Hal bent over his friend and shook him gently.
“Chester! Chester!” he exclaimed anxiously. “Are you wounded?”
There was no reply from the unconscious boy, and Hal became greatly alarmed. He turned to the few troopers who remained.
“Here, lend a hand some of you,” he commanded. “One of you fetch some water!”
Two of the men bent over the unconscious lad and one raised his head gently to his knee. A third dashed for the river, and a moment later returned with his cap filled with water.
Hal sprinkled a few drops of water on his friend’s face, and soon noticed signs of returning consciousness. Finally Chester opened his eyes and smiled feebly.
“Are you much hurt, old fellow?” asked Hal anxiously.
“No,” came the feeble response. “I don’t think so. A bullet just grazed my side. I don’t know how I came to topple over like that.”
Quickly Hal unloosened his friend’s coat, tore open his shirt and examined his wound.
“It’s only a scratch,” he said, straightening up at last. “Here,” pulling out his handkerchief, “I’ll fix it up until we can have a surgeon look at it. You will be able to walk in a few minutes.”
“I’m able right now,” said Chester, struggling to his feet.
Leaning heavily on Hal’s arm, Chester turned his eyes toward the river bank, which now was lined with British troops, who were firing steadily at forms disappearing on the opposite side of the stream. The approach of the English in force had caused the Germans to beat a rapid retreat. From the opposite shore, however, still came puffs of smoke, and bullets continued to fall among the English troops, and here and there men fell to the ground.
“They arrived just in time, didn’t they, Hal?” said Chester.
“You bet they did,” was the reply. “But come, we will try to make our way back to our station.”
With Chester still leaning on his shoulder, Hal led the way, going very slowly because of his burden. Making his friend comfortable under an army wagon, Hal went at once to Gen. French to make his report.
“You have done well,” was the general’s only comment when Hal had concluded his recital.
Hal saluted and left.
“Guess I’ll go back and keep Chester company,” he said to himself.
He was walking slowly along with bowed head, musing, when he came suddenly into contact with another figure. The man with whom he had collided mumbled an imprecation and violently pushed the lad away, at the same time exclaiming:
“What do you mean by bumping into me like that? Can’t you see where you are going? I have a notion to teach you better manners.”
Hal’s face flushed, and he turned a steady gaze on the other, who proved to be a French lieutenant.
“I wouldn’t try it if I were you,” the lad advised him.
“What!” exclaimed the Frenchman. “You dare to talk to me like that?”
“Of course I dare,” was the lad’s heated response.
The Frenchman took a quick step forward and slapped Hal smartly across the face.
Hal promptly sent his right fist crashing into the other’s face and knocked him down.
The Frenchman rose slowly to his feet, and with blood streaming from his nose, approached Hal.
“I am Lieutenant Dupree,” he said. “My friend shall call on you this evening.”
“I am Hal Paine, attached to the staff of GeneralFrench,” Hal said calmly, “and your friend may call any time he so desires.”
The Frenchman bowed stiffly, and continued on his way. Hal returned to Chester.
“Back so soon?” said Chester.
“Yes,” was Hal’s reply; “and back with more trouble.”
“What’s the matter?” demanded Chester in some consternation.
“Well, I am afraid I have a duel on my hands.”
“A duel?”
“Yes; on my way here I accidentally bumped into some fiery French lieutenant. He slapped me across the face and I knocked him down. He then informed me his friend would call on me this evening. That sounds like a duel to me.”
“Yes,” said Chester, “unless it can be patched up.”
“I am afraid it can’t. You know these Frenchmen. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing to fight about, but I am afraid the Frenchman feels he has a grievance. He’ll probably demand a fight or an apology.”
“Well?”
“I have nothing to apologize for; therefore I am afraid it means a duel.”
“Not if I can prevent it,” exclaimed Chester, jumping to his feet.
“But you can’t,” replied Hal grimly. “And youhad better lie down again. You are liable to strain your wound.”
“Oh, I am not worrying about the wound,” exclaimed Chester. “The doctor said there was no danger. It’s you I am worrying about. Why, you are likely to be killed.”
“Oh, I guess I can give a good account of myself,” returned Hal. “I’ve been pretty fortunate thus far. I don’t figure I am going to fall before any Frenchman’s sword or pistol. I’ll probably be saved for a German bullet some of these days.”
Chester became silent. He knew that an argument was useless. Besides, he knew that in Hal’s position his own actions would be the same.
It was shortly after 6 o’clock that evening when two French officers made their way to the quarters to which the boys had been assigned.
“Choose swords,” said Hal laconically, as Chester rose to greet the callers.
“Mr. Paine,” queried one of the Frenchmen politely.
“No,” replied Chester; “but I shall act for him.”
“Good,” returned the Frenchman. “I am Lieutenant Mercer, and this,” indicating his companion, “is Lieutenant Lamont.”
“I am Chester Crawford,” said the lad briefly.
“Then, to get down to business,” said Lieutenant Mercer. “Mr. Paine has insulted my friend, Lieutenant Dupree. My friend demands an apology.”
“There’ll be no apology,” said Chester shortly.
“Ah! In that case my friend, Lieutenant Dupree, demands satisfaction from Mr. Paine.”
“It seems to me he has had satisfaction,” said Chester.
“Ah!” replied the Frenchman cheerfully. “You no doubt refer to the blow passed by Mr. Paine? It is for that my friend demands satisfaction.”
“He had that coming to him,” declared Chester.
“So you may believe. Lieutenant Dupree thinks otherwise. Now, as to the arrangements——”
“Look here,” said Chester, interrupting. “With the whole German army lined up in front of us, it seems to me that our friend should be able to find all the fighting he wants. This fighting among ourselves is all nonsense.”
“But my friend’s honor——” began the Frenchman.
“Bosh!” declared Chester. “It wasn’t your friend’s honor that was hurt. It was his face.”
“Then am I to understand that your friend refuses to fight?”
“No!” shouted Chester. “He doesn’t refuse to fight. He just doesn’t see the necessity of fighting. That’s all. But if you insist, he will give your friend all the satisfaction he wants.”
“I must insist,” replied Lieutenant Mercer.
“All right, then,” said Chester. “I am not familiar with dueling etiquette, but as the challengedparty I believe the choice of weapons lies with us.”
The Frenchman bowed in assent.
“Then let it be swords!”
“Good! And the time and place?”
“I’ll leave that to you.”
“In the morning at half-past five—provided we are all alive—in the little woods half a mile in the rear. Are these convenient for you?”
“Perfectly. We shall be there on time. Will you please bring weapons?”
“I shall be delighted,” replied the Frenchman. “Until the morning, then,” and the two French officers bowed themselves out.
“Well, you are into it now,” said Chester to Hal, after their visitors had gone. “Looks to me as though you had a fair chance of seeing the Happy Hunting Grounds before six o’clock to-morrow.”
Before Hal could reply another visitor poked his head through the door of the tent.
“Am I intruding?” he asked.
“Lieutenant Anderson!” exclaimed Chester. “Just the man I wanted to see.”
“What’s the matter now?” demanded the lieutenant.
“Matter is that Hal’s mixed up in a duel, to be pulled off in the morning.”
“What!” exclaimed Lieutenant Anderson in surprise.
“Fact,” said Hal. “I bumped into some littlewhipper-snapper of a French lieutenant a couple of hours ago. He slapped me and I knocked him down. Now he demands satisfaction, and I am going to give it to him in the morning, at half-past five.”
The lieutenant sat down heavily.
“Well, you are the limit,” he said. “You are always in a scrape of some kind. I suppose it’s up to me to prevent the duel.”
“No chance,” said Hal briefly.
“No,” agreed Chester, “and it’s up to you to make the third party on our side. I suppose the other crowd will bring a surgeon.”
“Do you know what will happen if you are found out?” demanded the lieutenant.
“No,” said Hal.
“Well, it probably will mean strict confinement, at least. The regulations in regard to dueling are very stringent.”
“I can’t help that,” said Hal. “I can’t back out now.”
“Well, if that’s the way you feel about it,” replied the lieutenant, “I’ll help you as best I can. I’ll stay here to-night and go along to see that you get fair play.”
It was hardly light when Chester, who had been unable to close his eyes, aroused Lieutenant Anderson. The two finished dressing before rousing Hal, thinking to give him all the rest possible before waking him up. Finally Chester shook him by the shoulder.
“What’s the matter,” muttered Hal drowsily. “Time to get up already? I just went to sleep. What’s up? Oh, yes, I remember now. I’m to fight a duel this morning. All right, I’ll be ready in a jiffy.”
“How did you sleep?” demanded Chester, as Hal was dressing.
“Fine. Never slept better in my life.”
Lieutenant Anderson approached and laid his finger on Hal’s pulse.
“You’ll do,” he said quietly.
“I haven’t any nerves, if that is what you mean,” said Hal with a smile.
Lieutenant Anderson smiled back at him.
“I believe it,” he replied. “But come, we had better be on our way.”
Quietly the three left the tent. There was a penetrating chill in the early morning air. It was light now, but the sun had not yet appeared above the horizon. Dense clouds obscured the sky.
“Not a very cheerful morning to die,” commented Hal lightly, as they made their way quietly along.
“You are not afraid, are you?” asked Chester anxiously.
“What, after yesterday? Not a little bit.”
“I don’t believe you know what fear is,” declared Lieutenant Anderson.
Lieutenant Dupree, his two friends and a surgeon were already on the ground when Hal, Chester and Lieutenant Anderson arrived. All raised their caps as they came together. The seconds drew apart to discuss the details of the duel, Hal and Lieutenant Dupree in the meantime discarding their coats and rolling up their sleeves.
The details completed, Hal and the French lieutenant were at last face to face.
“On guard!” came the command, given by Lieutenant Anderson.
The swords flashed aloft.
A moment later and they were at it. For a few moments both combatants were wary, each feeling the other out. A few passes and Hal realized that he was no match for the more experienced Frenchman.
“I must be very careful,” he told himself. “Perhaps I can wear him down a bit, and slip over a light thrust. I certainly don’t want to kill him. And I don’t want to be killed myself.”
The French lieutenant was pressing him sorely now. His sword darted in and out with dazzling rapidity, and Hal thanked his stars that he had been fortunate enough to have had some schooling in the use of the foil.
Hal contented himself with remaining on the defensive, and not an attempt did he make to touch the Frenchman, although the latter left several openings, only, Hal knew, to draw him on. The lieutenant at last began to grow impatient, and with impatience came carelessness.
He had realized, as had Hal, with the first few passes, that the lad was not an accomplished swordsman. And the fact now that he could not penetrate the other’s guard angered him.
Suddenly he aimed a fierce thrust at Hal, and the latter only escaped being impaled on the other’s sword by a quick leap aside. Before the Frenchman could recover his balance, Hal stepped nimbly forward again, his sword darted out, and the lieutenant dropped his weapon with a muttered imprecation. Hal’s point had pierced his arm just below the shoulder.
The Frenchman’s seconds immediately leapedforward, and Hal stepped over to Chester and Lieutenant Anderson.
“I guess that ends it,” he said. “I suppose his honor is appeased now.”
“Don’t be too sure,” replied Lieutenant Anderson. “He is likely to be more furious than ever, and demand that the fight continue until one of you fall. He must realize that you are no match for him, and he counts on that to give him victory. However, I must say that you have handled yourself well, and, if you keep your head, you may succeed in dropping him.”
The lieutenant’s predictions proved correct. Lieutenant Dupree had had his wound bandaged, and now demanded that the fight be resumed. Hal was not the lad to protest, so the two were soon at swords’ points again.
But now both Hal and Lieutenant Dupree fought more warily. Hal could read in his opponent’s eyes that he had made up his mind to kill him. Touched once because of his carelessness, Hal knew that the Frenchman would be more wary.
In stepping back before a fierce thrust of his opponent’s sword, Hal’s foot slipped. He threw up his arm, and for a moment was off his guard. Before he could recover his balance, the Frenchman’s sword flashed up under his guard and pierced him through the left shoulder.
The lad staggered back, and the Frenchman, unheedingthe accident and the calls of Lieutenant Anderson and Chester, pressed his advantage. With a grim smile he started a thrust that would have ended Hal’s days; but, with a sudden lurch, Hal staggered forward, threw up his sword, and, with a terrific stroke, swept the sword from the Frenchman’s hand. Lieutenant Dupree was at his mercy.
The Frenchman stepped back and folded his arms, as Hal took a step forward.
“Kill me,” he said quietly.
“Run him through!” shouted Lieutenant Anderson. “He tried to kill you unfairly.”
Slowly Hal lowered his sword.
“No,” he said, “I can’t do it. Neither will I continue the fight.” He turned to his late opponent. “I hope your honor is satisfied,” he said.
The Frenchman turned, and, with bowed head, replaced his coat; then with his two friends he walked away.
The surgeon hurried to Hal’s side and peered at his wound.
“Not serious,” he said, after an examination. “I’ll have it fixed all right in a moment.”
The wound dressed, the surgeon offered Hal his hand.
“You are a gallant youngster,” he said, “and I am proud to know you. Many a man in your place would have killed his opponent. Your coolness is a thing to be admired.”
Hal shook hands with the surgeon, and the latter then took himself off.
Lieutenant Anderson approached Hal and grasped him by both arms.
“You are all right,” he said, emphasizing each word. “I was afraid it was all up with you.”
“And so was I,” said Chester. “But, if you had fallen unfairly, I would have killed him myself.”
The three made their way back to the boys’ quarters, where they sat down and talked the duel over.
“The best thing you can do now,” said Lieutenant Anderson to Hal finally, “is to get a little rest. Both of you are wounded, and will not have to report for duty. I shall tell General French that you will be all right in a day or two.”
“Tell him we shall be all right in an hour or two, that will be much better,” said Hal.
“Great Scott!” exclaimed the lieutenant. “Can’t you even keep still for a day?”
“Well,” said Hal, “there is likely to be some real fighting to-day, and we don’t want to miss anything, do we Chester?”
“I should say not,” was Chester’s reply.
“It looks rather awesome, doesn’t it?” said Chester.
“It certainly does,” was Hal’s reply.
The object of the boys’ conversation was a long armored train, which stood on a siding. It was late in the afternoon, and the two lads, after having taken a long rest, and being relieved from active duty by the express command of General French, had strolled up to the temporary siding, where the huge engine now stood puffing and snorting.
It was the first time either of the two boys had ever seen this rapidly moving vehicle of warfare. The open flat cars were protected by thick sheets of steel, behind which were mounted many small guns and rapid-firers.
These armored trains already had given good accounts of themselves in other parts of the long line of battle, particularly in Belgium, in the earlier days of the struggle, and were things of terror to the German troops.
The train beside which the two lads now stood was ready for instant action. The gunners were attheir posts, ready to go forward at a moment’s notice. The engineer and firemen stood beside the huge engine.
In the distance the sound of firing could be heard, and occasionally a shell burst close to where the boys were standing. But they had been through their baptism of fire, and paid little heed to these messengers of death.
“They say that these trains have proven immense factors in sudden raids on the enemy,” said Chester.
“Yes,” agreed Hal, “and it is easy to see that among light armed troops they could do great execution. It would even take very heavy artillery fire to make an impression on those steel sides. Besides——”
He broke off with a sudden exclamation.
“Look out,” he cried, and leaped back, pulling Chester forcibly along.
A second later and there was a terrific explosion. A German shell had burst within a few feet of where the two lads had been standing.
A crowd of troopers, who had been idling about a few yards from the train, disappeared with the deafening report, and when the smoke had cleared away they were nowhere to be seen. They had been blown to atoms.
The boys rushed forward, but, even as they did so, they halted at the sound of a sudden cry, and,turning their faces up the track, they beheld a mounted officer galloping swiftly toward them. An officer dropped off one of the cars of the train, which, fortunately, had not been touched by the explosion, and hurried to meet the newcomer.
“Who is in charge of this train?” demanded the horseman, throwing himself from his mount without waiting for the animal to come to a stop.
“I am,” was the officer’s brief response.
“You are ordered to proceed forward at once under full speed,” was the command. “The Tenth Royal Dragoons are hemmed in by at least 10,000 Germans two miles ahead, and unless you arrive in time they will all be slaughtered.”
The officer in command of the train looked hurriedly about.
“Hicks!” he called loudly. “Hicks!”
There was no reply, and the officer shouted again. Then Hal stepped forward.
“If Hicks was your engineer,” he said, “there is no use calling him. He is dead.”
“Dead?” exclaimed the officer.
“Yes; that shell struck right beside him. The fireman also was killed.”
“Great Scott!” exclaimed the officer. “Then what am I to do? Hicks was the only engineer with us right now. The others have gone to their quarters, and by the time I could get them here it would be too late.”
“Well,” said Hal quietly, “if you want a volunteer, I am willing to tackle it for you.”
“You?”
“Yes; I have made some slight study of a locomotive, and, while I have never run one any great distance, I have ridden many miles in the cab of an engine in lumber camps in the United States.”
“And I can fire the engine,” Chester broke in.
“Well,” said the officer, “something has to be done at once; and, if you are willing to take a chance, so am I. Get aboard.”
He turned and rushed hurriedly back to his car, while Hal and Chester leaped aboard the locomotive. In response to a signal, Hal released the brakes, gently opened the throttle, and the great engine began to forge slowly ahead.
Gradually the lad opened the throttle wider, and the huge locomotive commenced to gain momentum, until at last it was rushing along like some mad thing. Chester, in the meantime, was busy with a shovel.
A moment, it seemed to the two lads, and the sound of firing rose above the roar of the locomotive, and the spat spat of bullets against the armored sides could be heard. But Hal did not falter. Rather, the engine seemed to leap ahead with even greater speed.
From the rear came the signal to slow down, and, under Hal’s firm hand, the terrific speed ofthe train was checked. Then also from the rear there came the sound of firing. The rapid-firers on the train had been unloosed, and their leaden messengers were spelling death in the ranks of the Germans, of whom the train was now in the middle.
Chester poked his head out the window of the cab, only to withdraw it quickly, as a bullet struck a quarter of an inch from his ear. But in that one brief glance he had taken in the situation.
A short distance ahead he could make out a small knot of British, almost surrounded by Germans. The British had taken their stand directly on the railroad track, the most strategic point for miles. A clump of small trees screened them from the enemy on one side, but from the other three directions the Germans were pouring in their deadly fire.
The British troops stood gallantly to their work, and returned volley for volley. They fought on doggedly. Suddenly the armored train shot up the line which the British were holding, and Hal brought it to an abrupt stop.
Right and left the train poured in broadsides of machine-gun fire, mowing down the Germans at every yard. The Germans fell in heaps, and, as if by a miracle, both sides of the track were suddenly lined with high piles of the dead.
The little troop of British received this unexpectedaid with a great cheer, broke from cover and dashed in pursuit of the great mass of Germans, who now were fleeing on all sides.
But the success of the British was destined to be short-lived. Hal and Chester, in the cab of the locomotive, had just raised a loud cheer when there was a terrific explosion, followed by a thundering crash, and both lads were hurled violently to the floor of the cab.
Chester, with blood flowing from a gash in his forehead, was the first to pick himself up. In falling his head had come in contact with a sharp projection of some kind. He was terribly dizzy, but his head was still clear.
He stooped over Hal, and at that moment the latter raised himself on his elbow and then got to his feet unsteadily.
“Great Scott! What was that?” he gasped.
Chester did not reply. Instead he swung out from the cab and glanced back over the train—or rather where the train had been. And what a sight met his gaze!
The train of armored cars was gone. Alongside the track lay pieces of wreckage, and many bodies and pieces of what had once been machine guns.
Hal peered over Chester’s shoulder.
“Another shell,” he said slowly. “But how does it happen we were not killed also?”
“I don’t know,” said Chester, “but I judge theshell must have struck in the middle of the train. Look, there is nothing left but the engine.”
It was true. In some unaccountable manner the engine had escaped scot free. At that moment Hal, who had glanced out from the other side of the cab, made a startling discovery.
“Wow!” he shouted. “Here come the Germans again—thousands of ’em. We are goners, now, sure.”
But, before Chester could reply, Hal jumped forward. With one hand he released the brakes and threw the throttle wide—and the huge locomotive leaped suddenly forward.
“It’s our only chance,” Hal shouted to Chester. “The track behind is covered with wreckage, and it is impossible to go that way.”
That the Germans understood their ruse was soon apparent. There was a shout from the oncoming horde, and the sharp crack of rifles and bullets began to spatter against the side of the engine.
“Well, we’ll give ’em a chase, anyhow,” said Hal grimly.
He opened the throttle even wider.
The engine rocked crazily as it dashed along, and the boys hung on to whatever offered for dear life. Around curve after curve they shot with a lurch, the locomotive threatening at every turn to leave the rails.
“Where is the end of this road?” asked Chester of Hal, raising his voice to a shout to make himself heard above the roar of the speeding locomotive.
“I don’t know,” Hal shouted back.
“Then you had better slow down. The tracks in front may be torn up and we would certainly be killed.”
“You are right,” shouted Hal.
Quickly he closed the throttle and applied the brakes. The huge mogul trembled violently and shook all over, but its speed was soon slackened.
Looking behind, the two lads saw that they had left their pursuers far in the rear, and both breathed more freely.
“How far are we going on this thing, anyhow?”Chester demanded. “Don’t you think we had better get off and walk back?”
“What! and leave the engine in the hands of the enemy? Not much. Besides, I am certain the British must control this road at the other end or it would have been destroyed by this time. We’ll just keep on going and see what happens.”
“Well, something will happen, all right,” said Chester. “I can feel it in my bones. However, you are the doctor. Forward it is, then.”
The locomotive was going more slowly now, Hal always keeping a keen eye ahead. For perhaps five minutes they rode along without incident; then suddenly Hal, without even a word to Chester, “opened her up” again.
Once more the huge locomotive jumped forward.
“What’s the matter now?” cried Chester, springing to Hal’s side.
“Matter!” shouted Hal. “Look ahead.”
Chester peered out, and drew his head back with an exclamation.
“More Germans, eh!” he muttered, and then shouted. “You do the driving and I’ll keep her hot.”
“Good!” Hal called back, never taking his eyes from the road ahead.
Apparently the Germans were unconscious of the approach of the locomotive, for they did noteven glance in its direction. Troopers stood beside either side of the track, and several groups were standing between the rails.
Closer and closer the engine approached, and still they did not move. A moment later and the great steel monster was upon them. There was a sudden shout, but it was too late—for some, at any rate.
The great locomotive caught them as they attempted to jump from the track, and hurled them in all directions. Hal and Chester ducked low inside the cab, and it was well that they did so; for, as the engine shot past, hundreds of bullets sped through the cab, and hundreds more flattened themselves against the steel-protected sides. It was close work, and no mistake.
“Whew!” breathed Chester, after they had safely run the gauntlet of the German fire and Hal had once more reduced the speed of the locomotive. “That was close.”
“Too close for comfort,” Hal agreed.
“I wonder how many we killed back there,” said Chester.
“I don’t know, but I am sure it was enough. It seemed to be their lives or ours.”
“It’s only a few more gone to the Happy Hunting Ground in a mistaken cause,” said Chester slowly. “But, as you say, it was either they or us. There was nothing else we could do.”
“No,” said Hal, “there wasn’t; but, just the same, it gave me a cold chill as they went flying through the air. It was terrible.”
Both lads were silent for a time, as the locomotive continued on its way. It was getting dusk now, and Hal was forced to reduce the speed of the engine even more. They went slowly along, both lads keeping a wary eye ahead for Germans.
Darkness came on, and still they rode along. Their speed was little better than a walk, and it was well that Hal had decided to discontinue his reckless driving.
From ahead, a sudden red glare went up to the sky, followed almost instantly by a report like that of a thousand cannons. The locomotive came to a stop with a jolt as Hal applied the brakes.
“What’s up now?” demanded Chester.
“I don’t know; but that explosion sounded to me as if there were something wrong ahead. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Germans had dynamited the bridge.”
“By George! I believe you are right,” exclaimed Chester. “I wouldn’t have thought of it, and if I had been in your place at the throttle the chances are we would have gone over if such is the case.”
“Well,” said Hal, “I’ll climb down, take a walk ahead and investigate.”
“I’ll go with you,” declared Chester.
“No, you won’t. You stay here and watch the engine.”
“You are right, as usual,” said Chester. “But don’t be any longer than you can help.”
Hal agreed, and a moment later Chester lost sight of him in the darkness.
Slowly and cautiously Hal made his way along the track. As he moved stealthily around a curve in the road the cause of the explosion became apparent. It was even as he had feared. His quick wit had detected the meaning of the explosion and none too soon.
Just ahead, where a short time before had been a bridge spanning a deep chasm, there was now nothing but space. The bridge had been blown up. Had Hal applied the brakes to the engine one minute later, in spite of the fact that it was traveling very slowly, both boys probably would have been carried over the embankment to certain death; for it is doubtful that either, in the darkness, would have noticed the absence of the bridge in time to leap to safety.
And now Hal could make out a number of rapidly moving figures. To his dismay, he saw that they were moving in his direction. He turned quickly and ran back to the locomotive, where Chester was anxiously awaiting his return.
“Out here, quick!” he cried, and Chester, in response to his command, leaped to the ground.
Hal once more jumped aboard the locomotive, unheeding Chester’s cry of wonder, released the brakes, and threw the throttle wide open. Then he dropped sprawling to the ground, while the engine dashed madly down the track.
Hal was not badly hurt and was quickly on his feet.
“What’s the matter?” asked Chester in alarm.
“Matter is that the Germans are coming this way,” answered Hal. “Come, let’s get away from here while we have a chance. We may be able to escape in the darkness.”
“But why did you start that engine down the track like that?”
“Well, I couldn’t see that it was any use to us any longer, and it may dispose of a few more Germans. They are walking up the track in force.”
This appealed to Chester.
“Good!” he cried, and both stopped in their tracks to listen.
A second and there came to their ears a sudden startled shout, followed by a fearful yell, a moment of silence, and then a crash.
“Good-by engine,” said Hal. “That’s a good job done. You perished nobly. Now,” to Chester, “let’s get away from this spot as fast as we can.”
They turned their faces in the direction from which they had come, and set out at a brisk pace.They plodded along for an hour through the open country, finally coming to a dense woods.
“Guess we had better try and lose ourselves in here,” said Chester.
“Right you are,” agreed Hal.
They entered the friendly shelter of the trees. Here they were forced to travel more slowly. They made good progress, however, and at the end of another hour had covered considerable distance.
“I guess we are safe enough as long as we can stay in the woods,” said Chester.
“Don’t be too sure,” declared Hal. “It’s the unexpected that always happens.”
The words were hardly out of his mouth when the truth of them was proved. As they emerged from where the trees were thickest into a little clearing a sudden, guttural command brought them to an abrupt stop.
“Halt!” came a voice. “Halt, or I fire!”
Caught thus unexpectedly Hal immediately threw his hands above his head; Chester followed his example. It was plain to both lads that there was not a chance in a thousand to escape, for the German soldier had his rifle pointed squarely at them.
Of course there was a possibility that by a sudden spring one of the lads might have succeeded in knocking the man down; but this probably would have meant the death of the other. Hal and Chester both realized that it was no time to take such a chance.
“We surrender,” called Hal in German, and immediately the soldier lowered his weapon and approached them.
He passed his hands around their waists and then felt in the pockets of their coats and relieved them of their weapons. Then he ordered:
“Right about; forward, march!”
The lads obeyed this command, and the German stalked after them, keeping his rifle in readiness for a quick shot should his prisoners attempt to escape.
But the lads had no thought of taking to their heels, for they were fully aware that a bullet would stop one of them at least should they make even one false move.
They continued their walk, and presently came in view of what appeared to be a large German camp. Here their captor marched them directly to the tent of the commanding officer.
“What are you doing within our lines?” was the latter’s first question after the soldier had related how he had made his capture.
“Well,” said Hal, “we were accidentally carried through your lines by a locomotive which we happened to be running when the rest of the train was blown up. We couldn’t get back, so we went ahead. We finally lost the engine, so we were making our way back to our own lines.”
“Lost the engine? What do you mean?” asked the officer.
“Why,” Chester broke in, “we sent it over a precipice that it might not fall into the hands of the Germans.”
“You did, eh?” said the German officer. “Well, I shall attend to your case in the morning. Orderly! See that these prisoners are carefully guarded, and have them brought to me the first thing in the morning. Perhaps they may be induced to give me the information I require.”
“You won’t get any information out of us,” said Chester angrily.
“Won’t I?” replied the officer, with a sneer. “We shall see. Take them away.”
The two lads were led to a small field tent and thrust inside, with a guard on the outside.
“Well, here we are again,” said Chester, with a faint smile. “What do you suppose will be done with us if we refuse to divulge what the general wants to know?”
“I’m sure I don’t know,” was Hal’s reply, “but I am afraid we are in for it this time. I have never taken much stock in the tales I have heard of the barbarous treatment of the Germans toward their prisoners, but one look at the general’s face was enough to convince me that he would stop at nothing to gain his end.”
“The same thought struck me, too,” agreed Chester. “But, one thing is certain, he’ll get no information out of me.”
“Nor out of me, either,” declared Hal.
Chester rose and started to walk around the tent. In the darkness he stumbled over something and fell to the ground. Arising he reached in his pocket and produced a match. A tiny flame lighted up the dark interior of the tent, and the lad stepped back with an ejaculation.
“Bicycles,” he muttered.
“What?” demanded Hal.
“Bicycles. I wonder why they are here?”
“Probably dumped in here by a couple of men who have returned from a scouting expedition,” said Hal.
“By George!” exclaimed Chester suddenly.
“What is it now?” demanded Hal.
Chester did not reply immediately. He appeared to be thinking deeply.
“Have you a knife?” he asked at length.
Hal produced one, and, taking it from his friend’s hand, Chester stepped to the back of the tent. Quickly he opened the blade, and made a neat incision in the canvas, finally cutting out a little square. Then he put his eye to the hole and peered out.
There was no one in sight. The guard could be heard pacing to and fro in front of the tent, but apparently there was no guard at the rear.
Chester left his peep-hole and returned to Hal’s side.
“If we can get two of these bicycles out here,” he whispered, “we may be able to get away by a quick dash. Are you willing to take a chance?”
“Sure,” agreed Hal. “Anything is better than sitting here and waiting for I know not what. But do you think we can make it?”
“Well, we can at least try. There doesn’t seem to be a guard in the rear. I am going to cut a bigslit in the back. Then we’ll slip the bicycles through it, mount and make a dash.”
“Good!” said Hal.
Quietly Chester slit the canvas in the rear of the tent, making a hole large enough for a man to step through. Quietly the boys each selected a bicycle and pushed it cautiously through the opening.
Once on the outside they drew a breath of relief.
“We’ll have to depend on our luck now,” whispered Chester. “Come on!”
The lads leaped into the saddles, and a moment later were speeding through the heart of the German camp.
In the very boldness of their scheme lay a certain degree of safety, for the sentinels on guard certainly did not look for two youths of the allied armies to be riding through their midst.
They were not even challenged as they sped through the camp, turning this way and that, and they had passed beyond the last row of tents before a hubbub from the rear told them that their flight had been discovered.
“We must be careful,” cried Hal, as he rode his wheel close beside Chester. “There is still the outpost to pass.”
But they did not diminish their speed. Rather, if anything, they pedaled faster; and then the outpostcame into sight—a long line of men, almost in front of them. Some were pacing to and fro, while others sat upon the ground.
The riders were upon them before they knew it, and two flying bicycles sped between the German troopers. A cry of “halt!” went unheeded, and the Germans, quickly bringing their rifles to their shoulders, sent a volley after the lads.
But neither was hit. In the darkness the Germans were unable to aim carefully. The boys heard the hum of bullets around them, but they did not falter. There was no second volley, for the lads had disappeared in the darkness, and the Germans were not minded to spend their ammunition foolishly.
The first streak of dawn appeared in the sky, and still the boys rode on swiftly. But at length Hal slowed down and Chester followed suit.
“I’m tired out,” said Hal, as he jumped from his bicycle.
“And so am I,” replied Chester, as he, too, jumped to the ground to stretch his legs.
Suddenly from the distance in which they had come came a faint “chug-chug.”
Chester pricked up his ears.
“What’s that?” he demanded anxiously.
For a brief moment Hal paused to listen. The sound became louder. Hal sprang toward his bicycle.
“Come on!” he cried, and leaped into the saddle. “Motorcycles! We are pursued!”
Chester was hardly a second behind him, and the two lads were again riding madly along the road. Fortunately there were many curves in the highway, and this fact prevented their pursuers from sighting them from any great distance.
Hal suddenly brought his bicycle to an abrupt stop and jumped to the ground. Although not knowing what plan Hal had in his mind, Chester immediately did likewise.
The spot where they had alighted was in the midst of a clump of trees, and quickly the lads drew their bicycles in among them, hiding them from sight of the road. Then Hal turned, and, with Chester close behind him, dashed back in the direction from which they had come, taking care to keep well within the shelter of the trees.
And now Chester made out the object of his friend’s wild dash. It was a farmhouse, setting well back from the road. Chester had not detected it as they sped by, but Hal’s keen eyes had singled it out as a possible refuge.
“We’ll have to take a chance of the occupants being friendly,” Hal told his friend, as they ran toward the house. “If they will allow us to hide here until night, we may be able to get back to our lines safely.”
The boys ran around the house, and Hal rappedsharply upon the rear door. A moment later and a kindly-faced woman appeared in the doorway. She started back at the appearance of the two lads.
“Are the English coming?” she demanded, after a quick glance at the lads’ uniforms, and then she clasped her hands and exclaimed: “At last! At last!”
“No, madam,” Hal undeceived her, “the English are not coming—yet. We are trying to make our way back to our lines, but a German motorcycle squad is after us. We have come here to see if you will hide us until nightfall.”
The woman was silent for one moment. Then she stepped aside and motioned them into the house.
“Come,” she said quietly. “The Germans will not learn you are here through me.”
The lads stepped inside the door, and not a moment too soon. For at that very instant a band of a dozen Germans flashed by on the road, their motorcycles kicking up a cloud of dust.
Hal turned to Chester.
“When they fail to find us,” he said, “they’ll come back, inquiring all along as they return. They are sure to ask for us here.” He turned to the woman. “Have you a place where we can hide?”
“Yes,” she replied, “there is a secret trap-door to the attic. You may go up there and no one will be the wiser.”
“Then we had better get up there at once,” said Chester, “for there is no telling how soon they may return.”
A few moments later and they were safe in a little room at the very top of the house. After showing them to their retreat, the good woman departed, saying that she would return in a few minutes with water and food.
“You’ll need it,” she said, when Hal protested against putting her to so much trouble. “And, besides, I should be a poor Frenchwoman could I not aid the friends of my own country.”
She was back in a few moments, and the ladsate hungrily of the food she brought them, for it had been long hours since food or water had passed their lips.
After their benefactress had departed, Hal said to Chester:
“This is bound to be a tedious day. I guess we had better try and put it in sleeping. Besides, we’ll need all the rest we can get for our journey to-night.”
“Just what I was thinking,” said Chester, “and I’m ready to go to sleep right this instant.”
He stretched himself out on the floor and in a few moments was fast asleep. A short time later and Hal also lay in the arms of Morpheus.
How long the lads had slept, they did not know, but they were awakened by the sound of voices directly below them.
“No, I have seen nothing of them,” came the voice of the woman who had given them refuge.
“But we have searched every place else,” came another voice, speaking in French, but with a heavy German accent. “They must be here. We found the bicycles a short distance from this house, and have scoured the woods. They must be here.”
“I say they are not,” came the woman’s voice, raised in anger.
“Well, I must search the house, at any rate,” said the German, “and, if I find that you havebeen aiding the enemies of Germany, it will go hard with you. Stand aside, please.”
“I tell you there is no one here,” cried the woman.
“Stand aside!” came the German’s voice again, and there was the sound of a struggle, followed by the voice of the German: “Search the house, men.”
Then came the sounds of heavy feet tramping through the house. Hal and Chester were both wide awake now and lay silent, listening. For an hour the heavy footsteps continued to ring through the house, and there was the sound of slamming doors and moving furniture.
And finally came the voice of the woman again: “I told you there was no one here.”
But apparently the German officer in command was not yet satisfied.
“Have you searched the attic?” he demanded of his men; “and the cellar?”
“There is no one in the cellar,” came a voice in reply, “and there is no attic.”
“I’ll have a look for myself,” came the reply, and heavy footsteps ascended the stairs into the room directly beneath Hal and Chester. There came to the lads’ ears the sounds of heavy blows against the floor on which they lay. Evidently the German officer was making sure that there was not an opening in the ceiling of the room below. Butafter a while he desisted. The boys heard him descend the stairs, and a few moments later the sound of his voice:
“There is no one up there.”
Both lads drew a breath of relief. A moment more and a slamming door gave evidence that the Germans had departed.
“I was afraid he would locate the trap-door,” said Hal to Chester, after they had gone.
“Same here,” replied Chester. “But I wasn’t going to let them take me without a fight. Only one man could get up here at a time, and we could certainly dispose of him.”
“Yes, but they could starve us out, or set fire to the house or something, which would be worse than being captured. Besides, we couldn’t let the woman who has aided us come to harm.”
“No, that’s so, too,” agreed Chester. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Further conversation was interrupted by a sound of some one at the trap-door. Chester and Hal both jumped to their feet, and stood ready above the opening in the floor to seize the intruder should it prove to be an enemy.
But when the trap-door came away the head of their benefactress appeared through the opening.
“You can come down now, if you want to,” shesaid. “The Germans have been here and gone. I am sure they will not return.”
Chester turned to Hal.
“What do you think?” he asked. “Shall we go down, or had we better stay up here?”
Hal considered for a moment.
“I guess we might as well go down,” he replied at length. “I don’t believe there is any likelihood of their coming back. Besides, it’s too cramped and stuffy up here for comfort.”
Accordingly both boys descended from their refuge, and a few moments later were sitting in the living room with their hostess.
“We can never thank you enough for what you have done for us,” Chester told her, after she had related her experiences with the Germans.
“No, indeed; we can never thank you enough,” agreed Hal. “Had it not been for your kindness we should have been in the hands of the Germans right now, and there is no telling what they might have done to us.”
The good woman waved aside their thanks.
“Pooh! pooh!” she said. “And why shouldn’t I help you? Surely no thanks are necessary because I did my duty.”
“But women——” Hal began, when she interrupted him.
“I have a son of my own in the war,” she said,her voice growing very low and tears dimming her eyes.
“And I hope,” said Hal gently, “should he ever be in a situation similar to ours, that another good woman may be the means of saving his life, and that some day he may return to you.”
“Just so he does his duty I shall be satisfied,” said the woman, who now introduced herself as Mrs. Madeline Dersi. “He has been a very wild boy, but I am sure that his heart is true and that he will fight to the last for his country, as did his father before him.”
“And I am sure of it, too,” said Chester. “When we return to our lines we shall make it our business to hunt him up.”
And at that moment there was a hasty step outside, the door to the room in which they were sitting was flung open, and a young man, in civilian garb, burst in.
Mrs. Dersi was across the room in a moment, her arms wrapped about the newcomer. Tears streamed down her face, as she repeatedly kissed the young man, who seemed to take no great interest in the procedure.
Finally Mrs. Dersi turned to Hal and Chester.
“My son,” she said proudly, “of whom I was just talking to you.”
Now the newcomer freed himself from her embrace and stepped forward.
“Who are these?” he demanded, pointing to the two lads.
Mrs. Dersi explained.
“And we were just talking of you,” she added; then stopped and surveyed her son critically. “Why are you not in uniform?” she demanded.
“Why, I—I—I——” stuttered young Dersi, “I am on a scout, and it was thought best for me not to go in uniform.” He turned suddenly to Hal: “Are you expecting any of your men here?” he demanded.
“Why, no,” replied Hal. “We are going to try and make our way back to our lines to-night.”
Young Dersi appeared to breathe easier, and this fact was not lost upon either Hal or Chester.
“Well,” he said, after a pause, “I haven’t time to stay here. I just dropped in a moment to see you, mother. You say the Germans went north? How long have they been gone?”
“About an hour,” said Chester.
“Good. Then it will be safe for me to continue on my way.”
He bowed to the two lads, kissed his mother, and a moment later had left the house, his mother accompanying him to the door.
“There is something queer about him,” said Chester to Hal, as Mrs. Dersi and her son left the room. “He’s not telling the truth.”
“I know it,” said Hal. “I don’t like to say it,but it is my belief he is fleeing from the French lines to give information to the Germans.”
“You mean you think he is a traitor?”
“I told you I didn’t like to say anything,” replied Hal, “but I am afraid you have hit the nail on the head.”
“In that event he is likely to tell of our presence here,” cried Chester.
“I’m sure he’ll tell,” said Hal quietly.
“Then what shall we do?”
“We shall leave at once—or, as soon as Mrs. Dersi returns. That is the best return we can make for her kindness to us. It would break her heart to know that her son is a traitor to his country.”
“It would, indeed,” was Chester’s reply; but further talk was prevented by the return of Mrs. Dersi.
“And is not my son a fine, brave man?” she asked, with justifiable pride.
“He is,” said Hal and Chester both, hoping that they were telling the truth.
“Mrs. Dersi,” said Hal, “we have decided that it probably will be better for us if we take our departure at once. I am sure there are no Germans near right now, and the sooner we get started the sooner we shall reach our own lines.”
“But would it not be safer to wait until dark?” questioned the woman anxiously.
“I am afraid not,” replied Hal, with a meaning glance at Chester. “We think we had better take our departure at once.”
Mrs. Dersi offered further objections, but at length, seeing that they were all in vain, she bade the two lads a sorrowful farewell, enjoining them to be sure and look her son up and to return to see her should the opportunity offer. This they gladly promised, and, leaving the friendly shelter of the good Frenchwoman’s home, continued on their weary journey toward the British lines.