + +They showed their passports, prepared by Hal, to the British military +authorities, and were permitted to pass. + +Holland, although not a participant in the great war, nevertheless, +soon after the outbreak of hostilities, had felt herself called upon to +mobilize her military forces that she might protect her borders should +one of the belligerents attempt to overrun her, as the Germans had +overrun Belgium at the outbreak of the war. Therefore, when the three +travelers reached the border, they were held up by the military. + +Hal presented his fake American passport, and Chester and McKenzie did +likewise. The officer who had accosted them turned them over to his +superior. + +"Your intentions," said the officer, "I hope are such as not to break +Holland's neutrality?" + +"We're perfectly peaceable, sir," returned Hal with a smile. + +"Very well. This is a neutral country, and you are, of course, free to +travel about it at your leisure so long as you conduct yourselves +properly. Of course, were you American soldiers it would be necessary +for me to place you under arrest, and YOU would be interned until the +end of the war." + +"I understand that, sir," said Hal. + +"By the way," said the Dutch officer, "there is a Dutch newspaperman +here at this moment. Perhaps you would like to meet him. He is Herr +Heindrick Block, of the Amsterdamer." + +"We shall be pleased," said Hal quietly. + +The Dutch officer excused himself, and returned a moment later with a +young Dutchman, whom he introduced to the three friends. They shook +hands all around. + +"I've already met a compatriot of yours," said the young Dutchman, +smiling, "a Herr Stubbs. He is with one of the New York papers -- I +forget which." + +Hal and Chester gave a start of surprise, but quickly recovered +themselves. + +"He is with my paper, The Gazette, sir," returned Chester. "Is he in +these parts?" + +"He was yesterday," replied Block. "I do not know where he is now." + +The three friends took an instant liking to the young Dutch newspaper +man. He led the three to where he was temporarily quartered. + +"We can have a little chat here," he said. + +During the course of the conversation Hal asked: + +"And what is the sentiment in Holland regarding the war?" + +The young Dutchman hesitated a moment, and then turned and gazed around +quickly. + +"The sentiment," he said at last, "is that Germany must be crushed. Of +course, at this moment Holland cannot afford to enter the arena. +Germany has massed thousands of troops upon our border. An unneutral +act would be dangerous. Nevertheless, Holland's sympathies are with +the Allies -- have been from the start. There is another factor +besides Holland's natural gratitude to England -- that makes for this. +Germany has overrun Holland, as well as the rest of the world with +spies. Holland is offended, but cannot afford to show it -- now. But +while we are kept quiet, there are few of us who would not do much to +help the Allied cause." + +Hal thought quickly. He glanced at the young Dutchman shrewdly. He +felt he could be trusted. + +"Then," said the lad quietly, "can you conceive of any way by which we +can get passports from the Dutch government that will pass us into +Germany?" + +The young Dutchman manifested no surprise. + +"Have no fear," he said, as Chester and McKenzie manifested some +anxiety at Hal's words. "I shall not betray you. Only yesterday I was +able to get a passport for your friend Herr Stubbs." + +"What?" cried Hal. "Stubbs gone into Germany?" + +"I supposed you knew that," said Block. "I supposed he was one of +you." + +"No," said Chester, "Stubbs is what he represents himself to be -- a +war correspondent." + +"Nevertheless," said Block, "he has gone into Germany as Herr +Klepstein, a Dutch newspaperman." + +"That means," said Hal, "that it will be hard work getting passports +for us." + +"Not at all," said Block. "I can do that with ease. There are many +Dutch correspondents in Germany. Two or three more won't matter. One +of you can take my passport." He looked at Hal. "You and I look +something alike, anyhow," he said. + +"So we do," Hal agreed. "But can you get passports for my friends +here?" + +"I can manufacture them myself, the same as I did for your friend +Stubbs," said the Dutchman quietly, "I need not tell you, however, that +should I be discovered I would probably be shot. But why shouldn't I +do it? My mother was an English Woman." + +"We shall be greatly obliged," said Hal. + +Block led the way from the tent. + +"Mount your horses," he said. "We'll go to the railroad station and +catch a train for Amsterdam. You shall be my guests until the +passports are prepared." + +Hal was nothing loath. He realized that they had encountered good +fortune in the person of Herr Block. He placed implicit confidence in +the man, for it was perfectly plain that Block was telling the truth +when he said his sympathies were with the Allies." + +For two days the three friends were the guests of the young Dutchman at +his bachelor apartments in Amsterdam. Upon the morning of the third +day, Block presented them with passports properly vised by the Dutch +authorities. + +"These will get you through," he said quietly. + +"We can never thank you enough," declared Hal, quietly. "Some day you +will realize what a great thing you have done for the world." + +"I realize it now," was the young Dutchman's reply. "I wish I were +going with you, but it may be that I can be of more service here." + +"Undoubtedly," said Hal, "if this is an example." + +"Now don't forget who you are," enjoined Block. "You," to Hal, "are +Herr Block, of The Amsterdamer." To Chester, "You are Herr Amusdem" +To McKenzie: "You are Herr Spidle, both of The Nederlander. Do not +forget. Should you encounter other Dutch correspondents, it will be +well for you to stand on your dignity, and to talk to them as little as +possible. Now, have you any idea how you are to go about the +accomplishment of your mission, whatever it is?" + +"No," said Hal, "I haven't. We shall act in accordance with +developments." + +"Well," said Block, "you may as well be going. The sooner you get +there the better. I shall go with you to your train. You will have to +show no passports until you get to the frontier." + +At the station, Block saw them comfortably installed in a car that +would carry them across the border. He shook hands with them. + +"Good luck," he said quietly; and added: "Should you, by any chance, +come out of Germany a jump ahead of a bayonet, remember you will find +temporary, safety in my quarters. Good-bye." + + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE GAME OPENS + +"You may pass, gentlemen." + +The speaker was a German officer. Upon the arrival of the three +friends at the railroad terminus just across the German border the +officer had made a tour of the train, examining the passports of the +passengers. Hal, Chester and McKenzie had extended their passports +along with the other passengers, and the German officer had found +nothing wrong with them. + +As the German took his leave, McKenzie breathed a sigh of relief. + +"I was sure he was going to nab us," he said. + +"Careful," whispered Hal. "We must do all our talking in German, and +we must do very little of that concerning our private affairs. +Remember, walls have ears, and I guess that will apply to a railroad +car as well as a house." + +"Right, Herr Block," said Chester with a smile. + +The lads found that by remaining upon their car they would go straight +through to Berlin. The train was called the Amsterdam-Berlin express, +and, while at the border, it was crowded with troops, there was still a +fair sprinkling of passengers bound for the German capital. + +It was after dark when the train pulled into Berlin and Hal, Chester, +and McKenzie prepared to disembark. As the train stopped, Hal made +sure that his revolver was loose in his pocket, settled his hat firmly +on his head, and led the way from the car. + +As with most travelers in that part of the world at that time, neither +was burdened with baggage. Each carried a small portfolio, much used +at that time by war correspondents, but they had no other luggage. + +"We'll go to the Hotel Bismarck," said Hal. + +Although it had been years since either Hal or Chester had been in +Berlin, Hal's sense of direction now stood him in good stead. He +remembered where the Hotel Bismarck stood as well as though he had been +there yesterday. + +At the hotel the three registered under their assumed names, and paid a +month in advance for a small suite of two rooms. + +"We expect to study the internal situation of the city for some time," +Hal explained to the clerk, "and we want to feel sure that we shall +have a place to stay while we are here." + +The three made themselves comfortable in their apartments, and for some +time talked quietly. At last Hal gave the word for bed. + +"We don't know just how we shall proceed," he said, "but we must be +fresh and ready for any eventuality in the morning." + +Morning came and with it the three friends were astir. They had an +early breakfast, and then Hal announced that he would fare forth +alone. + +"I'll tell you where I'm going," he said, "so that if anything happens +to me you will go ahead with the work, regardless. Remember this. +Even though I may get in trouble, your duty will be to get the list, +irrespective of what my fate may be. America comes first, you know, +Chester." + +"Of course," was the latter's quiet reply. + +"Well," said Hal, "I am going to the home of the German undersecretary +of foreign affairs. I am going to see Mrs. Schweiring." + +Chester nodded. + +"Then we shall stay here until you return," he said. + +"Very well," Hal agreed. "But if I have not returned by noon, you will +know something has happened, and you will proceed about the work with +no further thought of me." + +He left the room quickly. + +He made inquiries at the hotel office, and half an hour later found +himself before the residence of the German undersecretary of foreign +affairs. He rang the doorbell. A footman answered the ring. Hal +announced that he would like to see Mrs. Schweiring. + +"Your card," said the footman, allowing him to enter. + +"I have no card," said Hal. "You will tell her that Herr Block, of the +Dutch newspaper, The Amsterdamer, desires to see her." + +The footman bowed and departed. A few moments later he returned, +followed by a young woman -- she could not have been more than 18, Hal +decided. The young woman approached, and spoke to Hal. + +"My mother is unable to see you at this moment, Herr Block," she said. +"She has sent me to learn the nature of your business with her." + +"I am sorry, fraulein," said Hal gravely, "but my business is with your +mother. I cannot confide it to you." + +The footman, meantime, had left the room. + +The girl stamped her foot a little angrily. + +"But mother has no secrets from me," she declared. + +"That's the American blood talking now," said Hal to himself. Aloud he +replied: "Nevertheless, fraulein, I must again ask to be permitted to +speak to your mother." + +The girl glanced at him sharply. Then she exclaimed in a low voice: + +"You are no Dutchman, mynheer." + +Hal started a trifle in spite of himself; then, realizing that this +must have betrayed him, he dropped his hand to his pocket, where +reposed his revolver. + +The girl smiled. + +"Have no fear," she said. "I shall say nothing. Can it be you are the +one whom mother expects?" + +"The best way to find that out," said Hal, "is to summon your mother." + +The girl hesitated no longer. She fairly flew from the room. She +reappeared a moment later, followed by an older woman. + +"This is Herr Block, Mother," she said. + +"Very well, Gladys," replied her mother. "Now, if you will leave us +alone, and make sure that we are not disturbed." + +"I shall stand guard myself," replied the daughter. + +She disappeared into the long hall. + +"Now, Herr Block," said Mrs. Schweiring, "you may tell me the nature of +your business." + +Hal glanced sharply about the room. Then he leaned close. + +"I come from the American expeditionary forces in France," he said +quietly. + +Mrs. Schweiring manifested no surprise. + +"I had surmised as much," she returned, "I had looked, however, for a +man in civil life rather than a military man; also, I had looked for +one farther along in years." + +"I am sure you will find that my youth may work to our advantage," said +Hal quietly. + +"Perhaps. Now tell me in what way I may help." + +"Well," said Hal, "I have come, two friends and myself, in an effort to +lay hands upon the list of German spies in America -- the list kept by +the German prime minister." + +Mrs. Schweiring nodded. + +"I had supposed as much. It was I who informed the department of state +in Washington that such a list exists; but without help and without +laying myself open to suspicion, I dared not try to get it. It is +desperate work, but we shall see what can be done. Gladys!" + +Her daughter re-entered the room in response to this summons. + +"Gladys," said her mother, "Herr Block is the man we have been +expecting; but he has not come alone. His companions are at the Hotel +Bismarck, registered as Herr Spidle and Herr Amusdem. You will have +their belongings moved here. They are friends whom you met in +Switzerland and who will share our hospitality while here. Do you +understand?" + +"Perfectly, Mother." + +"But we have no belongings," said Hal quietly. "We could not be +bothered with excess baggage." + +"Then I shall see that you are supplied with necessary articles," said +his hostess. "The success of your mission will necessitate it. At any +rate," she said, turning again to her daughter, "you will send a car +for Herr Block's friends." + +The girl nodded and left the room. + +"I need not caution you," said Mrs. Schweiring, as she led the way +upstairs -- and showed to Hal a suite of three comfortably furnished +rooms. "A little slip will spoil all. I shall introduce you to my +friends as a Dutch war correspondent who, nevertheless, has in him a +strain of German, with a little American blood. I shall represent that +you have lived several years in America, but that your heart is with +the Fatherland." + +"And my friends?" questioned Hal. + +"They shall be just what they represent themselves to be." + +"Very well," said Hal. "You perhaps know best. But I must, as soon as +possible, be introduced either to the prime minister or to one of his +trusted assistants." + +"I will tell you something," said his hostess. "The list which you +seek is no longer in the hands of the prime minister. It is now in +possession of General Rentzel, chief of the secret service; and the son +of the general comes frequently to see my daughter, Gladys. But we +shall talk more later. I will leave you now and see that sufficient +wardrobes are procured for you and your friends." + +She left the room. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BOYS MAKE PROGRESS + +It was a merry party that gathered around the dinner table in the home +of the German undersecretary of foreign affairs two nights later. But +beneath the smiling faces of five members of the party was a suppressed +excitement, for this dinner had been given by Mrs. Schweiring for a +purpose. The purpose was to introduce Hal, Chester and McKenzie to +General Rentzel, chief of the secret service, and his son, Frederick. + +Besides these two guests of honor there were present the German +minister of foreign affairs and one or two other high diplomats. The +boys were in distinguished company and they knew it. + +True to her word, Mrs. Schweiring had provided the three friends with +an abundant wardrobe, which included evening clothes. Dinner over, +Mrs. Schweiring, her daughter Gladys, and the wife of General Rentzel, +the only women present, retired while the men produced cigars and +cigarettes. + +Neither Hal nor Chester smoked, but they felt called upon to accept a +cigarette each. McKenzie, however, had no such scruples, and accepted +a fat cigar without hesitation. + +Hal found himself in conversation with young Captain Rentzel, son of +the chief of the secret service. + +"I understand you have spent some years in America?" he questioned. + +"Why, yes," returned Hal. + +"Do you like the country?" + +"Not overly much," replied Hal with a shrug. "There are some very nice +people there, but they are mostly boors." + +"My idea exactly," returned the young German officer, "although I have +never been there. Do you think America can do much harm to Germany in +this war?" + +"Well," said Hal, "given time, yes; but the American people are +notoriously slow in such matters. Besides, I understand that there are +quite a few German agents at work there now. With enough of them, +irreparable injury could be done to the foe before they could prevent +it." + +"I notice you say foe," said the young German; "Yet you have American +blood in your veins." + +"A trifle," returned Hal quietly; "not enough to make me lose sight of +justice and right." + +"Good!" cried the young German. "Listen. It's true that we have many +agents abroad, but some of them have fallen under suspicion and +consequently will be of no further value. We need more such men who +have lived in America and know the customs, and also will not be +suspected. By the way, have you an appointment for 10 o'clock?" + +"Why, no," said Hal. "Why?" + +"Will you go with me at that hour?" + +"Where to?" + +"To my father's quarters. He, as you know, is the chief of the secret +service. As such, he has charge of the agents abroad. I thought he +might make you a proposition." + +"There will be no harm if I am unable to accept, will there?" asked +Hal. + +"Not a bit," replied the German heartily. + +"Then I'll go." + +The next hour was spent in general conversation, after which Captain +Rentzel arose to take his leave. + +"I'm going to run off with one of your friends, Miss Schweiring," he +said, indicating Hal. + +The others laughed, "Oh, take him and show him about a bit, Frederick," +laughed Mrs. Schweiring's husband. "Only be sure that you return him +safely." + +Hal followed the young captain from the house. + +Half an hour later he found himself in the palatial office of the chief +of the German secret service. + +Hal looked carefully about the room. A long table stood in the +center. This apparently was the personal property of General Rentzel. +Great easy chairs were scattered about the room. There was a window at +the south side, and back, in the center, against the wall, was a large +safe. + +"Pretty comfortable place," said Hal aloud. + +"Rather," agreed the young German. "Father believes in making himself +comfortable." + +General Rentzel had not arrived yet, but he put in an appearance a few +moments later. He manifested no surprise at sight of his son, but he +eyed Hal askance. + +"I thought you young fellows had gone to look about the city," he +said. + +"No, sir," replied his son. "I invited. Herr Block here to see you, +sir." + +"You did? Why?" + +The son explained as quickly as. possible. + +"Hm-m," muttered the general when his son had concluded, eying Hal +sharply. "How do I know you are what you represent yourself to be, +sir?" he demanded. + +Hal smiled. + +"I'm not applying for a job, sir," he replied. "I came here at your +son's suggestion. He said you might have a proposition to make, and if +I can be of service without taking too great risk, I am willing, sir." + +Again the general meditated. At last he said: + +"It's true that we have need of men for the work my son mentions. To +my mind, your youth would be in favor, rather than against, the success +of the undertaking. Would you be willing to go back to America?" + +"Well, I don't care particularly about going right now," said Hal +truthfully. + +"But there is nothing to prevent your going?" + +."Well, no. But I would know the nature of my work first. I would not like to +become a spy, sir. It seems to me that spies are not made of manly +caliber, sir." + +"You are wrong," was the quiet response. "Why, I can show you the +names of men whom you would not think of suspecting, and yet who are +acting for the German government in America." + +"Is that so, sir?" + +"It is indeed. Wait." General Rentzel arose, approached the big safe +in the rear of the room, unlocked it and took there from a small +paper-bound book. He returned to his seat at the table. + +"In this little book," he said, tapping the table gently with it, "are +the names of our agents in America. See, I'll show you a name, of +worldwide importance, who is acting for us." + +General Rentzel exposed a name. Hal glanced at it and then gave a long +whistle. + +"It's no wonder you are surprised," said the general, smiling. +"Neither is it any wonder that our agents have been so successful in +America, considering names like that." + +"I should say not, sir," returned Hal grim. + +General Rentzel returned the book to his safe, closed the heavy iron +door and twirled the knob. + +"What do you say, sir?" he demanded, as he resumed his seat. + +For a moment Hal seemed to hesitate. Then he said: + +"I accept on one condition, sir." + +"And that?" asked the general. + +"That," said Hal, "is that I may have the week in which to put my +affairs in shape. I shall have to resign my position with my paper and +attend to a few other matters, sir." + +"Very good, sir. You need not call here again. It would be unwise. I +shall see you at the Swiss ambassador's ball, which will be held four +nights from tonight. There I will give you what passports you need and +other instructions. Until then, sir, auf Wiedersehen." + +Captain Rentzel accompanied Hal from his father's office. + +"You are in luck," said that worthy, "and the pay is big. In a year or +two you will be a wealthy man." + +Hal thanked the captain, and made his way home alone. + +As he moved up the steps he was startled to see a shadowy figure +lurking in the doorway. His hand dropped to his pocket, and he +advanced cautiously. + +"Don't be afraid. Take your hand away from that revolver," came the +voice of Gladys Schweiring. + +"Miss Gladys!" exclaimed Hal in surprise. "What are you doing here? +It is almost midnight." + +"I was waiting for you," was the low response. "I was afraid something +might have happened." + +"It has," replied Hal, "but it is good news and not bad. Where is your +mother?" + +"In the drawing-room." + +"Are the others there?" + +"Just your friends. The guests have gone, and father has retired." + +"Good . I have important information for them," + +Hal followed the young girl into the drawing room. Chester rose to his +feet. + +"By George! I'm glad to see you back safely," he said. "I was afraid +something had happened." + +Others echoed his words. + +"Folks," said Hal, "I've news for you -- good news." + +"What is it?" demanded Chester eagerly. + +"Well," said Hal very quietly. "I've seen the list!" + + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE MINISTER'S BALL + +It was a gay assemblage that thronged the home of the Swiss minister +four nights after Hal's interview with the chief of the German secret +service. Elegantly dressed women and well groomed and handsome +officers danced and sang, and from the general tone of the evening it +would have been hard to believe that Germany was engaged in a war that +threatened her very existence. + +Hal, Chester and McKenzie went to the ball accompanied by Mrs. +Schweiring and her daughter. Mrs. Schweiring's husband announced that +he would appear later, as he had matters of importance to transact at +his office. + +This was the night that Hal had decided upon to make an effort to get +the list of names for which the three friends were risking so much. He +had a well- conceived plan in mind. The details he had worked out in +the days following his interview with the German chief of secret +service and his preparations had been careful and thorough. Now he was +anxious for action. + +General Rentzel reached the ball late in the evening. He paid his +respects to the Swiss minister and to the latter's wife. A few moments +later he encountered Hal, and escorted the lad to a secluded nook, +where he presented the lad with several documents. + +"This," he said, indicating one, "is your passport into Switzerland. +From there you will travel as a Swiss subject. You will present that +paper," and he indicated a second, "to Herr Baumgartner in Washington. +You will find him still at the Austrian embassy. He will give you +other instructions. Also, you will receive your pay through him, and +whatever other money is necessary." + +Hal bowed. + +"Very well, sir," he said. + +"I don't know that there is anything further," said General Rentzel, +"except to warn you that treachery means death." + +"I am aware of that, sir," returned Hal quietly. + +"Very good, then. Good luck to you." + +The general moved away. + +Hal sought Chester instantly, glancing at his watch as he passed along +slowly and without apparent haste. It was 10:30 o'clock. + +"It's time to get busy, Chester," he said quietly. "It's half-past +ten, and I may require an hour and a half. You get word to Gladys and +her mother to keep General Rentzel here under some pretext until +midnight. I'm off." + +"Am I not going with you?" demanded Chester. + +"No," said Hal. "I don't have time to wait, and the message must be +delivered to Mrs. Schweiring or her daughter at once. I'll pick +McKenzie up on the way. Good-bye." + +"Good luck," said Chester simply. + +Hal left the room quietly. In the hall he found McKenzie, whom he +motioned to follow him. McKenzie did so quietly. + +Outside Hal found the automobile which had brought them to the ball. +He leaped in and McKenzie followed. Hal gave quick directions to the +chauffeur to drive them home. The latter asked no questions. + +At the home of Mrs. Schweiring Hal ordered McKenzie to remain in the +car while the lad hurried into the house. He returned a moment later, +carrying a small grip. This he threw into the car and climbed in after +it. + +"We have important business with General Rentzel," he told the +chauffeur. "You will drive us there and then return to the ball for +your mistress." + +The chauffeur asked no questions. There were so many queer things +going on in Berlin that he was not even greatly interested. + +General Rentzel's office was in darkness when the car pulled up before +it. Motioning McKenzie to follow him, Hal hastened up the steps. The +chauffeur, in accordance with Hal's instructions, immediately +disappeared down the street with the car. + +In the darkness of the vestibule, Hal tried the door. + +"Locked," he said. "Lucky we came prepared." + +He opened the little grip he carried. + +Meanwhile, Chester had carried Hal's message to Gladys. The latter had +repeated it to her mother, and these two now shadowed General Rentzel +every place he moved, for they were fearful that he might decide at any +moment to leave the house. Chester kept his eyes on all three. + +Chester was plainly nervous. Had he been in the danger himself his +nerves would have been as hard as steel, but the inaction while someone +else was doing the work made him impatient and fanciful. + +Finally General Rentzel approached the Swiss minister and paid his +adieus. Then he moved toward the cloakroom. + +Halfway there he was intercepted by Mrs. Schweiring and Gladys. + +"You are not going so soon, your excellency?" questioned Mrs. +Schweiring. + +"I must," was the reply. "I have work to do at my office that will +keep me until far into the night." + +"I'm sorry," was the reply. "Have you seen my husband?" + +"Why, no." + +"I understood him to say that he had some business with you; perhaps I +was mistaken, however." + +Twice now the general had attempted to move on, but Mrs. Schweiring had +prevented it. He tried again, and she asked: + +"What time have you, your excellency?" + +General Rentzel glanced at his watch. + +"Half-past eleven," he said. + +"Surely, it is not that late," said Mrs. Schweiring. "Why, we have +only been here a short time." + +"Madame," said General Rentzel at this juncture, "I must ask you to +excuse me. I must be going." + +There was no reply the other could make to this without laying herself +open to suspicion. She stepped back, and the German secret service +chief passed on. + +Behind him the woman and her daughter wrung their hands. They had been +unsuccessful. In their minds they could see General Rentzel bursting +in upon Hal and McKenzie in the middle of their work. + +"What are we going to do?" cried the mother. + +"They must be warned!' cried the daughter. + +"But how?" + +"I will warn them myself. It is a long ways to the general's +quarters. He will be in no hurry. I can get there ahead of him." + +"But if you should be discovered?" + +Gladys shrugged her shoulders and was gone before her mother could +protest. + +Outside she dashed up to the Schweiring automobile and cried to the +chauffeur. + +"To General Rentzel's quarters! Quick!" + +The machine sprang forward with a lurch. + +Two minutes later, Gladys, peering from the car, made out as they +passed what she took to be General, Rentzel's machine. She urged the +chauffeur on even faster. + +Half a block from the general's quarters, she ordered her driver to +stop and then to take up position down a side street, where it was +dark, and wait for her. These instructions were obeyed without +question. + +Gladys hurried toward the house. + +There was no light to be seen as she ascended the steps and laid a hand +on the door knob. Nevertheless the girl moved silently, for she did +not know what servants might be in the house. + +The door opened without a sound. Gladys advanced into the darkness. + +From time to time she stopped as she moved along, but she was so afraid +that General Rentzel might arrive before she could warn Hal and +McKenzie that she wasted little time. + +She came to a door, which opened noiselessly. She peered into the +darkness, and in what appeared to be another room she saw what looked +like a star. + +The girl breathed a cry of thankfulness. She knew that she had found +what she sought. She moved forward more rapidly. + +As she walked along toward the light, she suddenly tripped over an +obstacle hidden by the mantle of darkness and fell to the floor. + +There was a crash that resounded throughout the house. + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +HAL GETS THE LIST + +When Hal and McKenzie stopped in the entrance way upon finding that the +door was locked, Hal took from the little grip he carried a long +skeleton key. This had been procured for him by Mrs. Schweiring, and +Hal knew that it would unlock almost any door. + +To gain entrance to the house, therefore, was but the matter of an +instant. + +From his grip again Hal produced a small flashlight, with which he +lighted their way. Thanks to the lad's previous visit to the house, he +knew right where he was going, so there was no time lost in search. + +Straight to the large safe in the general's private office Hal led the +way. There he passed the light to McKenzie and placed the grip on the +floor. + +"No chance it has been left unlocked, I guess," the lad muttered. +"However, I'll try it." + +He shook the handle. The safe was locked. + +"As I thought," said Hal. "Well, the rest will take time. Turn the +light on the lock, McKenzie." + +McKenzie obeyed. + +From his grip Hal took an ordinary cake of soap. This he proceeded to +rub around the lock and stuff into the cracks. This done to his +satisfaction, he stepped back and surveyed his work. + +"All right, I guess," he said. "I never tackled anything like this +before, but I think I know how it's done." + +The next article he produced from the grip was a small vial. One look +told McKenzie what it was. It contained nitroglycerine. This Hal +poured under the edge of the safe. Then he attached a fuse and lighted +it. Immediately he threw a heavy blanket, which was the last article +the grip contained, over the safe to muffle the sound of the explosion +that would occur in a few moments. + +"Get back in the corner and crouch down, McKenzie," said Hal, and did +the same thing himself. + +At that moment there was a crash in the adjoining room. Hal's revolver +leaped out, as did McKenzie's, and both dashed into the room. McKenzie +flashed the light across the floor, and there, just getting to her +feet, was Gladys. + +"Quick! You must fly!" she cried. "General Rentzel is on his way and +will be here at any moment." + +The fuse in the other room was burning fast, as Hal knew. The lad +determined, in that instant, that he would not leave the house without +getting the list for which he had come. + +He pulled Gladys back into the room where the fuse was fast burning to +the safe. McKenzie followed, and the three crouched down. + +A moment and there was a muffled explosion, followed by a flash of +fire. Smoke filled the room. With a cry to the others to stay where +they were, Hal dashed to the safe. It was as he hoped. The door had +been blown clear. + +Quickly Hal explored the contents of the safe. Then he gave a cry of +delight. His hand encountered what he felt sure was the book he +sought. He ran across the room with it to where McKenzie held the +flashlight and by its glow examined his prize. + +It was the list he sought. + +Hal hesitated one moment, and then he pressed the book into the hands +of Gladys. + +"Quick!" he said. "Out the window with you. Give this to Chester and +tell him to get out of Berlin at once. Tell him he will be followed +but that he must get through." + +"But you -"' protested Gladys. + +There came the sound of rapid footsteps in the next room. Hal picked +Gladys up in his arms, carried her to the window, and dropped her to +the ground as he said in a low voice: + +"To hesitate means failure. Do as I say and quickly." + +He returned to McKenzie's side. When he reached there McKenzie +extinguished his light. + +"Well, we've got the list," he said quietly. + +"We have," Hal agreed, "but our lives probably will pay the forfeit. +We must stay here until we are discovered. To follow Gladys would mean +her capture." + +"We won't have to wait long," said McKenzie grimly. "Here they come." + +It was true. + +Footsteps came toward them. Suddenly the room burst into light as +someone pressed an electric, light button. General Rentzel strode into +the room. + +His eyes fell upon Hal and McKenzie immediately. He said nothing, but +gazed about. Then he saw the shattered safe. He dashed forward with a +cry and examined the interior, carefully. Then his face turned white +as he faced Hal. + +"The list," he said in a hoarse voice, "where is it?" + +Hal smiled. + +"Where you will never get it, I hope," he replied quietly. + +General Rentzel strode forward with a shout. + +"They are spies! Seize them, men!" he cried. + +Hal's right arm shot out and the chief of the German secret service +sprawled on the floor. + +"To the stairs!" Hal cried to McKenzie. + +The Canadian needed no urging. Two German soldiers fell to the floor +under his quick blows and then McKenzie joined Hal on the steps which +fled upward from the rear of the room. + +Hall produced a revolver. McKenzie did likewise. + +"The first man who moves dies!" cried Hal, as he moved his revolver +from side to side. + +The men below, of whom there were perhaps a dozen, stood still. +Apparently each was afraid to make the first move. + +General Rentzel sat up and wiped his face with a handkerchief. + +"Shoot them!" he cried. + +From the rear of the crowd there was a flash of fire and a report. A +bullet sped over Hal's head. McKenzie's revolver flashed and a German +fell to rise no more. + +At this moment McKenzie took command. + +"Up the steps!" he cried. + +Hal realized that to hesitate meant instant death. He was, perhaps, +two steps above McKenzie, and he covered the rest in two leaps. There +he stopped and covered the room. He was in position to protect +McKenzie's retreat. + +McKenzie also leaped to the top step, and there, for a moment, they +were out of the line of fire. To reach them it was necessary for the +Germans to stand directly in front of the steps, and there was no man +below who felt called upon to face this certain death, in spite of the +hoarse commands of General Rentzel. + +But in a situation like this could not last long. Other officers and +soldiers, aroused by the explosion appeared on the scene. Hal realized +that their predicament was desperate. With a cry to McKenzie, Hal +darted back along the hall, turned into the first room he saw, flung +open the window and leaped to the ground. + +McKenzie was close behind him. + +Hal led the way along the street at a rapid walk, with McKenzie at his +heels. The lad turned down several side streets, doubling occasionally +on his tracks in an effort to throw off possible pursuers. As they +drew farther away from the house where they had been discovered they +encountered fewer and fewer people. Apparently the sound of the +explosion had not reached here. + +They were safe for the moment and Hal breathed easier. + +"Hope Chester has a good start," he said to McKenzie in a low voice. + +"He should have by this time," was the reply. "They figure, of course, +that we have the list." + +Hal would have replied, but as they passed a house at that moment a man +stepped from the door. Hal uttered an exclamation of pure amazement. + +The newcomer was dressed in costume that he had worn since the war +began. He looked much as upon the night that Hal first saw him. He +paid no attention to Hal and McKenzie at first, but Hal brought him +about with a word. + +"Stubbs!" + +It was indeed the little war correspondent of whose presence in Germany +Herr Block had told the three friends before they left Holland. + +Stubbs wheeled sharply. He saw Hal and turned pale. + +"Hello -- hello, Hal," he gasped. "Wh -- what are you doing here?" + +"Is that your house?" demanded Hal, indicating the one from which +Stubbs had just emerged. + +"Yes; why?" + +"Then we'll go in with you," said Hal quietly. + +"But I don't want to go in," declared Stubbs. + +"But we do," said Hal. "Meet my friend, McKenzie, Stubbs." + +"I don't want to meet him," declared Stubbs. "I tell you I'm in danger +here." + +"So are we," said Hal. "That's the reason we're going to take +advantage of your hospitality. Come on in, Stubbs. We've got to get +out of this country." + +"I'll never get out alive now that you've showed up," Stubbs mumbled. + +But he led the way inside. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +STUBBS IS CRESTFALLEN + +Inside, Stubbs struck a match. + +"I say! Hold up, there!" Hal exclaimed, and grasped the hand that held +the match and extinguished the flame. "We don't want any light in +here," he added. + +In vain Stubbs tried to pierce the darkness with his eyes to make out +the lad's features. + +"Humph!" muttered the little man. "What have you been up to now?" + +"Stubbs," said Hal, "the whole of Germany will be scouring the city for +us before long. We've got to get away from here." + +"Well," said Stubbs, "the whole of Germany is already looking for me, +but they haven't found me yet." + +"What are they hunting you for?" demanded Hal. "Surely, you haven't +harmed anyone." + +"Maybe not; but they've discovered who I am." + +"That you're an American war correspondent, eh?" + +"Why, no," said Stubbs quietly, "they've discovered that I'm here at +command of the American state department searching for a certain list +of names." + +It was Hal's turn to be surprised and be started back. + +"What's that?" he cried, believing that he could not have heard +aright. + +Stubbs repeated his statement. + +"But I thought --" began Hal. + +"And what business have you to think!" demanded Stubbs with sudden +anger. "Haven't I the same, right as you to do something for my +country?" + +"Of course, Mr. Stubbs, and I think all more of you for it, but at the +same time I never dreamed --" + +"Of course you didn't. Neither did anyone else, which is the reason my +services were accepted. That is, no one knew it outside of Germany, +but they seem to have spotted me here soon enough." + +"I see," said Hal. "Then you must have made an effort to get the list +of German agents in the United States." + +Stubbs gave an exclamation of amazement. + +"Who said anything about spies?" he asked. + +"Well, you didn't, to be sure," said Hal, "But as I happened to have +the list in my hands a few moments ago, I didn't need to be told." + +"You had it?" cried Stubbs, unconsciously raising his voice. + +"Yes." + +"'Where is it now?" demanded Stubbs eagerly. + +"Safe, I hope," replied Hal quietly, "but don't talk so loud, Stubbs. +I sent the list to Chester by a trusted aide, and I have no doubt he is +on his way out of the country with it now." + +"How'd you get it?" inquired Stubbs. + +Hal explained. + +"By George!" said Stubbs. "You fellows have all the luck. I tried and +failed." + +"Maybe you didn't know where it was," said Hal. + +"Didn't, eh? Say, let me ask you something. Didn't you think it was +rather strange when you approached General Rentzel's place that there +was no one around, eh?" + +"Well, such a thought had occurred to me," Hal admitted, "but I +supposed no one was on guard through overconfidence." + +"Do you want me to tell you where the guards were?" + +"Why, yes, if you know." + +"Well, I know all right. They were chasing me around the highways and +byways, if you want to know," Stubbs exploded. "They discovered me +trying to get into the house and I ran for my life. Well, this beats +the Dutch! I cleared the road for you and you grabbed the list!" + +Stubbs became silent. + +"At all events," said Hal, "we got the list -- and that is what counts, +after all." + +"True," said Stubbs, and extended a hand in the darkness, which Hal +grasped warmly. "Well," he said, "we're all tarred with the same +brush, and it will give these Huns great delight to stand us all up +before a wall or with ropes around our necks in a bunch. The sooner we +get back to our lines the better for all our families." + +"But the question is, how?" said Hal quietly. + +"I've got a big automobile waiting for me about a mile from here," said +Stubbs. "If we can get into it we can go a long ways without +interruption." + +"They'll wire ahead," said Hal + +"So they will," Stubbs agreed, but I've also got a pocket full of the +prettiest passports and other credentials you ever saw. I didn't chop +down my bridges behind me, as you seem to have done. Once in my car, +as I say, and we'll move away from here." + +"Then we may as well be moving," said McKenzie, who had not spoken +until that moment. + +"Right," Hal agreed. "But we must be careful. No telling how many +Germans are nearby, scouring the streets for us. Lead the way, +Stubbs." + +"That's right," said Stubbs, "pick me for the easy work." + +"I'll lead the way if the little man is afraid," growled McKenzie. + +Stubbs whirled on him in the darkness. + +"Look here!" he exclaimed, "I allow no man to talk to me like that. +Understand?" + +McKenzie was somewhat taken aback, but he growled again: + +"Then lead on and don't talk so much." + +Stubbs would have made " another angry retort, but Hal nudged him to +move. + +Muttering to himself, Stubbs led the way to the street again. + +There was no one in sight as they emerged from the darkened house, and +they moved off down the street with rapid strides. Occasionally they +saw passing civilians, with now and then an officer or trooper or so, +but Berlin seemed to be sleeping securely in the knowledge that the +enemy was far from its door. + +Hal gazed at his watch by the glare of a street light. It was almost 4 +o'clock. + +"Two hours to daylight," he muttered. "We shall have to hurry." + +Fifteen minutes later Stubbs slowed down. + +"My automobile is in a small garage around the next corner," he said, +and added significantly, "if nothing has happened to it." + +"Let's get it then," said Hal. "We don't want to stand here." + +Stubbs moved on again and Hal and McKenzie followed him closely. + +There was no sign of a living person near the little garage. Stubbs +approached and attempted to throw back the closed door. It would not +budge. + +"Let me try, Stubbs," said Hal, pushing forward. + +He took from his pocket a short but well tempered piece of steel. He +found that the door was held by a padlock. He inserted the piece of +steel in the top, and, putting forth all his strength, broke the lock. + +There was a sharp report as the lock fell to pieces. + +"Quick, Stubbs!" Hal cried. "That noise will have aroused every sleepy +policeman within a mile." + +McKenzie lent a hand and the door was thrown back. Stubbs gave a gasp +of relief. The automobile was there. + +"You do the driving, Hal," cried Stubbs. "Pile in here, man," this to +McKenzie. "She's all ready to start. Come on." + +The others wasted no time in words. McKenzie scrambled in the back +seat alongside Stubbs, while Hal sprang to the wheel. A moment later +the automobile moved slowly from the garage. + +As the big machine came clear into the street, a bright light suddenly +flashed around the next comer and headed toward them. Hal knew in a +moment what it was. It was a motorcycle, bearing a policeman. There +was but one course to pursue, and Hal acted without hesitation. He +threw the machine into high and it dashed directly toward the +motorcycle. + +The man saved his life by swerving swiftly to one side. His machine +bumped the curb and threw the rider off. When he picked himself up the +automobile bearing the three friends was turning a corner, apparently +on one wheel for Hal had scarcely diminished the speed. + +The German drew his revolver and fired a shot ill the air. He was +sounding the alarm and summoning assistance at the same time. + +Quickly he righted his motorcycle, mounted, and made off in pursuit of +the high- powered automobile. + +At the sound of the German's shot, Hal increased the speed of the +automobile. + +"McKenzie!" he cried. + +McKenzie leaned forward so as to catch the words the lad shouted back +to him. + +"Get your guns ready!" cried Hal. "Don't let anyone come at us from +the rear." + +McKenzie understood. He repeated Hal's words to Stubbs, shouting to +make himself heard. + +"Can't anyone catch us from behind," Stubbs shouted back. "This car +will outrun anything in Germany." + +McKenzie made no reply, but looked to his guns. He knew that it was +not pursuing automobiles that Hal was afraid of; but high-powered +motorcycles in use in Germany would probably be able to overtake the +car no matter what its speed. + +So far, however, the road behind was clear. + + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TOWARD THE FRONTIER + +Hal set his course by instinct and the glow of the disappearing moon, +and a few moments after their swift departure, it seemed, they were +beyond the city itself, headed straight for the Dutch frontier. + +There was no pursuit, and Hal rightly judged the reason to be because +he had thrown pursuers off the track by several sharp turns before +leaving the city proper. + +After an hour's riding, Hal made out specks ahead that he took to be +automobiles. He increased the speed of the car slightly to make sure +of this fact. The car driven by Hal was gaining, but so slightly as to +be almost imperceptible. + +"Those fellows are hitting up a pretty swift gait," the lad muttered. +"I wonder why." + +The sound of a shot was suddenly swept back to Hal's ear. + +"Hello!" he muttered. "Trouble ahead." + +He slowed down, for he had no mind to mix up with the Germans so long +as it could be avoided. Suddenly the first automobile ahead came to a +stop. The second did likewise. Hal shut off his searchlight and +approached slowly in the darkness. + +It became plain, as he drew closer, that the first automobile had been +stopped by a pistol shot, which probably had punctured a rear tire. + +There came more pistol shots and then silence. Hal brought his own +machine to a dead stop. + +A few moments later one of the automobiles ahead, as Hal could see by +the position of its searchlight, began to turn in the road. Instantly +Hal flashed his own light on and sent the car forward. This he did +because he realized it would look suspicious should the flare of the +other light show Hal's car standing still in the road. + +The other car had now come about and approached Hal's machine. + +McKenzie and Stubbs both had been watching the proceedings ahead with +strained eyes. Now they were ready for Hal's words: + +"Guns ready back there. We'll pass if they let us alone." + +The cars came closer together. Suddenly Hal was struck with a thought +that sent a chill down his spine. Suppose Chester was in that car! +Maybe the pursuit he had witnessed was the pursuit of Chester. + +The cars were almost together now. Instead of turning off to the right +to allow the other to pass, as it seemed to have every intention of +doing, Hal only swerved slightly. Then, before the other car could +pass, he brought his own machine to a stop and sprang to the ground, +revolver in hand. McKenzie was close behind him. + +Only Stubbs remained in the automobile, and he, too, held a revolver +ready for instant action. + +A voice from the strange car hailed Hal. + +"Why do you stop us like this?" it demanded. + +"Want to see who you are," was the lad's reply. "A spy has escaped +from Berlin, and I have orders to search all vehicles." + +"You are mistaken," said the voice. "The spy has not escaped. We have +him here." + +"Good!" exclaimed Hal. "Nevertheless, I must satisfy myself that you +are speaking the truth and are what you represent yourselves to be." + +"Of course," returned the voice. "Approach." + +Hal went forward slowly, gun in hand, as did McKenzie. + +Hal now made out that there were four occupants of the car, besides the +man at the wheel and a figure stretched out in the tonneau. + +With his cap down over his eyes, he peered in. The men were in +civilian garb and Hal knew, therefore, that they must be members of the +secret service and not of the military. He knew, too, that they would +consequently be that much harder to handle. Nevertheless, he +determined upon a bold stroke. + +"Hands up, all of you I" he cried in a stern voice. + +His revolver covered the occupants in the front seat. McKenzie covered +the rear. + +"Here, what's the meaning of this?" exclaimed a man who seemed to be +the leader. "You fool! Haven't you been convinced yet that we are +what we say." + +"Perfectly," returned Hal quietly. "That's why I must insist that you +raise your hands. Instantly!" His voice hardened and his finger +tightened on the trigger. "Shoot without hesitancy," he warned +McKenzie. + +McKenzie's lips were set in a determined line. It was plain that he +would need no urging. + +"Well," said one of the Germans, "it's my belief you are also spies." + +"Hands up!" repeated Hal. + +"If you must have it you must!" exclaimed the first German. + +His hand flashed up and in it was a revolver. + +McKenzie's revolver flashed. The German dropped back. + +The man at the wheel released his hold on the steering apparatus and +also reached for a gun. Hal dropped him without changing his +position. + +One of the Germans, before either Hal or McKenzie could stop him, +hurled himself over the far side of the car. The other two raised +their hands. + +"That other fellow is probably bent on mischief," said Hal to himself, +"but we'll have to take a chance. Cover 'em" he ordered McKenzie, +"while I get their guns!" + +Hal advanced to the side of the car and deprived the two Germans of +their revolvers. Then he climbed in and motioned the Germans to get +out. After that he bent over the still form in the bottom of the car. +It was Chester. + +"Keep those fellows covered, McKenzie," he warned. "Don't let them +move. One of them may have the list." + +The Germans made no move under the muzzle of McKenzie's gun, held in a +steady hand. + +Hal lifted Chester's head to his knee. As he did so there was a sharp +report from nearby, quickly followed by a second, and Hal felt a slight +pain in his left arm. + +He dropped Chester's head and leaped to the ground. + +"That's the man who escaped," he said. "I'll have to get him, +McKenzie. You watch, these fellows closely." + +"It's all right, Hal," came a voice from the lads own car. "I got +him!" + +It was the voice of Stubbs, and the little man now came forward. + +"I stayed behind to cover you fellows," he explained. "The man who +jumped out of the car made a detour and came up to my car. From its +protection he took a shot at you. He didn't see me in the darkness, +though, and I beat him to it. He was so close I couldn't miss." + +"Thanks, Stubbs," said Hal quietly. "Now you look in the car and see +if you can't find some rope or blankets or something to tie these +fellows with." + +Stubbs returned shortly with several thin blankets, which Hal quickly +fashioned into an improvised rope. The two prisoners were bound. + +"Now search 'em for the list," said Hal. + +The war correspondent did so. There was no list to be found. + +"Search the one you just disposed of, Stubb,"' Hal ordered. + +The little man obeyed, and a moment later gave an exclamation of +triumph. + +"Here it is," he cried. + +"Good!" said Hal. "Now we'll lay these fellows where they can't move +to give an alarm." + +This, too, was but the work of a moment. + +"Lend a hand, McKenzie," said Hal. "We'll move Chester into our own car +and then move on. It is dangerous to remain here." + +Chester was gently transferred from one car to the other and laid in +the bottom. + +"You fellows see if you can revive him as we go along," said Hal. "We +have no time to waste." + +He sprang again to the wheel, and the car moved on. + +Daylight overtook the four friends as they sped along the country +road. Occasionally other automobiles flashed by, but they were not +molested. + +Under the administering hands of Stubbs and McKenzie, signs of life +soon became apparent in Chester's body. He moaned feebly once or +twice, and then opened his eyes. For a moment he did not realize where +he was, but with remembrance of the recent attack, he suddenly sat up +and aimed a blow at Stubbs, in whose lap the lad's head had rested. + +"I say! What's the meaning of this?" cried Stubbs. "What are you +trying to hit me for?" + +"Is that you, Stubbs?" asked Chester in a feeble voice. + +"You bet it's me, and I'm going to spank you good if you don't keep +quiet." + +"How'd you get here?" + +"That's a long story," replied Stubbs, "and we don't have time to tell +it now." + +"How do you feel, old man?" asked McKenzie. + +"Great Scott! You here, too?" exclaimed Chester. + +"Yes; and Hal is driving this car. You keep quiet now. We're in grave +danger and you must get all the rest you can. We may have need of your +services before long." + +Chester's head dropped back and his eyes closed. He sat up abruptly +again a moment later, however, and demanded sharply: + +"Where's the list?" + +"Safe," replied Stubbs quietly. + +Chester sank back again with an exclamation of satisfaction. + + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +MCKENZIE IN ACTION + +It was broad daylight now and Hat felt the necessity of traveling at a +slower speed than he had through the darkness of the night. +Accordingly he reduced the speed of the big car to not more than +thirty-five miles an hour. + +Stubbs leaned forward and called to Hal. + +"How far do you suppose we are from the Dutch border?" + +"Don't know," was the reply, "but it's a long ways. We're not more +than 70 miles from Berlin." + +Several times during the next few hours they were halted, but were +permitted to pass on, after showing their passports. Apparently the +Berlin authorities had not wired ahead, and Hal was unable to account +for this satisfactorily. + +"Something peculiar about it," he muttered, as he bent over the wheel. + +For the next few hours the automobile proceeded on its way without +interruption, save for a single stop to replenish gasoline and air. + +It was well along toward evening when Stubbs announced that the Dutch +frontier was only a few miles distant. Once over the line they would +be comparatively safe. + +A foreboding of trouble swept over Hal. + +Chester had slept during most of the trip thus far. McKenzie had +examined the lad carefully and discovered that he was suffering from a +flesh wound in the left side. The Canadian had bound this up as well +as he could as the automobile jostled along. + +His experienced eye told him there was nothing dangerous about the +wound. It was painful, of course, and Chester would naturally be stiff +in body for some time; but, providing the wound was kept clean, there +was no danger of infection. + +Now, at Hal's injunction, Stubbs aroused Chester. The lad opened his +eyes slowly. + +"How do you feel, old man?" asked McKenzie. + +Chester sat up and passed a hand across his forehead. + +"I don't feel any too playful," he said with a wry smile. "Where are +we, anyhow?" + +"Getting pretty close to the Dutch border," returned McKenzie. + +"What'd you want to wake me for?" Chester demanded of Stubbs. + +"Believe me," said Stubbs, "I didn't want to wake you up. It's usually +safer for all concerned when you and Hal are both asleep. I woke you +up because Hal told me to." + +"That's all right, then," said Chester. "But don't you try to rub it +into me, Stubbs, just because I've got a bullet hole in me is no sign +I'm a cripple, you know." + +"Maybe not," said Stubbs. "Here, take this gun." + +He passed a revolver to Chester. + +"What's the idea?" demanded Chester, taking the revolver; "going to +fight me a duel or something?" + +"Don't be a fool," said Stubbs. "We're still in Germany, remember. +You may need that gun before we get out." + +"All right, Stubbs," returned Chester. "Thanks." + +Ahead, Hal suddenly made out a large body of men in such position as to +block the road. He slowed down the car, and, leaning back, addressed +the others. + +"If I'm not mistaken," he said quietly, pointing, "just beyond lies the +Dutch border. Once across we are comparatively safe. At least the +Germans will not dare to follow us on to neutral ground. At the same +time, if we are apprehended by Dutch military authorities our mission +will be a failure, because we shall be interned. What is your advice?" + +"Get into Holland first and let matters take their course later," said +Chester quietly. + +"I agree with you," said McKenzie. + +"And I," said Hal. + +"Well," said Stubbs, "I don't. Not that it will make any difference, +of course, because you will do as you wish anyhow." + +"If you have any better plan, Stubbs," said Chester, "let's hear it." + +"I don't have any plan," declared Stubbs, "but seems to me you could +think of a better one. To rush through those fellows ahead means a +fight, a that's why you decided on that plan. I'm against a fight at +all hazards." + +"So I perceive," said McKenzie dryly. + +"Well; you stick along anyhow, Stubbs," said Chester. + +"Oh, I'll stick," said Stubbs, "but I'm going to tell you right now I +don't think I'm going to do you any good." + +"Well, if we are decided," said Hal, "we might as well go on. We'll +show our passports again and it may be we'll get through without +question. However, something tells me we are going to have trouble, so +get your guns ready." + +"If you think we're going to have trouble, I'm absolutely positive of +it," Stubbs mumbled to himself. + +However, each looked to his weapons and made sure that they were in +working order. + +"One of us has got to get through," said Chester in a low voice. "Who +has the list, Stubbs?" + +"Hal," was the response. + +"Then Hal must get through no matter what happens to the rest of us," +said Chester quietly. + +"Good lord!" said Stubbs. "Why didn't I keep that list!" + +As the large automobile approached, several of the Germans ahead +stepped directly into the road and one threw up a hand in a signal +demanding a halt. Hal made out that at this point there were perhaps a +dozen men, though to each side he saw countless other forms. These +latter, however, appeared no wise interested in the automobile and its +occupants, but went about their several duties. + +Hal put on the brakes and the automobile came to a stop a few feet from +the nearest German, who, it appeared, was a colonel of infantry. + +The German, followed by his men, approached the car and surrounded it. + +"Who are you?" he demanded. + +"Dutch war correspondents," replied Hal quietly. + +"Your passports," demanded the German. + +The four friends produced their passports and extended them to the +officer. The latter scanned them hastily, then cried: + +"As I thought. You are the men we want. Seize them!" This last +command to his soldiers. + +Instantly the dozen soldiers swooped toward the automobile, their +rifles leveled. At the same moment Hal sent the large automobile +forward with a jump. + +The German rifles spat fire. Revolvers appeared simultaneously in the +hands of Chester and McKenzie. Both sprang to their feet, and, each +holding to a side of the machine, they returned the fire, as Hal bent +over the wheel. + +"Crack! Crack!" + +Chester and McKenzie fired together. + +In spite of the movement of the car their aim was true, and two German +soldiers fell in their tracks. Stubbs still kept his seat. + +The automobile, with its first lurch forward, had mowed down several of +the enemy, and now dashed forward with a clear path to the Dutch +border. + +Behind, at command from the German officer, the troopers, still upon +their feet, fell to their knees, and, taking deliberate aim at the +rapidly moving car, fired. + +There was an explosion from the automobile. The car jumped crazily. +Chester, still standing, revolver in hand, was flung violently into his +seat, but McKenzie was not so fortunate. He toppled from the car head +foremost. + +One of the German bullets had punctured a rear tire. Hal brought the +machine to a stop. + +"Out and run for it!" cried Hal, and suited the action to the word. + +Chester clambered out with more difficulty, for the wound in his side +still pained him. McKenzie, strange as it may seem, had not been badly +hurt by his fall. He got to his feet, still clutching his revolver. +As the Germans hurried toward him, he raised the automatic and opened +fire. + +The first German pitched headlong to earth, as did the second. + +McKenzie gave ground slowly. + +With a swift look he saw that Hal had almost reached the Dutch border, +which he perceived was guarded by a squad of Dutch soldiers. Chester +also was limping in that direction. Stubbs, in spite of his opposition +to fighting, was lending the lad a helping hand. + +"They'll make it, if I can hold these fellows a minute," muttered +McKenzie. + +He faced the foe again, and from a pocket brought forth a second +automatic. + +"Not for nothing was I called the best shot in the northwest," he said +quietly. + +Hal's idea in not waiting to assist in the flight of the others, +McKenzie knew on the instant. The list they had risked so much to get +must be taken from German territory at all hazards. McKenzie knew, +too, that Chester and Stubbs were simply following instructions when +they also fled. It was every man for himself. A German bullet +whistled close to the Canadian. + +"Well," he said quietly, "I'll get a few of you before you drop me." + +He faced his foes unflinchingly. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SAFE AT LAST + +McKenzie's arms went up again -- not shoulder high -- just to his +hips. For McKenzie, in his early days, had been reckoned in the +Canadian northwest as the most deadly shot in the country. He fired +from his hips and aimed by instinct and not by sight. + +Each automatic flashed once and two more of the foe fell to the +ground. McKenzie staggered a bit as a German bullet plowed into his +shoulder. Then his revolvers spoke again. + +As he fought, the Canadian gave ground slowly. He seemed to bear a +charmed life. Two other bullets struck him -- one in the arm and the +other in the thigh, but no one reached a vital spot. + +Hal, Chester and Stubbs, in the meantime, had reached and crossed the +Dutch border. There they were immediately taken in charge by order of' +the Dutch officer in command. Hal addressed the officer quickly. + +"Can't you do something for my friend?" he demanded, pointing to where +McKenzie was still battling against heavy odds. + +The Dutch, officer shook his head. + +"I would if I could," he said, his face flushed. + +"He is a brave man, and it is a pity for him to die thus. But Holland +is neutral. To interfere might embroil us." + +"But if I can show you how?" asked Hal eagerly. + +"If you can show me how, yes!" exclaimed the Dutchman. "Talk quickly." + +"We carry Dutch passports," said Hal quietly. "That should suffice. +However, cannot you send your men forward under the pretext that the +Dutch border at this point extends an additional one hundred yards? +That will be enough." + +"But --" + +"Oh, I know it doesn't, but that will be up to others than you. It +will be the subject of diplomatic negotiations. Will you?" + +For a moment the Dutch officer hesitated. Then he commanded an officer +who stood near him. + +"Captain Hodden! You will move forward with your company and inform +the foe that if he persists in firing on Dutch soil we shall be forced +to return it!" + +The Dutch captain seemed only glad for this excuse. He dashed away, +and a moment later Dutch troops advanced onto German soil. + +McKenzie, meanwhile, found that he had but two shots left in his +weapons. He glanced backward, and as he did so the Dutch troops +advanced. + +"If I can reach them," the man thought. + +He whirled, emptied his automatics into the face of his enemies, dashed +the now useless weapons after the bullets, and took to his heels, +zigzagging as he ran. + +The bullets in his body impeded his progress, but he reached the +advancing Dutch troops safety. There was a cry of anger from the +German lines as McKenzie found shelter among the Dutch troops. The +Germans halted, and an officer advanced. + +"I must ask you to deliver that man to me," he said to Captain Hodden. + +"I am sorry, but what you ask is impossible," was the reply. "This is +Dutch territory, and you advance further at your peril." + +"Dutch territory!" exclaimed the exasperated German. "You stand on +German ground, and the man you are protecting is a spy. I demand his +return." + +"You won't get him," was the reply, "and I am instructed to inform you +that the next German bullet that falls on Dutch ground will be +considered a hostile act against a neutral nation. It will mean war!" + +"I don't care what it means," shouted the German, now thoroughly +aroused. + +"Perhaps not," said Captain Hodden, "but your superiors may. I would +advise you to order your men to fall back." + +For a moment the German hesitated, and it appeared that he would risk a +breach of neutrality to capture McKenzie. At last he turned away. + +"Holland will rue this day!" he exclaimed, as he ordered his men to +retire. + +Captain Hodden now retreated to Dutch territory, where McKenzie was +turned over to the Dutch colonel. + +"Thanks for the reinforcements," he said quietly. "They would have +done for me sure." + +Hal, Chester and Stubbs crowded about and shook the Canadian by the +hand. The colonel asked to see their passports, and the four friends +produced their bogus documents. + +"So you are Herr Block, eh?" he demanded, eyeing Hal closely. + +Hal bowed, but did not reply. + +"As it chances," said the Dutch officer sternly, "I happen to be the +brother of Herr Block, so I know you are not he. You are under arrest, +sir." + +"For what?" demanded Hal. + +"For traveling under false passports, sir. You friends are under +arrest also. You shall be sent to Amsterdam under guard. And you told +me you were Dutch subjects!" + +"No I didn't," said Hal. "I told you we carried Dutch passports, and so +we do." + +"It amounts to the same thing. It seems I have broken Dutch neutrality +to help a batch of spies. You are all under arrest." + +He summoned Captain Hodden to take charge of the four friends. + +"You will be responsible for them," Colonel Block said. + +The captain saluted and marched his prisoners away. They were put in a +tent some distance away and a guard stationed over them. They were not +searched. + +"Well," said Hal, "we're out of Germany, but, it seems to be a case of +out of the frying-pan into the fire." + +"They can't shoot us as spies," declared Stubbs. "Holland is not at +war and we have not been active against her." + +"No, but they can take this list away from me," said Hal, "and it has +to go to Washington." + +"Then we'll have to get out of here," said McKenzie. + +"A nice job," declared Chester, "and two of us wounded. By the way, +McKenzie, your wounds need attention. I'll call the Dutchman and have +you fixed up." + +He hailed the guard outside, who in turn passed the word for the +captain. The latter appeared a short time later, and Chester explained +what he wanted. The captain moved away and fifteen minutes later a +Dutch physician entered the tent ad dressed McKenzie's wounds. + +"Well, that feels some better," said McKenzie with a laugh, as the +surgeon departed. "I feel as good as new now." + +The four were kept in the tent all night, and early the next morning +were informed that they would be taken to Amsterdam at noon. The trip +was made under heavy guard, and that evening the four friends found +themselves secure in a military prison in the Dutch capital. + +"We're safe enough here, that's certain," declared Stubbs. + +"We're safe enough, if you mean we can't out," Hal agreed. "But in +some way or other this list must be delivered to General Pershing." + +"Show the way, and we'll do it," declared Chester. + +As the friends discussed possible plans, a visitor was ushered in. +This proved to be Herr Block, the man who had assisted them to get into +Germany and who only a few moments before had learned of their arrest. + +"It's too bad," he said. "So near and yet so far, as you Americans +say, eh? Tell me, is there anything I can do for you. + +"You might get us out of here," said Hal. + +Herr Block smiled. + +"Easily said, but not so easily done," he made answer. "However, I +have no doubt it can be arranged." + +"You do?" exclaimed the others. "How?" + +"Well," said Herr Block, "you would be surprised if you realized the +extent to which Holland's sympathies are with the Allies. Of course, +it must not appear on the surface for it would mean war with Germany -- +and we are not ready for war now. However, I shall see that the door +to your cell is left open tonight. When your jailer comes with your +meal he will drop his keys. You will rap him over the head with +something, that it may not look as though he were implicated. Then +walk out of the jail and come to my quarters. No one will molest you." + +"By Jove," said Hal. "That's simple enough." + +"Your meal will be brought in half an hour," he said. "I shall be +waiting for you at eight. You know the way to my quarters?" + +"You'd better give me the necessary directions," said Hal. + +Herr Block did so and took his departure. + +"It all sounds simple enough," said Stubbs, "but it doesn't sound good +to me." + +"Don't croak, Stubbs," said Chester; "you ought to be glad to get out +of here." + +"Oh, I'll be glad enough to get out, but it doesn't sound plausible." + +"Truth is stranger than fiction, Stubbs," said Hal. + +"It'll have to be this time to convince me," declared the war +correspondent. + +The four became silent, awaiting the arrival of the jailer. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE RETURN + +It was half-past seven when the jailer entered the cell in which the +four friends were imprisoned. He carried a large tray, on which was +loaded food. As he entered the cell, he dropped his heavy key ring. +Hal pounced upon it. + +The man's back was toward him. The lad raised the heavy ring, but he +did not strike. + +"Here, jailer," he said; "you've dropped your keys." + +The jailer looked around. Hal hoped he would spring forward, that he +might have an excuse for striking, but the man only said simply: + +"You know what to do with them." + +He turned his back again. For a moment Hal hesitated. + +"Well," he said finally, "if it has to be done, the sooner the better." + +He raised the heavy bunch of keys aloft again, and brought it down on +the jailer's head. The man dropped to the floor and lay still. Hal +threw the keys down beside him. + +"Hope I didn't hurt him too much," he muttered. He turned to the +others. "Now," he said, "shall we eat of this food or shall we leave +at once?" + +"Let's get out of here," said Stubbs. "We can eat any time. Something +may turn up to defeat our plan." + +But nothing did. + +Hal led the way from the cell and along a long corridor. At the end +were steps, which the friends mounted quietly. At the top they found +it necessary to pass through what appeared to be the office of the +superintendent, or whoever was in charge. Inside a man sat at a desk. + +Hal hesitated a moment. He knew there was little prospect of all +passing through without attracting the man's attention, and he had no +means of knowing whether this man was a party to the plot or not. + +However, the lad moved forward again, and the others followed without +question. + +The man at the desk shifted his position, and Hal stepped quickly +toward him, his fist ready to strike. He caught low words: + +"Hurry up and get out of here." + +The lad's hand dropped to his side, and he made haste toward the door +on the far side of the room. Through this all passed safely, and Hal +stood before a door he felt sure led to the street. The door opened +easily, and Hal, Chester, McKenzie and Stubbs passed out into the +darkness. + +Stubbs heaved a sigh of pure relief. + +"Well, we did do it," he muttered. "I didn't believe it possible. +Wish I had some of that grub now." + +"Wouldn't be surprised if Herr Block could rustle us up something to +eat," said McKenzie. "He seems to be a right resourceful sort of a +customer." + +Hal found Herr Block's quarters without difficulty. It appeared that +Herr Block had anticipated that they would be hungry, for he had a +tempting repast already spread when they arrived. To this the four +friends did full justice, for they were, indeed, hungry. + +"Now," said Herr Block when they had finished, "if you will tell me +what success you had on your mission and how you managed I will +appreciate it. After that, I will see you safely into your own lines. +I have a large automobile waiting, and you may depart at any time; but +I am greatly interested in your adventures." + +Hal was nothing loath, and recounted the manner in which he and +McKenzie had secured the list of coveted names. + +"Now, Chester," he said when he had concluded, "it's your turn. You +haven't told us yet how you left the house and how you chanced to be +discovered." + +"My adventures don't amount to much," replied Chester. "I left the +ball with Mrs. Schweiring. We were somewhat alarmed at Gladys' +disappearance, but there was nothing we could do but wait. + +When Gladys came rushing into the room, she thrust the list into my +hand, and told me what had happened, and that I must fly. I +commandeered the Schweiring automobile, and took to the road. I don't +know how the Germans got wind of my departure, but soon after I left +the city I knew I was being followed. + +"There was nothing I could do but try and outrun my pursuers, whoever +they were. It soon became apparent, however, that this was impossible, +because the pursuing machine was too high-powered. Nevertheless, I +determined to go as far as possible and leave something to chance. + +"My pursuers fired at me several times, but they didn't hit anything so +far as I could discover. All of a sudden, however, my engine went +dead. I yanked out my automatic, determined to give battle. I fired at +a man who alighted from the pursuing car when it stopped, but I must +have missed him. Before I could fire again a bullet hit me, and that's +all I remember until I woke and learned that Hal, McKenzie and Stubbs +had saved me." + +"Well, you have all had an exciting time," declared Herr Block. "I +wish that I could have been with you. However, this war is not over +yet, and, personally, I do not believe that Holland will maintain her +neutrality to the end. In that case, I still may have opportunity of +lending a hand." + +"You have already lent a hand," declared Hal, "and you must know that +when you lend a hand to the Allies you are also helping your own +country, and, ultimately, the cause of the whole world." + +"I believe that to be true," replied Herr Block quietly; "otherwise, I +would not have raised a hand to help you. Germany must be crushed. +There is no room for doubt on that score. If Germany wins, what nation +in the whole world is safe?" + +"True," said McKenzie. "It's too bad the world could not have realized +that a long time ago. The war might have been over by this time." + +"As it is," Herr Block agreed, "the war will not be over for years. +But come, I am keeping you here idle when I know you are all anxious to +be about your work." + +He led the way to the street, where a large touring car awaited them. + +"I'll drive you as far as the border myself," said the Dutchman. + +The four friends climbed in, and the car dashed away in the darkness. + +For perhaps four or five hours they rode along at a fair speed and +soon, Hal knew, they would once more be within their own lines. + +It was half-past four o'clock in the morning when Herr Block stopped +the car and said: + +"I'll leave you here. You must make the rest of the trip alone." + +"Great Scott! You can't get out here in the middle of the wilderness," +said Hal. + +"Don't worry," laughed Herr Block. "I haven't far to go. If you'll +look to the right there you will see the lights of a little town. I +shall be able to get a conveyance there for my homeward journey. I +brought you this way because it will save time and trouble." + +He stepped from the car, then reached back and extended a hand to Hal, +who had taken his place at the wheel. + +"I'm awfully glad to have met you," he said quietly, "and I am glad to +have been of assistance to you. I trust that we shall see more of each +other at some future time." + +"Thanks," said Hal, gripping the other's hands. "If it hadn't been for +you our mission would have failed. We shall never forget it." + +Herr Block shook hands with the others, and then disappeared in the +darkness. + +"A fine fellow," said Hal, as he sent the car forward. + +"You bet," Chester agreed. "I hope we shall see him again." + +Stubbs and McKenzie also had words of praise for the assistance given +them by Herr Block. + +Dawn had streaked the eastern sky when the four friends made out the +distant British lines. Chester gave a cheer, which was echoed by the +others. + +"At the journey's end," said Hal quietly. + +As the automobile approached the British line, an officer, with several +men, advanced with a command "Halt." Hal obeyed, and leaped lightly +from the car. + +He identified himself to the satisfaction of the British officer, and +Hal swung the car sharply south, heading for the distant American +sector of the battle front. + +They were forced to go more slowly now, as the ground came to life with +soldiers, so it was almost noon when they came in sight of that section +of the field where the American troops were quartered. + +Leaving McKenzie and Stubbs in the car, Hal and Chester made their way +to the headquarters of General Pershing. They were admitted +immediately. + +"Back so soon?" exclaimed General Pershing, getting to his feet. "I +was afraid --" + +From his pocket Hal produced the list of German spies in America. + +"Here, sir," he said quietly, "is the list." + +General Pershing snatched it away from him and scanned it hastily. +Then, turning to the lads, he said very quietly: + +"You have done well, sirs. Your work shall be remembered. You will +both kindly make me written reports of your mission." + +He signified that the interview was at an end. Hal and Chester +saluted, and left their commander's quarters. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A GLANCE AT THE WAR SITUATION + +The apparent deadlock on the western front from the North Sea, through +that narrow strip that remained of Belgium, Flanders and France almost +to the borders of Alsace-Lorraine, had been maintained for so long now +that the world was momentarily expecting word that would indicate the +opening of what, it was expected, would be the greatest battle of the +war since Verdun. + +It was known that Germany, confident because of the disruption of the +Russian armies, had drawn heavily upon her forces on the eastern +front. The world waited for some announcement of where the Kaiser +would strike next. + +The blow was delivered in Italy. Field Marshal von Hindenburg, the +greatest military genius the war had yet produced, left his command on +the west front and hurried into Italy, succeeding General von +Mackensen, who had been in command originally. + +The Italian troops fought hard to maintain the ground they had won from +the Austrians the spring and summer before; but in two days the +Austrians, reinforced by German troops, and commanded by, German +officers, had won back all they lost in two years of war and penetrated +to the heart of Italy itself. + +The world stood aghast at the mighty Teutonic offensive, before which +the Italian troops, seasoned veterans that they were, were like chaff +before the wind. + +The Allies became alarmed. + +Von Hindenburg's blow in Italy, if successful threatened to dispose of +one country entirely, and would endanger the French and British troops +from the rear. It was decided to reinforce the Italians with French +and British troops. + +At the same time, it became a part of the plan of the general staff to +strike hard in Flanders and in the Cambrai sector, while the Germans +were busily engaged elsewhere. It would, indeed, be an auspicious +moment to strike. + +Since the days when the Germans had been beaten back by the French at +Verdun, Teuton offensives had been few and far between. It had been +the Allies who had advanced after that, with the one exception of the +Austro-German offensive being made in Italy. The ground that the +British and French had won, now they held. From time to time they +pushed their lines farther to the east, consolidated their positions +and made ready to move forward again. + +It was plainly apparent that success was crowning the efforts of the +British and French on the western front. The Germans now and then +launched heavy local attacks, but these apparently were more for the +purpose of feeling out the strength of their opponents than with any +idea of concerted advance. + +British troops in Egypt were pushing on toward Jerusalem and it seemed +that it was only the question of time until the Holy City would fall. +Once Turkish rule there had been broken, it was a foregone conclusion +that the Ottomans would never regain a foothold. + +The thing of chief concern to the Allies was the internal conditions in +Russia. Revolt had succeeded revolt in the land of the Muscovite, and, +as rulers replaced rulers, it was hard to tell what the next day would +bring forth. + +Conditions had not reached such a pass, however, that the German +general staff felt safe in releasing the bulk of its great army on the +eastern front. Therefore, although it appeared that Russia was about +to give up the fight, a million and a half of the Kaiser's best troops +were held on the Russian front. + +It was known to the Allied governments that German efforts were at the +bottom of the Russian troubles, and the diplomatic corps had been hard +at work trying to offset this. As time passed, however, it was +realized that Russia's aid could no, longer be counted upon. + +With the entrance of the United States into the war, with the American +nation's unlimited resources in men and money, the cause of the Allies +took on a more roseate hue. True, it would require time to put the +American fighting machine into shape to take the field, but once its +energies had been turned to making war, even Germany knew that America +would put her best foot foremost. + +The latest British successes had been in the vicinity of Vimy Ridge, +which position, believed by the Germans to be impregnable, had been +carried by Canadian troops in a single attack. German counter-assaults +in this sector had failed to dislodge them, and there they remained +secure. + +The Canadians had launched this attack in April soon after the United +States had declared war on Germany. Now, in November, their lines +still held despite the pounding of big German guns and infantry and +cavalry assaults. + +As the Germans continued to push forward in Italy, threatening the city +of Venice -- called the most beautiful in the world -- General Sir +Douglas Haig, the British commander-in-chief, prepared himself for a +blow in Flanders, and also for a drive at Cambrai, one of the most +important German military centers. + +Preparations for this attack were made quietly, and without knowledge +of the enemy; so, when the attack came, the Germans were taken +absolutely by surprise, and only escaped annihilation by the masterful +direction of Field Marshal von Hindenburg, who hurried from the Italian +front in time to stem the tide. + +American troops in France at this time numbered not more than 125,000 +men -- these in addition to several detachments of engineers who had +been sent in advance to take over French railroad operations in order +to release the French for service on the fighting line. Many of the +Americans who had fought with the Allies in the early days of the +struggle, before Uncle Sam cast in his lot with them had returned to +America and joined their own countrymen in the expectation that they +would soon return to the front. + +The American Army was being put in readiness as fast as possible, but +it was known that months of intensive training would be necessary to +fit it for its share of fighting at the front. Preparations were being +rushed, however, to send the national guard units across. These would +form the second contingent of Americans to reach France -- the first +having been composed only of regulars. + +American troops in France so far had seen little actual fighting. +Their activities had been confined mostly to beating off trench raids +and launching an occasional bomb attack on the German dugouts so close +to them. Several Americans had been killed in one of these attacks -- +forming the first United States casualty list. Others had been +wounded, and some were missing, believed to be prisoners in the German +lines. + +Hal and Chester had been in the midst of the Canadian advance and +capture of Vimy Ridge. Immediately after the battle they had left the +fighting front and returned to America, where they spent several months +training reserve officers at Fort Niagara. Because of excellent +service there, they had been honored by being numbered among officers +who went with the first expeditionary force under General Pershing. + +Both lads had been among the American troops who beat off the German +trench raid which accounted for the first United States casualties, and +they had performed other services for General Pershing, as have already +been recounted. + +Americans though they were, each felt that he would rather be where +action were swifter than lying idle in the trenches with their +countrymen. It was hard telling how long it would be before the +British and French general staffs would consider the American troops +sufficiently seasoned to take over a complete sector of the battle +line, and for that reason, the "Sammies," as they were affectionately +called at home, were unlikely to see any real fighting for some time. + +In fact, it developed that when General Haig finally launched his +drive, only British, Irish, Welsh and Scots were used. The Americans +had no hand in the fighting. + +Hal and Chester, after reporting to General Pershing following their +return from the German lines, returned to the automobile where they had +left McKenzie and Stubbs. + +"There are no orders for us," said Hal, "so we may as well hunt our +quarters and get a little rest." + +Upon inquiry they learned that their own company, in the trenches when +they left, had been moved back to make place for another contingent. +This was in line with the policy of seasoning the American troops. +Their own company, therefore, they found somewhat removed from the +danger zone. + +"Of course, it's better to be in the trenches, where there is a chance +of action," Chester said, "but when a fellow needs sleep, as I do, I +guess it's just as well that we're back here." + +"Right you are, Chester," said Stubbs, "and if you have no objections +I'll bunk along with you boys." + +"Help yourself, Stubbs," laughed Chester. "Guess we can make room for +you." + +"It's daylight yet," said Stubbs, "but I'm going to bed just the same. +Lead the way, Chester. + +Chester needed no urging, for he could scarcely keep his eyes open. +McKenzie hunted his own quarters, and soon was fast asleep. + +Hal and Chester also soon were in slumberland, and Stubbs' loud snoring +proclaimed that the little man's troubles were over for the moment at +least. + + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE EVE OF BATTLE + +"Good news, Chester." + +"That so? What is it?" + +Hal glanced about him. There was no one near. "Little work for us to +do," he said quietly. + +"What kind of work?" + +Hal did not reply directly to this question. + +"How's your side?" he demanded. + +"All right. Why?" + +"Wound hurt you much?" + +"No. Hardly know it's there. But what's all this about, anyhow?" + +"Well," said Hal, "there is about to be a battle." + +"That so? Good. How do you know?" + +"General Pershing just told me. That's why I want to know how your +side is. We've orders to report to General Haig in person." + +"Oh," said Chester, somewhat disappointed, "I thought you meant the +American troops were going to get into action." + +"Well, they may get into action, too. I don't know. But this, to my +mind, is the biggest undertaking since the Somme." + +"Sounds good," said Chester, greatly interested. "Let's hear more +about it." + +"I don't know much more about it. I was summoned to General Pershing's +tent, and he gave me a message to carry to General Haig. Told me to +have you report to General Haig also if your wound had healed +sufficiently." + +"It's healed sufficiently for that," Chester interrupted. + +"That's what I thought you'd say, no matter how badly it might pain +you. Anyhow, General Pershing said we might be in time to see some +action." + +"Did he indicate the nature of it?" + +"No, but I drew my own conclusions. I'll tell you why. Remember those +tanks we had here experimenting with?" + +"You mean the armored tractors -- those things that climb fences, +trenches, and things like that?" + +"Yes." + +"Sure I remember them. Why?" + +"Well, they're all gone -- been ordered back to the British lines. +Therefore, something is going on." + +"Oh, pshaw!" said Chester. "That may mean only a local attack some +place. I thought you knew something." + +"Wait a minute now. I know more than you think." + +"Well, let's hear it then." + +"Infantry and cavalry are being massed in the sector that would lead to +Cambrai, if a drive were successful." + +"You're sure of that?" + +"Perfectly. I have it from Captain O'Neill, who knows what he's +talking about." + +"That may mean something," Chester agreed, nodding his head. + +"May mean something? Of course it means something. Besides, our +aeroplanes are more active than usual, probably to keep the enemy back +so they can't anticipate the attack." + +"The Germans will suspect something then," declared Chester. + +"Maybe. But there is something in the air. You can bank on that." + +"Well, I hope so," declared Chester. "We haven't had any real fighting +for a long while now." + +"Don't forget you've a bullet hole in you still," smiled Hal. "You're +not as good as new, you know." + +"I can still answer for a couple of Germans," replied Chester with a +smile. + +"I guess you're right. But come, we must be moving." + +The two lads left their quarters and sought their horses. As they +mounted Stubbs approached. + +"Where to?" he demanded. + +"We've a mission to General Haig," said Hal. "Why?" + +"Wait till I get a horse and I'll go along," said Stubbs. + +He hurried away. + +"I don't know whether he should go with us or not," muttered Hal. + +"If you think that, let's don't wait for him," returned Chester. + +"Good idea," Hal agreed, and put spurs to his horse. + +Chester followed suit. + +For ten minutes they rode rapidly, and then Hal slowed down. + +"Guess we've lost him, all right," he said. + +But they hadn't. A short time later Hal, glancing over his shoulder, +made out the form of a solitary horseman hurrying after them. The +rider made gestures as Hal looked, and the lad perceived that the man, +whoever he might be, desired them to wait. Therefore, having forgotten +all about Stubbs, the lad reined in. Chester did likewise. + +"Hello," said Chester, as the rider drew closer. "It's Stubbs." + +"Tough," Hal commented. "I had forgotten about him. However, we don't +want to hurt his feelings. He's seen us now, so there is no use +running." + +They sat quietly until Stubbs drew up alongside. + +"What's the idea of running away from me?" the little man wanted to +know. + +"Running away, Mr. Stubbs?" questioned Chester. "Surely you must be +mistaken. Why should we run away from you?" + +"That's what I would like to know," declared Stubbs. "Didn't I tell +you to wait for me?" + +"Did you, Stubbs?" This from Hal. + +"Did I? You know deuced well I did. You're not deaf, are you?" + +"Well, no," said Hal, "but your memory, Mr. Stubbs, how is that?" + +Stubbs glared at the lad angrily. + +"There is nothing the matter with my memory," he said, "as you'll find, +if you ever have occasion to need me." + +"Come now, Stubbs," said Chester. "You do us both an injustice. You +must explain yourself." + +"Great Scott!" Stubbs burst out. "Explain, must I? What do you mean, +I must explain?" + +"Hold up a minute, now, Stubbs," said Hal. "You're all tangled up +here. You've forgotten what you are talking about." + +"Tangled? Forgot?" sputtered Stubbs. "What do you think I am, a +fool?" + +"Well, I didn't say so, did I Mr. Stubbs?" Hal wanted to know. + +"That means you do, eh?" grumbled Stubbs. + +"Well, all right, think what you please. What I asked you was this: +Why did you run away from me?" + +"What makes you think we ran away, Stubbs?" asked Chester. + +"What makes me think it? Why shouldn't I think it, I ask you? Why +shouldn't I think it? I ask you to wait till I get a horse, and when I +come back, you're gone." + +"Maybe we didn't hear you, Mr. Stubbs," put in Hal. + +"And maybe you did," exploded Stubbs. "Now, if you don't want my +company, all you've got to do is to say so." + +"Stubbs," said Chester, "you know we'd rather have your company than +that of - of -- of, well, say three wildcats." + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Hal. + +"Think you're funny, don't you?" said Stubbs, gazing at Chester with a +scowl. + +"Not so funny as you and the wildcats, Stubbs." laughed Chester. + +Stubbs wheeled his horse about. + +"I can see I'm not wanted here," he said with dignity. "Therefore, I +shall not bother you." + +He rode back the way he had come. + +"It's too bad," said Hal. "We've offended him and he's awfully angry. +He raised his voice and shouted: "Hey, Stubbs! Come back here." + +Stubbs did not deign to turn his head. + +"He's mad all right," Chester agreed. "But hell get over it. Besides, +it's just as well. We should not take him with us." + +"You're right, Chester. Come, we have no time to waste." + +The lads again put spurs to their horses and galloped rapidly along. + +It was late afternoon when they rode up to General Haig's tent, and +announced their errand. They were admitted to the general's quarters +immediately, and Hal presented his message. + +"General Pershing informs me," said General Haig at length, "that if I +have need of you, I may use you." + +The lads bowed. + +"As it happens," said General Haig, "I do have need of you at this +moment. You have, perhaps, surmised that we are about to strike?" + +Again the lads bowed. + +"Good. This attack will be made with the third army, under command of +Sir Julian Byng. I have dispatches for you to carry to him. Also, you +will attach yourselves to his staff during the engagement. I will +write him to that effect." + +General Haig scribbled hastily, and then passed several documents to +Hal. + +"Deliver these immediately," said the British commander. + +Hal and Chester saluted, left the tent, mounted their horses, and +dashed rapidly away. + +They reported to General Sir Julian Byng at 6 o'clock. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE ADVANCE + +The advance of the British troops under Sir Julian Byng, who was to win +in this engagement the sobriquet of "Bingo" Byng, marked a departure +from rules of warfare as it had been conducted up to date in the +greatest of all conflicts. Heretofore, heavy cannonading had always +preceded an advance in force. Heavy curtains of smoke from the great +guns had been flung over the enemy's lines to mask the movements of the +attackers. + +While this smoke curtain had protected, to some extent, the movements +of the assaulting party, it also had the effect of "tipping off" the +foe that an attack was about to be launched. Now the British were +about to advance without the protection of the smoke screens. + +But General Byng's army moved forward in the wake of even a more +formidable protection than smoke. + +British "tanks," armored tractors, showed the way. + +General Byng's attack covered the whole length of what had become known +as the redoubtable and supposedly impregnable "Hindenburg line," so +called because it had been established by that greatest of all German +military geniuses, Field Marshal von Hindenburg. From Drocourt, just +to the northwest of Douai, the line stretched for forty miles in a +fairly straight line down through Vitryen-Artois, Villiers, Cagnocourt +to Queant and Pronville, thence on to Boursies, Havrincourt, Gour +Zeacourt, Epehy and St. Quentin. + +The first, or upper section of this line -- from Drocourt to Queant -- +was called the Wotan line. The lower section had become known as the +Siegfried line. Both together formed the general scheme of the +Hindenburg front. + +It was along this line, then, that the British struck on the morning of +Nov. 20, 1917. The drive had for its chief objective the capture, or +possible isolation, of Cambrai, one of the most important positions in +this sector in German hands. Cambrai was a railroad center in those +days, a terminus from which the German general staff supplied various +points of the long line with munitions, food and men, the latter when +required. + +The capture of Cambrai, it was apparent, would mean the ultimate fall +of St, Quentin and Lille, both points of strategic advantage. + +General Byng ordered his third army forward shortly before daylight so +that when the moment came for the first blow his men would have +daylight with which to go about their work. + +As has been said, there was no preliminary bombardment of the enemy's +positions sufficiently in advance to give the enemy time to prepare his +resisting measures. Instead of the uprooting barrage, British tanks +cleared the path for the infantry, and what few cavalry was used in the +attack. Thus the enemy was given no warning. + +The attack was a complete surprise -- and a surprise attack in this +great war had been called well nigh impossible. Even the German air +service was fooled. As a result of its inability to anticipate General +Byng's movements, the German fighting machine naturally lost some of +its efficiency. + +As dawn broke, the British tanks bore down on the foe steadily and +without the appearance of undue haste; in fact, the tanks could not +have made haste had such been General Byng's plan. Formidable +instruments of warfare that they are, they do not number speed among +their many accomplishments. + +Hundreds of these tanks, bearing every resemblance to mythical monsters +of a prehistoric day, crawled across the ground that separated the +opposing armies. What must have been the surprise of the German +general staff when the break of day showed these monsters so near? + +Having had no warning of the impending attack, the enemy naturally was +taken at a disadvantage. The warning of the advance was flashed along +the German first- line defenses the moment daylight disclosed the +hundreds of tanks advancing to the fray. The second-line defenses were +made ready to withstand an attack should the first line be beaten back, +and, although it was not within the comprehension of German leaders +that it could be possible, the third-line defenses also were made ready +to repel the invaders. + +Between the German first-line trenches and the British front at this +point the distance was something under half a mile. Between the +various German lines of defense, the distance was almost an even mile. +As the British tanks advanced across the open ground, smashing down +barbed-wire entanglement and crawling in and out of shell craters as +though they did not exist, defenders sprang to their positions. +Rapid-firers opened upon the British from every conceivable angle; but +the shells dropped harmlessly from the sides of the armored tanks. The +tanks just seemed to shake their heads and passed on. + +Behind the tanks the infantry advanced slowly, flanked here and there +by squadrons of cavalry, the horses of which could hardly be held back, +so anxious did they seem to get at the foe. + +The British tanks spat fire from the rapid-fire guns that formed their +armament. Streams of bullets flew into the German lines, dealing death +and destruction. + +From the rear the great British guns dropped high explosive shells in +the German trenches. + +The German first-line defenses, prepared with days of hard labor, and +formed of deep ditches, of concrete and pure earth, offered no +difficulties to the British tanks. Straight up to these emplacements +they crawled, shoved their noses into the walls, and uprooted them; +then crawled calmly over the debris. + +Into the gaps thus opened, the British infantry poured, while +cavalrymen jumped their horses across the gaps and fell upon the foe +with sword and lance. + +The Germans fought bravely, but they were so bewildered by this +innovation in the art of warfare that their lines had lost their +cohesion long before the tanks plowed into them, and they scattered as +the British "Tommies" dashed forward, after one withering volley, with +the cold steel of the bayonet. + +Here and there small groups collected and offered desperate resistance, +but their efforts to stem the tide of advancing British were in vain. + +An hour after daylight first-line defenses of the entire Hindenburg +line were in the hands of the British. + +But General "Bingo" Byng was not content to rest on these laurels. He +ordered his left wing -- those of his troops who had advanced against +the Wotan line -- to advance farther, and also threw his center into +the conflict again. Troops opposed to the Siegfried line he held in +reserve, that he might strike a blow in that sector of the field should +his main attack fail. + +Again the British on left and center dashed to the attack. Again the +tanks plowed over the uneven ground, and advanced against a second +apparently impregnable barrier. Flushed with victory, the British +"Tommies" cheered to the echo, as they moved forward gaily. + +Many a man fell with a song on his lips, as he stumbled across the +shell craters that made walking so difficult, for the Germans from +their second-line defenses poured in a terrible fire, but the others +pressed on as though nothing had happened. There was no time to pause +and give succor to a wounded comrade, the command had been to advance. +Besides, the Red Cross nurses and the ambulance drivers would be along +presently to take care of those who could no longer take care of +themselves. It was hard, many a man told himself, but he realized that +the first duty was to drive back the foe. + +Shell after shell struck the British tanks as they waddled across the +rough ground. One, suddenly, blew into a million pieces. An explosive +had struck a vital spot. For the most part, however, the shells fell +from the armored sides like drops of water from a roof. + +German troops lined the second-line defenses and poured a hail of +bullets into the advancing British. It was no use. The British +refused to be stopped. + +Straight to the trenches the tanks led the way, and nosed into them. +Down went emplacements that the Germans had spent days in making +secure. The tanks rooted them up like a steam shovel. Men fled to +right and left, and there, at command from their officers, paused long +enough to pour volleys of rifle fire into the Britons, as they swarmed +into the trenches in the wake of the tanks. + +From the second-line defenses the tanks led the way to the third line, +where they met with the same success. This, however, took longer, and +when the British found themselves in possession of these, with Cambrai, +the immediate objective, less than four miles away. General Byng +called a halt. He felt that his men had done enough for one day. +There would be a renewed attack on the morrow, but now he realized that +the most important thing was to straighten out his lines, consolidate +them against a possible counter-assault, and work out his plan of +attack for the following day. + +Therefore, the "Tommies" made themselves as comfortable as possible in +their newly won positions. Prisoners were hurried to the rear, and +captured guns were swiftly swung into position to be used against their +erstwhile owners should they return to the fight. + +In these positions the British third army spent the night. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE ADVANCE CONTINUES + +The British losses had been heavy, as was only natural in view of the +nature of the work they had accomplished. But the German casualties +had been tremendously greater. This, no doubt, was because of the fact +that the German general staff had been taken by surprise and had had no +time to prepare against the attack. + +The British, according to the report of General Byng, on the first +day's offensive, had captured in the neighborhood of 5,ooo prisoners. +Of artillery and munitions, great stores had fallen into the hands of +the victors. + +It was a great day for Old England and all her Allies. The victory was +the greatest achieved by the Allies since the Battle of the Marne. + +Cambrai was almost in the hands of the British. The importance of the +victory could not be estimated at that time, but every soldier knew +that if the enemy could be driven from Cambrai it would necessitate a +realignment of the whole German defensive system in Flanders and along +the entire battle front. With the victory the British menaced the main +German line of communications -- Douai, Cambrai and St. Quentin. + +Around Lavasquere, formidable defenses, known as Welsh Ridge and +Coutilet Wood, had been, captured. Flesquires had been invested and +the Grand Ravine crossed. Havrincourt was in British hands. + +Trench systems north of Havrincourt and north of the west bank of the +Canal du Nord also had been captured. The Masnieres Canal was crossed, +and the British had stormed and captured Marcoing Neufwood. East of +the Canal du Nord, the villages of Graincourt and Anneux were now in +possession of General Byng's men; while west of the canal the whole +line north to the Bapaume-Cambrai road was stormed. Bonaires hamlet +and Lateau Wood had been captured after stiff fighting. + +East of Epehy, between Bullecourt and Fontaine les Croisilles, +important positions also had been captured by the gallant "Tommies." + +"The enemy was completely surprised." + +This was the laconic message sent to Field Marshal Haig by the man who +had led the British to victory, as he rested until the morrow. Along +the entire forty- mile line the attack had been successful. + +There were no American troops in General Byng's drive. The forces were +composed solely of English, Scots, Irish and Welsh -- a combination +that more than once before in this war had proved too much for the +Germans to combat successfully. + +It was a happy army that slept on reconquered territory on the night of +November 20,1917. Men talked of nothing but the most glorious victory +since the Marne. They knew that the offensive in all likelihood would +be resumed the following morning, and most of the troops turned in +early that they might be fit on the morrow to make the foe hunt a new +"hole." There was no doubt in the breasts of the "Tommies" that the +following day would take them nearer to Cambrai and, consequently, +Berlin. + +Hal and Chester had had no active part in the first day's fighting. +They had stuck close to headquarters of General Byng, and several +times, while the fighting was at its height and the general was short +of aides, each of the lads had carried messages for him. Both chaffed +somewhat because of the fact that they were not in the midst of the +fighting, but they bided their time, confident that they; at length, +would get a chance for action. + +They had followed the advance of the British troops with admiring +eyes. It was, indeed, an imposing spectacle. + +"Wonder if our Canadian friends are in this attack?" asked Chester. + +"I don't believe so," declared Hal. "I suppose they are still at Vimy +Ridge. They're still needed there, you know." + +"That's so, but they would be good men to have around at a time like +this." + +"These fellows seem to be doing fairly well, if you ask me," said Hal +dryly. + +Then the conversation languished, as the lads looked toward the +fighting front. + +As it developed, Hal and Chester soon were to see their Canadian +friends again. During the night several divisions of Canadians were +hurried to General Byng's support that he might have fresh blood in his +ranks when he renewed his attack against the Hindenburg defenses. And, +as it chanced, the commander of one of these divisions was the lad's +old friend, Colonel Adamson-general now, however. + +Hal and Chester were standing close to General Byng when announcement +of the arrival of the Canadians was brought to him. All of the +general's aides were busy. He espied Hal and called to him. + +"You will carry my compliments to General Adamson," he said, "and tell +him to go into camp for the night. Instructions will be sent him +before morning." + +Hal saluted, mounted his horse, and dashed away. + +General Byng summoned Chester to his side. + +"Come with me," he said. + +He led the way into a tent that had been erected hastily, and which +served him as field headquarters. There the general scribbled hastily +for some minutes, then passed a piece of paper to Chester. + +"You will ride after your friend," he said, "and present this to +General Adamson. Then you had better turn, in for the night. You may +stay with General Adamson's command and lend what assistance there you +can." + +Chester was soon speeding after Hal. + +General Adamson recognized Hal instantly when the lad reported to him, +and professed pleasure at seeing him again. He also saluted Chester, +when the latter arrived a short time later. + +"And so you are going to stay with me, eh?" he said. "Well, I have no +doubt I shall be able to make use of you. However, you'd better turn +in now. I suppose we'll be at it bright and early in the morning." + +General Adamson proved a good prophet. + +Hal and Chester met several men whom they had known when they were with +the Canadian troops at the capture of Vimy Ridge, and these expressed +delight at seeing the lads again. A young officer invited the lads to +spend the night in his quarters, and they accepted gratefully. + +They followed General Adamson's injunction and turned in early. They +were very tired, and they were asleep the moment they hit their cots. + +It seemed to Hal that he had just closed his eyes when he was aroused +by the sound of a bugle. It was the call to arms, and the lad sprang +to his feet and threw on his clothes. Chester also was on his feet, +and the two lads dashed from the tent together. + +They made their way to General Adamson's quarters, where they stood and +awaited whatever commands, he might give them. + +The Canadian troops were all under arms. Each and every man was eager +for the fray. They had not been in the battle the previous day, but +they had heard full accounts of British success and they were +determined to give a good account of themselves when the time came. + +And the time came soon. + +It was just growing light when the British army launched the second +day's drive. + +Along the whole forty-mile line the troops under General Byng advanced +simultaneously. This time, however, the Germans were not caught +napping. They anticipated the second attack by the British, and a +terrific hail of shells and bullets greeted the Allied troops, as they +moved across the open ground. + +But these men were not raw troops. Hardly a man who could not be +called a veteran. They advanced as calmly under fire as though on +parade. Men went down swiftly in some parts of the field, but as fast +as one dropped, his place was instantly filled. The lines were not +allowed to break or be thrown into confusion. + +The Canadian troops advanced calmly and with a sprightliness that +seemed strange for men used to the grim work of war. There was +something in their carriage that told their officers that they would +give a good account of themselves this day. + +General Adamson eyed his men with pride, as they moved off in the +semi-light. He dispatched Hal with a command to Colonel Brown, +commander of one regiment, and Chester to Colonel Loving, commander of +another. As it chanced, these two regiments were marching together, so +the two lads once more found themselves together in the midst of an +advancing army. + +Their messages delivered, they did not return to General Adamson, and +without even asking permission of their superiors, ranged themselves +behind. Colonel Loving, and pressed forward with the troops. + +Colonel Loving and Colonel Brown, besides Hal and Chester, were the +only mounted men with the Canadian advance. Ten minutes after the lads +had gone forward, Colonel Loving dismounted and turned his horse over +to one of his men, who led it toward the rear. Colonel Brown followed +suit. Hal and Chester did likewise. + +"Good idea," commented Chester. "We make too good targets there." + +Hal nodded, and looked toward the front. + +The British tanks again led the way. Bullets whistled over the heads +of the Canadians. Hal saw that the first-line German defenses were +less than 200 yards away. + +"Good." he told himself. "Now for the battle." + +The first British tank nosed into the German trench. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +TANK FIGHTING + +The early stages of the morning fighting were repetitions of the first +day's advance. Success perched upon British standards from the first. +Try as they would, the Germans were unable to hurl back the British +infantry, which advanced steadily under the protecting wings of +countless armored tanks. + +Every now and then one of these terrible instruments of warfare burst +to pieces, killing its crew, as a German shell struck in a vital spot, +but, for the most part, they advanced unharmed. + +Over the German trenches they plowed their path, as though there was +nothing in the way to bar their progress. Walls, earth, and human +bodies were crushed beneath them, and they passed on as though nothing +had happened. In vain the Germans charged straight up to their sides. +There was nothing they could do when they reached the monsters, except +to fire ineffectual rifle shots in an effort to penetrate the apertures +and reach the gunners, or to hurl hand grenades, which had no effect. + +Each time the enemy charged it was never to return. While they wasted +their energies attempting to put the tanks out of commission, British +infantry mowed them down with, rifle fire. At length these attempts +were given up. + +The Germans, after an hour's desperate fighting, deserted their +first-line trenches, and sought the shelter of the second; from these +they were driven to the third. + +Hal and Chester found themselves in the midst of the fighting, +alongside the heroic Canadians of Vimy Ridge fame. The part of the +field in which they found themselves was to the extreme north of the +Hindenburg line, almost opposite Douai. + +Time after time the Canadians drove the foe back at the point of the +bayonet. The Canadians, it appeared soon after noon, had been the most +successful of the entire British army. They had pushed their lines +almost to Douai. To the south, General Byng's forces had not advanced +quite so far. + +Suddenly there was an explosion inside a tank scarcely a hundred feet +from Hal and Chester. Great clouds of earth ascended into the air. +The tank stopped stock still. Apparently it was undamaged, but it +proceeded no further. A moment later, the armored door swung open, and +the half-dozen men who composed its crew got out. + +"Something the matter with the engine," one said in reply to a question +by a Canadian officer. + +Members of the tank's crew secured rifles and joined the advancing +infantry. Hal pressed close to Chester. + +"I've a hunch I can fix that thing so it will run," he shouted to make +himself heard above the din of battle. + +"Lets have a try," Chester shouted back. + +The boys left their places in the line, and approached the tank. Hal +climbed inside first. Chester followed him. + +He bent down and tinkered with the engine. It was not the first time +the lads had been inside a tank, so they were fairly familiar with the +mechanism. + +After some tinkering, Hal gave an exclamation of satisfaction. + +"She'll go now," he cried. + +He opened the throttle, and the machine moved forward. Hal brought it +to a stop almost immediately. + +"We can't man all these guns," he cried. "We must have a crew." + +Chester alighted and approached a captain of infantry who was passing +at that moment. + +"We want a crew for this tank!" he exclaimed. "Can you give me four +men?" + +"Take your pick," the captain called back. + +Chester motioned four stalwart Canadians to follow him. They entered +the tank not without some foreboding, for it developed that none had +been mixed up in such warfare before. But they were not afraid and +took the places Hal assigned them. + +"You can handle these guns, can you?" Hal shouted. + +The men nodded affirmatively. + +"All right. Take your places. Looks like there is ammunition enough +there for a week. Ready?" + +"Ready, sir," one of the men answered. + +Chester made the door secure, and Hal now moved the tank forward. + +Straight over the German trench plunged the car tilting first to the +right and then to the left, as one side or the other sunk into a deep +hole. But, although it jostled the crew considerably, it did not roll +over, as it seemed in imminent danger of doing. + +The other tanks had gone forward some time before; so had the mass of +the infantry. Hal's tank now lumbered forward in an effort to overtake +the others. It moved swiftly enough to push ahead of the soldiers +afoot, and gradually it overtook the others, which went more slowly in +order that the infantry might keep pace with them. At last the lads +found themselves on even terms with the most advanced tank. + +Perhaps a dozen of these monsters, pressing close together, now made a +concerted attack on the second-line German trenches. Down went +barbed-wire entanglements directly in front of the trenches. There was +a loud crash as the tanks pushed their noses into the trench itself, +and threw out rocks, boards, and earth in shattered fragments. The +troops poured into the trenches behind them. + +Half an hour's desperate fighting in the trenches and the Germans +fled. As the tanks would have pushed along further, a bugle sounded a +halt. Instantly the infantry gave up pursuit of the enemy, and all the +tanks came to a stop -- all except the one in which Hal was at the +throttle. + +"Whoa, here, Hal!" shouted Chester. "Time to stop. Can't you see the +others have given up the pursuit?" + +"I can't stop!" Hal shouted back. "The blamed thing won't work." + +Every second they were approaching where the Germans had made a stand. + +"Come about in a circle then and head back!" shouted Chester. + +Hal swung the head of the tank to the left. It moved perhaps two +degrees in that direction, then went forward again. + +"Something the matter with the steering apparatus!" Hal shouted. "I +can't turn it. I can't stop it. I can't shut off the power, and the +brakes won't work." + +"Let's jump for it, then!" cried Chester. "We'll be right in the +middle of the enemy in a minute." + +The tractor was still spitting fire as it advanced. It was plain that +the Germans took the advance of the single tank as a ruse of some kind, +which they were unable to fathom. They could not know that the +occupants of the tank were making desperate effort to stop its advance +or bring it about and head back toward the British lines. + +From the British troops shouts of warning arose. Crews of other tanks +had now dismounted, and these men added their voices to those of the +others calling upon the apparently venturesome tank to return. These +men could understand the advance of the single tractor no more than +could the Germans. + +"The fools!" shouted one man. "They'll be killed sure; and what good +can they do single-handed against the whole German army?" + +But the tank driven by Hal took no cognizance of the remarks hurled +after it; nor did it swerve from its purpose of waddling straight up to +the foe. + +"Let's jump!" called Chester again. + +"We'll be killed sure, or captured if we do," said Hal. + +"Well, we'll be killed or captured if we don't," declared Chester. + +"Exactly. It doesn't make any difference just what we do, so I'm in +favor of seeing the thing through." + +"By Jove!" said Chester after a moment's hesitation, "I'm with you!" + +He explained the situation to the man. + +"Let's go right at 'em, sir," said one of the Canadians, grinning. +"Maybe they won't hit us with a shell. We'll shoot 'em down as long as +we have ammunition - - and it's about gone now." + +"Suits me," said Hal quietly. + +The other men nodded their agreement. + +So the tank still waddled forward. With but one foe now to contend +with, the Germans braved the fire of the single gun, advanced and +surrounded the tank. + +"Surrender!" came a voice in German. "Surrender or we shall blow you +to pieces." + +Hal smiled to himself. + +"Can't be done, Fritz," he said quietly. + +At the same moment one of the crew fired the last of the ammunition. + +"Well, we've nothing left but our revolvers," said Chester. "Here +goes." + +He poked his weapon out one of the portholes, and emptied it into the +foe. + +"Give me yours, Hal," he said. + +Hay obeyed, and the contents of this also was poured at the enemy. + +"That settles it," said Chester. + +One of the Canadians drew out a cigarette and lighted it. + +"Might as well be comfortable," he said. + +Outside, the Germans danced wildly around the car, shouting demands for +surrender, all the while bombarding the tank with rifle and revolver +fire. + +"No use, Fritz," said Hal. "We just can't, whoa!" + +The tank had stopped abruptly. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +PRISONERS + +"Now what do you think of that?" Hal muttered to himself. "Must be a +German tank, I guess. Seems to know when it gets home. Well, what +now, Hal?" asked Chester. + +"You know as much about it as I do," said Hal grimly. "See all that +merry gang outside dancing around us? Guess we'll have to surrender. +We can't fight with nothing to fight with." + +"You're right, Sir," said one of the men. "No use staying here and +being blown up when we can't fight back." + +As the occupants of the tank so far had made no signs of complying with +the German demand for surrender, bullets were still being rained upon +the tractor. Hal now took a handkerchief from his pocket, put it on +the end of his empty revolver, and poked it through the porthole. + +A cry of triumph went up from the outside, and the firing ceased. + +Chester threw open the door of the armored car, and, with Hal and the +four members of the crew, got to the ground. An officer approached +them and saluted. + +"You are my prisoners, Sir," he said. + +"So it seems, captain," said Hal with a smile. "Well, it can't be +helped now." + +He passed over his empty revolver, the only weapon he possessed. +Chester followed suit. The members of the crew had no arms. They had +discarded their rifles when they entered the tank. + +"I shall conduct you to Colonel Hertlitz," said the German captain. +"Come." + +The four followed the German officer far back into the German lines, +where the officer ushered them into a tent where sat a German officer +whose insignia proclaimed him a colonel of infantry. + +"These are the men who manned the armored car, sir," said the captain. + +"Take the men and lock them up safely," was the reply. "Send my +orderly to attend me while I converse with these officers. See, too, +that the captured car is made safe." + +The captain withdrew and the colonel's orderly entered, and stood at +attention. The four Canadian members of the tank's crew were ordered +to the rear, but for the night they would be kept in the lines behind +the trenches. + +"You are brave young men," said the colonel to Hal. "I watched you +advance into our army single-handed. At the same time, it was a fool's +trick - or a youngster's." + +"We're not so brave as you would think, sir," said Hal with a slight +smile. "Neither are we such fools. We would gladly have turned about, +but the thing wouldn't work; neither could I stop my engine." + +"Oh-o! I see," said the colonel. "I took your deed for an act of +bravery, and for that reason I had planned to have you particularly +cared for, so it was only an accident, eh? Orderly, have these fellows +locked up with the others." + +"We're officers in the United States Army, sir," Hal protested, "and, +as such, are entitled to treatment as becomes our rank." + +"You are American pigs!" was the angry response. "So American troops +are really in France, eh? I never believed they would come. America +is a nation of cowards." + +Hal took a threatening step forward. + +The German did not move from his chair, but called to his orderly: + +"Take them away." + +A moment later a file of soldiers entered and Hal and Chester were +escorted from the colonel's quarters. An hour later they found +themselves in a tent behind the German trenches together with the four +Canadians who, such a short time before, had formed the crew of the +tank that had advanced single-handed into the German lines. + +"You went and spoiled it, Hal," Chester muttered when they were left to +themselves again. + +"Well, I was just trying to be honest. They say 'honesty is the best +policy,' you know." + +"That's all right," said Chester, "but you don't have to go around +telling how honest you are." + +"I'll admit I put my foot in it," Hal a I greed. "But here we are, six +of us, captured by the enemy with the chances that our days of fighting +are over." + +"Never say die," said Chester. "We've been in some ticklish places +before now and we're still alive and kicking." + +"We'll hold a council of war," Hal decided. "I don't know your names," +he said to the Canadians, "but I take it you'll all be glad to get out +of here if possible." + +"You bet," said one. "I've no hankering for a German prison, sir." + +"Good! Now what are your names?" + +"Crean, sir," said the man who had spoken. + +"Yours?" said Hal, turning to the next man. + +"Smith, sir." + +The other two men admitted to the names of Jackson and Gregory. + +Hal then introduced Chester and himself. + +"This is not the first time we've been captured by the enemy," he +explained, "and we've found that because escape is looked upon as such +a remote possibility, it is much simpler than in days when wars did not +cover so much territory as the whole world." + +"We're with you in anything you decide, sir," said Smith. I + + +"You can count upon us to the finish," Crean agreed. + +"I was sure of it," said Hal quietly. "Now, we'll take stock. Of +course, we've no weapons." + +"Nothing that looks like one," Chester agreed. + +"The first thing, then," said Hal, "is to secure weapons. Makes a +fellow feel a bit more comfortable if he has a gun in his hand." + +"Or even a sword, or a knife, sir," said Gregory. + +"Well, I'm not much of a hand with a knife," Chester declared. "I have +been slashed a couple of times, but every time I think of a knife being +drawn through my flesh it makes me shudder. Now, a gun is another +matter." + +"I agree with you, Chester," said Hal. "However, if we can't get guns +we won't turn down knives if we can get our hands on them." + +"Right you are, sir," said Gregory. "Now, I've lived long enough in +the northwest to realize the value of a good knife when I get my hands +on it . A weapon is a weapon after all, sir." + +"Only some are better than others," Smith interrupted. + +"We won't argue about that," said Hal, "since we have decided that the +first thing we need are weapons. Of course, that means that first we +must have one weapon. One will mean others. Now, I'll suggest this: +I'm no pickpocket, but someone will come in here directly to give us +food or something, and I'm no good if I can't, relieve him of a gun or +a knife, providing I get close enough to him." + +"And then what?" demanded Chester. + +"One thing at a time, old man," said Hal. "We'll have to leave most of +this to chance." + +"Anything suits me," Chester declared. "Listen, I think someone is +coming now." + +Chester was right. A moment later the officer to whom the lads had +surrendered entered the tent. He greeted the lads with a smile. + +"I've heard of your treatment," be said. "I won't presume to criticize +my superior officer, but I just want to say that I admire your bravery +no matter what brought you into our lines." + +"Thanks," said Hal. "We appreciate it. I suppose I should have kept my +mouth shut, but I guess it won't make any difference in the long run. +What will be done with us, do you suppose?" + +"Well, you are prisoners of war, of course," was the reply. "You'll +probably be sent to a prison camp until peace is declared -- and nobody +knows when that will be." + +"You're right on that score," said Hal. "Oh, well, I guess we should +consider ourselves fortunate that we are prisoners rather than dead +soldiers."' + +"And yet you don't," said the German with a smile. + +"Well, no, that's true," Hal admitted. "'I just said we should." + +"I must be going now," said the young German, "So I'll say good-bye. I +hope I may see you when the war is over." + +"Thanks," said Chester. + +He extended a hand, which the German grasped. Hal pressed close to the +man's side with extended hand, which he offered as the German grasped +Chester's fingers. + +As the ]ad stood close to the German, his left hand stole forth +cautiously, and dropped to the revolver which the German carried in a +holster at his side. + +He removed the weapon so gently that the German did not feel his +touch. Quickly Hal slipped the revolver into his coat pocket, and then +grasped the man's hand as Chester released it. + +"Good-bye," he said quietly. "I'm sure I second your wish." + +The German bowed and left the tent. + +Chester turned to Hal and said in a low voice: + +"Get it?" + +Hal nodded. + +"You bet!" said he. + + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A STRANGE PROCEEDING + +"Lieutenant," said the Canadian named Gregory, "before I joined the +army I was considered somewhat of a detective in Montreal. I've had +some experience with pickpockets. It's a pleasure to see you work." + +"That sounds like rather a left-handed compliment," said Chester with a +smile, while Hal and the others laughed. + +"Nevertheless, it was very neatly done," said Gregory. + +"Well, Hal," said Chester, "you've got one gun, what are you going to +do with it?" + +"Hold your horses, old man," returned Hal. "Nothing was ever gained by +too great haste. Something will turn up." + +Something did a moment later in the form of the German officer who so +recently had left the tent. He came in quickly, looked around, and +stood undecided. + +"Why, I thought you'd gone, captain," said Chester, though his heart +sank. + +The lad realized the import of the other's return. + +"I've lost something," said the German. + +"What was it?" asked Hal. + +"Well, it's my revolver," said the German. "I thought maybe I had +dropped it here." + +"Hope you didn't expect to find it if you had?" said Hal. + +The German laughed good-naturedly. + +"Maybe not," he said. "However, I'm going to ask you if any of you +have it." + +"If we had," said Hal quietly, "I'll guarantee we wouldn't stay here +half an hour." + +The German looked at Hal keenly. Apparently he took the lad's answer +for a denial, for he said: + +"Well, all right. I just thought I'd make sure. I know you wouldn't +lie about it." + +He bowed again and was gone. + +"Well, by George!" exclaimed Hal. "I didn't tell him I didn't have his +gun, did I?" + +"You did not," said Chester, "but you seem to have convinced him that +you didn't have it." + +"It's just as well," said Smith. + +Five minutes later a German soldier entered, bearing a tray on which +was water and dry bread. + +"Well, well," said Hal. "What a feast for the hungry, eh?" + +He took the tray from the man's bands, while Chester edged closer to +him. When the man left the tent, Chester produced an object which he +held aloft. + +"Something for you, Gregory," he said. + +Gregory eyed the object in surprise. It was a long-handled knife. + +"I just happened to see it sticking in his belt," said Chester. + +"I believe that you two fellows have been fooling us," said Gregory +with evident sincerity. "Come, now. What was your occupation before +you joined the army?" + +"Well, it wasn't picking pockets, if that's what you mean," said +Chester with a laugh. + +"If this thing keeps up," said Crean, "we'll soon have weapons enough +to equip a first-class arsenal." + +"And that's no joke," said the man called Jackson. + +"We can't hope for any more such luck," said Hal quietly. "We'll have +to create what opportunities come to us now." + +"You take this knife, Gregory," said Chester. "I wouldn't know what to +do with it." + +Hal approached the canvas door to their prison and poked his head out. + +"Get back there!" came a guttural command in German. + +Hal spied a sentry standing before the tent. + +"Hello," he said pleasantly. "Didn't know you were there. All by +yourself, too, eh?" + +"Not much," was the reply. "There's a man in the rear, too." + +"I just wondered," murmured Hal. + +"Get back inside," commanded the guard. + +"Oh, all right," said Hal, "if you are going to be nasty about it. +But, say, do you have a pack of cards you can lend us?" + +"No, I don't," said the guard. + +"Well, all right," and Hal would have withdrawn but the German halted +him. + +"I didn't say I didn't have a pack," he said. + +"But I heard --" + +"No, you didn't. I said I didn't have a pack to lend." + +"Well, what's --?"' + +"I've a pack to sell," said the guard. + +"Oh, I see," said Hal. "Rather hard up, are you." + +"If you mean I have no money, yes." + +"I've a few German coins, I believe," said Hal, and explored his +pockets. "I'll give you these for the pack of cards." + +He held forth two coins. + +The German grunted. + +"All right," he said. + +He produced a pack of cards, and took the money Hal extended. + +"Times must be getting hard in Germany," said Hal suggestively. + +Again the German granted. + +"We don't have any bread, and we don't have any meat," he declared. "I +haven't had a good meat for a year, it seems." + +"It'll be worse before the war's over," said Hal pleasantly. + +The German grounded his rifle with a thump. "Don't you think I know +it?" he demanded with some heat. + +"Well, don't get angry," said Hal, struck with a sudden idea. + +"You've got some money," he said. + +"Not very much." + +"Well, I'll tell you something. We're going to have a little card game +inside. I don't have any too much money, either, and I'd be glad to +win some. What's the matter with you sneaking in and getting in the +game? Your money's as good to me as anyone else's." + +"And an officer'll come along, and I'll face a firing squad," grumbled +the German. + +"Pshaw!" said Hal. "Nothing risked nothing gained, you know. Besides, +we're in an out of the way place here. When will you be relieved?" + +"Not before 10 o'clock." + +"And it's only a little after six now. However, if you won't, you +won't. You know your own business best." + +The German smiled an evil smile. + +"Have you any objection to my inviting another in the game?" he asked. + +"Not a bit. Who?" + +"The man who is guarding the tent in the rear. He will come in handy, +too. If you should try to escape, we'd do for you. We will be armed, +and you won't." + +"Who said anything about trying to escape?" demanded Hal. "This is to +be a little friendly game of poker." + +"Poker?" exclaimed the German. + +Again his eyes gleamed. + +"You go back in the tent," said the guard. "I'll probably be along +later with my friend. I need the money, and will take a chance." + +"Good!" said Hal, and disappeared within. + +Hal explained the situation to the others, and added: + +"Of course, the man's idea is that he and his friend, by playing +together, will win by cheating. Well, that doesn't make any difference +to us. Let them have the money. All we want is to get out of here. I +don't know much about playing cards, anyhow. But let no man make a +move until I give the word." + +The others nodded their understanding of this to him. + +"We may as well get started, so it won't look bad," said Chester. + +The six seated themselves on the ground, and Gregory dealt out the +cards. + +"I can't understand how a man will take a chance like this guard," said +Chester. + +"He says he needs money," declared Hal. + +"But even so," said Chester, "he should have sense enough --?" + +"You haven't forgotten he is German, have you?" demanded Jackson. "I +was brought up among them to some extent. One idea is all a true +German's head will hold at one time. That's the truth. And if he gets +an idea in his head, you can't get it out. + +"Shh-h!" said Hal. "Here comes someone." + +A moment later the guard with whom the lad had conversed entered the +tent. A second man followed him. + +"Quiet!" whispered the first guard. + +The two men sat down among the others . Each laid his rifle within easy +reach of his hand, and each loosened a revolver in his belt. + +"Go on with the game," said the first German in a low voice. + +Gregory dealt out the cards. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +FLIGHT + +It was not Hal's intention to attempt a break for liberty as soon as +the Germans entered the tent. He knew that the two men would be on +their guard at least until their interest in the game had overcome +their vigilance. + +Neither Hal nor Chester were proficient in card playing. The game of +poker had not been included in their education. Nevertheless, each +knew the value of the cards, and they felt that a situation like this +would justify their taking a hand, considering the ends in view. + +The German with whom Hal had conversed just outside the tent had poor +luck from the start, but his companion won. So far the men had made +no, attempt to play together, thus taking advantage of their +prisoners. But it wasn't long before they did. + +There came a time when Gregory noticed this. He grew angry. + +"Here!" he exclaimed. "That kind of playing won't go. This is a +friendly game, and I don't stand for that kind of work." + +The Germans looked up in well-simulated surprise. They indicated by +gestures that Gregory was doing them an injustice; the game proceeded. + +As time passed both Germans won now, Naturally, both grew more and more +interested in the game. And at last the moment for which Hal had been +waiting presented itself. + +The Germans still had their rifles close to their sides, and from time +to time their hands toyed with the revolvers in their belts. + +Hal, after a hand had been played out, arose and stretched himself. +The German eyed him suspiciously for a moment, but, as he appeared +about to sit down again, they turned their attention to the cards, +which Chester dealt them. + +Suddenly Hal whipped out the revolver be had taken from the German +officer earlier, and, taking a quick step forward, covered the two +men. + +"Hands up!" he exclaimed in German. + +The cards fell, to the ground, as Chester and the Canadians got to +their feet. The Germans sat still. Then, slowly, their hands went +into the air. + +"Quick, men!" said Hal. "Get their revolvers and guns." + +This was the work of an instant. The six friends now were armed with +three revolvers, two rifles, and one long knife. + +"What'll we do with these fellows?" demanded Chester. + +"We'll tie 'em up and gag 'em," said Hal without hesitation. "We can't +afford to have them raise the alarm." + +"We've no rope, nor anything that looks like rope," said Chester. +"What'll we tie 'em up with?" + +"Their own clothing will have to serve the purpose then," said Hal. + +Quickly the Germans were stripped to their underclothing. Their shirts +were torn in strips, and they were securely bound. Handkerchiefs were +used as gags. + +"There," said Hal, when this was accomplished. "I guess that will hold +them safe enough." + +"It'll have to hold them," said Chester. "Now what?" + +"Now to get out of here," said Hal. + +"Look here, Lieutenant," said Jackson, "we can't go far in these +uniforms, you know." + +"Of course I know it," Hal declared. "We can go far enough to tap a +few Germans over the head, though, maybe, in which event there will be +uniforms enough of the proper kind to go around." + +"Right you are, sir," agreed Crean. "Lead the way." + +Making sure that the Germans who had been bound would be unable to +release the improvised ropes, Hal moved to the entrance of the tent and +looked out. It was very dark outside, and Hal could see nothing. + +"Guess the way is clear," he whispered, "but it's so dark out there you +can't see a thing. However, we'll take a chance, and we'll head toward +the front, for that's the direction in which we want to go." + +The others followed him from the tent. + +For perhaps five minutes they walked along without interruption, but at +the end of that time Hal, still in advance, made out a form approaching +them. He stopped in his tracks, and the others also stood stock +still. + +Hal now perceived that there were two figures advancing instead of +one. He reached back a hand and pulled Chester to his side. The two +lads moved forward together. + +In the darkness it was impossible for the men who moved toward them to +make out the lads' uniforms, so, though they perceived the approaching +figures, they naturally took Hal and Chester for their own kind. + +They moved slightly to one side in order that Hal and Chester might +pass. Instead, the lads stepped quickly up to them and shoved their +guns in their faces. + +"Silence!" said Chester quietly. "Silence or you are dead men!" + +Chester's tone left no room for doubt, and the Germans stood still +without a word. Hal now made out that they were officers -- both +lieutenants. + +"Take off your clothes," said Hal briefly. + +The Germans understood the lad's plan, but under the muzzle of two +guns, they did not protest, and quickly stripped to their +under-garments . Hal and Chester each took possession of one of the +officer's revolvers. Then, covering the two men, Hal said: + +"Get into one of those uniforms while I keep them covered, Chester." + +Chester obeyed promptly, and then he, in turn, covered the men while +Hal changed clothes. + +The lads now escorted their prisoners back to where the four Canadians +still stood in the darkness. There they explained the situation. +Willing hands tore the clothes that the two boys had discarded, and the +Germans, still in their underclothing, were hastily bound and gagged. + +The party of British moved on again. + +"Four more uniforms and a couple of more guns, and we are 0. K.," said +Chester quietly. + +Fortune again smiled on them a few moments later. A party of three +German soldiers approached. These were quickly covered, and the same +procedure gone through with. A few moments later all except Gregory +were attired in German uniforms. + +"Don't worry, old man," said Chester with a laugh. "We'll soon have +one for you, too." + +"It's not that I am fond of a German uniform," said Gregory, "but I +just like to be in style." + +The friends now passed several groups of Germans, but the latter were +in such large numbers that they did not accost them. + +"What we want is just one man, or possibly two or three," said Chester. +"We don't want to tackle so many that there may be a fight." + +At length their patience was rewarded. A solitary figure came toward +them. Hal stepped forward and accosted him. + +With a gun poked under his nose, the German gave back a step. + +"What's the matter?" he demanded. "Are you crazy?" + +"Not a bit of it," said Hal, "but I want your clothes." + +"Well," said the German, "you won't get them. This is no time of the +year for a man to be walking around with no clothes." + +"Nevertheless, I must have yours," said Hal. + +Chester came up at that moment, and his revolver, glistening in the +darkness, lent added weight to Hal's words. + +"Oh, well, of course, if you insist," said the German. + +He quickly stepped from his uniform, which Chester tossed back to +Gregory, who donned it hastily. As hastily the German was bound and +gagged, and Hal, Chester and the four Canadians moved forward again. + +"We're safe enough for the moment," said Hal, as they walked along. +"The enemy will have no suspicion that we are other than we pretend to +be until + +daylight, when one look at your Canadian faces will give the whole +thing away." + +"That means," said Chester, "that we should be beyond the German lines +before daylight." + +"Exactly," said Hal, "though how we shall do it is still the question." + +"We've come along pretty well so far," said Gregory. "We won't give up +now." + +"Who said anything about giving up?" Chester wanted to know. "Of +course, we won't give up. Have you any idea where we are, Hal?" + +"Well, I should judge we are pretty close to the town of Cambrai. +Personally, I believe the best plan would be to head in that +direction. I judge it to be directly south." + +"But it is within the German lines," Chester protested. + +"True, but once there we may be able to find a hiding place. In the +open we wouldn't have much chance if we failed to get beyond the lines +before daylight overtook us." + +"You may be right," said Chester. "Once in Cambrai, providing we can +find a hiding place, we can figure out a means of leaving the German +lines." + +"Exactly," said Hal, "and with a better chance of success." + +"Suit you, men?" asked Chester. + +"You're the doctor," said Gregory. "Lead the way. We'll follow." Hal +and Chester turned abruptly to the left. "South it is, then," said +Hal. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +INTO CAMBRAI + +As it developed, the distance to Cambrai, one of the chief points in +the German line of communications, was comparatively short. + +As the six plodded along through the darkness there was no +conversation. None of the Canadians spoke German, and Hal and Chester +had instructed them to be silent, for the sound of a few English words +would have done more to destroy the success of their venture than any +other possible thing. As for Hal and Chester, both of whom spoke +German fluently, neither felt like talk. + +It was almost midnight when the lads saw before them what appeared to +be the lights of a small town. Approaching closer, they saw that they +were, indeed, approaching a settlement of some kind. + +"Cambrai, do you suppose?" asked Chester. + +"Don't know," returned Hal. "Probably is. I understand that Cambrai +is about the largest place around here, and this seems to be quite a +sizable village." + +Half an hour later they set foot in the streets of the little French +city, in German hands now for more than three years. + +"We'll hunt a house with a light and see if they'll put us up for the +night," said Hal. + +Down a side street they saw a house somewhat larger than the others. +Several lights showed from the windows. + +"Somebody up, at all events," said Chester. + +"Trouble is, Germans may already be quartered there," said Hal. + +"Well, we'll have to take a chance," said Chester grimly. + +"Right. So the sooner we try the better." + +Hal led the way, and knocked on the door. Came the sound of hurried +footsteps within, and a moment later the door was thrown open. An old +woman poked her head out. + +"What do you want?" she demanded. + +"A place to sleep," replied Hal, in excellent German, although the +woman had spoken in French. + +"There is no place here for you!" exclaimed the woman, and would have +shut the door. + +But Hal was too quick for her. He shoved a foot in the door, and thus +prevented its closing. + +"Come, my good woman," he said. "We mean you no harm, but we must have +a place to spend the night." + +"How many of you are there?" asked the woman. + +"Six," replied Hal briefly. + +The woman threw up her hands in a gesture of dismay. + +"I can't possibly take care of so many!" she exclaimed. + +"But we are all coming in," declared Hal, who realized that the sooner +they were off the streets the better. + +He pushed the door open and went inside. Chester and the four +Canadians followed him. + +"Which way, madam?" asked Hal. "Upstairs?" + +The old woman nodded, and led the way up a flight of winding steps. + +"I've only one room," she said, "so you will have to make the most of +it." + +"That will be satisfactory," said Hal. "We don't like to inconvenience +you." + +"You don't, eh?" exclaimed the woman. "You're the first who wear that +uniform who haven't gone out of their way to inconvenience me, and all +other French women." + +"Come, come," said Hal. "I'm afraid you are too hard on us." + +"I'm not half as hard on you as the French and British will be when +they get hold of you!" exclaimed the woman angrily. + +Hal looked at her in surprise. He supposed that all women in territory +conquered by the Germans had long since realized the value of keeping a +silent tongue in their head. Aloud he said: + +"I would advise you to be more careful of your speech. If words like +those came to the ears of the general staff, you probably would be +shot." + +"You can't frighten me," declared their hostess. "'I say what I +please, Germans or no Germans." + +"Well, suit yourself," said Hal, "but don't forget that I have warned +you." + +"Thank you," sneered the woman. "Here's your room," kicking open the +door at the top of the stairs. "You can sleep there if you wish, but I +hope the British have arrived when you wake up again." + +She waited for no reply, but descended the stairs hastily. + +"By Jove!" muttered Hal. "The Germans snared a Tartar when they caught +her." + +"They certainly did," Chester agreed with a smile. "Great Scott! +Seems to me she could have given us a candle or something. It's as +dark as pitch in this room." + +"You fellows stay here," said Hal. "I'll go down and remind her that +she has been negligent in her duty as hostess." + +Hal descended the stairs quietly. As quietly he passed through the +room that in days of peace apparently had served as a parlor, and moved +toward a door beyond, under which a light streamed. + +"Guess she's in there," said Hal. + +He laid a hand on the knob and opened the door. + +As he did so there was an exclamation of alarm. Hal, in the light +beyond, saw a form disappear into another room. The old woman ran +toward him + +"What do you mean by coming in here without knocking?" she exclaimed +furiously. + +"Why --why, I didn't know --" Hal began. + +"Of course you didn't know," shouted the woman. "But I'll have you +understand that you can't make free of my house, though you be the +Kaiser himself." + +From the folds of her skirt she suddenly produced a large revolver, +which she leveled squarely at the lad. Hal stepped back. + +"Here, my good woman," he said. "Put down that gun. Don't you know +that a single shot will arouse the whole German army. You couldn't +escape." + +The woman hesitated, and the revolver wavered. Before she could bring +it to bear again, had such been her intention, Hal seized her arm, +twisted sharply, and the revolver fell to the floor with a clatter. + +"I'm afraid you're not to be trusted with that gun," the lad said +quietly. + +He stooped, picked up the weapon, and stowed it away in his own pocket +with this mental comment: + +"One more weapon for our own little army." + +"You're a brute," gasped the woman. "You're just like all Germans." + +"Silence," said Hal. "I have heard enough from you. What I came here +for was to tell you that you had neglected to furnish us with a light. +Now I shall have to look in yonder closet, where I saw a man secret +himself as I came in." + +The old woman flew across the room and stood defiantly in front of the +closet door. + +"You can't go in there! "she exclaimed. + +"I can't, eh?" said Hal. "Why can't I?" + +"Because I say you can't." + +"That is a very poor reason," said Hal. "Either you will stand aside +now, or I shall call my men." + +The woman realized the force of this reasoning. With a gesture of +resignation she stepped aside. Hal advanced. + +"I hope he shoots you through the door," said the woman to Hal. + +"Thanks for the hint," said Hal dryly. "I'll keep out of the line of +fire." + +He approached the door from the side, and, standing close, called: + +"Whoever you are in there, come out." + +There was no response, and Hal called again. + +"I've got the door covered," the lad shouted, and if you don't come out +I shall fire through it." + +Slowly the door moved open. Hal stepped quickly aside, for he did not +wish to be taken unaware. He seized a chair and sent it spinning +across the floor. The ruse succeeded, for the man inside, taking the +noise made by the chair for the sound of Hal's feet, stepped quickly +forward and pointed a revolver in that direction. + +This meant that Hal stood directly behind the newcomer. Smiling to +himself, Hal raised his revolver and said quietly: + +"Drop that gun or I'll bore a hole through you. No, don't bother to +turn first." + +Realizing that he was absolutely in the other's power, the newcomer +obeyed. The revolver fell clattering to the floor. + +"Now," said Hal, "I'd like to have a look at you. Please turn around." + +Slowly the other turned, and, as Hal caught sight of the man's face, +his own revolver dropped to the floor and he sprang forward with +outstretched hand. + +"Major Derevaux!" he cried. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE MAJOR EXPLAINS + +The man who had emerged from the closet gazed at Hal in amazement. + +"Who are you?" he exclaimed, taking a step forward. + +"What! Don't you know me?" exclaimed Hal. + +The other peered at him intently. Then he uttered an exclamation of +pure astonishment. + +"Hal Paine!" he cried. "Is it really you? And what are you doing in +that uniform?" + +"I might ask you, major, what you are doing out of uniform?" laughed +Hal, as he grasped his old friend's hand. + +"Well, I'm here on business," explained the major. + +"And I'm here trying to get out of the German lines," said Hal. + +"And where is Chester?" asked the major. + +"He's upstairs, waiting for me to bring up a candle that he may have +light," said Hal. "By George! It's good to see you again. Let me +see, it has been almost two years since I last saw you in France." + +"Yes, it's been all of that," agreed the major. + +"And what of our old friend Anderson? Do you know what has happened to +him?" + +"No," said Hal, "the last indirect word I had of him he had been sent +to Mesopotamia. I have not seen him for many months. But, tell me, +what are you doing here?" + +"It isn't a very long story," said Major Derevaux. "As you perhaps +know, General Byng's drive against the Germans has been one of the +greatest successes since the Battle of the Marne." + +Hal nodded. + +"Well," the major continued, "I have been stationed with General Pitain +at Verdun, where I last saw you. Now we know that the Germans have +drawn heavily from other fronts to make possible the Italian invasion. +Other fronts now will have to be weakened to hold back General Byng -- +even to launch a counter- offensive, for we all know that Hindenburg +will strike back. That leaves the Verdun situation somewhat in the +air." + +"I see," said Hal. "If you can make sure that the Verdun front of the +enemy has been weakened, the French will strike there." + +"Exactly," said the major. "Then there is another possibility. It may +be the plan of the German general staff to make a show of force here +and then, when we are feeling secure before Verdun, to deliver a +lightning-like blow there. Those are the things I am commissioned to +learn." + +"I see," said Hal again. "But how does it happen I find you here?" + +"It's very simple. This woman here is a distant relative of mine. She +is a patriot to the soul. Under the gruff exterior which you have seen +she is the most kindly soul in the world. She is risking her life +every minute she remains here, for she is accounted one of the most +successful of French spies." + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal. "You don't mean it. Why, her very +actions toward us, if used toward other Germans, it strikes me, would +mean a firing squad for her." + +"That," laughed Major Derevaux, "has been her greatest asset. The +Germans are not particularly fond of her, that's a fact. She attacks +them with a sharp tongue, but for that very reason she is looked upon +as harmless. Come, I'll introduce you." + +Major Derevaux led the way across the room to where the woman had been +eyeing the two in the utmost astonishment. + +"Lieutenant Paine," said the Major,. "I take pleasure in presenting you +to Mademoiselle Vaubaun. Mademoiselle, this is Lieutenant Paine, of +His British Majesty's service." + +"I must correct you, major," said Hal, smiling and acknowledging the +introduction. "Lieutenant Paine, U. S.A." + +"Oh -- o!" said the, major. "So you are fighting with your own +countrymen at last, eh?" + +"I am, thank goodness," said Hal. "But can this indeed be Mademoiselle +Vaubaun? I have heard of her before, but I judged that she was a young +woman." + +Major Derevaux smiled. + +"And a consummate actress," he said. "Mademoiselle, will you grant my +friend the lieutenant a look at your true self?" + +"If this young man is a friend of yours, Raoul, he is a friend of +mine," said the woman. + +She removed a cap from her head, straightened herself up and shook down +her hair. Then she passed a hand several times over her face, and when +Hal looked again there stood before him a girl in her teens. +. +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal, and started back. + +In a few words he now explained his own presence in the German lines, +together with that of Chester and the four Canadians. + +Mademoiselle Vaubaun, in turn, told the lad how she had been left in +Cambrai when German troops had swept across Belgium and France in the +early days of the war, and how, from time to time, she had found it +possible to send word to the French and British staffs of impending +German movements. + +"But how about me and my friends?" inquired Hal. + +"I can hide you all, too. Beyond the room in which your friends are +now is a second room and beyond that a false wall. It is there, I will +hide the major. I was about to take him there when you came to the +door tonight. There is room for all." + +"Then I shall return to my friends," said Hal. "I have been gone so +long Chester will fear something has happened to me. Will you go with +me, major?" + +"To be sure. I shall be glad to see Chester again. May we have a +light, Antoinette?" + +"I will lead the way myself," said the girl. "It will be as well that +you go to your hiding places now." + +She lighted the way upstairs with a candle. + +In the darkened room above, Chester and the Canadians had been waiting +impatiently. Chester had come to the conclusion that something had +happened to Hal and was about to go down and hunt for him. As the +light came upstairs, however, he drew back. + +"It's all right, Chester," Hal called. "Here is the light and an old +friend to greet you." + +"Old friend," said Chester in surprise. "I didn't know I had any +friends on this side of the line." + +"Well, have a look at this man and see if you recognize him," said Hal, +and pushed Major Derevaux forward. + +Chester took one look at the major and then dashed forward with hand +out. + +"Major Derevaux!" he cried. + +The two clasped hands warmly. + +"Now, Chester," said Hal, "I want you to meet our hostess, Mademoiselle +Vaubaun." + +Chester bowed in acknowledgment of the introduction, then added: "I +suppose it was your mother who admitted us some time since?" + +The girl laughed lightly. + +"Why, no," she said. "I admitted you myself."' + +"But - but --" said Chester, nonplussed. + +"I'm not surprised at you, Chester," said Hal. "Cannot a woman or a +girl wear a disguise as well as you?" + +"By Jove!" said Chester. "I hadn't thought of that. So that was it, +eh?" + +"Yes, that was it," said the girl. + +The Canadians now were introduced around, after which the young girl +said. + +"Come. I may as well show you to your hiding places. It is as well +for you to be there as here. + There is no telling when some of the Germans may arrive." + I + +"But aren't you afraid to be among them alone?" asked Hal. + +"Pshaw!" exclaimed the girl. "Who would hurt a harmless old woman?" + +She led the way into the room beyond, walked across and pressed a +hidden spring in the side of the wall. Instantly a secret door moved +open. + +"It can be opened from within as well," said the girl. "You may have a +light here if you wish. The door is so constructed that the rays +cannot be seen from without. I shall leave you now. My only +injunction is, do not talk too loud. I'll bring you food and water in +the morning." + +She bade them good-night and took her leave. + +The friends talked in low tones for some moments, then stretched out on +the floor and soon were fast asleep. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +ANTOINETTE "MAKES GOOD" + +True to her word, Antoinette appeared with food and drink early the +following morning. She was again disguised as an old woman, and Hal +and Chester could scarcely believe that a wig and a few dabs of paint +could possibly conceal the girlish face they had seen the night +before. + +"I have had word to prepare a big dinner for a dozen officers of the +general, staff," the girl informed Major Derevaux, "so it may be that I +shall have the necessary information by nightfall." + +"Let us hope so," said the major devoutly. + +"And let us hope that you are not risking your life in getting it," +said Hal. + +"Thank you," said Antoinette. "I assure you I shall be very careful. +Now, you must all remain here quietly today. You may be able to leave +soon after dark." + +She left the hiding place and closed the secret door behind her. + +"And after we leave the house, then what?" asked Hal of Major +Derevaux. + +"Don't you worry," said the major with a smile. "All that has been +taken care of. Ten minutes' walk from here is a large army airplane. +It brought me here and it will take us all back again." + +"All of us?" exclaimed Hal. + +"Yes," the major replied. "I have made trips in it before. The +machine will carry ten passengers beside a pilot." + +"And you do the driving, eh?" said Hal. + +"No," said the major. "I have never learned the art. The pilot is +with the craft." + +"You mean he is in hiding in the woods?" + +"Exactly." + +"Great Scott!" cried Hal. "I wouldn't care about his job. Your job +now isn't so bad, because you've a chance of action. But just think of +sitting in a woods and waiting - waiting -- never knowing what minute +you are likely to be discovered." + +"It is hard," agreed the major. "And here I am refreshed by a night's +sleep, while he must remain there in the cold with his eyes open every +minute." + +"If he is discovered, then what?" asked Chester. + +"His instructions, if discovered," said the major, "are to attempt to +escape, leaving me behind." + +"In which event," said Chester, "you'd have a hard time getting away." + +"That's true. But nothing risked nothing gained, you know." + +"True enough," said Hal. "Well, we must take what comes, but I hope +Mademoiselle Vaubaun does not get mixed up in any trouble." + +"You seem to take rather a great deal of interest in the fair +Antoinette," said Chester slyly. + +Hal's face turned red. + +"Well, why shouldn't I?" he demanded. "No one likes to see a girl or a +woman mixed up in this kind of business." + +"Are you sure that is it?" demanded Chester. "Or is it just because it +chanced to be Mademoiselle Vaubaun?" + +"What do you mean?" exclaimed Hal angrily. + +"Oh, no offense, no offense," declared Chester. "I was just talking to +hear myself talk -- maybe." + +Major Derevaux smiled. + +"Antoinette is a very nice girl," he said. "I'm sure she would +appreciate Hal's interest in her. I'll tell her about it." + +"I say! Don't do that!" exclaimed Hal in some confusion. + +"Ha, ha!" laughed Chester. + +Hal sat down again, his face still burning. + +Even the Canadians joined in the general laugh, and Hal himself +smiled. The joke was on him, and he was not the lad to get angry. + +"Oh, well, have it your own way," he said. "It does no good to deny +it." + +The day passed slowly. + +Antoinette did not appear at noon with food and water, as the others +had expected she would. + +"Probably busy serving the German officers," said Hal. "What's the +difference, though. We can get along very well without one meal." + +Night came, though to those in the little secret room it was not +apparent that darkness had fallen. Hal glanced at his watch. It was +after 7 o'clock. + +"It's funny she hasn't come yet," he declared. + +"Who do you mean by she?" asked Chester. + +"Why, Antoinette," said Hal. "I --" + +"Oh, sure," said Chester. "I know who you meant, all right. So you +are calling her by her first name already, eh?" + +"Look here," said Hal, "I don't think that is a bit funny." + +"I apologize, old man," said Chester quickly. "I shouldn't have said +it." + +"Say no more about it then," said Hal. "I am afraid, though, that +there is something wrong downstairs." + +"I am beginning to think the same thing," declared Major Derevaux. "I +wonder if it would not be well for one of us to sneak out and have a +look?" + +"I don't believe it would do any harm," declared Hal. "I'll go." + +Chester was about to joke Hal again, but he changed his mind and held +his tongue. + +"I agree," he said. "If you want to go, Hal, we'll wait here." + +"Good. If I have not returned in fifteen minutes you will know +something has happened. In that event, I would advise that you all +come down together, lend me a hand if I'm still in the house and in +condition to be helped, and we'll all make a break for the airship." + +"That is satisfactory," said Major Derevaux. + +"And if I'm not in condition to be helped," said Hal, "go along without +me. You will not have time to be burdened with excess baggage." + +The others nodded and Hal gently slid open the secret door. + +"Remember," he whispered back, "fifteen minutes." + +The door closed behind him. + +Hal made his way quietly through the two rooms that led to the stairs, +and as quietly descended. As he passed through the parlor and +approached the room in which he had met Major Derevaux the night before +he heard the sound of voices. He paused and listened. + +One he made out was a male voice, which he took to belong to a German +officer. The second was that of Mademoiselle Vaubaun. Then a third +voice boomed out. This, Hal knew, was that of a second German. + +Hal approached the door and put his eye to the key-hole. Then he +started back and whipped out his revolver. + +In the center of the room sat Antoinette Vaubaun. She was no longer +attired as an old woman. She was the girl that Hal had seen the night +before. Her hair hung down her back. It was perfectly plain to the +lad that she had been discovered. Her face, though pale, was set +sternly. Hal listened to the conversation that ensued. + +"So you are a spy, eh?" said a big German officer who sat on her +right. + +The girl made no response. + +"Why don't you answer?" demanded the third occupant of the room, a +heavily bearded man, and shook his fist threateningly in her face. + +"I'll answer only what I choose to answer," returned Antoinette +quietly. "Neither you nor the whole German army can make me talk." + +"Is that so?" sneered the first man. "I suppose you've heard of the +fate that came to an English nurse called Edith Cavell, eh?" + +"I have," replied the girl angrily, "and it was crime for which Germany +will have to pay some day. But you can't frighten me." + +"You, too, will be shot as a spy," declared the larger German. + +"And do you think that frightens me? I have done a whole lot for my +country. Many times I warned my countrymen of an impending German +attack. I am only sorry that I shall no longer have the opportunity." + +"What!" exclaimed the German. "You admit it!" + +"Of course I admit it. Why not?" + +The German took a step toward the girl and raised a hand as though he +would strike. + +This was more than Hal could stand. He sent the door crashing in with +a swift kick and dashed into the room. + +It would have been possible for Hal to have shot the German where he +stood, but the lad was so angry that he wanted a word with him first. + +"You big, hulking coward!" he cried. + +Both Germans dropped their hands to their revolvers. + +Hal's revolver flashed fire. + +The German nearest the young French girl clapped a hand to his forehead +and sank to the floor. + +There was a flash as the second German fired. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A FIGHT FOR FREEDOM + +Hal felt a stinging sensation in his left side. He paid no attention +to this however, but, dropping suddenly to the floor, turned to face +his adversary. He saw in that instant the reason the German's bullet +had not penetrated a vital spot. + +As the German had fired, Antoinette, with a quick movement, had grasped +at his arm. She had not succeeded in turning the revolver from its +victim, but she did manage to spoil the man's aim. Therefore, the +bullet had glanced off one of Hal's ribs. + +He now held the advantage, and yet it was not an advantage, for, +realizing that he was facing almost certain death, the German had swung +the girl in front of him and was using her as a shield. + +"Shoot! Don't mind me!" Antoinette called. + +But Hal would not fire without first making sure that he would not hit +the girl. The German had succeeded now in freeing his hand, and, +pointing the revolver over the girl's shoulder, pulled the trigger +again. + +Hal escaped this bullet by a quick spring aside, and, before the German +could fire again, he had skipped forward, darted back of his opponent, +and gripped him with his left hand by the throat. + +Antoinette clawed so furiously at her captor that the German suddenly +released her with a cry of anger, and swung about to confront Hal. He +struck out so viciously that Hal stepped back to avoid the blow. The +German again raised his revolver, but Hal, moving quickly forward, +again struck at the German's revolver with his own -- he had no time to +raise it to fire. The German's revolver was knocked from his grasp, +but Hal also lost his grip on his weapon and both went clattering to +the floor together. + +Realizing that he was no match for his heavier opponent if they came to +hand grips, Hal stepped quickly back and threw himself into an attitude +of defense. It was the lad's plan to stand off, if possible, and +spar. + +But the German had no mind to indulge in this kind of fighting, of +which he had not the slightest knowledge. He came forward with a +rush. Hal side-stepped and planted his right fist with great force +above his opponent's left ear. The German staggered, but he did not go +down. Before he could recover, Hal struck twice again -- right and +left, but neither blow found a vulnerable spot. + +The German uttered a terrible roar of anger and charged again. This +time Hal was not successful in avoiding the rush and the man's arms +went about him. Hal felt his breath leaving his body as the German +squeezed. + +In vain the lad struck out right and left . Several times he felt his +blows land, but there was no power behind them now. + +As Hal struggled with the German, Antoinette had picked up one of the +revolvers and circled around behind the struggling figures, trying to +find an opening that she might fire without risk of hitting Hal. None +presented itself. + +Hal was gasping for breath. His mouth was open and his tongue hung +out. Suddenly the lad's struggle relaxed and he became limp in the +German's arms. The latter threw the boy's inert body from him roughly, +and as he did so Antoinette fired. The German staggered as the bullet +struck him in the side. As he turned to face her the girl fired +again. + +The German dropped to the floor and the bullet passed over him. Before +the girl could aim again, the man had seized a revolver from the floor +and covered her. + +"Drop that gun!" he cried. + +There was nothing for Antoinette to do but obey. She dropped the +revolver. + +"Sit down!" the German commanded. + +Again the girl obeyed. + +Her captor now saw signs of returning consciousness in Hal. He walked +across the room, and, still keeping his revolver ready in one hand, +stooped and picked Hal up with the other. + +He deposited the lad on a sofa near the girl. + +"Now I've got you both, so there'll be a double execution," he +growled. "I'll just sit here and guard you till some of my men turn +up." + +Meanwhile, upstairs, Chester, Major Derevaux and the four Canadians had +waited impatiently. The sound of revolver shots below had not carried +to their ears. Chester closed his watch with a snap. + +"Time's up," he said quietly. "They must have nabbed Hal. Let's go +down." + +There were no objections offered, so Chester led the way. + +The American lad, the French officer and the four Canadian. troopers +descended the stairs as quietly as had Hal, and as quietly approached +the door to the room where the German officer now guarded his +captives. Chester peered through the key-hole and took in the +situation at a glance. + +Chester, however, used more caution than had Hal. Also he chose to +proceed with strategy rather than force. Now, the lad realized, was a +time when his German uniform would stand him in good stead. He +explained his plan in whispers, and as the others stood back out of the +way, Chester walked calmly into the room. + +The German officer rose to his feet. He did not know Chester from +Adam, of course, but he recognized the uniform. + +"Glad you've come, lieutenant," he said. "I've had a deuced hard time +here. As you may see, I have been shot in the side. Colonel +Brewsterberg has been killed. I'll ask you to take charge of my +prisoners." + +"Very well, sir," said Chester, and produced a revolver. + +The German officer returned his revolver to his holster and made as +though to leave the room. + +"One moment," said Chester sharply. + +The German stopped in his tracks and eyed him in surprise. + +"I'll thank you for your gun," said Chester. + +A great light broke upon the German. + +"I see! I see!" he exclaimed. "Another one!" + +His hand groped for his revolver. + +"Be sure you keep your finger off the trigger," said Chester +pleasantly. + +For a moment the German hesitated and it was apparent to Chester that +he was considering resistance. + +"I wouldn't if I were you," said the lad quietly. + +The German shrugged his shoulders, then took out his revolver and +passed it to Chester, holding it by the muzzle. + +"Thanks," said Chester. "Now sit down over there." + +He motioned to a chair and the German sat down. + +"All right, major," called Chester. "You can come in now." + +Major Derevaux entered the room, followed by the four Canadians. The +German prisoner looked at them in amazement. Apparently he thought the +whole Allied army was about to follow them in. + +"Major," said Chester, "you stand guard over that fellow. I'll have a +look at Hal." + +"I'm all right," said Hal, as Chester approached him. "Bullet struck +me in the side, but it is nothing dangerous, I guess. That big German +there nearly choked the life out of me, though. He's a hard customer." + +Chester staunched the flow of blood in Hal's wound, and the latter +announced that he was fit as a fiddle. + +"The thing to do now is to get out of here," he said. + +Under Major Derevaux's direction, Gregory and Crean had securely bound +and gagged the prisoner. + +The major now approached Antoinette. + +"Have you learned anything?" he asked. + +"Yes," replied the girl quietly. "The next German attack will be made +day after tomorrow on this front, in an effort to recapture ground won +by General Byng. There will be no activity now in the Verdun sector." + +"But will the enemy weaken his lines there?" + +"Such is not the plan. The general staff believes that there are +enough men on this front to go through." + +"Good!" said the major. "That's what I came all this way to learn. +But how were you discovered, Antoinette?" + +"My wig came off," replied the girl. "One of the Germans tapped me +playfully on the head, and his ring caught in my hair. The next thing +I knew I was a prisoner." + +"It's too bad," said the major. "We have lost a valuable assistant +now. Of course, there is no use in your remaining here longer. You +must go with us." + +"But I would so like to stay," murmured the girl. + +"But you can't," said Hal eagerly. "You can see that, can't you?" + +Antoinette nodded her head. + +"Yes, I must go," she said quietly. + +"Then let's be moving," said the major. + +The girl got to her feet. Chester led the way to the back door. But +as he would have thrown open the door and stepped out, he moved back +inside with an exclamation. + +"What's the matter?" demanded Hal in some alarm. + +"Matter?" exclaimed Chester. "The yard is full of Germans!" + + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +NEW ARRIVALS + +Hal gave a long whistle. + +"Now, that's what I call hard luck," he said. "Do they know we're in +here?" + +"I judge not," replied Chester. "They seem, to be waiting for +something." + +"Maybe they're waiting for our friend, whom we have tied up here, said +Major Derevaux. + +"By Jove! I hadn't thought of that," said Hal. "We may be able to +make use of him." + +The lad stepped quickly across the room and lifted the German to his +feet. + +"I'm going to remove your gag," he said quietly, "but I want you to +understand that if you make an outcry you'll never live to make a +second. Do you understand?" + +The German signified that he did. + +"All right, then," said Hal, "out comes the gag. Chester, keep your +gun in the middle of his back. We can afford to take no chances." + +"Now," said Hal, "I want you to show yourself at the door and order +your men there away." + +The German eyed the lad angrily. + +"So you want me to help you escape, eh?" he said. "Well, I won't do +it." + +"We're desperate," said Hal quietly. "If you don't I give you my word +you shall be shot." + +"Pooh!" sneered the German. "One shot and you will all be killed." + +"But you won't be here to see it done," returned Hal. "Now I am not +going to waste time with you. I shall count three, and if you have not +decided by that time to do as I order, you will die. Chester, do you +understand?" + +"You bet I do," declared Chester. + +"Very well," said Hal. "One! Two!" Still the German made no move. +"Three!" said Hal. + +The hammer on Chester's revolver clicked. + +"Hold on!" cried the German. "I give in!" + +Chester drew a breath of relief. He couldn't have shot the man down in +cold blood and he knew it. He lowered his revolver a trifle, but still +kept the man covered. + +"Go to the door and order your men away from here," Hal ordered the +prisoner. + +The German strode toward the door. + +"Careful," said Chester in a low voice. "One false move and it will be +your last." + +Again he pressed his revolver against the German's back. + +"Do you think I'm a fool?" exclaimed the prisoner. "I'm not going to +be killed if I can help it. Take that gun away." + +"Not until you have done as commanded," returned Chester quietly. + +The German opened the door and stepped outside. Chester, still feeling +perfectly safe in his German uniform, accompanied him. + +"Men," said the German, addressing the soldiers, "I find that I shall +not have need of you tonight. You will a return to your quarters." + +The soldiers, who had stood at attention as the officer addressed them, +at command from a minor officer, wheeled and marched away. + +Chester marched his captive back inside. + +"There," said the latter. "That's done; now what are you going to do +with me?" + +"We'll have to tie and gag you again," said Chester. "You will be +found and released in the morning." + +"And probably court-martialed and shot if this night's proceedings ever +leaks out," muttered the German. "However, there is no help for it." + +He suffered himself to be bound and gagged without opposition, and Hal +then stretched him out on the floor again. + +"Now," said the lad, "I guess our way is clear once more." + +He moved toward the door, with the others following. Glancing out, he +raised a hand suddenly and motioned the others to silence. + +Outside two figures approached the house cautiously. + +Hal called Chester to his side and the two watched the approaching +figures. It was too dark outside to distinguish the features of the +men who approached, but there was no room for doubt that they were +enemies. + +"Back inside and put out the light," whispered Hal. "They're coming +in." The light was extinguished promptly. Then Hal added: "Be ready +to grab them and stifle their cries the minute they are inside and I +have closed the door behind them." + +Those in the house stood silent. + +A moment later the door moved cautiously inward. Then two shadowy +forms stepped inside. Immediately Hal kicked shut the door behind them +and sprang forward to lend a hand to Chester and Major Derevaux, who +had pounced upon the strangers as they entered. + +"Don't let them cry out and don't kill them if you can help it," the +lad cried. + +The struggle raged furiously in the darkened room for some moments. +Then Hal and Chester found themselves sitting upon one of the +intruders, the latter with a revolver pressed to the man's forehead. + +Gregory and Crean also had taken a hand in the struggle, and, with +Major Derevaux, now held the other man helpless. + +"Strike a light, Antoinette," called the major. + +The girl obeyed, and then for the first time the lads were able to get +a look at their prisoners. + +"By the great Horn Spoon!" ejaculated Chester, after one look at his +prisoner. "I'll take my oath that this man is Stubbs." + +At the same moment a cry of astonishment was wrung from Major +Derevaux. + +"Anderson!" he cried. + +Chester and Hal got to their feet. The former twisted his hand in the +collar of his prisoner and lifted him to his feet. + +"Stubbs!" he said severely, "you should know better than sneak upon a +fellow in the dark. You are liable to get hurt." + +"I wouldn't have sneaked up, if I had known you were here," growled +Stubbs. "I would have come up openly and with my gun shooting." + +"My, my!" said Chester. "Little man's getting bloodthirsty. But +didn't I hear someone mention the name of Anderson." + +"You did," replied a voice, and Chester found his hand gripped by none +other than his old friend, the British colonel. "By George! I'm glad +to see you again," continued Anderson, "though I must say that this is +rather a strenuous reception for a couple of old friends." + +He also shook hands with Hal. Major Derevaux and Stubbs expressed +pleasure at seeing each other again. Then Hal demanded: + +"Where did you get hold of Stubbs, Anderson?" + +"I found him back in the British lines," said the colonel. "I was +detailed to come here to see a woman who lives in this house and to +bring a companion for the journey. I asked Stubbs to accompany me, and +he was glad of the chance." + +"What!" exclaimed Hal. "You mean you brought Stubbs where there was +danger and he didn't protest." + +"No, I didn't protest," declared the little war correspondent. "But I +protest now. I didn't sign up for any adventures in your party, and +neither will I; you can bet on that." + +"If you didn't know him, you'd think he was afraid," laughed Colonel +Anderson. + +"I am afraid," declared Stubbs. "I'm afraid to go fooling around with +these two," and he indicated Hal and Chester with a sweeping gesture. +"I'd rather fool around with dynamite." + +"Well, we can't stay here any longer," said Major Derevaux, and in a +few words explained to Colonel Anderson what had happened. "What was +the nature of your business here?" he asked. + +"About. the same as yours," returned the colonel with a laugh. "But, +as you say, there is no need to linger now. You have learned what I +Came to find out. We may as well be moving." + +"How'd you come, an airship?" asked the major. "Yes; and you?" + +"Same way." + +"Then we may as well get both machines back. I'll take half of your +party. My plane is only about a hundred yards from here." + +"My plane is not much farther -- in a little woods there." + +"By Jove! So is mine. Wouldn't be surprised if they were near the +same spot. Well, let's be moving." + +Colonel Anderson led the way from the house, and the others followed +him through the darkness. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A NEW VENTURE + +It was three days later and Hal and Chester sat in their own quarters +in the shelter of the American lines. The flight from the German lines +had been made safely. The aeroplanes had been found where Colonel +Anderson and Major Derevaux had left them. + +These had ascended without knowledge of the Germans, and had started on +their homeward flight before being discovered. Then there had been +pursuit, but they had landed without being so much as scratched. + +"Well," said Hal, rising and picking up a pile of papers, "I've studied +these maps until I know them by heart. Now if someone can tell me what +it's all about, I'll be obliged." + +"Same here," Chester agreed. "Funny, when you stop to think about it. +Here they give us these maps and tell us to stuff our heads full of +them. Well, my head is full, all right." + +"And mine -- Hello, here comes someone." + +"It's Captain O'Neill. Maybe he'll, be ready to explain now," said +Chester. + +A moment later the American captain entered the tent. The boys +saluted. The captain came to the point at once. + +"You are both familiar with airplanes?" he asked. + +The lads nodded. + +"So I understand," said the captain. "Also I hear that several times +you have landed upon unfamiliar ground, and in the dark. I am +informed, too, that you are always willing to take desperate risks. Am +I right?" + +"We are glad to do what we can," returned Chester quietly. + +"Understand," said the captain, "you will be asked to land not only in +the dark but behind the enemy lines, not knowing who or what is below." + +"We understand," said Hal quietly. + +"I have come to offer you this opportunity," said Captain O'Neill +quietly. "Tonight -- the exact time is 10 o'clock -- we attack in +force. In comparison, the assaults before this have been as nothing. +I say we, but I mean chiefly, of course, the French. There will be +some American troops in the advance, however. The mission I am now +offering you was turned over to us by the French general staff." + +"We shall be glad of the opportunity to aid, sir," said Hal. + +"Good!" said Captain O'Neill, and continued: "One element alone is +uncertain; one only is to be ascertained. The force and disposition +of the defending troops in shell holes, in their concrete 'pill-boxes,' +in their flanking trenches all have been ascertained. They will be +blasted out by our artillery. But they have additional forces below +the ground, in great caverns too far down to be reached by our shells; +they are tremendous underground works concealing whole battalions, many +thousands of men, whose presence is known; but the entrances and the +means of egress from those great caverns have so far eluded us. + +"We have discovered some of these entrances," he continued, "but +immediately they have changed. At present we do not know them. But at +10 o'clock tonight the points from which the German reserves will +emerge must be instantly and accurately marked. When our infantry goes +over the top and the Germans order their shock troops out from the safe +underground refuges to meet our men, we must know the points where the +enemy battalions are coming up. Some of these points will be cared for +by French already in position to inform us. I offer to you the +opportunity of marking others of those points." + +"We shall be glad," said Hal simply. + +"Very well. You understand, of course, that you will be killed if +discovered. Both of you come with me." + +He arose, and Hal and Chester followed the captain to his motor-car, +which they entered and drove to the main road, over which German +prisoners captured early in the day were still streaming to the rear. +Overhead a few aeroplanes still buzzed -- combat and fire control and +staff "observation" machines seeking out their aerodromes in the +dark. It grew dark so quickly now that Hal, looking up, saw the +colored flash of the signal lights from a pilot's pistol; they burned +an instant red and blue and red again as they dropped through the air; +and, in response to the signal, greenish white flares gleamed from the +ground to the right, outlining the aviation field; then the flying +machine, which had signaled, began to come down. + +From far beyond the drum fire of artillery rumbled and rattled. + +The car ran up a side road and halted before a little hut. Captain +O'Neill alighted. + +"We bad the misfortune, in the attack this morning," he said, "to lose +one of our most useful people. The enemy had employed him, recently, +in excavating certain of their great underground stations, which I have +mentioned; but last night they had him in a front-line trench, which we +took this morning. He has volunteered to return to his post, if we can +place him behind the lines, but, I regret, he is in no condition for +further service. Therefore, we must send a substitute." + +Captain O'Neill led the way into a candle lighted room, where a man was +lying in bed. Civilian clothes -- the rags of a French refugee from +the other side of the lines -- hung on the wall beside him. The man +was very weak, with hands which drooped from the wrist as he half sat +up as the captain entered. The man's name, the captain informed the +lads, was Jean Brosseau. + +Captain O'Neill produced a map, a duplicate of the ones which the lads +had been given several days before. The man in bed now detailed to +them the exact nature and purpose of the markings and spots. It was +all lined off into little squares and oblongs, each described with a +letter and number. These were for the guiding of the guns -- because, +for each tiny square on the German side of the lines, there was a +battery or a couple of batteries behind the French front, whose +business was solely to sweep that square with high explosive shells, +gas shells and shrapnel, when the battle was on. + +To escape those shells, the Germans again were burrowing, Brosseau +pointed out. Some places they had burrowed far too deep to be +endangered by shells; but their ways of egress were not known. These +were covered with camouflage. + +Hal took down the shirt from the wall; vermin crawled in it. Captain +O'Neill had not made the mistake of having it steamed or washed or +disinfected; vermin and filth of underground communications soiled the +rags of Jean Brosseau's jacket, his trousers, his cap. Hal, without +ceremony, stripped off his uniform and underclothes. His body was +clean and without calluses; the cleanliness was soon remedied. Then he +dressed, to give him all the time possible to become accustomed to the +garments of a French citizen in the hands of the enemy. + +The reverberations of the guns outside had increased mightily; they +seemed to double again to topmost intensity. Captain O'Neill frowned a +little as he heard them and glanced at his watch. A motorcycle +clattered up and stopped outside; a man knocked at the door, delivered +a message to Captain O'Neill, and departed. Captain O'Neill read the +message and tore it to bits. Hal and Chester waited without question; +but the sick man had to ask: + +"We have lost ground, sir?" + +"No, no! All goes well -- very well, except for us here," Captain +O'Neill replied. "The time is moved forward; that is all." + +He bent again over the map. + +"There will not be time now if you are taken far back of the German +lines where an aeroplane may come down unobserved. There will not be +time," he repeated to Hal, "for you to work forward to the position +where you must be." + +"What's the matter with coming down near the position where we're +wanted?" asked Hal. + +"Near their lines?" Captain O'Neill questioned. "There will be men all +about, of course; you will be observed." + +"What's the matter with coming down observed sir?" said Chester. + +"Observed," repeated the captain. "How do you mean?" + +"It is something we have talked of before," said Hal. "We have often +considered this method of getting a man down inside the German lines, +even in a section where discovery is certain. A machine goes up +carrying bombs, perhaps; it drops them and attracts anti-aircraft +fire. It appears to fall, sir, and comes down in that way." + +Captain O'Neill's brows drew together, puzzled, but he was patient. + +"But I do not see the advantage," he said. + +"It falls in flames, sir," said Hal. "The pilot ignites it when it +begins to drop." + +"Proceed," Captain O'Neill bade. + +"The men found in it are killed," continued Hal "'killed by the +shrapnel fire -- also, of course, they burn with the aeroplane. It is, +to all observers, a bombing biplane shot down in flames." + +"And you think such a plan will succeed?" asked the captain. + +"I feel sure of it, sir." + +"Well," said Captain O'Neill, "you are the two who must take the +chances. You have my permission to adopt your own plans." + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +OVER THE LINES + +"You will carry these with you, of course," said Captain O'Neill, +"those who will be found in, the plane?" + +"Yes, sir," said Hal. "They need not be aviators, but merely in +uniform." + +"You drop from the machine as she strikes, I suppose?" said the +captain. "She will run after that, of course." + +"Certainly it will leave us unsuspected," said Chester. "It will aid +our escape. Certainly no one would suspect a man had planned to fall +in flames." + +"You have suggested enough," said the captain. "Your idea alters +much. Meet me in half an hour. Everything will be prepared." + +He named a place and left the hut. + +Jean Brosseau bent forward in bed, his eyes burning. + +"When Captain O'Neill gives you final instructions he may tell you to +employ certain people on the other side. Here!" he motioned for the +map again, "I shall point out to you where they are." + +He took a pencil and made a dot toward the corner of one of the +squares. + +"In the old military maps a house stood there," he said. "My father's +house it was. There was also a stable; there was also a cellar, which +the Germans have discovered, but beyond it was an old cellar quite +concealed. Our people, at different times, have hidden there. There +are both men and women there now. They will help you if they can. + +Jean Brosseau fell back on the bed and closed his eyes. + +An hour later Hal climbed into the pilot seat of the biplane that +Captain O'Neill had placed at their disposal. He felt somewhat +uncomfortable in his ragged attire, but he knew that he could not be +attired in better costume for the undertaking. Chester also had +discarded his civilian clothes and donned rags. + +The big "bus," as the airplanes were called, with propeller whirling, +lumbered over the ground; the smoothness of flying came to it and, +deafened to everything but the clatter of the motor and the thrash of +the air-screw, Hal gazed down. Points of light, yellow and red and +some almost white, glowed on the ground. Some of these marked +villages, encampments; others signified nothing at all -- decoys to +attract the "eggs" of the German night flying falcons. + +They neared the lines, and the strip of "No Man's Land," with the +pocked and pitted streaks of defenses on both sides, gleamed white and +spectral green under the star-dashed shells. An infantry attack was +going on; Hal could see the shapes of men as they flattened; they were +pinched to dots when they jumped up and then they spread out again. + +Before them burst the frightful fireworks of their own barrage; behind +them, and above, that of the enemy. + +Hal shivered in the cold; it was very chill there flying high above the +lines, and he wore but the rags of Jean Brosseau. Directly below them +the land had become black again, specked only by little points of +light, yellow, ruddy, white; some of these, like the lights behind the +French lines, perhaps marked hamlets, encampments; others were mere +decoy-lights; others -- they showed but for the briefest second when +the biplane passed overhead were the guiding lights for the French and +American pilots. These were set in chimneys by the French behind the +German lines; any light, if seen by Germans and recognized, might cost +the annihilation of a family, or a neighborhood; many times such lights +had cost such savage penalty. Still, they were set. + +Hal and Chester warmed at sight of them this night as never before. +They were going to the people who had set those lights. + +The biplane banked and circled. Below was the square where the +airplane was to be shot down. Troops were moving through those fields, +undoubtedly, advancing in single file through communication trenches or +dashing from shell hole to shell hole; other troops lingered in dugouts +underground. The French batteries played all over those fields, +spraying down shrapnel, detonating the frightful charges of high +explosives. But at an hour before the appointed time -- at 9 o'clock +-- the French batteries would remit their fire for ten minutes upon the +square where the biplane should fall. Hal looked at the clock fastened +before him. It was two minutes to 9; he could see, directly below, the +crimson splash of the great French shells; a little way to the side +showed the flashes of the German heavy batteries making reply. + +Now, as though smothered by the German fire, the French batteries +ceased. It was 9 o'clock, and Hal circled above the German batteries, +which were firing, and Chester released the first bomb. Before it +struck and burst, he let go another. He laid a third "egg" close +beside a German battery -- so close that the battery ceased to fire; +but before the fourth dropped the anti-aircraft guns were going. +Chester could hear, above the racket of the motor and the air- screw, +the "pop, pop" of smashing shrapnel. They ran through the floating +smoke of a shell, the acrid ether-smelling stuff stinging their +nostrils. The beams of searchlights swept into the air. Hal circled +more carefully and deliberately dropped lower; Chester let two more +bombs drop near the batteries; he cleared the frames of the last pair +of "eggs," and, leaning forward, struck Hal's shoulder to tell him so. + +The phosphorus-painted face of the altimeter showed the pointer +registering less than 2,000 feet; before the breaking German shells +should do, in fact, what it was to be pretended they had done, Chester +reached up and ignited the preparation smeared over the top plane. +Yellow flames flared up, and, to keep them above and behind, Hal +pointed the nose of the biplane far down and let her fall. + +He turned, as he let the machine dive, back toward the French lines. +Then, as the German antiaircraft gunners saw their target flashing +clear in flames and they strewed their shrapnel closer before it, the +biplane fluttered and fell, no longer diving under guidance, but out of +control. + +Chester jerked about to Hal; over the forms strapped between them, he +saw Hal's face in the light of the flame. Hal was not hit; he had +merely let go of the controls. It was part of the plan to let the +machine fall out of control. But, for a moment, it was too much as if +Hal had been hit. + +The biplane side-slipped, "went off the wing," sickeningly, dropping +down spinning. Then, suddenly, with a catch of a well-made, +well-balanced plane, the inherent stability asserted itself, and the +planes caught; the big "bus" fluttered like a falling leaf, "flattened +out," and rested; now, it side-slipped again and fell, and Hal did not +touch the controls. + +Chester, looking down, saw that the flashes of the guns off to the side +had come halfway to him; if the falling plane caught itself again after +the same amount of drop, side-slipping, it would hover not too far from +the ground before going "off the wing" again. That is, it might. + +Anyway, the flames which had caught the wing fabric and were blazing +the breadth of the wings above and jumping back now to the rudder and +the tail were kept above; and to anyone on the ground the illusion of a +machine shot down, burning and out of control, must have become +complete. + +Chester held on, not breathing. The momentary flutter and hover of the +machine was over. It was dropping down again in a wild, sliding swoop +-- yet Hal made no move to stop it even when it half turned over. + +Soon, however, he made a move, and, before the slide had gone too far, +he caught it as before it had caught itself; it fluttered, hovered, the +flames streaking up straight above it; the ground now just below. Then +it went "off the wing" again and crashed. + +Chester, leaping clear at the instant of the impact, stumbled and fell +on his face and rolled down a shell hole. He caught himself, half +stunned and dizzy, and tried to crawl back toward the burning plane. +But Hal blundered against him and carried him back. + +"All right," Hal whispered. "Are you?" + +"All right," said Chester. "Great landing. I've fixed things back +there. Time to be moving. Got your grenades?" + +"You bet." + +"All right. Good luck." + +Their orders were to part now. Chester crawled one way, Hal the +other. The biplane was burning with a great deal of smoke, which +smothered the glow on the side they had leaped. And no German was +near; they could be very sure of that. The gasoline now was ignited, +and the wreck was blazing beautifully. The machine was known, of +course, to be a bombing machine, shot down during operations. No one +would know how many bombs had come down with it; no one would come +close until after the flames had burned down. Then the Germans would +find the "pilot" and the "bomber," the two still forms the lads had +strapped to the machine before leaving their own lines. Everyone would +be accounted for; no search for more would be made. + +Both boys now were ready for their desperate work. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +DESPERATE WORK + +Chester, having crept a hundred yards, hugged down into another hole +and waited. The Germans who had been about now approached the glowing +heap of the biplane. What they found seemed to satisfy them. At least +they raised no alarm. The shells from the far-off trench guns, which +had been breaking in the fields both to right and to left, began +searching about here now and scattered them. Chester moved forward +toward the lines. And, as he moved, the shells which had been bursting +in that direction, ceased. + +The feel of the far-off hand of Captain O'Neill and of his superiors -- +the men who had planned this desperate venture -- thrilled through +him. Until five minutes to 10 o'clock he would be cared for, Captain +O'Neill had promised. The French artillery, opening a path through its +fire, would throw its shield around him. Simultaneously, it would be +opening another path to Hal, advancing off to the right. Where all the +Germans, who held that ground, burrowed below in dugouts or crept and +ran through the deep defiles of communication trenches, Hal and he +could go at will over the ground and so far as the shells from the +French batteries were concerned, be perfectly safe. + +Chester stole on through the blackness. Shells were breaking a hundred +yards before him, behind him, off to both sides, but no shell came +closer. Now, if he remembered rightly, the shells would cease in the +square ahead and to the left; he moved that way -- and they stopped. +Over the ground which he had crossed, shells were bursting again now. +When he halted once more, the frightful hurricane of high explosives +swept before him, on both sides and behind -- but not close to him. So +for many minutes he advanced. + +It was strange, when used to dodging shells behind his own lines and +when accustomed to twist and turn and dive and tumble in the air to +avoid the burst of anti-aircraft shrapnel, to feel shells falling like +a bulwark about him. That was what they were. For the present, at +least, the shells gained for him and gave to him the sole use of the +surface of the earth there behind the German lines. + +Troops were all about, of course; but all were hiding. They could not +imagine anyone purposely advancing through the open there; they could +not imagine anyone surviving if he tried it. They noticed, +undoubtedly, that the fall of the French shells intermitted for a +moment in this direction and that; but when any of them went out the +shells burst upon them again and annihilated detachments. The cease +and the start again of the French fire seemed merely capricious, to +tempt them out to destruction. Not having the pattern of the pass by +which the two boys advanced, they could not suspect any pattern about +it. + +And now Chester no longer could trust his own memory of that pattern. +He went to the bottom of a deep shell crater, and, lying upon his +stomach, he took a scrap of map from under his shirt and spread it +below him. He took a tiny electric torch from his pocket and illumined +the sheet dimly. A series of squares, into which that sector was +divided, marked his path for the front -- each square of the series +numbered in ink and designated by a time, such as 32, 24, 19, 16, 10 +and so, forth. They told the moment before 10 o'clock, at which, upon +the square marked, the French fire would cease, not to start again +until the fire ceased, at the next lowest minute, upon the next +square. Down to five minutes to 10 o'clock they showed the safe path, +after that friend and foe alike on this side of the German lines must +shift for themselves. + +Chester's mind caught the pattern of the next numbered square; he +repeated to himself the time intervals. He climbed up out of the shell +hole and swiftly passed the next square as the shells began falling +behind him. Had Hal, off there to the right four squares away, now, as +good luck as he? Or, was the French fire opening a path for no one +there now? + +By the ceasing of the shells on this square it was 24 minutes to 10 +o'clock -- the hour when the French forces would stream over the top. +And for ten minutes, upon the square, the French fire would cease. +That was because it was upon this square that Hal and Chester -- if +both survived to reach it -- would meet. It was under the ground in +this numbered ten minutes to 10 o'clock -- that the French were hidden, +of whom Jean Brosseau had told. And as Brosseau had expected and +hoped, Chester and Hal - or whichever of them survived to this square +-- were ordered to employ those people. + +Chester crept forward, searching for the ruins of the house to mark the +spot. There was a communication-trench some yards away to the left of +it, he remembered. He could hear them working upon it now, calling to +each other as the shells had given them a few minutes respite. He +crept by them and came upon stones -- the square stones of the walls of +a house demolished and scattered. Only one house had been at that +point, and, crawling carefully, he dropped into the pit of the cellar. +There, in that cellar, Hal and he were to meet, if Hal yet lived. + +Hal was not there; he had not been there. The heap of old charred +beams and rubbish, which covered the opening of the tunnel to the +French hiding in the old cellar deeper and beyond, was undisturbed; he +heard no sound except that of the shells and the scraping and voices of +the Germans at work thirty yards away. + +Chester flattened down upon the rubbish of the cellar; he raised a +black beam a little and thrust himself under. Feeling ahead, he found +more rubbish, which he cleared; and then, beyond, his hand found +emptiness and the smell of earth -- and the odor of people and the +closeness of foul air. But there was no sound ahead. + +He crawled his length and then spoke quietly in French: + +"I come for the redeeming of France," words which he had been ordered +to use upon his arrival. + +He got no reply. from the silence ahead; so he said again: + +"I am not Jean Brosseau; he sent me. I come to ask your aid." + +"Aid?" a voice repeated; "aid?" + +Chester lighted his little torch again, and men's faces showed before +him. + +"Quick!" one of the men said. "Get away. It's a trap!" + +"The Germans have taken us," said a second voice. "We --" + +His voice stopped and choked. It was stilled forever, Chester knew. +He could not see -- he had extinguished his light. + +A revolver was fired in his face, but the bullet went over him. He +pressed to one side of the tunnel as he pushed back, and the next +bullet went into the sand where he had been. He was back under the +beams; and the Germans, choking, fired no more. + +Someone pulled at his leg. Someone jerked him out and pulled him up -- +it was Hal. + +"The people in there were taken," said Chester quietly. "They -" + +"You've still got your grenades," said Hal. "I've got mine. We can do +it alone, with luck!" + +The Germans, working on the tunnel off to the left, yelled at each +other to jump for cover, for the French shells were coming again. They +burst all about -- except now, just ahead, where Hal and Chester were +running. Two minutes they had to run and crawl and run again across +the square, three minutes for the next one. Then, again, they parted. +Two squares to the left, two minutes for one, three for the next -- Hal +was to go; two squares to the right -- for three minutes and two the +French fire was to be remitted -- Chester must travel. There were two +other small squares to be spared for five minutes to provide for help +which might have been gained from the refugees' dugout. + +Those squares were being spared now, anyway. + +But the minutes of respite for all were finishing fast. + +It was five minutes to 10 o'clock and Chester, running bent over, +stumbled and fell; the frightful concussion of great high explosive +shells, bursting close to him, shook and battered him. He hugged down +into a hole, and from about his neck, he drew a flat bag, which held a +gas mask; he adjusted it quickly. Shells were striking about him, +which did not break; but from the butts of these fumes were floating. +The Germans, showing in the light of the star-shells, had become +snouted creatures in their gas helmets. + +They appeared only for an instant, as, jumping up from one trench, +where the shells were falling, they rushed to another deep defile. +Half a score, who had shown themselves in one group, vanished; and +Chester was buffeted again by the shock of high explosives. + +Gas and still more gas followed high explosives again. + +Chester, creeping now, got, even through his mask, smarting, searing +twinges of the gas. He was among bodies and wounded men. Their masks, +when, they fell, had become torn or broken. The gas had got them. + +Five minutes to 10 o'clock had passed. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE ATTACK + +It was three minutes to the attack or less, and the hurricane fire of +the French artillery swept cyclonic over the German lines. + +A thousand yards away, more or less, as the ground gave advantage, the +French front-line trenches were filled with men awaiting the hour of 10 +-- two minutes off now -- to go over the top. + +The German batteries, behind, knew that the time was near; but just +when it would be, in two minutes, or in ten or in an hour-they did not +know. When the fire of the French guns lifted, they did not know +whether it would be to let the poilus assault, or whether it would be +only to trick the German infantry and machine-gun men out of their +tunnels and dugouts to meet the frightful fall of the French hurricane +fire again. + +But the German guns doubled their response now when the French trebled +theirs. + +One minute to 10 o'clock! + +Chester, lying in a shell hole with, his bag, of grenades open before +him, felt a shock on his back. A bit of shell or shrapnel had struck +him, but he moved his arms and, except for the stinking pain, he was +all right . He choked -- and instantly held his breath. A bit of +metal, flying from somewhere, had pierced his gas mask. The tear was +right before his mouth. He thrust the fabric into his mouth and bit +it, holding it tight between his lips. That patched the hole; there +was no other. He breathed again without choking. + +Ten o'clock! + +From over the German front-line trenches, a half mile or more forward, +the storm of the French artillery fire had lifted -- lifted to add to +the cyclone of shells sweeping the reserve lines. The German +star-shells, rising and floating and glaring constellations, spread +their garish light over the front, and showed the French charging +forward in the open. + +They rushed onward, few falling, almost unopposed. For the Germans in +the front-line trenches -- those who had not been withdrawn under that +hurricane of shells-were dead or crouched down, stunned, and in +stupor. + +The French took the advanced trenches, the second supporting, and came +on. + +Now, from the "pill-boxes" -- the few scattered points for machine-gun +support which the artillery had not found -- resistance came. The +French, though fewer, came on. + +Before Chester, lying with his bag of grenades open at the edge of a +shell crater, the ground suddenly opened and, a great causeway gaped +down into the earth. Where solid ground had seemed to be, men were +rushing forth -- German infantrymen with rifles and bayonets fixed to +the counter-attack. + +Off to the right twenty yards another such gap yawned in the ground. +And Chester, rising, hurled a missile from the bag he had carried. + +It burst among the emerging men; he hurled another. A leap of blue +flame, which flared high and blinding, followed its detonation. He +hurled at the other causeway, first halting by a bomb the out rush of +men; and thus he marked the mouth of this second causeway the next +instant by a sheet of blue game. + +Off to the side, 200 yards, blue flames shot up and glared. Hal was +alive, that meant -- at least, he had been alive a moment ago, calling +shells upon himself from the French batteries, as well as attack from +the Germans coming from the ground. + +For the shells already were arriving; one burst just beside the great +causeway and blocked it. + +The shell annihilated the men rushing at Chester. He rolled over, deaf +and unseeing. Shells were coming true and straight. An aeroplane +appeared overhead so close down that Chester could see it plainly in +the light of the star-shells when his sight came back. Aeroplanes were +guiding the guns and dropping aerial torpedoes. + +One landed in the mouth of that other causeway and blew it out of +shape, and this was the last thing which, for a long time, Chester +remembered. + +When Chester opened his eyes, he lay on a bed with the whitest of +sheets. For a moment he could remember nothing, then the details of +the great battle carve back to him. + +His first thought, naturally, was of Hal. He sat up in bed. There, in +another bed in the center of what Chester now recognized as a hospital +tent, lay Hal, his head swathed in bandages. + +"He's safe, anyhow," said Chester to himself. + +The lad passed a hand across his head, and ascertained that his head +also was wrapped tightly, and that there were more bandages around his +body. + +"Wonder what's the matter with me?" he muttered. "I don't remember +being hit, and here I am all wrapped up like a baby doll. I must be in +pretty bad shape." + +Nevertheless, now that his mind had been eased regarding Hal's safety, +Chester soon closed his eyes, again and slept. + +It was late the following day that the lad was aroused by the sound of +voices at his bedside. One voice he recognized as Hal's, the other +came to him later. It was the voice of Stubbs. + +Chester opened his eyes, and gazed at the little war correspondent. +The latter spoke first. + +"The sleeper awakes," he said to Hal. "See, Chester thinks it's time +to get up, and I'm not a bit sure he isn't right. He's been in bed for +four days now. That's longer than I ever slept" + +"I'm not so weak I can't get out of here and pull, your nose," declared +Chester, sitting up. + +Anthony Stubbs grinned. + +"I feel pretty safe right here," he said. + +"What's the matter with me, anyway?" demanded Chester. "Hello there, +Hal. What's the trouble with you? You seem to be pretty well bunged +up." + +"Guess neither of us is going to die," said Hal with a smile. "The +doctor tells me that we both have holes in our heads, and that we have +a few pieces of shell in our legs and bodies. He says we are about the +luckiest pair he ever saw." + +"How long does he figure we must stay in bed;"' Chester wanted to +know. + +"He said something about thirty days," said Stubbs, with another grin. + +"Then he's barking up the wrong tree," Chester declared. "I don't feel +exactly lovely, but I know I'm not going to stay here a month. Any +broken bones, Hal?" + +"No; and neither have you, according to the doctor. He said that we +should be able to get about in a week or two." + +"Well, that's a little better," Chester grumbled. "What do you mean by +telling me a month, Stubbs?" + +"I didn't say he said a month," Stubbs protested. "I said the doctor +said something about thirty days, and so he did. He said that most men +would have to lie in bed thirty days with your wounds, but that he felt +you would be able to leave the hospital sooner because of a pair of +remarkably fine constitutions." + +"I think you were trying to have a little fun with me, Stubbs," Chester +declared. + +"You know I wouldn't joke with a sick boy," said Stubbs. + +"No, I don't know it, either, Stubbs; and when I get out of here, I +shall make it a point to get even with you." + +"To get even?" Stubbs exploded. "You listen to me. You're even and a +long ways ahead right now. In fact, you're so far ahead that I +couldn't get even with you in a life time. However, when you get well, +I'm going to have a try." + +"You'd better not fool with me, Stubbs," said Chester. "I'm liable to +get out of here right now and have a little bout with you." + +"Well," said Stubbs, "I can lick you now." + +Chester grinned. + +"Guess you're right," he said. "Maybe I had better postpone it. By +the way, did the attack succeed?" + +"Did it?" exclaimed Stubbs enthusiastically. "I rather think it did. +The French have advanced from four to five miles into the enemy's +lines; and I overheard a man say if it had not been for your work in +bottling up the enemy underground the French would have been surprised +and hurled back." + +"Well, I'm glad we helped," said Hal simply. + +"And I'll be glad when we can help some more," declared Chester. "It +won't be long before we are up and doing again." + +"I should think you had had enough," said Stubbs. + +"We haven't, though," said Hal. "Now, run away, Mr. Stubbs, and come +back later. I want to take a little snooze." + +"Same here," said Chester. + +Both made themselves as comfortable as possible under the +circumstances. And while they are taking a much-needed rest, we will +bid them a brief adieu, only to meet them later on in a succeeding +volume, entitled: "THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; OR, OVER THE +TOP WITH UNCLE SAM'S WARRIORS." + +THE END + + + + + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS *** + +This file should be named bahif10.txt or bahif10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, bahif11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, bahif10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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