With a quick command the general stayed the fire of the soldiers, and advanced to hear what the lad had to say. In their French uniforms, he had not recognized Hal and Chester as Captain Eberhardt's erstwhile prisoners.
"What is it?" he demanded sharply.
"This execution must not proceed," said Chester.
The general took a step back.
"And why not?" he asked.
"Because," said Chester, "Captain Eberhardt in no way aided the prisoners to escape. It was through no fault of his that they were able to get away."
"How do you know this?" asked General Steinbach. "Who are you?"
"We are the prisoners," replied Chester quietly.
"What!" exclaimed the general, starting back.
"Yes," said Hal, "we are the prisoners."
It did not take the German commander long to recover his poise, and he advanced toward the lads.
"I thought you had made good your escape," he said. "I was told that you had made you way into the French lines during the night."
"We did, sir," said Chester.
"Then how comes it that you are back here?"
"We learned from a prisoner this morning that Captain Eberhardt was to be shot because we escaped," said Chester, "so we came back to help him if possible."
"Do you mean to tell me," exclaimed General Steinbach, "that you risked your lives to save that of an enemy?"
"He interceded for us," said Hal quietly, "and it was because of us that he was sentenced to be shot. It was no more than right for us to save him if we could."
The general looked at them in undisguised amazement.
"Hïmmel!" he exclaimed, and added beneath his breath: "No wonder we are having such trouble disposing of these English!"
"We hope, sir," said Hal, walking up to the German commander, "that you will see fit to stay the execution."
"In that event, you will have to consider yourselves prisoners and stand trial as spies," was the reply.
The lads bowed their heads in assent.
The general threw wide his arms in a sudden gesture.
"Captain Eberhardt shall go free," he said.
He turned, and with a word, dismissed the firing squad.
Captain Eberhardt approached the lads and grasped each by the hand before the very eyes of the general.
"I can never thank you half enough," he said, and there were tears in his eyes.
"Oh, that's all right," said Chester. "We couldn't do less."
General Steinbach turned upon Hal and Chester.
"Such bravery as you have exhibited," he said quietly, "is not often seen. You are prisoners, but you have my word that you shall not even be tried as spies. You shall be treated as prisoners, and sent back to Berlin until the war is over."
Hal twisted his face into a wry expression.
"Back to Berlin!" he exclaimed in the deepest disgust, "where have I heard that expression before?"
Chester also uttered an exclamation of dismay.
"That phrase is certainly getting to be monotonous," he said. "It seems that every time we turn around somebody talks of sending us back to Berlin."
"Well, they won't get me back there if I can help it," said Hal.
"Nor me, either," agreed Chester.
General Steinbach now spoke again.
"You will not be sent back before to-morrow," he said; "in the meantime, if you will give me your paroles, I shall be glad to have you as my guests."
Chester glanced quickly at Hal, and the latter nodded his head negatively.
"We are sorry, sir," said Chester, "but we cannot give our paroles."
The general hesitated for a brief moment.
"Oh, well," he said, "I don't know as it makes any difference. There is no chance of your escaping again. I shall be pleased to have you lunch with me."
The lads accepted this invitation gladly, for both were very hungry, and they knew from past experiences that the Kaiser treated his officers to the best that was to be obtained in the line of food.
They accompanied General Steinbach to his quarters, where they soon sat down to a substantial meal. The meal over, the German commander walked with them to the outside, and asked them if they would care to have a look about. Both lads agreed that they would and the general detailed an officer to show them around.
"I hardly believe you will be able to reveal what you may see," he said with a smile, as he left them, "for within a few days you will be safe in Berlin."
"I wish he wouldn't harp on Berlin so much," said Chester. "I don't like the name of that place."
After an hour's stroll the lads were conducted to a tent at the northern extremity of the German lines, where they were placed under guard. They had the tent to themselves, but guards were stationed upon the outside.
All the rest of the afternoon they sat there talking over the situation and trying to hit upon some plan of escape; but no feasible scheme occurred to either.
Night came and food was brought them. The lads did not turn in early, for they were in no mood for sleep. Well into the night they sat up talking.
In the midst of the conversation Hal became conscious of the fact that an object of some kind was trying to crawl under the tent from the outside. Silently he called Chester's attention to the spot where the canvas was being tampered with.
Presently a head appeared beneath the rear of the tent, followed by a man's head and shoulders. His face was not turned toward the lads, so they did not recognize him; but they did not move from their chairs.
Now the apparition succeeded in drawing his legs within the tent, and, rising to his feet, turned toward them. In spite of their surprise, however, the boys were too cool to exclaim aloud, but both muttered beneath their breath:
"Stubbs!"
The newcomer was indeed the little American war correspondent.
He laid a cautious finger to his lips and came toward them. Both lads arose and silently took him by the hand.
"I've come to get you out," whispered Stubbs.
"How did you get here?" asked Hal in a low voice.
"I have been here for two days," was the reply. "I came before you did, and when I told the German commander I was an American war correspondent, he was glad to see me. You know the Kaiser is seeking the moral sympathy of the United States. When I told General Steinbach that I was here to get the German side of the war he treated me royally. He presented me with a pass giving me the freedom of the German lines and has taken the trouble to show me about a bit himself."
"You certainly must have made a hit with him," said Chester.
"Leave that to Stubbs," was the little man's reply. "Now, the thing is, to get you out of here."
"But how did you know we were here?" asked Hal.
Stubbs smiled.
"I was a silent witness of the scene at the place of execution," he said. "Since that time I have been following you. When I saw you placed in this tent I disappeared, for I didn't want to be seen hanging about the prisoners. I knew you would be here till morning, so I waited till dark to come to you."
"Have you a plan?" asked Chester.
"A newspaper man always has a plan," was the reply.
He went to the place where he had come under the tent and, reaching out a hand, pulled a bundle in after him. This he brought over to the lads and untied.
The lads bent over it eagerly and started back in surprise when they saw what it contained.
"Women's clothes!" exclaimed Hal in a low voice.
Stubbs smiled complacently.
"They were the best I could obtain upon short notice," he explained."Then, too, I believe they will be better disguises than anything else."
"We'll make a couple of fine-looking girls," said Hal in disgust.
"Oh, I don't know," replied Stubbs. "I guess you will look a heap better than some I have seen hereabouts."
"But I don't know anything about women's clothes," protested Hal.
"Nor I," said Chester, "except I know that if you don't walk just so you might as well tell everybody you are not a woman."
"That would be true in New York, but not here," said Stubbs. "Some of these French peasant women walk just like a man, so you won't have any trouble on that score. The main thing is to see if they fit."
"Well, the easiest way to tell that is to try 'em on," said Chester."Here goes."
He took a faded blue dress from the bundle, and, holding it in two hands, thrust one foot into it.
"Here, here, that's not the way to get into it," exclaimed Stubbs.
Chester looked at him in surprise.
"How else can you get into it?" he demanded.
"Put it over your head," whispered Stubbs. "You see," he explained, "I am a married man and I know something about such things."
Chester tried again, and, obeying Stubbs's injunction, found that the dress slipped on more easily. He fastened it around his waist.
"Pretty good fit, isn't it?" he asked.
"Well, it's not so awfully good," replied Stubbs, concealing a grin, "but I guess it will answer the purpose. Now throw that shawl over your head and you'll be fixed."
Hal, by this time, had climbed into the second costume, and now strode about.
"Hold on a minute," said Stubbs. "You'll have to roll up your trousers' legs, or a puff of wind is likely to come along and give you away."
Both lads obeyed this injunction.
"That's better," said the war correspondent, after eying them critically."Now, let's see if there is anything else."
He stood back a few paces and surveyed them carefully.
"How do we look?" asked Hal.
"It would be a shame to tell you," said Stubbs cheerfully. "However, I guess you will pass muster. Wait a minute, though, there is another thing. You stand too erect. Stoop over a little bit. That's better. Now you have it," he exclaimed, as the lads dropped into the proper pose.
"Now, rub your hands in the dirt a bit and streak your faces."
The lads obeyed, and once more Stubbs stood off and surveyed them long and carefully.
"I guess that will do all right," he murmured.
"What are we supposed to be, anyway?" demanded Chester.
"Apple-women," replied Stubbs.
"Then where are the apples and baskets?" asked Hal.
"Well, you are shy on them right now," said Stubbs. "So you will have to do the best you can without 'em. If you are questioned, which I don't believe you will be, say that you have sold out; that you have thrown your baskets away and that you are going to try to get to a place of safety."
"But I didn't know there were any apple-women near here," said Chester.
"Well, there aren't any," replied Stubbs. "However, if there had not been two, I wouldn't have been able to get these clothes for you."
"How did you get them?"
"Bought 'em."
"Then why didn't you get the baskets and apples, too?" asked Hal.
The little man sniffed his contempt.
"I would have looked nice lugging two big baskets about, wouldn't I?" he asked. "If I had tried that I'd have been shot a long while ago. I had trouble enough getting here with the bundle without being seen."
"But why—" began Hal.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Stubbs. "You fellows should have been newspaper men. You can ask more fool questions to the minute than anyone I ever heard."
The little man's feelings were considerably ruffled, and Hal hastened to assuage them.
"Don't think for a minute we are not grateful," he said. "If we succeed in getting safely away we'll owe you a deep debt of thanks."
"Rats!" exclaimed Stubbs. "I don't want any thanks. All I want is to get you fellows out of here."
"But how are you going to get away?"
"Don't you worry about me. I'll get away, all right—a newspaper man can go any place, any way and any time."
"Except in times of war."
"Well, perhaps so," admitted Stubbs. "However, I have my pass. I'll get away, all right, but not until I have found some news for the Gazette."
"But you are not paid to get killed," said Hal.
"No," was the reply, "but I am paid to get news. Now, I'll go out under the tent first, and if the coast is clear, I'll whistle twice, like this." He whistled softly.
The boys signified that they understood. Stubbs held out his hands, and both lads grasped them.
"Good-by, and good luck," said Stubbs quietly.
He crossed the tent quickly, dropped down, and wormed his way out slowly and silently.
Hal and Chester listened intently.
One minute passed, then two, then three, and then a low whistle broke the stillness. Once, twice, it came.
The boys sprang into action.
"You go first, Hal," whispered Chester.
Hal nodded, and, dropping to his knees, crawled beneath the tent. In a few seconds, he was on the outside, where Chester joined him a moment later.
They looked around for Stubbs, but he was not there. The little war correspondent, his work done, had sought safety in flight. He realized that, should anything go wrong and the three be recaptured together, it would go hard with all of them.
The lads could hear the footsteps of the guard, as he paced to and fro in front of the tent they had just left. While to the rear and on both sides, farther away, they could also hear the tramp of other sentries, as they made their rounds.
A sentry came into view to the rear, but passed on without seeing them. Immediately the lads made their way whence he had come, and soon had put considerable distance between them and their late prison. Here, sure that they were far enough from their recent quarters not to cast suspicion upon themselves should they be seen, they walked boldly forward.
The huge German camp was asleep, for the hour was after nine and the soldiers always turned in early except when they were on night duty or a night attack by the French was anticipated; but they slept on their arms.
"Which way?" asked Chester of Hal, in a low voice.
"I don't believe we had better try for the river," was the reply. "We had better strike straight west."
"Suits me," declared Chester, and the boys set off through the sleepingGerman camp at a fast walk.
Row after row of tents they passed through, walking along the improvised streets until they were well beyond the main camp. Here they were still in the midst of the enemy, but the tents were more scattered. Suddenly they slackened their speed.
A German sentry was approaching them.
Perceiving the two shadowy forms, the sentry brought his rifle to his shoulder, and cried:
"Halt!"
The lads obeyed, and the sentry came close to them. Perceiving that the figures he had accosted were attired in women's clothing, he dropped his rifle and demanded:
"What are you doing here?"
"We have been selling apples to the soldiers," replied Hal in French in a shrill voice.
The soldier understood French and replied:
"Where are your baskets?"
Hal replied as he had been instructed by the little war correspondent.
"Well," said the sentry, apparently satisfied, "you have no business around here at this hour of the night. Go quickly."
The lads needed no further urging, and, bearing off a trifle to the north, continued their journey.
Their shoulders stooped and their shawls thrown over their heads so they could barely see, they went on with slowly shambling steps.
"When we get back to America," whispered Chester, "I am going on the stage as a female impersonator."
"After this," Hal whispered back, "I am inclined to believe that we would both make good."
All night they continued toward the northwest, and when morning dawned they were still within the German lines.
"We shall have to be more careful now," said Chester, as it began to grow light.
"On the contrary," said Hal, "we may go forward more boldly."
"How do you make that out?" demanded Chester in surprise.
"Why," Hal explained, "two apple-women strolling about the enemy's camp in the night would attract more attention, should they be discovered, than in broad daylight, when they might possibly have some business there."
"Right," agreed Chester. "I hadn't thought of it in that way."
Accordingly they proceeded more boldly now.
Here and there troops of German cavalry now came to life. The lads also passed regiment after regiment of hurrying infantry; but they were not so much as challenged. Old apple-women, such as the lads appeared to the enemy, were plentiful in the German lines, and no attention was paid to them.
Suddenly the lads beheld a sight that caused them to start back in astonishment and dismay.
Directly ahead of them they saw a long trench, stretching out on either side as far as the eye could reach—and it was filled with German soldiers.
"Great Scott!" ejaculated Hal. "I had forgotten that the Germans were probably intrenched along here. How on earth are we to get through?"
At that moment the two lads beheld three old women coming toward them, and Hal exclaimed:
"I wonder if we look like that?"
In their hands the women carried large baskets, and even from where the lads stood they could see that they were chockfull of bright red apples.
Chester was struck with a sudden idea. Stepping out of view behind Hal, he quickly lifted his skirts and thrust his hand into his pocket. He pulled forth a handful of gold and silver, from which he extracted several German pieces. Then he advanced toward the old women, Hal following him in surprise.
Chester accosted the women in French.
"How much do you want for your basket of apples?" he asked, addressing one.
The old woman named a sum.
Chester counted it out and dropped it into her hand, much to her surprise, and relieved her of her basket. Then he turned to a second and repeated the operation, passing the second basket to Hal.
"Now, we'll see how business is," he said, and led the way directly toward the trenches.
In the midst of the German soldiers, the lads did a thriving business, and, although they did not know it, the reason was because they were offering their wares at a much lower price than had been customary.
The soldiers joked with them and resorted to flattery in an attempt to cause them to reduce the price of the apples even more. The lads, talking in shrill, wheedling tones, joked back, and made quite a hit with the men in the trenches.
At last, having disposed of all their apples, and having come to a place somewhat more secluded than the rest, the lads sat down to wait. As they looked around, they observed that for some reason this short section had not been dug to fit in with the rest of the trenches. As a result they were out of sight of either side.
Becoming conscious of voices from beyond the little wall of earth to the right, the lads became silent and listened.
"Then everything is in readiness for the grand advance?" asked a voice.
"Yes," replied a second.
"And where will the assault be made?"
"At Soissons. The French are secure in their belief that a concerted attack will not be made for some time—at least not until the Kaiser, who, as you know has been very ill, returns to the front."
"I thought that myself."
"Well, you are right, to a certain extent. What the French don't know is that the Kaiser will be on the firing line the day after to-morrow."
"What! So soon?"
"Yes."
"He has recovered, then?"
"Practically! Therefore, the grand offensive will be resumed around Soissons two days later, which will be Saturday. The French—absolutely unprepared for any such movement—will be caught unawares, and a wedge will be driven into them."
"And the object of this new offensive?" queried one of the voices.
"The object," was the reply, "will be the same as was the object when we first moved into France."
"Paris?" asked a voice.
"Paris," was the brief reply.
"Good! And there is no chance of failure, you say?"
"Not unless our plans come to the ears of General Joffre. If he knew of the plan he might, of course, hurry up reënforcements enough to stop it."
"And if, by any chance, this offensive fails, the other plan will be put into execution, you say?"
"Yes, it has been arranged, I understand, down to the last detail. The Paris Apaches, as you know, have neither love of country nor love of fellow-men. They seek only gold. Well, a man, Pierre Duval, by name, the King of the Paris Apaches, has been reached by one of our agents. I am told he has 500 underworld denizens at his command. These, at an auspicious moment, will seize the president, who will be hustled into a closed automobile surrounded by the army of Apaches, and the rest will be easy."
"But Poincaré's bodyguard?"
"Ach! It will not be strong enough to cope with the Apaches. Besides, the surprise itself augurs well for the success of the plan."
"Well, I hope neither plan fails."
"You may rest easy on that score. If one fails the other is sure to succeed."
Hal and Chester, from their concealment, heard the men rise and move off in the opposite direction.
"Great Scott!" cried Chester. "Do you know what that means?"
"I do," said Hal simply. "It means that, unless General Joffre is warned, the French army may suffer a crushing blow; also, if President Poincaré is not warned, he may be kidnapped by the enemy!"
"Exactly," said Chester. "But what are we to do?"
"We must make a dash for it," was the quiet response.
Quickly the lads stripped themselves of their woman's garments, and advanced to the very edge of the German trenches.
"Now!" cried Hal, and, jumping from the shelter, they darted across the open field to where the tricolor of France fluttered aloft.
A great tumult arose in the German trench as the eyes of the soldiers fell upon the two figures speeding toward the distant French line. Stripped of their woman's attire the lads had exposed their French uniforms and they were recognized in a flash by the enemy.
But, so sudden had been their dash that they were enabled to cover a considerable distance before the troops, at a sharp command from their officers, brought their rifles to their shoulders to fire a volley after them. By that time the lads were perhaps a hundred yards beyond the trench, and, glancing quickly over his shoulder, Hal perceived the movements of the enemy.
"Drop, quick!" he called to Chester.
Without slackening their speed the lads threw themselves to the ground at the very moment the Germans fired.
The bullets whistled harmlessly over the lads' heads.
They were up again in an instant and dashed forward. By a miracle, it seemed, they escaped being shot down. Soon they were nearer the French trenches than those of the Germans. Still the enemy rained bullets after them.
Perceiving the forms of what appeared to be two French officers dashing from the enemy's trenches, the French commander immediately ordered a detachment of infantry to protect their flight. These climbed rapidly from the trenches and dashed forward.
A moment later the Germans also threw out a detachment to drive them back.
The French column fired a volley over the heads of the approaching lads, and the latter once more dropped to the ground to avoid the return fire of the Germans.
Two minutes later Hal and Chester were behind the French detachment and were making hurriedly for the trenches. Immediately the small force of French which had advanced to their support commenced to retire slowly, and soon also were safe from the enemy's fire.
This little skirmish had resulted in severe losses to both sides, although the French casualties were slightly heavier than those of the enemy. Ten Frenchmen were left on the field, while but eight German bodies strewed the ground.
Hal and Chester quickly sought out the French commander. Upon telling him that they had important information for General Joffre, they soon had a large automobile at their disposal and were dashing toward Soissons, where the French commander-in-chief had established temporary headquarters.
The distance was not great, and, as they now had no enemies to bar their progress, the lads soon pulled up near General Joffre's quarters. An aide accosted them, and carried the lads' names to the French commander. He returned a few moments later and announced that General Joffre would receive them immediately.
Hal and Chester followed the aide to the general's tent, where he stood back and motioned for them to enter.
Inside stood General Joffre, surrounded by members of his staff. He motioned for the lads to approach, which they did, and came to attention. The general greeted them warmly.
"I am glad to see you again," he said. "I have not forgotten the valuable service you rendered the French army recently. I am told you carry important information."
"Yes, sir" replied Hal.
"Let me have it, then," said General Joffre.
In a few brief and well-chosen words Hal repeated what they had overheard so recently in the German trench. The general listened to them apparently unmoved.
"So!" he exclaimed, when Hal had concluded his narrative, "they are planning to kidnap President Poincaré, eh? Well, we shall be ready for them. But first I must take steps to thwart the proposed German drive. It is to be delivered when, you say?"
"Two days after to-morrow, sir," replied Hal.
"And you say the Kaiser will return to the front the day after to-morrow?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good! We shall be ready for him."
He turned to a member of his staff. "Colonel Mercer," he said, "my compliments to General Rochelle, and repeat to him what you have just heard. You will order him to fall back slowly when the German offensive begins."
He turned to the others of his staff, who had manifested some surprise at this command. "I do this, gentlemen," he explained, "that the Germans may be drawn into a trap of our own setting. Not knowing that we have learned their plans, they will probably push the attack with vigor. When we begin to give way they will be confident of the success of their plan. In the meantime reënforcements shall be hurried forward, and, when the Germans have advanced to a point I shall select, we shall take the offensive with redoubled vigor. The enemy, caught unprepared, will be crushed before they can be sufficiently reënforced."
Exclamations of satisfaction escaped the group of staff officers, and Hal and Chester were greatly impressed by the prompt action of the French commander-in-chief.
"He allows no grass to grow under his feet," Hal whispered to Chester.
"I should say not," replied the latter.
General Joffre turned to Hal.
"It is your understanding, then," he said, "that the plot against thePresident will not be tried until after the grand assault?"
"That is my understanding of the matter, sir," Hal replied.
"Good! In the meantime, then, we shall have time to take care of that." He turned to another of his officers. "Colonel Devore," he said, "you will see that these two lads are given suitable quarters."
The colonel saluted.
"I shall ask them to share mine, sir," he replied.
"Bien," returned General Joffre. "I shall probably have need of you again, soon," he added, to Hal and Chester.
He sat down at his desk and turned to a mass of papers and maps, and the lads realized that the interview was ended.
Colonel Devore motioned them to follow him, and, saluting the French commander, the lads filed out of the tent.
Colonel Devore introduced them to his own quarters and, waving his hand airily, exclaimed:
"You will make yourselves perfectly at home here as long as you may stay."
"Thank you, Colonel," said Chester. "We appreciate your hospitality."
The colonel waved aside the thanks with a gesture and strode from the tent.
The lads immediately composed themselves to rest, for it was a long time since they had closed their eyes in slumber.
Greatly refreshed by a short sleep they arose two hours later and took a walk about the camp. At a distant part of the trenches they saw a large number of troops gathered about, and the sounds of laughter rose on the air.
"Wonder what's up?" asked Hal.
"I don't know," replied Chester, "but we may as well have a look. Come on."
He led the way and Hal followed him.
Coming closer the lads cried out in astonishment. Their eyes fell upon a body of troops that they knew in an instant could have hailed but from one part of the world. They were English—but a mere handful of them—not more than a single squad.
"By Jove!" said Hal. "I didn't know there were any British troops in this part of the field."
"Nor I," said Chester. "But what do you suppose all those fellows are laughing at?"
They drew closer. Coming upon the circle of troops that surrounded a single man, the lads stared in astonishment, and then they, too, broke into a loud laugh.
There, right in the foremost trench and therefore in the more danger from the enemy's fire, a tall, lank Englishman lay, stretched at full length upon the ground. His arms were above his head, and he appeared to be resting in perfect comfort, at peace with the world.
But it was something that protruded from the legs of his army trousers that had caused the merriment of the troops gathered about. The lanky Englishman had removed his puttees and exposed to the view of the astonished Frenchmen two silk-clad feet, and red silk at that.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal. "Silk socks! and in this weather!"
"Silk socks," said Chester, "are clearly against the army regulations."
They approached closer.
Now the lanky Englishman sat up, and apparently unconscious of the gaze of the troops about him, produced a nice leather box, opened it, extracted an instrument, and proceeded to manicure his nails. He did it coolly and paid no attention whatever to those about him.
"Well!" said Hal. "What do you think of that?"
"That's the best I have seen yet," said Chester, laughing.
The lads pushed through the crowd of curious French soldiers and soon were in the midst of the British. They approached a sergeant.
"What sort of a freak is this?" asked Hal, indicating the longEnglishman.
"By Jove!" exclaimed the sergeant. "You're English, aren't you?"
"Yes," replied Hal. "But who is this gentleman with the manicure set?"
The sergeant smiled.
"That," he said, "is His Lordship."
"'His Lordship'? But what's his name?"
"Well, I have forgotten his name. We all call him 'His Lordship.'"
"But why do you permit all this funny business?"
The sergeant shrugged his shoulders.
"What can I do?" he exclaimed. "If I forbid one thing he bobs up with something else. Look at him! He's the laziest man I ever saw. We named him 'His Lordship' the moment of his arrival in our midst, and bets were made that he would succumb after the first day's march. Not a bit of it! He looked tired at the start, but he looked no more so at the finish. We were finally placed in the trenches. His Lordship did everything ungrudgingly, but he could not sleep without a pillow. What do you suppose he did?"
"I haven't the slightest idea," said Hal. "What did he do?"
"Why, he made a bargain with a big fat fellow, who, for four packs of cigarettes a day, agreed to let his lordship use his stomach as a pillow. He's lazy, yes, but just the same he's a fighter. We began to respect him on the day he laid low sixteen Germans with eighteen cartridges. He did it as nonchalantly as though he were in a shooting gallery. But lazy! Why, he was so lazy he would not brush the perspiration off his forehead. He asked a neighbor to do it for him!"
The sergeant stopped and eyed His Lordship.
"Look," he said, "he's going to bed again."
It was true. His Lordship had stretched out on the cold, hard ground.
"Great Scott! Can he sleep there?" asked Chester, in surprise.
"His Lordship," said the sergeant calmly, "can sleep anywhere!"
A battle, as severe in its hand-to-hand struggle and toll of life as Fredericksburg or Antietam, in the American Civil War—yet in this vast conflict only an incident, chronicled as "progress" in the official reports—such was the battle of Soissons. It was the most terrific and the most bitterly contested of the great war up to date, January 8.
There, for eight days, men fell, torn with shell and bullet, and over these trenches men charged in the face of certain death.
A German attack in force opened the battle on January 8. General Joffre had slightly altered his plan, as outlined to Hal and Chester, and immediately the battle began the French made a counter-attack.
The Aisne river, at this point, is one of the most strategic positions. The battlefield covered a front of approximately seven miles. On the western side is a deep valley, running northward, which is bounded on either side by turnpikes from Soissons, La Fere and Laon.
A high, level plateau rises steeply a couple of hundred feet from the valley of the Aisne and formed the center and eastern flank of the battlefield. The plateau is deeply notched by three steep-sided ravines running down to the Aisne. Through these General Joffre, if he chose, could bring up supports unnoticed and without danger to positions on the plateau.
The French counter-attack, then, was made up the valley to the west between the two turnpikes.
Immediately the Germans had begun their offensive the French made ready for their attack by a terrible artillery bombardment. Field guns and heavy artillery concentrated their fire on this section of the German trenches, and there was such a rain of shell and shrapnel on the defenders that they were unable to make an effective defense against the French infantry attack which followed.
The French, with great dash, carried part of the German positions; but this success dampened the vigor of their artillery bombardment, which could not be continued without endangering their own men. The big German guns opened a heavy fire on the rearward communications of the French, preventing the bringing up of reënforcements.
Meanwhile, General Von Kluck, the German commander, was gathering his forces for a counter-stroke, which came, not through the valley, but across the high plateau to the eastward, a large part of which was held by the French. The surface of the plateau, which is fairly level, was crossed by row after row of deep French trenches, each trench with a clear field for the fire of its guns.
It seemed impossible, in the cold light of the day after the passing excitement of battle, to conceive of troops successfully storming such intrenched positions But this is just what the Germans did, or thought they did, for their officers did not realize that the giving way of the French at this point was part of General Joffre's counter-stroke.
There were five successive lines of permanent French trenches, each with its entanglement of barbed wire, supported on iron posts. German pioneers cut their way through the first entanglement before the general attack, but it was necessary for the others to make the advance across the exposed positions under fire.
These attackers, however, were General Von Kluck's veterans, who, after the famous dash on Paris, the battle of the Marne and the retirement to the Aisne, had remained in comparative inactivity since the middle of September.
They succeeded in sweeping across the plateau, first in the center and then on the eastern flank, carrying trench after trench by storm in an interrupted and irresistible attack.
The French retired from the plateau. Then they gave up the valley below and retreated across the river. The Germans advanced through the valley.
The narrow turnpikes had become great cemeteries. Four thousand German troops, engaged in the work of burying the dead as fast as they fell, had been unable to clear the field of even their own dead after eight days, while the field was strewn with the bodies of French infantrymen, in their far-to-be-seen red-and-blue uniforms, swarthy-faced Turcos, colonials, Alpine riflemen and bearded territorials.
There came a lull in the fighting. The French retained a foothold north of the river at St. Paul, where the bridge from Soissons crosses the stream; but the bridge head was commanded by German artillery on the heights.
The promenade along the exposed side of the plateau, in sight of Soissons and the bank of the Aisne, also held by the French in force, gave a rather uncanny feeling of insecurity. However, it was less dangerous than it seemed, for a slight haze rendered the group in German field gray invisible to the French artillery on the heights on the opposite side of the valley.
In the part of the field where Hal and Chester had been on the eighth day of the fighting, at the edge of the plateau, the struggle had been desperate. Here, with the final German assault, the French had fought stubbornly and a hand-to-hand struggle ensued.
Regiments of French troops, rather than retire to safety down a declivity, had contested this section of the field to the last, finally to be mowed down by the German artillery as the infantry was forced back.
Hal and Chester had taken no important part in the battle, and had remained with the little body of British troops, held with masses of infantry of the French, in reserve, and had only been thrown forward with the reënforcements when General Joffre decided that it was time to halt the tide of the German advance.
Immediately heavy reënforcements were hurled upon the Germans, and the latter must have been surprised by the fact that an apparently beaten enemy could come back so strongly to the attack. It became evident, however, after the eighth successive day of fighting, that the German leaders realized that General Joffre had anticipated the German attack; for, when French reënforcements were hurled forward in force, and the entire line assumed the offensive, the Teutons gave back rapidly.
All that they had gained at such terrible sacrifice was again soon in the hands of the French. To their recent positions the French advanced—and beyond—carrying trench after trench which had been occupied for a few days by the enemy.
There was no staying this terrible drive.
The greatest pressure by the French was brought to bear upon the two flanks of the enemy, and these gave back while the German center held; but soon this gave way also and retreated, for General Von Kluck perceived that if it did not keep pace with the retreat of either flank, it was likely to be cut off and annihilated.
Thus, from apparent victory the Germans had met defeat. It was a hard blow to the Kaiser, who from the rear watched the battle as it progressed and stood nervously clenching and unclenching his hands as victory turned into defeat.
The first two rows of German trenches had fallen into the hands of the French, and there the troops prepared to make themselves at home. Thousands upon thousands of men were set to work burying the dead, and soon the field was cleared of the bodies. The losses on both sides had been enormous, for the battle of Soissons had been the bloodiest of the war.
General Joffre, who had moved his headquarters somewhat toward the rear when the German advance began, reoccupied his old quarters once more, and it was here that Hal and Chester, having been summoned, found him.
"I have a mission that I thought you would like to undertake," said the general.
"We shall be glad to," returned Chester.
"The little village of Pom lies just beyond our farthest outpost," said General Joffre. "Take the squadron of British and occupy it. You should be able to do so with little difficulty."
The lads saluted and departed, rejoicing that they had some work ahead of them.
The British raised a loud cheer when they learned that they were to advance, for they had had little part in the terrible fighting around Soissons, and were growing restless.
It was after dark when the little force moved out from the trenches and advanced upon Pom. They marched quietly and swiftly, and morning found them in the streets of the little town.
Here they encountered a small force of the enemy, who, however, gave way before them, evidently believing them the vanguard of a larger force.
"Now," said Hal, "half of us may as well turn in while the other half stands guard. Break in the doors of some of these houses, men."
Then it was that His Lordship, the lanky Englishman who had afforded so much amusement to the others, came to life. Up to this time he had been marching along with hanging head, apparently in nowise concerned in what was taking place.
He ran lightly up the steps of the nearest house, and, putting his shoulder to the door, broke it in with ease. Immediately he disappeared within.
Into this house Hal and Chester also went, and instructed their men to occupy the adjoining buildings.
"We can give a good account of ourselves in here, should we be attacked,"Hal explained.
"Right," Chester agreed. "But do you anticipate an attack?"
"I do," replied Hal. "As soon as the Germans we drove out report to the main body, a strong force probably will be sent against us."
"And are we supposed to hold them off?"
"We are supposed to stick until ordered to fall back, I reckon,"Hal replied.
"Well," declared Chester, "we are at the very opposite side of the town and can see them coming—if they do."
They were attracted by a peculiar noise at the opposite side of the room in which they stood.
It was His Lordship, dead to the world, snoring, with wide-open mouth.
"The sergeant was right," said Hal. "His Lordship can sleep anywhere."
Almost at this moment there came a warning from without.
"Germans approaching in force, sir," cried the sergeant, poking his head in the door.
And at that moment there came a clattering of horses' hoofs, and a moment later a French officer entered the room.
"General Joffre orders you to fall back, sir!" he said.
With a word to the sergeant to order an immediate retreat, Hal crossed the room and shook His Lordship roughly.
"Get up!" he shouted.
His Lordship opened one eye sleepily.
"What's that?" he demanded.
"Get up!" repeated Hal.
"Not on your life," said His Lordship slowly, and closed his eyes again.
"Quick!" shouted Hal. "We must retreat! A whole German regiment is about to attack us."
"All right," came the reply, and His Lordship did not take the trouble to open his eyes.
Once more the lad shook him roughly, and Chester added his voice.
"Get up out of here," he commanded sharply. "A German regiment is upon us."
"I don't care if it is the whole German army," replied His Lordship, with some heat—and it was the first time in his life that he had ever been aroused—"they won't get my bed."
"I order you—" Hal began.
But His Lordship calmly shut his eyes, turned on his other side, and went peacefully to sleep.
"Now, what do you think of that?" demanded Hal of Chester.
"Well," said Hal, "there is nothing we can do. It's up to us to save our own skins. We have done the best we can for him."
He stepped to the door and Chester followed him. They looked about for some sign of their men, but the latter had gone, and Hal, Chester and His Lordship were left alone in the house.
"We might as well make a dash for it," said Hal. "Come on!"
He stepped from the door, but, as he would have started ahead, something whistled by his head. He started back with an exclamation, and, jumping back into the house, closed the door.
"Too late," he said briefly.
For a moment he stood listening.
"What are we going to do?" demanded Chester.
Hal considered.
"Follow me," he said at length.
He led the way beyond where His Lordship was sleeping, and, swinging himself out of a rear window, quickly clambered into the house next door.
"Maybe they won't look for us here," he said. "Then, when they have gone, we can escape."
"Maybe," said Chester dubiously, "but I don't think so."
The boys approached the front of the house and looked out the window, taking care to keep out of sight from the street. But just then there came a sound of a shot.
"Wonder what that is for?" asked Hal.
He peered through the window. At the far end of the street he beheld a squad of German troops gazing toward the house they had just left.
"Guess they are afraid we'll take a shot at 'em if they rush us," saidChester. "They don't know we have left."
At that moment, from the house they had so recently quitted, there came the sound of a shot. A German soldier tumbled in his tracks.
The enemy was just beyond the town, and the others, instead of rushing forward when their companion hit the ground, scattered and took refuge behind the nearest possible shelter.
Another shot rang out from the next house, and a second German trooper, who had exposed his head for a moment, toppled over.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Chester. "That's pretty good shooting, if you ask me. Wonder who's doing it?"
"There is not much question about that," said Hal dryly. "That is HisLordship, fighting for his bed."
"By Jove!" cried Chester. "I'll bet that's just who it is."
The lads were right.
No sooner had they left the room in which His Lordship lay asleep than he arose and peered forth. His eyes fell upon the Germans in the distance.
His Lordship muttered to himself: "Why can't they let a man sleep?"
It was at that moment that one of the Germans, thinking to draw a fire from whoever chanced to be in the house, fired through the window. The bullet whistled close to His Lordship's head and moved him to action.
"Shoot at me while I'm trying to take a nap, will you?" he said to himself. "Well, if you want my bed you'll have to come and take it."
He reached for his rifle, which stood near the bed, and, dropping on his knee at the window, brought it to bear upon the first German. A crack and a puff of smoke and the Teuton was no more. A second one met the same fate.
These were the two shots whose effect the lads had witnessed from the house next door. Now His Lordship calmly left the window and dragged the bed right up against it. Then he climbed in and lay down flat, still keeping his hand upon the rifle, which protruded through the window. As he glanced over the sights he rested.
Several German bullets crashed through the window and sped above his head; but to these he paid no heed, nor did he fire until he drew a bead upon a vital spot of some German. Then there would be a sharp crack and the result would be one enemy less.
Hal and Chester also were able to pick off an occasional enemy when one happened to expose himself. But the Germans became more cautious now.
"It's only a question of time until they get us," said Hal quietly. "Certainly they will not allow us to remain here and pick them off like that."
"True," replied Chester. "But I guess we'll be able to pick off a few more before they get us."
From the next house came a hail in His Lordship's languid voice:
"You fellows hold 'em off a little while," it said. "I'm going to take a nap!"
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Chester. "Do you hear that?"
"Oh, I heard it, all right," replied Hal, and he was forced to smile a little to himself.
There came no further shot from the next house, even when a German exposed himself. Had His Lordship been on guard he could have picked him off with ease.
"He's asleep, all right," said Hal briefly. "We need look for no help there."
But in this the lad was mistaken, as he was soon to learn.
The silence from His Lordship's station evidently had caused theGermans to believe that one of their bullets must have gone home, forthey came into the open and appeared to be ready to make a dash uponHal and Chester.
Immediately both lads opened upon them, and several fell. In spite of this, however, the Germans came on. But, as they drew closer to the house, and the lads continued to pour lead into them, there came several quick flashes from the window next door, and as many Germans dropped in their tracks.
His Lordship's repeating rifle was at work once more. The Germans drew off.
His Lordship pumped lead into them right and left as they dashed for the nearest shelter, and by the time they reached it half the number who had rushed forward lay upon the ground.
Now, from the distance, came the sound of trampling hoofs. The sound came from the rear, and in another second the Germans broke from behind their shelter and fled swiftly.
A force of French cavalry dashed into view around the house.
Both lads heaved a sigh of relief and left their refuge.
"May as well go in and tell His Lordship he can finish his nap," saidHal.
But there was no need for this. When the lads entered the room HisLordship lay sleeping peacefully, one hand still grasping his rifle.
"Well," said Chester, "he's the limit. However, he's some fighter, too.You'll have to give him credit for that."
A few moments later the squadron of British, which had advanced again in the wake of the cavalry, came into sight. The sergeant dashed rapidly toward the house where he had left the boys.
The latter greeted him at the door.
"We didn't miss you until we had gone too far to come back," said the sergeant. "I feared you had been killed."
"We are all right," replied Hal, "but there is no telling what might have happened to us had it not been for His Lordship, who is sleeping in the next room."
"What! His Lordship sleeping while all this was going on?" exclaimed the sergeant, pointing to the bodies of the dead Germans that lay scattered about.
"Oh, that!" exclaimed Chester. "His Lordship did most of that between naps!"
The Allies were now in force enough to hold the town, which they did all that day with Hal and Chester in command. With the coming of night, however, an officer appeared to relieve them. He also informed them that General Joffre desired their presence immediately.
Accordingly the lads left the little village, and midnight found them back in their own quarters. They retired immediately to rest, for General Joffre had left word that he would postpone his interview with them until the morrow.
Bright and early the next morning, however, the lads were admitted to his presence.
"This," said the French commander, placing a paper in Hal's hands, "is an important communication for the French prime minister. I have selected you two lads to place it in his hands immediately. Since you told me of the plot to kidnap the President, I have investigated. From a prisoner I have learned additional facts, which I have put into the paper you hold."
"The prime minister is in Paris, is he not?" asked Hal.
"He is. I have informed the prime minister, by wireless, that you are on the way with the message; also, that if there is any work to be done, he could not do better than to give you chaps a hand in it."
"Thank you, sir," said both lads in one voice.
"Make all possible haste," said General Joffre, waving them from his presence.