But there was no mercy on the faces of the others and Chester realized it.
"He should be court martialed and shot," said one.
"I agree with you," said another.
"I'm not so sure," said the Crown Prince. "The lad is young. How do I know what I would have done in his place? No; I am tempted to have him returned to his regiment and placed under arrest indefinitely."
"Lieutenant Hollsein, I shall leave this man in your charge. See that he is returned to his regiment immediately."
Chester breathed a sigh of relief. He realized that he was still in a perilous situation, for when he should be taken to the commander of the Fortieth Hussars, his deception must be learned. But at least it gave him more time.
But Chester's sigh of relief came too soon.
"Hold on!" said one of the German officers. "This man is no German!"
Anthony Stubbs, after leaving Hal and Chester, pushed off to the south slowly, absolutely unconscious of the adventures that were to come his way. Mindful of the fact that there was a certain degree of safety in the German uniform he wore, and rather proud of himself thus attired, Stubbs walked on more boldly than he would have done otherwise.
And thus it was that, without warning, he walked suddenly into the midst of a group of German officers who sat about a campfire a short distance from where he had left his two young friends.
Stubbs pulled up suddenly and would have drawn back had not one of theGerman officers sprung suddenly to his feet.
"Here, Hans, is another man now!" exclaimed the officer. "A moment ago you were bemoaning the fact that there was not another man to take a hand in a game of cards. Here is one come in answer to your prayers."
Two other German officers sprang to their feet.
"Four of us; that's enough," said one. He turned to Stubbs. "What do you say?"
"Say to what?" asked Stubbs, bravely.
"A game of cards."
"What kind of a game of cards?"
"An American game," was the reply. "Hans learned it when he was in theUnited States and has taught us something about it. It's called poker."
"I've played it," said Stubbs.
"Good! Then you will join us?"
"I should be elsewhere," said Stubbs, hesitatingly.
Be it known that Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent of the New YorkGazette, had, in his day, liked to play a game of poker, whether it was right or whether it was wrong. Even to this day the lure of the game held, and in spite of the danger such a game entailed, Stubbs was not loath to play. Besides, the little man bethought himself that while the game was in progress he might learn something of value, so he said:
"All right. I'll play."
The man called Hans now sprang to his feet.
"I want to warn you," he said, "that I am extremely lucky at this game."
"Well, I used to be fairly lucky myself," said Stubbs. To himself he said: "Whoever heard of a German trying to play the American game of poker?"
The man called Hans now led the way to his quarters, where he produced a table, chairs and a pack of cards. The four men ranged themselves around the table.
As the game progressed there was considerable talk of the status of the opposing armies and Stubbs gained much information that he felt would be of use. As time passed other officers dropped in to witness the game; and chancing to look over his shoulder, Stubbs was startled to see the face of Hal. He gave a slight start, but quickly covered this up as he saw a look of annoyance on Hal's face.
"Hal objects to my gambling, I guess," Stubbs muttered to himself. "But what do I care? I'm glad to gather in a few German coins. Fortunate that I had some in my pocket."
The manner in which Hal came to be in the tent was very simple. He had walked north for some distance, and finding nothing that would prove of value, he had turned back. He had been attracted by the sound of conversation and had joined the group of German officers near the tent where the game of poker was in progress. When one of the officers had suggested going in and watching the game Hal had acquiesced. That is how he found himself standing behind Stubbs and scanning the latter's cards.
At that moment Stubbs had lost a hand to the man called Hans. Stubbs was considerably nettled, for he felt sure he should have won. He turned an eye on Hal, who stood directly behind him.
"Don't stand behind me," the little man snapped.
"What's the matter?" demanded Hal. "Superstitious?"
"Yes, if you want to call it that," Stubbs answered.
Hal shifted his position slightly.
Again Stubbs scanned a hand that he felt sure would win. Hans was the dealer. As he drew two more cards, Stubbs suddenly gave a start. He had seen Hans slip a card from his sleeve.
Now Stubbs was not a fighter. He had shown that on more than one occasion. But the little man objected to being imposed upon. Also he had always stood for a square deal in a friendly game of cards. He had proven that more than once in his younger days. And now, seeing the man called Hans cheating made Stubbs' blood boil.
Quietly he leaned across the table and spoke.
"You," he said, shaking his forefinger in the man's face, "no wonder you say you are lucky."
"Why, what do you mean?" demanded Hans, his face turning pale, for he well realized the import of Stubbs' words.
"I mean," said Stubbs, and at that moment his hand dropped to his revolver butt, "I mean that you are a cheat!"
Stubbs produced his revolver and levelled it straight at Hans. Then he swept the circle of surprised faces about him with his eyes.
"Sir!" exclaimed Hans, "I demand an apology for those words."
"Well, you won't get it," returned Stubbs, decisively. He turned to the man next to Hans. "Reach up his sleeve there," he said, "and if you don't find a card or two I'll make you a present of all the money I have in my pocket."
Surprised, the other obeyed and the result vindicated Stubbs. Two cards fluttered from Hans' sleeve. Stubbs got to his feet.
"You see, gentlemen," he said, "with what kind of a man you have been playing. No wonder he calls himself lucky."
The others were very angry. Seeing that the matter would be taken out of his hands, Stubbs restored his revolver to its place.
Hans stood up.
"If you think I have cheated," he said, "you are welcome to all the moneyI have won. As for you," he turned on Stubbs, "you shall die!"
A revolver appeared in his hand as if by magic and Stubbs shrank back.
But before the man could fire Hal leaped quickly forward and struck up the weapon.
"You are not only a cheat but a coward!" said the lad quietly.
"And who are you?" screamed Hans, now beside himself with rage. "What have you to do with this?"
"Nothing more than to prevent murder," replied Hal.
Now the other German officers took a hand in the trouble.
"Lieutenant Darnhart," said one. "I wish you never to speak to me again."
"Nor to me," from the other man who had taken part in the game, and added: "If you are wise, you will know what to do."
For a moment Hans gazed at them hardly knowing what to say. Then, slowly, he emptied the contents of his pockets upon the table.
"You are right, gentlemen," he said quietly. "I have cheated. Therefore, this money belongs to you. And do not fear that I do not know what to do. The honor of the regiment shall be kept clean."
With that he bowed low to the others and stalked from the tent. The others stood stiffly erect until he had disappeared; then turned to Stubbs.
"We have to thank you, sir," said one, "for opening our eyes. Long we have wondered why Darnhart was so lucky, why he always arose from the game the only winner. Now we know."
"Well," said Stubbs, "I used to play considerably when I lived in theUnited States, and for that reason, I guess, I was on my guard."
"At all events," said the second German, "you have done us a service and we wish to thank you."
"Why, that's all right," said Stubbs. "I am sure either of you would have done the same thing under the circumstances. And with your permission, I shall leave you now."
The others bowed and Stubbs turned toward the door.
"If you will wait a moment, sir, I shall accompany you," said a voice.
It was Hal who spoke and Stubbs waited obediently.
"First," said Hal, "I have something else to do." He addressed theGermans: "Which of you is upon the staff of General Ludwig?"
"Why, I am," said one of the men, stepping forward.
"Good!" said Hal. "I would have spoken sooner, but I was absorbed in the game. I did not remember your name, but I was sent for you. Will you follow me?"
The German nodded his head.
"Very well," said Hal. "Come."
He led the way from the tent and the German and Stubbs followed. The latter was astonished at Hal's words, but he did not show his surprise in his actions. He walked after the others without a word.
"Something up," he muttered to himself. "I guess I had better keep my gun handy."
Outside, they walked along slowly.
Five minutes later, when they reached a place that was somewhat secluded, Hal suddenly produced his revolver and pressed it against the German's head.
"You will give me immediately what papers you have in your pockets," the lad said quietly. "If you make an outcry I shall be compelled to shoot you."
The German stared aghast.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.
"It means that I must have whatever papers you possess," said Hal, calmly, "even if I have to shoot you to get them."
"Ah!" cried the German, "I see! A spy!"
He made a move as though to seize Hal, but the lad was too quick for him.
With his left hand he grabbed the German's elbow in a tight grip and squeezed. Then, even before the man had time to cry out, the lad released his hold, reversed his revolver quickly and brought the butt down on the German's head with all his force.
The man crumpled up without a word and lay still.
Stubbs, who had witnessed this proceeding in open-eyed wonder, now uttered an exclamation.
"What are you doing? Trying to get us both killed?" he demanded.
Hal did not reply. Stooping over the prostrate German he ran his hand quickly through the man's pockets. Then he straightened up, and by the soft light of the moon, ran through the papers hurriedly. He gave an exclamation of satisfaction.
"I thought I should find something," he muttered. "Come on now,Stubbs!" he said.
The little war correspondent hurried after him without another word.
Chester's sigh of relief almost choked in his throat. But he determined to brave out the situation as well as he could.
"No," exclaimed the man who had spoken, "this boy is no German!"
Even the Crown Prince was surprised.
"Not a German!" he exclaimed. "Then what is he? A—"
"A spy!" the other concluded for him.
"Impossible!" declared the Crown Prince. "How could there be a spy among us?"
"Well, he's here. Surely you can look at the boy and tell he is not a German."
The Crown Prince approached Chester and scrutinized him closely.
"Who are you?" he demanded at length.
"I have told you, sir," replied Chester, quietly.
"But you have not told the truth," was the Crown Prince's reply. "I can see you are not French. Are you British?"
"No, sir."
"Then what?"
"Well," said Chester, at length, realizing that subterfuge was useless,"I am an American."
"With the French army, eh?" said the Crown Prince.
Chester did not reply. He could see no reason for incriminating himself, though he realized, too, that it made no particular difference whether he replied or remained silent. He was convicted either way.
"You don't answer," exclaimed the Crown Prince. "That is evidence sufficient of your guilt."
Chester shrugged his shoulders. The Crown Prince eyed him angrily.
"You are one of these indifferent ones, are you?" he said. "Well, we know how to cure that. Do you realize what is in store for you?"
"Perfectly," replied Chester. "The firing squad."
"No; you are wrong," was the Crown Prince's answer. "The firing squad is too good for spies. You have been captured within our lines in disguise; therefore, there can be no doubt that you are a spy. You shall be hanged."
Chester took a step backward. He had realized what his fate would be should he fall into the hands of the enemy, but this was more than he had bargained for. And at that moment there seemed little possibility that Hal would find and be able to rescue him.
"Looks like the end of my rope," the lad muttered.
He made no reply to the Crown Prince's words. He knew a reply would be useless.
"So you decline to talk?" said the Crown Prince. "Well, it matters not." He motioned to one of his staff. "See that this prisoner is hanged by the neck at sunrise," he said.
The officer saluted and motioned to Chester to precede him from the tent.There was nothing for it but to obey and the lad walked out.
Now it happened that in some unaccountable manner the Germans had neglected to relieve Chester of his revolvers. The lad's right hand rested upon the weapon in his belt. But he was unable at this moment to draw with any degree of hope, for the German officer was directly behind him and Chester knew he would be shot down before he could turn and fire. Also, should he succeed in gaining the drop on the German by a quick move, he was in the very heart of the German camp and the sound of a shot would bring a thousand men on his heels.
The lad bided his time.
Perhaps half a mile from the quarters of the German Crown Prince, Chester's captor motioned him into a tent. Chester entered without a word. What hopes he might have had of suddenly flashing his revolver on his captor disappeared, for the man entered close behind him.
He clapped his hands.
A moment later a second officer appeared in the tent and stood at attention.
"Call a guard of four men and have this tent surrounded," instructedChester's captor.
The man saluted and left the tent. He was back within a few moments, however, and saluting said:
"The tent is surrounded, sir."
"Very well," said Chester's captor. "You may go."
Again the man left the tent; then Chester's captor said:
"Now, I guess you will be safe here until morning; after that you will be safe for all time."
"Thanks," said Chester, dryly.
The German left the tent.
Chester now took stock of his surroundings. Outside he could hear his guards pacing up and down.
"If I could get one of them in here at a time," the lad told himself, "perhaps I could dispose of them. I'll try it."
Approaching the entrance, he poked his head out.
"Get back inside there," a gruff voice exclaimed, and Chester beheld a large German soldier with his rifle pointed squarely at his head.
"Look here," said Chester. "I want a drink of water."
"Get back inside," was the sharp reply. "I'll get it for you."
Chester moved back in the tent. Five minutes later the German soldier stuck his head inside.
"Here's your water," he said, holding forth a tin cup.
Chester's right hand rested on his belt as he extended his left to take the cup. The German had lowered his gun at that moment; and he paid dearly for his carelessness.
Chester made a sudden movement and the cup of water went clattering to the ground. At the same moment Chester brought the butt of his revolver down on the head of the German soldier with a crunch. The man fell to the ground.
Hastily now Chester seized the man by the feet and dragged him inside. Then the lad quickly stripped him of his clothes and donned them himself. They were large, but Chester made them fit by turning up the trousers and drawing his belt tight. Then he picked up the German's gun and stepped from the tent.
The lad had intended to move away from the tent immediately, but even as he would have walked off a second of the guards approached and engaged him in conversation. Chester muffled his voice as well as possible and imitated the hoarse tones of the man he had disposed of.
"Nice night," said the German.
"Nice night," Chester agreed.
"What is to be done with the prisoner inside?"
"Hang him in the morning," said Chester.
"Good! It's the way all spies should be treated."
"Of course; unless they chance to be German spies."
"That's different," muttered the guard.
"Of course it is," Chester agreed and added: "You'd better get back to your place. The prisoner might escape under your nose."
"Not much chance," was the reply. "I wouldn't care if he did try, though.I'd like to have a shot at him."
"Nice pleasant sort of a customer," Chester muttered to himself. Aloud, he said: "Well, I was just giving you a word of warning. You can't tell about these fellows. They're pretty slippery customers."
"Well, this one won't slip out of our clutches," declared the guard. "I wonder if I hadn't better go in and have a look at him?"
"Can't be done," said Chester. "My instructions are to let no one pass."
"So are mine, but what has that to do with it?"
"A whole lot. I'm on guard in front here and I say you can't go in."
"Come now, be a good fellow, I want to have a look at the prisoner."
"Can't be done," returned Chester.
"You are a deucedly uncivil sort of a fellow," said the guard. "I don't seem to know you. What's your name?"
"None of your business," returned Chester.
"Is that so? Suppose I make it some of my business," and the guard took a threatening step forward.
"You'll be sorry, that's all."
"Think so, do you? Let me tell you something. I'm going to hunt you up in the morning and have it out with you."
"All right," said Chester. "You can suit yourself about that. But wait until morning. Remember we're guarding this prisoner now."
"Well, I've a notion to settle with you right now, prisoner or no prisoner. I don't like you."
"To tell the truth, I don't think a whole lot of you," said Chester. "I would a great deal rather be without your company. You had better get back where you belong."
"Think so, do you? Well, I'll show you."
With these words the German guard forgot all about the prisoner supposed to be inside and everything else save that he wanted to get at Chester. He dropped his rifle with a clatter and struck at Chester with his right fist.
"Well, if you must have it," Chester muttered to himself.
He, too, dropped his gun and his right fist shot forth. The German staggered back with a grunt; but Chester's blow had not reached a vital spot and the guard leaped forward again.
This time Chester timed his blow a little more carefully.
"Smack!"
The lad's fist landed flush on the guard's jaw. The man rolled over like a log.
Chester looked around quickly.
"Now to get out of this," he muttered.
He picked up his rifle and turned to move away. But even as he would have started the sound of hurrying footsteps halted him; and he began to pace up and down in front of the tent.
Two figures dashed toward him; behind them came the sound of shots.
"Hello!" said Chester to himself. "More trouble in camp. Wonder what's up now?"
The answer was to come sooner than he could have expected. As the two figures came closer, other figures appeared in the distance. There came the sound of revolver shots.
"This way!" cried a voice.
Chester raised his rifle, ready to take a hand in the proceedings himself should the occasion demand.
"This thing is getting rather complicated," he told himself.
The two approaching figures came closer rapidly. Chester gave an exclamation of pure astonishment.
When Hal and Stubbs took to their heels after the former had relieved the German officer of his papers, they had run some distance before coming across anyone in the darkness. Then they came upon another figure so suddenly that it almost resulted in their capture.
Hal, in the lead, had been just about to slacken his pace, when, rounding a corner suddenly, he had crashed into a form in the night. The two went down in a heap; and Stubbs, turning a moment later, had stumbled over the pair of struggling forms before he could check himself. In a moment he found himself mixed up in the struggling mass.
A fist struck Stubbs squarely upon the nose.
"Hey! Quit that," said Stubbs, and struck out with his right.
This blow came almost ending the fight right there and in a manner not at all advantageous to Stubbs and Hal. In the darkness the little war correspondent had been unable to distinguish friend from foe and his fist caught Hal just above the right eye.
Now Anthony Stubbs had considerable power in his right arm and for a moment Hal was dazed by the blow. Before he could clear his head, his opponent had struck him a heavy blow on the other side of the neck and leaped to his feet.
At that instant Stubbs realized what he had done and a sickening sensation struck him in the pit of the stomach; but the little man determined to give the best that was in him to undo his work.
With an angry bellow he charged his German opponent. The latter stepped back a pace and sought to draw his revolver, but Stubbs was too quick for him. Almost at the moment that Stubbs crashed into his foe he lowered his head, as would a steer, and his head caught the German in the region of the belt.
Came a gasp from the German as he doubled up and collapsed. He rolled over upon the ground several times in a vain attempt to gain his breath; then lay still.
The victory was with Stubbs!
Hal had now regained consciousness and sat up just in time to see the effect of Stubbs' charge.
"Good work, Stubbs!" the lad cried. "Now lend me a hand and we'll get away from here!"
Stubbs did as requested and a moment later Hal was on his feet. The lad felt the bump over his eye tenderly.
"Stubbs," he said, "it was rather dark and we were so mixed up on the ground that I couldn't see, but I would be willing to wager a whole lot that it wasn't a German who gave me this crack over the eye. Now was it?"
"Well," said Stubbs, "I—I—"
"Just as I thought," declared Hal. "So you tried to do me up as well as the German, eh?"
"It was an accident," declared Stubbs. "You know I wouldn't have done it on purpose, Hal."
"It came very near being a costly accident, Stubbs. Suppose the German had laid you out? Then what? We would have been nabbed, sure."
"I'll be more careful next time," said Stubbs, apologetically.
"You won't have to be," said Hal. "Next time I'm going to get in the first blow. Then we'll see how you like it. But come. We must be moving away from here. See. The German is regaining consciousness. I don't want to kill him, and we mustn't be here when he comes to. Come now."
Hal led the way rapidly along the row of tents.
"Looks as though we should be safe enough now," the lad said, after they had walked for perhaps fifteen minutes.
The lad produced his watch, and by the soft light of the moon, took note of the time.
"By Jove! half past one o'clock," he said. "We shall have to hurry back or Chester will be worried."
"Let's hope Chester will be there when we arrive," said Stubbs.
"Oh, he'll be there, all right. Come on."
"Say," said Stubbs as they walked along, "what I want to know is how you knew the German officer you knocked down had any valuable papers?"
"That's easy," was Hal's response. "Before entering the tent where your little game was in progress, I overheard one of the officers without mention the fact that an aide of General Ludwig's was in the tent and that he carried important papers. The rest was very simple."
"I see," said Stubbs. "Now what—look there, Hal."
The little man broke off suddenly and pointed directly ahead. Advancing toward them were perhaps a dozen German soldiers, with an officer at their head.
"We'll have to get out of the way," said Hal, quietly. "We haven't time to answer questions now."
He turned between the rows of tents and hurried on, with Stubbs close behind him. And from the German officer came the command to halt.
Instead, Hal increased his speed and a moment later he and Stubbs were running quietly between the rows of German tents. Behind came the sound of pursuing footsteps.
"We're in for it now, Stubbs," panted Hal. "I was a fool to run. They know now that there is something wrong and they won't rest until they have scoured the entire camp."
"Then we are done for!" exclaimed Anthony Stubbs.
"Not yet!" replied Hal. "While there's life there's hope. Never say die, Stubbs."
The little man did not reply. He saved all the breath he had left for running purposes, for he felt that he was likely to have to run the rest of the night.
Suddenly, making another short turn, Hal pulled up. Stubbs did likewise and both listened attentively.
The footsteps were some distance back.
"We've gained a bit, Stubbs," said Hal.
"Well, what's the use of waiting here then?" demanded the war correspondent. "Let's gain a bit more."
"Hold on!" exclaimed Hal, as Stubbs would have taken to his heels again. "We can't run clear through the German camp like this, you know. We're bound to be caught if we try it. It must be strategy rather than fleetness of foot if we hope to get out of this situation safely."
"All right," Stubbs agreed. "Whatever you say suits me. But if it is strategy that is going to get us out of this, tell me some strategy real quick."
Hal considered a moment. Every second the pursuing footsteps were coming closer. Stubbs squirmed about uneasily.
"Say," he said at last; "hear those fellows coming? I'm going to get away from here."
Again he took to his heels; and there was nothing for Hal to do but follow, for he did not wish to lose sight of the little man. Besides, in that moment's pause, Hal had decided upon a plan that he believed had a fair chance of success.
For perhaps five minutes more they ran on, Hal fearful at every moment that German soldiers would pour from their tents and interrupt their flight. Fortunately, this did not happen, however.
Hal, fleet of foot as he was, was hard pressed to catch up with Stubbs, who had gained a slight lead and was covering the ground with rapid strides. But at last the lad overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Slow down, there," he commanded. "First thing you know you'll have the whole camp after us. Those shoes of yours must be at least number elevens. They shake the whole earth when you run."
"Well, they have come in pretty handy to-night," said Stubbs. "What are you stopping here for?"
"Because I don't want to arouse every German in the camp. I'll tell you about that strategy now."
"Well, let's hear it real quick," said Stubbs, impatiently. "I want to get away from here."
"So do I," said Hal, "but I want to get away all in one piece. Here's my plan: We can't hope to get away by running. Sooner or later, before we are clear of the German lines, we are certain to bump into some one. That would settle it. We'll go ahead a little more, then we'll enter one of these tents, tap the occupants on the head with our revolver butts and crawl into their cots. Then when our pursuers have gone by we'll go back."
"By Jove!" said Stubbs, "that's not half bad. Wonder why I can't think of things like that?"
"Because you're too busy running," returned Hal.
The first of the pursuers came into sight at that moment and uttered a cry. This told the others following that the prey had been sighted and they dashed forward.
"Come as fast as you can, Stubbs," shouted Hal. "We've got to get out of sight."
In the distance Hal saw a solitary figure standing before a tent. He knew that this figure had seen him and decided that the man must be disposed of before he could give the alarm, Therefore, he headed straight for him.
As he ran, Hal expected every moment that the figure before the tent would open fire on him and his own revolver was held ready should the man's first shot go wild. Hal did not wish to fire if he could possibly avoid it.
Close behind Hal, Stubbs panted and puffed along. Once Hal was forced to reduce his speed in order that Stubbs might keep up with him. The little man was doing his best, but his short legs were not built to maintain a pace that Hal could set. Besides, he had long since lost his youthfulness and he could not run as he had done in his earlier days.
"I can't go much farther, Hal," he gasped.
"Just a little ways, Stubbs," Hal urged him on. "See that man in the tent there? That's where we'll hide. I'll knock him out if he doesn't get me first. The fool! He is taking a long chance. He should fire."
At that moment there came a fusillade of shots from behind.
In his anxiousness to get the man in the door of the tent out of the way, Hal had continued a straight course longer than he had realized; and this had allowed the pursuers to come within sight again. There was nothing to do but make the best of it now.
Hal dashed straight for the figure in the tent.
Drawing close, Hal raised his revolver, reversed, and held it ready tobring down on the figure's head the moment they should come together.There was a sudden exclamation from the figure in the tent; and with itHal dropped his arm; the exclamation was a single word:
"Hal!"
It was the voice of Chester.
Hal stopped abruptly. Stubbs also panted up and came to a halt.
"What on earth are you doing here, Chester?" asked Hal.
For answer Chester pointed to the men who were pursuing his friends.
"Are those fellows after you?" he asked.
"Yes," was Hal's answer.
"Then let's get away from here," said Chester. "Come on."
He took to his heels and Hal and Stubbs followed him. Gaining his friend's side, Hal, in a few quick words, explained his plan as he had outlined it to Stubbs only a few moments before.
"Then we shall have to get out of sight of our pursuers," said Chester. "Come, Stubbs," he called back over his shoulder, "a little spurt now and we shall be safe."
Stubbs tried to respond to this command; and he did succeed in getting up a little more speed as he turned about a tent after Hal and Chester. Twice more the three doubled on their tracks and then Hal pulled up before a tent.
"This will do as well as another, I guess," he said.
"Waste no time," said Chester. "Revolvers ready and come on."
With weapons reversed the three entered the tent quietly. Deep snores within led the friends to the cots of the occupants of the tent.
"I hate to do this," said Chester, as he stood over a German soldier, "but there is no help for it."
His arm rose and fell.
Across the tent Hal performed a similar operation. Then they explored carefully in the darkness for signs of another figure.
There was none.
"Only two cots, Hal," whispered Chester. "Now let's get to bed until things have quieted down."
Quickly the three threw off their clothes and clambered into the cots, first throwing the men they had overcome beneath them. Stubbs had a cot to himself, while Hal and Chester climbed in together.
"When they fail to find trace of us they likely will come back and ask if we have been seen," said Hal. "We must pretend to be asleep."
A few moments later the sound of their pursuers' feet were audible as they passed the tent on the run. Then they died away in the distance.
"Had we better wait or try to get out before they come back?" asked Chester.
Hal was undecided, but the question was answered for him.
Only a few minutes had passed when there came the sound of returning footsteps. The boys could hear them stop before the different tents and also the sound of voices. Directly a man poked his head into the tent.
"Awake in here?" he asked.
There was no answer.
The man advanced into the tent and approached Stubbs' cot which was nearest the entrance. He laid a hand on Stubbs' shoulder and shook him.
"Hello," said the little man sleepily. "What's the matter. Time to get up already?"
"No," was the reply. "Have you seen anything of three men, whose appearance would indicate they had been running?"
"I've been asleep," protested Stubbs. "I had a dream. But I guess the menI saw in my dreams are not the ones you want."
"These are not dream men," was the response. "I thought possibly you might have heard them run by this tent."
"No," said Stubbs, truthfully, "I didn't hear them run by this tent."
"All right," said the German and withdrew.
For perhaps an hour the three fugitives lay in the shelter of the German tent. From time to time they heard voices without but after awhile these died away. After there had been absolute silence without for perhaps fifteen minutes, Chester slipped from the cot.
"May as well move, I guess," he whispered.
Hal also arose.
"All right," he said. "Come, Stubbs."
There was no reply from Stubbs' cot. Hal walked quickly across the tent, laid a hand on Stubbs' shoulder and shook him vigorously.
"Come, Stubbs!" he exclaimed. "Time to get out of here."
Stubbs muttered something unintelligible and turned over.
"By Jove! if he isn't asleep," said Chester, who came to Hal's side now.
"That's what he is," agreed Hal. "Well, we've got to get him up. Grab hold of his feet."
Chester did so and together the boys picked the little man up bodily.
"I say!" said Stubbs, sleepily, "let me alone, will you? I want to sleep a little more."
"You'll find an eternal sleep if you don't get out of here, Stubbs," said Hal. "Don't you know you are in a German tent and that you'll be shot if you're found here?"
This awoke Stubbs instantly. He stood up and rubbed his eyes.
"Great Scott!" he ejaculated. "How on earth did I go to sleep in a predicament like this?"
"I don't know how you did it," returned Hal, "but you did. Come on,Chester, let's get out of here while we have a chance."
He led the way cautiously to the door of the tent and poked his head carefully outside.
"Coast seems to be clear," he announced. "Come on and walk quietly."
The others followed him.
Hal made a direct line for the place where they had hidden the large army aeroplane. Fortunately, the lad was blessed with an almost uncanny sense of direction and he knew the course he laid out would take them to the hiding spot of the plane as directly as if he could see the huge machine from where he stood.
All was silence in the big camp as the lads walked cautiously along, stopping now and then and straining their ears for a sound that would indicate the presence of a watchful German sentry. No such sound came and the three had almost reached the outskirts of the camp when Hal, who was leading, stopped and pointed to an object that loomed up large in the darkness a short distance away.
"What is it?" asked Stubbs in a hoarse whisper.
"Looks to me like a place where ammunition might be stored," said Hal, quietly. "I shall have a look."
"Let it alone, Hal," said Stubbs, anxiously. "Don't go fooling around there. You're likely to blow us all up."
"I guess not," returned Hal, "but I wouldn't mind blowing all the ammunition up that the place may contain."
"By Jove!" said Chester. "A good idea! I'm with you."
"Well, I'm not," declared Stubbs. "I know where our aeroplane is and that's where I'm going right this minute. I don't know how to fly the thing, and if you fellows go fooling around that ammunition depot I'll probably have to hunt another pilot; but Anthony Stubbs is not going to be blown up with his eyes open when he can help it."
"Better wait here, Stubbs," said Chester.
"Not me," returned the little man, decisively. "You'll find me at the plane when you get there; or if you get there, I should say."
"But there is nothing sure that the building contains ammunition," saidHal. "I just guessed at it, Stubbs. Come and have a look."
"Oh, it contains ammunition, all right."
"How do you know?" demanded Chester.
"Well, if it didn't you fellows wouldn't have spied it. You call it good luck. I call it hard luck. I tell you that every time I go any place with you I risk my neck. Sure the building contains ammunition! It was put there for the sole purpose of having you blow it up. That's the way it looks to me. But I can see all the fireworks I want to from a distance. Good-bye."
"All right, Stubbs, if you are such a coward," said Chester, somewhat nettled.
"I'd rather be a live coward than a dead fool," was Stubbs' reply.
He walked off.
"Come on, Chester," said Hal. "We'll have a look at this place."
He led the way close to the building. Going slowly and cautiously they advanced to within a short distance of the building without being observed, although they could see an occasional dark shape as it moved about in front of the building.
"Guards there," said Hal, briefly.
"Sure," said Chester. "I believe you have guessed right. I am sure the place is filled with ammunition. Now if we could just dispose of the guards and place a time fuse—"
"It would be a hard blow to the Germans," Hal agreed. "We'll try it."
Still cautiously they approached. A guard arose from in front of the building. He stretched his arms. Apparently he had been asleep. Then he sat down again.
"We'll wait a minute," Hal whispered. "Perhaps he'll doze again."
Fortune was with the boys. A few moments later there came the sound of a gentle snore. The man was asleep. Immediately the lads sprang to action. Quickly they dashed across the open space to the side of the large building, which was made of wood and seemed to be nothing more than a huge barn.
Chester stopped beside the guard and raised his revolver. He hesitated a moment and then lowered the weapon.
"Let him be," he muttered. "He won't be with us long anyhow."
Hal, in the meantime, had been exploring the barn. Coming back he picked up the guard's rifle.
"I can pry a board loose with this," he told Chester, in a whisper.
This proved easier work than it looked. The board came loose without much trouble. Hal disappeared inside.
"Ammunition?" Chester asked, as he poked his head in.
"Yes," Hal whispered back.
"Find a fuse?" asked Chester.
Again Hal's reply was in the affirmative.
"Stretch it out here then, and hurry," ordered Chester.
Hal appeared on the outside a moment later, carrying a fuse. One end still remained in the barn. The other Hal carried some distance.
"Guess you'd better dispose of that guard first," he said. "He might wake up and extinguish the fuse."
It was the work of but a moment, much as Chester hated to perform it.
Then Hal struck a light, shielding the match with his cap. He applied the match to the fuse. Then he sprang to his feet and called to Chester:
"Run!"
Both lads fled through the night knowing that their lives depended upon it. For safety's sake it was absolutely necessary that they put as great a distance as possible between them and the barn.
According to Hal's calculations, the spot where the aeroplane was hidden was far enough away so that the machine would not be disabled by the force of the explosion; and it was for this point that the lads made at full speed.
They reached there safely; and still there had been no explosion.
"How much time did you allow, Hal?" asked Chester.
"Ten minutes, as nearly as I could judge," was the reply.
"Then we still have a few minutes, I guess. Had we better wait here until after the blast, or shall we run out the machine and get up in the air."
"We'd better stay here," returned Hal, positively, "I don't know how much ammunition there is in that barn. It's going to kick up a terrible fuss. My advice is that we lay flat on the ground, hold our ears and bury our faces. Immediately after the blast we'll run the machine out and get up as swiftly as possible."
"I can imagine the effect of the explosion," said Chester.
"Well, I can't," returned Hal; "nor can you. How many men it may kill, how many it may maim and what damage it will do cannot be estimated. But one thing sure, immediately afterwards every sleepy German soldier within fifty miles will be on the alert. The Germans will know it was not an accident. They will attribute the explosion to a bomb dropped from the air. We may have trouble reaching our lines."
"I wish you hadn't done it, Hal," mumbled Stubbs, whom the lads had found hiding beside the aeroplane. "It will dig a hole a mile deep in the ground. Rocks, guns and everything will come down like hail. We may be killed."
"Quiet, Stubbs!" ordered Hal. "Flat on the ground with you now. Hold your ears and bury your faces until I tell you to get up."
He suited the action to the word. Chester and Stubbs followed his example.
For long moments, it seemed to them, they waited for the sound of the blast that would shake the country. Each was anxious, for there was no telling what the result of the explosion might be. Stubbs squirmed uneasily as he burrowed in the ground, while Chester and Hal were by no means easy in their minds.
So long did they wait that it seemed to Chester something must have gone wrong. Perhaps the fuse had gone out. Perhaps another German guard had discovered it in time and pinched out the fire. There were many possibilities, and the lad considered them all as he lay prostrate on the ground.
He was about to raise his head and ask Hal a question, when, suddenly, the blast came.
There was, at first, a long grumbling roar, which, it seemed, would never end. Gradually the roar increased until it reached such proportions as to be beyond all description; it was a roar the like of which neither of the three figures who lay there had ever heard before—probably never would hear again.
Louder and louder it grew and then ended in a final blast that was louder than many thousand times the loudest peal of thunder—louder than the simultaneous firing of thousands of guns.
Then it became suddenly quiet—so quiet that Hal, Chester and Stubbs, who had now leaped to their feet, felt a queer sensation hovering all about them; so quiet that it was, for the moment, impossible to hear.
Then something descended not five yards from where the three stood with a terrible roar. Instinctively, all fell to the ground again, crowding themselves into the smallest possible space.
For the rain of debris had begun. And for several minutes it continued. Pieces of guns, of rocks and of all objects imaginable fell upon all sides of the three; but, fortunately, none struck them. Then the rain of debris ceased.
In the great German camp all was hideous confusion. Thousands of lives had been snuffed out by the force of the titanic blast; thousands of others had perished in the rain of steel and iron and rock that followed. It was the greatest catastrophe that had befallen the Germans for many a long day. The effect of the explosion was appalling.
Hal's first thought after the rain of steel and iron had ceased was for the aeroplane. If it had been smashed they were, indeed, in a serious situation. If it had gone through the storm safely they were comparatively safe.
Together the three friends rushed toward the machine. Quickly they rolled it out into the open. Hal examined the engine and steering apparatus carefully.
"All right, Hal?" asked Chester, anxiously.
Hal shook his head.
"Something wrong with the engine."
"Can you fix it?"
"I haven't been able to determine just what's wrong yet."
Hal worked rapidly; and at last he gave an exclamation of satisfaction.
"Find it?" asked Chester.
"Yes; I'll have it fixed in a quarter of an hour."
"If we're not away from here in five minutes we're likely to be dead," said Stubbs, plaintively.
"Don't croak, Stubbs," said Chester. "We've done a good day's work and you should be proud to have a hand in it."
"Should I?" said Stubbs. "Well, all right, if you say so; but I would be a whole lot more proud if I could get back and tell somebody about it."
"A man deserves no particular credit for doing his duty," saidChester, quietly.
"Maybe not," agreed Stubbs. "But I haven't done mine yet."
"Why—"
"My duty," said Stubbs, "is to get back to some place where I can send an account of this feat to the New YorkGazette. Believe me, it will be some scoop."
"Scoop?"
"Yes. I mean no other paper will have the facts as I have them."
"All right, Stubbs," said Chester. "I hope you get your scoop."
"I'm going to get it," said Stubbs, excitedly, "if I have to walk over the body of the Kaiser himself to do it."
"That's the way to talk," said Chester. "Confidence is the greatest asset in the world."
"It's not confidence," said Stubbs. "I've just got to do it. Why, if my boss knew I had something like this in my hands and I didn't get it to him I'd lose my job."
Chester made no reply to this; instead, he bent over Hal who was still tinkering with the engine of the aeroplane.
"How are you making it?" he asked.
"I don't seem to be able to fix it," returned Hal. "Say! you two fellows walk away a bit and keep an eye open for possible enemies. We don't want to be caught off our guard here."
Chester and Stubbs did as Hal directed, though the latter mumbled to himself as he took his position some distance away.
"That's the trouble with these contraptions," he said. "Always out of whack. If a man had a good horse now—"
He broke off and continued to mumble something unintelligible to himself.
"I've found it," cried Hal now, from the aeroplane. "I was working on the wrong part. I'll have it fixed in a jiffy."
Chester made no reply, but Stubbs brightened up wonderfully.
"That's the talk!" he cried. "Fix her up, Hal, and get a move on."
Hal smiled to himself as he tinkered with the engine.
Hal was deep in his work when his attention was attracted by a sudden cry of alarm from Stubbs.
"Germans!" cried the little man, and without stopping to look again, he dashed toward Hal.
At almost the same moment Chester saw a force of the enemy advancing toward him. He, too, uttered a cry of alarm and dashed toward the place where Hal still bent over the aeroplane.
Stubbs danced up and down and chanted excitedly:
"Hurry up, Hal! Hurry up! Here they come!"
"Shut up, Stubbs!" exclaimed Hal, straining all his energies to fix the break in the plane. "I'll have it in a minute."
"A minute will be too late!" cried Stubbs.
"Be still, Stubbs!" said Chester, quietly. "Give Hal a chance. There is still time to run if it's necessary."
And at that moment Hal sprang to his feet.
"Fixed!" he cried joyfully. "Climb in here, quickly!"
The others needed no urging and soon all were in their places. It was now that Hal thanked his stars that the plane was one of the few that could rise from the ground.
Slowly the large army plane gathered headway as he moved along the ground. Hal increased the speed slowly in spite of the close proximity, for he realized that too great haste might spell disaster, and he wished to test the engine carefully before soaring into the air.
"Up, Hal!" cried Stubbs. "Here they come!"
Hal paid no heed to this frantic exclamation. Instead, for a moment, he reduced the speed of the craft as something seemed not to be working exactly right. Calmly he bent over the engine and tinkered with it a moment later. Then he sat straight and exclaimed:
"All right now!"
Stubbs gave a great sigh of relief.
Hal increased the speed of the machine until it fairly flew over the ground. And then his hand touched the elevating lever.
Immediately the plane soared in the air like a big bird.
And from the ground came exclamations of surprise; for it was not until that moment that the Germans who had been advancing toward the friends had discovered their presence; although they had been espied by Chester and Stubbs some moments before.
A volley of rifle bullets was fired at the rapidly rising machine.
One flew by Stubbs' ear and he dropped to the bottom of the car with a howl of fright.
A moment later, however, the machine was beyond reach of the rifles of the German troops, and Hal laid the craft out on a straightaway course, heading directly west.
"Nothing can stop us now but enemy aeroplanes," he said quietly.
He increased his speed. The big army plane flew toward the distant French lines with a speed greater than that of the fastest express train.