Each boy put his best foot foremost, and they traveled at top speed. They wanted to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the house where they had so lately found shelter, for there was little doubt in the mind of either that young Dersi was a traitor, and that he would soon put their erstwhile captors on their track again.
Nor were they wrong; and, had they but known what they learned later, they would have sought shelter almost anywhere rather than continue their journey afoot. Even now the same band of German motorcyclists who had given chase the night before were again in pursuit. But now, instead of an even dozen, there were thirteen. For Young Dersi himself was with them.
Just out of sight of Dersi’s home the Germans halted, and the young man himself approached the house. His mother greeted him effusively and inquired the cause of his sudden return.
“Well, mother,” he said, “I have accomplished my mission. I have learned the strength of the German army, and am now returning to my own regiment.But what of the two lads who were here? Have they gone? If not, we can all continue our journey together.”
“They departed several hours ago,” his mother informed him.
“Then perhaps I can overtake them,” said the young man. “In which direction did they go?”
The good woman pointed out the road taken by Hal and Chester, never thinking for an instant that her son meant to harm them. A moment later young Dersi left the house; and soon the Germans were once more upon the trail of the two lads.
Hal and Chester hurried along as fast as their legs could carry them. It was now nearing dusk, and with each forward step they knew that they were that much closer to a place of safety. Darkness fell and still the two lads plodded onward.
At length, coming upon a small brook beside the road, they stopped to quench their thirst. Hal had risen to his feet and was waiting for Chester when from the rear once more came the faint “chug-chug” of a motorcycle, or motorcycles, the boys were unable to tell which.
Chester sprang to his feet.
“Here they come again,” he cried. “We were right. It is the traitor Dersi who has put them on our trail. Hustle!”
Side by side the two lads sprinted for a clump of trees almost directly ahead. They reached theirfriendly shelter just before the glare of a searchlight down the road gave evidence of the approach of their pursuers.
Once among the trees the boys dropped to the ground and became absolutely silent. A moment later and the band of Germans flashed by at terrific speed.
The boys arose to their feet and continued on their way, keeping in among the trees.
“We must be very careful,” Hal warned Chester. “When they fail to overtake us they are sure to return. When we hear them coming we’ll climb up a tree, or hunt a hole, or something. But we might as well go ahead as far as we can.”
“That seems the best way to me,” Chester agreed.
They continued their journey for perhaps an hour without hearing a sound of the Germans, and then, suddenly, they were made aware of the presence of the enemy.
Chester’s cap seemed suddenly to jump from his head. Both lads heard the hum of a bullet and the crack of a rifle. Immediately they both dropped to the ground.
They had not detected from which direction the bullet had come, and for that reason were at a great disadvantage. Crouched close to the ground they waited, ears strained for a sound by which they could locate the man who had fired.
But a sound came not. Nothing but silence. Crouched close to the ground as they were, the silence soon became stifling. Hal endured the suspense as long as he could, and then whispered to Chester:
“We can’t stay here. I’ll wriggle my way to that tree,” pointing, “and you creep behind that one,” pointing again, this time to a tree perhaps a hundred yards distant from the first.
“All right,” Chester whispered back.
Hal had hardly taken his position behind the tree he had selected for his own cover when a second sharp crack of a rifle broke the stillness of the night, and there was a flash of fire hardly fifty feet from him.
In the darkness Hal made out the form of a man, his gun pointed toward Chester, who at that moment succeeded in wriggling behind a tree.
“The dog!” said Hal angrily to himself. “I’ll fix him.”
Both lads were without weapons, their arms having been confiscated when they were captured by the Germans.
On hands and knees Hal made a short detour and approached his enemy from behind. Now he was hardly ten feet from the man, who loomed up like a giant in the darkness. Hal rose suddenly to his feet, and, as he did so, he stepped on the fallen limb of a tree.
The deathly silence was shattered by this sound, and Hal’s enemy turned suddenly to confront this unexpected assailant. But, before he could bring his rifle to bear, Hal was upon him.
The man did succeed in raising his rifle above his head, and he now attempted to bring it down on the lad’s head. But Hal was too quick for him. Stepping in close, he struck his opponent a stinging blow in the face, and at the same time seized the rifle barrel with his other hand.
As the man staggered back, Hal wrenched fiercely on the rifle, and the weapon came away in his hand. But the man was not badly hurt by the force of Hal’s blow, and he suddenly dropped his hand to his belt. A moment later and the naked blade of a knife gleamed in the night.
Hal saw his enemy’s move and sprang back. But the man was after him in an instant, his knife raised to strike. They were too close together for Hal to bring the rifle to bear upon his enemy, and, realizing that he probably was no match for his opponent, the lad suddenly turned and ran.
But it was not Hal’s intention to run very far from his enemy. He was not that kind of a boy. His idea was to get far enough ahead of the man so that he might turn and shoot him. But as he ran he felt a gust of air pass his ear, and he heard the sound of something whizzing by him.
The German, realizing the boy’s purpose, andalso that he could not overtake him, had hurled his knife. Hal also realized this the moment the knife sped by him, and stopped suddenly in his tracks.
In spite of the fact that his assailant had attempted to murder him, Hal could not find it in his heart to kill him in cold blood. Therefore, even as he turned, he raised the rifle high above his head, and, holding it tightly by the barrel, rushed upon his enemy.
In vain the man threw up his hands to ward off the blow. The force behind it was too great. Hal, wheeling half around as he swung, brought the heavy butt of the rifle against the side of the German’s head with a crack. The man dropped limp at the boy’s feet.
Hal lowered his rifle, and stood for a moment over his fallen enemy, wiping his brow. Then he stooped over and relieved him of his other weapons, two automatic Colts. These he slipped in his pocket, and once more turned his face toward the spot where Chester lay, unaware of the terrible fight that had just occurred.
Hal whistled softly—the whistle of the old days in America—and, listening, heard Chester whistle softly in return.
Believing now that everything was safe, Hal left his fallen enemy behind, and started toward the spot where Chester was rising to his feet.
Hardly had he traversed half the distance, when there was another shot, and Hal saw Chester, who was advancing to meet him, topple to the ground.
Hal turned in the direction of the flash of the rifle, and, scarcely taking time to aim with his newly-acquired automatic, fired. His effort was rewarded with a howl of pain, but, as the lad started to run to where his fallen friend lay, there was another shot, and Hal felt a bullet whiz by his head.
Quickly he dropped to the ground, thinking that his unseen antagonist would believe him dead. He held his revolver ready, prepared to fire at the first sight of his enemy.
But the latter was not to be caught thus easily. Evidently he had heard of such subterfuges before. Hal waited patiently for some moments, and then, as there was no sign of his unseen enemy, he crawled slowly toward the spot where Chester had fallen.
What was his surprise to find that Chester was not there. For a moment Hal was stupefied, but his amazement was brought to an end by a low whistle, and, looking to the right, Hal beheld his friend behind a large tree.
A moment later Hal was beside his friend.
“Are you hurt much?” he demanded anxiously.
“Not even touched,” was the reply. “I droppedto the ground when the bullet whizzed by. I was afraid he would hit me next time.”
Hal seized Chester’s hand and squeezed it warmly.
“I was afraid it was all up with you,” he said. “I——”
The sudden flash of a rifle interrupted him, and another bullet flew past.
“Great Scott!” Hal ejaculated. “We’ve got to get out of here some way. We can’t stand here and be shot down.”
“Wait,” said Chester, as Hal started to move away, and pulled the latter to the ground, where he had dropped himself.
“What is it?” demanded Hal.
“Let me look at that gun you have a moment.”
Without a word Hal passed it over. Chester examined it as carefully as possible in the dark.
“I don’t believe there is more than one man in these woods,” he finally said. “Now, you stay here, and I shall try and work round behind him.”
Without waiting for a reply Chester started crawling away, not directly toward the spot where the last flash of fire had come from, but bearing off well toward the right.
Hal started to protest, but, before he could utter half a dozen words, Chester had disappeared in the darkness. Hal lay in silence for some time. Finally, putting his cap upon a stick, he poked it cautiously out from behind the tree, where it wassilhouetted against the opening between the trees.
A shot followed, and the cap leaped into the air.
“Good thing it wasn’t my head,” said Hal ruefully. “But if I can keep that fellow’s attention centered on me, Chester may be able to nab him.”
Once more he raised his cap on a stick and moved it about. Again there was a sound of a shot. But, even as the bullet sped by, there was a second report, and Hal heard his friend’s voice raised in almost a shout:
“I got him.”
Quickly Hal sprang to his feet and dashed in the direction of his friend’s voice.
When Chester had left Hal he crawled slowly, and, making a wide detour, came upon his unseen enemy from behind. The second time the man had fired at Hal’s hat, Chester was almost upon him.
Thinking that the man was shooting at his friend, being unconscious of the ruse Hal was employing, Chester immediately turned his own weapon loose upon the man, whom he could now plainly see. But, after firing, the enemy had shifted his position slightly at the very moment that Chester fired. Therefore, he escaped what otherwise would assuredly have been a death wound—for Chester was a crack shot—and received the ball in his pistol hand.
His weapon dropped to the ground, and he sent up a loud howl of pain.
Before he could seize the weapon in his other hand, Chester was upon him, and Hal was hastening to the aid of his friend, for, wounded though he was, the man put up a hard fight.
Chester forced him to the ground, but the man heaved him away with a mighty kick. Chester fell sprawling on the ground, and his opponent turned to grope for his revolver.
But, before he could pick it up, Hal was upon the scene. He took in the situation at a glance, and sprang upon Chester’s assailant.
Hal’s first leap bore his opponent to the ground, where the boy twisted one hand around the man’s throat. But, if he thought to overcome his opponent thus easily, he had reckoned without his host. Lying almost at full length on the ground as he was, he drove his fist straight upward into Hal’s face. The lad released his hold upon his enemy’s throat and fell back.
It was now beginning to grow light, and, as the man sprang after him, Hal recognized him. It was young Dersi!
“Dersi!” gasped Hal, as he once more put himself in an attitude of defense.
“Yes,” gritted his opponent, “and I am going to kill you both, right here and now.”
With this he sprang upon Hal and bore him to the ground. But the lad was not to be thus easily conquered, and, with a mighty effort, wriggledfrom beneath his assailant and sprang back to gain a breath.
This movement almost cost him his life, for, in springing back, he allowed his opponent time to reach down and pick up his revolver. This he now pointed full at Hal.
But aid came from an unexpected source. Chester, who had been lying unconscious up to this time, now recovered sufficiently to take in the situation about him. In his hand he still grasped the automatic.
This he brought to bear, and an instant before Dersi’s finger pressed the trigger, Chester fired. Dersi fell to the ground with a groan. His revolver exploded as he fell, and the bullet whistled close to Hal’s right ear.
Quickly Hal jumped to Chester’s side and raised his chum in his arms.
“Chester! Chester!” he said anxiously. “Tell me, are you much hurt?”
“Not much, I think,” was his friend’s reply. “But he gave me an awful wallop. I shall be all right presently.”
Hal did not leave his friend for a moment until Chester announced that his head had cleared up sufficiently for him to stand. With Hal’s assistance he struggled to his feet, one hand holding the side of his head.
“He kicked like a mule,” said Chester. “Great Scott! I never had anything hurt like that.”
At that instant there came a groan from the fallen man.
Hal and Chester bent over him. Dersi’s voice was very indistinct, and the boys at first were unable to distinguish what he said.
Hal placed his ear close to the dying man’s lips. The voice came faintly.
“Do not tell mother I died like this. It would break her heart. She thinks I am a soldier of France. And so I was,” and his voice became stronger, “until I fell in with evil companions. Then I began to gamble. I lost. I needed money. When the war broke out, I was offered a chance to cancel all my debts, if I would deliver certain plans to the Germans. I did. Then I was discovered.”
“How?” demanded Chester.
“I was caught in the act of taking papers from my superior’s coat, which he had laid aside. I was court-martialed and ordered put to death. Through the connivance of another who was associated with me in this piece of treachery I managed to escape. He is high in the confidence of General Joffre.”
“His name?” demanded Hal quickly.
The wounded man was silent for some time.
“I have never betrayed a comrade,” he said at length, “but I am at the door of death. I mustmake what reparation I can. His name is General Emil Tromp.”
“What!” exclaimed Hal and Chester in a single breath.
“It is true,” continued the wounded man. “But listen,” and his voice grew fainter. The end was not far off now. “Listen! Will you do me one favor, you whom I have tried to kill?”
Hal and Chester nodded their heads in assent.
“Then do not tell my mother of my treachery. Tell her that I died in battle, fighting for my country, and that I was game to the end, as you Americans say. Will you do this for me, one who has sought your death?”
“We will,” promised Hal and Chester in a single voice.
“Promise,” said the dying man feebly, as he raised himself on one elbow.
“We promise,” said both lads solemnly.
The man fell back with a groan of thanks, and Hal bent over him, thinking that he was dead. But the voice came again:
“I wouldn’t have her know for all the world. I was always wild, but who would have thought that I would be a traitor to my country? When you see General Joffre, tell him at once what I have told you concerning the traitor. Immediately, do you understand?”
“We understand,” said Hal.
“And my mother, you will do as you have promised?”
“We have promised,” said Chester simply.
“Then I may die in peace,” said the wounded traitor.
He lay back on the ground at full length, shuddered, once, twice, and lay still.
Hal rose from his kneeling posture, and lifted his cap from his head.
“He is dead,” he said quietly. “May he rest in peace.”
“Amen to that,” said Chester, also standing with bared head. “And his mother. He is right. It would break her heart. We must see that she does not know.”
“And so we shall,” declared Hal. “It will be a lie for which I am sure we shall be forgiven.”
“What shall we do with him?” questioned Chester. “We can’t go away and leave him here like this.”
“No,” Hal agreed. “I know we should, for our own safety may depend upon it, but just the same it goes against the grain.”
“If we had something to dig with,” said Chester.
“But we haven’t,” Hal interrupted.
But the two lads were saved the trouble of finding a grave for the traitor, for suddenly through the woods came the sound of tramping feet.
For a moment the two lads listened intently. Then Chester grabbed Hal by the arm.
“Come,” he said in a hoarse whisper, “we must find a place of safety.”
Hal drew back.
“Wait until I see if Dersi happened to have another gun,” he said.
He ran his hand over the dead man and at length rose up with a second revolver and a belt well filled with cartridges. One of the weapons he passed to Chester.
“We’ll probably need these,” he said grimly. “Now, let’s see if we can’t find a place to hide.”
Cautiously the two lads made their way through the woods. They could hear the sound of their pursuers, but they had little fear of being detected in the still uncertain light, as long as they kept the same distance between themselves and the Germans.
But suddenly a gleam of light showed in the forest. A German soldier had flashed a pocket searchlight, and the glare of it fell squarely upon the crouching lads, before they could step behind a tree or any other place of refuge.
“Run!” cried Hal, suiting the action to the word.
Chester needed no urging, and also took to his heels. But their presence had been discovered, as was proved by the sharp crack of a rifle. Neither boy was touched, although the bullet passed uncomfortably close to Chester’s head.
Stumbling along as fast as the semi-darkness would permit, the boys made a brave effort to escape. But they were not to get off in such easy fashion. For again the searchlight lighted up the woods and exposed them to their pursuers. Both lads threw themselves to the ground, and thus avoided the volley of shots that were fired at them.
As Chester dropped, he heard a startled exclamation from his chum, and, glancing quickly about, he could see no sign of him. The lad was non-plussed,but, before he could so much as move, he heard Hal’s voice, apparently below him:
“Quick, Chester! Down here, but be careful how you come.”
Cautiously Chester moved in the direction of his friend’s voice. But he was not cautious enough, and a moment later, grasping out wildly for some means to stay his rapid descent, he was sliding down what seemed to be a steep embankment.
He brought up abruptly at the bottom, and felt Hal’s hand upon his arm.
“Great Scott!” he ejaculated. “Where are we? Down in the bottomless pit?”
Hal clapped his hand over Chester’s mouth, for his keen ears had detected the sounds of footsteps above.
“Quiet!” he whispered.
Chester needed no second warning. He did not move a muscle. From above came the sound of a voice:
“I wonder where they went?”
“I don’t know,” answered another voice, “but we had best be careful. They are probably armed.”
Now, Hal, moving his position slightly, felt a space behind him, and crawled slowly backward, where the darkness seemed greater, pulling Chester along after him. They continued this crawling for some minutes. Finally, raising his head, Haldropped quickly again with a muttered exclamation.
In arising his head had come in contact with something above him. Raising an exploring hand, he investigated. He touched a rock above. Then he reached out on each side. As he had surmised, only a few feet each way were solid walls.
“A cave,” he muttered.
“What?” asked Chester.
“We are cooped up in a cave. If the Germans are wise enough, after they learn where we are, they will just sit down on the outside and starve us out. But, if they try to come in—well, I don’t think they will get very far, as long as our cartridges hold out. You wait here until I see how far back this thing goes.”
Chester obeyed, and Hal continued his exploration. For two or three minutes he crawled along, and then, turning a slight bend, gave a sudden exclamation. He had come upon a possible means of exit, for, apparently, the cave had two openings.
Quickly Hal poked his head out and looked around. He could see no one. Slowly he crawled back to where he had left Chester, and informed him of what he had learned.
“Then the best thing we can do is to get out of here quick,” was Chester’s decision. “Let’s go.”
Slowly Hal led the way along the low passageway, and, reaching the opening again, poked hishead out. This time he was doomed to a disappointment. Hardly had his head emerged from the hole in the ground when he drew it in quickly again.
“What’s the matter now?” demanded Chester.
“Matter is,” said Hal quietly, “that there are six Germans standing about five yards from the entrance.”
“What!” cried Chester, in consternation.
“Exactly,” said Hal; “if you don’t believe it have a look for yourself.”
“Oh, I don’t want to look,” said Chester, bitterly disappointed. “I can take your word for it. What are we going to do now?”
“Well,” said Hal, “it looks to me like a good time to get out the other end.”
“Yes, but there are likely to be a few of them hanging about there, also,” said Chester.
“That’s so, too,” agreed Hal. “Well, I’ll tell you what: You sneak back there and investigate, and I’ll stay here and guard this end, in case one of them tries to get in.”
Slowly Chester crawled away. Reaching the opposite end of the cave, he cautiously poked his head out and looked around. In the dim light he could see no one. But he was afraid to call out to Hal—his voice might be overheard—so he took his tedious way back to where he had left his friend.
“All O. K.,” he whispered.
“Good,” said Hal. “Let’s get out of here, then.”
They crawled back along the dark passageway as rapidly as the darkness and the condition of the ground would permit, but before leaving their place of refuge, Chester thought it advisable to peep out once more.
And it was well that he did so. For, standing almost at the entrance of the cave three figures loomed up against the sky. Quickly Chester drew back in again.
“Three of ’em out there,” he informed Hal briefly. “What are we going to do now?”
“You’ve got me,” replied Hal. “Can’t you pick ’em off with your gun?”
“Oh, I can pick a couple of ’em off, all right. But what then? We would probably have a whole brigade upon us in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”
“I guess you are right,” Hal agreed. “But we have got to do something.”
“So we have,” replied Chester; “but the question is, what?”
Hal was silent for several minutes, thinking. Finally he said:
“Well, I guess the best thing to do is to wait and see what happens. Perhaps they may leave before broad daylight and not discover this cave. In that case we shall be safe enough. Now you stay here and guard this end, and don’t move unless I call. I’ll do the same at the other end.”
“All right,” said Chester. “We’ll keep our poststill daylight, whether they go away or not. Then, if we have not been discovered, we can at least see what we are doing.”
Hal moved slowly along the passageway once more, being very careful not to make any noise. He crawled on hands and knees, his head thrust out before him.
Suddenly, as he moved slowly along, his head came in contact with another moving object with an audible crack.
He had bumped into a second crawling figure.
In spite of the pain that shot through his head following the contact, Hal did not lose his coolness or his presence of mind. Although his head hurt badly, he did not utter a sound.
His unseen antagonist apparently was too surprised to make an outcry, or it may have been that he thought he had bumped into a wall. If the latter were his thought he was quickly undeceived.
As he sat back on his haunches, to rub his head, Hal moved lightly forward, and, judging the distance by the sound of his enemy’s movements, fell on top of him.
He had gauged the distance to a nicety, and before the German could cry out, one of the lad’s hands sank deep into his throat. But the latter was a powerful man and not to be overcome easily. He hurled the lad from him with a quick shove, at the same time twisting on the wrist of the hand that gripped his throat.
The pain was almost unbearable and Hal was forced to loosen his hold. But again the lad sprang, before the German could take the offensive, andthis time struck out fiercely with his right fist. The German uttered a cry of pain, and with one hand delivered a smashing blow at the face so close to his own.
But Hal had figured on this move and had calculated the time of the blow perfectly. With a quick movement of his head he avoided the huge fist, and there came a terrific howl of pain from the German. The blow had passed over the lad’s head and the German’s fist had crashed into the solid wall.
And at the same instant there came the sound of a shot from Chester’s end of the cave.
This sound spurred Hal to greater activity, for he realized now that their presence had been discovered by those on the outside. He felt certain that the sound of the shot would probably bring new visitors into the cave from the end he was supposed to guard.
Quickly, then, while his opponent was still in agony from the self-inflicted blow, Hal drew his revolver and, reversing it, struck out in the direction of a muttered curse.
He was rewarded by another groan of anguish and a moment later by the sound of a falling body. Quickly the lad leaped forward, his weapon held ready to strike again. But there was no need of a second blow. The German was unconscious.
By great exertion Hal succeeded in turning hiswounded adversary over and pushed him slowly along the passageway, using him as a shield in case he encountered another of the enemy.
At length he came to the end of the passageway, and pushed his prisoner out. Even as he did so a bullet whistled by his head and he heard the crack of a German rifle. Hal lost no time in getting back into his hiding place.
But now he discovered that even this was not far enough, for a bullet came whizzing into the cave after him. It hit the side of the wall and went skimming over his head.
With all possible haste the lad retreated around the little bend, and throwing himself upon his face held his revolver ready to fire at the first sign of an advancing foe.
He lay perfectly still, not making the slightest noise, and after some moments heard the sound of voices.
“I tell you I must have hit him. I never miss at that distance,” said one. “And, besides, if he were in there we could hear him.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure,” came a second voice. “He’s liable to be there waiting for you.”
“Well, I am going in after him anyhow,” said the first speaker.
A moment later Hal heard the German approaching. He half arose to his knee and trained his revolver at the darkness ahead of him.
Then there came the sound of the German rounding the bend, and taking careful aim at the distance above the ground he believed the man’s head would be, Hal pressed the trigger.
There was a terrific roar that echoed and reechoed through the passageway, a howl of pain and then silence. For a moment Hal waited, for he did not wish to be caught napping. Then he slowly made his way forward. Presently he came in contact with a man’s body. It was the enemy.
Propping himself up behind the dead man, Hal felt more comfortable.
“It will be daylight soon,” he said to himself, “and they can’t get in here without me seeing them And one man here is as good as a hundred.”
Raising his voice, Hal shouted:
“Are you all right, Chester?”
“All right,” came back the answer. “One man tried to get in here, but I got him,” for all the time that Hal had been engaged Chester had been having troubles of his own.
After Hal had left him, Chester, seeking to ascertain the exact position of the Germans at his end of the cave, and, if possible, their number, had ventured too close to the opening.
A German, walking past at that moment, struck a match to light a cigarette, and Chester’s form was clearly outlined in the glare of it. With a hoarse guttural exclamation the German droppedhis match and cigarette and brought his rifle to bear.
But before he could press the trigger Chester had disappeared in the darkness of the cave. Evidently believing that the lad would flee from him, the German, sprawling upon hands and knees, gave chase.
Chester, well back in the cave, judged his pursuer’s distance by the sounds of his awkward movements. He waited until the German got well within the cave, then raised his automatic and quickly fired twice.
The sound of the explosion was so great that even Chester himself was frightened. This was the shot that Hal had heard as he grappled with his opponent.
Fearing a trap, Chester did not move for several moments, keeping his revolver aimed steadily. But then, as there was no sound from the German, Chester slowly moved forward.
His outstretched hand touched a soft object, and his exploring fingers sought out the German’s face.
“He’ll do no more fighting,” was Chester’s only comment.
Relieving the German of his arms and ammunition, Chester sat down to await the approach of the others, who he was certain must have heard the sound of the shot.
And they were not slow in coming. Suddenly the flame of a match appeared in the opening, and taking quick aim Chester let fly with his automatic.
There came a groan of pain from the opening to the cave, but the exact result of his shot Chester could not determine. The light had disappeared and the cave was again in darkness. Hal, at his end of the cave, having serious business of his own to attend to, had not heard this last shot.
And now Chester stretched himself out on the ground to ward off any further attack. He was brought suddenly to a sitting posture again by the sound of a shot from Hal’s end of the cave.
Several times he called out but received no answer. He was just on the point of leaving his post and following after his friend when Hal’s voice came to him.
“Thank God,” he exclaimed softly, “Hal is still alive.”
He resumed his former position and lay calmly awaiting the next move of the enemy, with a human shield in front of him, even as Hal had at his end of the cave.
For hours, it seemed to both boys, they lay there silently, save for an occasional shout to the other, when the darkness of the cave began to give way to a faint glow of light. The sun had arisen, and each boy, at his own end of the cave, breathed more freely.
“It’s getting light here, Hal,” called Chester.
“And here, too,” Hal shouted back.
And both lads were struck with the same thought.
“At least, we can see what we are doing now.”
Gradually it became more light and at length a beam of sunlight shot into Hal’s end of the cave. But still the lads kept silent vigil, being afraid to leave their places of concealment, and believing that the Germans on the outside were still on the watch for them.
Nor were they wrong, for at both entrances to the cave, or at least standing nearby, were two groups of German soldiers, patiently waiting for the boys to emerge from their retreat. The Germans rightly surmised that they would not remain idle long after daylight.
At length Hal could endure the suspense no longer. Silently he quitted his end of the cave and made his way cautiously back toward his friend.
“What’s up?” was Chester’s greeting.
“I don’t know,” replied Hal. “The Germans may have gone away, but I believe they are still loitering on the outside. However, this inaction is getting monotonous. We’ve got to do something, and we’ve got to do it right away.”
“My sentiments exactly,” Chester agreed. “But what?”
“Well, I don’t know exactly. We shall have to figure out something.”
There was a long silence, which was finally broken by Chester.
“There is but one way I can think of,” he said.
“What is that?” demanded Hal.
“Well, suppose we make a dash out of this end, shooting as we go. Those guarding the other end will naturally think we are trying to escape, and will come to the aid of their companions. Then we can run back into the cave, crawl through as rapidly as possible and make a run for it out the other end.”
Hal was somewhat dubious of this plan, but after some further talk, in which neither was able to hit upon a better one, the boys finally decided to act upon Chester’s suggestion.
Accordingly, with drawn revolvers, they slowly made their way to the entrance of the cave, and Chester peered out cautiously.
“No one in sight,” he whispered to his friend. “Perhaps they have gone.”
“Be very careful,” cautioned Hal. “They are likely to be lurking around here some place.”
Quietly the boys emerged from the cave, and began walking slowly. But they had hardly gone five paces when there came a command:
“Halt!”
Swiftly the lads turned in the direction from which the hail had come, and beheld a squad of Germans approaching them with leveled rifles.
The automatics of both lads spoke simultaneously and continued to spout fire for several seconds. Then they turned and ran hurriedly back to the cave, into which they disappeared before their startled foe could realize what had happened.
Two German soldiers lay on the ground, while a third stood swaying dizzily on his feet.
With all possible haste the lads crawled through the passageway, and soon emerged at the other end. But now caution was thrown to the wind, for the lads figured that the Germans left to guard this end of the retreat were by this time on the way to aid their companions.
Their revolvers still gleamed in their hands, however, ready for instant use in the event that their plan had miscarried.
But it had not, for there was not a German in sight, and soon the boys were running through the woods as fast as their legs could carry them. At length Hal pulled up, panting.
“I guess we have given them the slip this time,” he panted.
“Let us hope so,” replied Chester fervently. “If we ever get back to our own lines, I believe I shall be more careful in the future.”
Hal glanced at his friend with a peculiar smile.
“Anybody that didn’t know you would believe you meant that,” he said. “But I know you better, so I don’t.”
“Well, perhaps I did make it a little strong,” said Chester with a smile, “but that’s the way I feel about it right now.”
The boys had now regained their breath, and at a word from Hal resumed their journey, walking at a brisk pace.
Now they came to a clearing in the woods, stretching out for perhaps 200 yards, and the end of this another dense forest. They started across the open ground at a run, for they had no mind to be overtaken by the Germans where there was nothing to offer protection.
They had almost reached the forest on the other side and each was mentally congratulating himself upon giving the pursuers the slip when a shot rang out from behind, and a bullet cut the ground beside Hal.
“Quick!” said Hal, and increased his pace, swerving from side to side as he ran, making it difficult for the Germans to aim accurately. Chester did likewise, and soon they were safe once more beneath the protection of the great trees.
But now that they had been discovered, the lads knew that it was to be a race for life. They knew that it was but a question of a few minutes untilthe remaining Germans would again mount their motorcycles and give chase. Also they realized that their chances of eluding their pursuers were much more slight in broad daylight than they had been in the darkness.
Therefore they ran at top speed. While they were not afraid and had not lost a whit of their nerve, they realized that discretion was the better part of valor, and their feet continued to hit the ground at breakneck speed, until again came to their ears the first faint sounds of the pursuing motorcycles. Gradually the sounds became more distinct, this telling the boys that their pursuers were gaining rapidly, although the rough condition of the ground made it impossible for the motorcycles to travel very fast.
Finally, when he could run no more, Hal threw himself to the ground, and Chester immediately followed his example. For a few moments they lay there, panting, their tongues literally hanging out like worn out dogs.
Then they sprang to their feet again, and making an abrupt turn to the right plunged into the underbrush right where it was the most dense. Here Hal espied a large tree, with low hanging branches. With Chester by his side he rushed for it.
Hal stood aside while Chester grabbed the lowest branch and swung himself up, and then he followed suit. High up in the tree the lads climbed,the close set branches affording an excellent screen.
Half a minute later six motorcycle riders hove into sight, hardly a hundred yards from where the boys were perched.
Chester’s fingers twitched on his revolver, but Hal, who had noticed the set expression on his friend’s face, uttered a low warning.
And the sound of Hal’s voice was almost their undoing. For the Germans had come to a pause and Hal’s words carried plainly in the silence to their ears.
For a moment the Germans glanced about hurriedly, seeking out their prey. Then they sprang behind trees themselves, their rifles ready to fire. They had not yet discovered the boys’ hiding place, and were fearful of a shot from ambush.
Then one, raising his eyes, saw Hal, and quickly raised his rifle. But Hal’s eye was keen also, and before the German could press the trigger Hal’s revolver spoke and the German tumbled to the ground.
Chester fired at the same moment as did Hal, and a second German clapped his hand to his head and reeled. But before the other pursuers could raise their rifles, there came from ahead a sound that brought a loud “Hurrah” from Hal and Chester, and a moment later, on the dead run, came a small body of British infantry.
Quickly the Germans leaped onto their motorcyclesand turned to run. But now the advancing British were in full view, and a voice of command rang out:
“Fire!”
A volley rang out. Not in all the world were there better marksmen than those British troopers. Four Germans reeled in their saddles and tumbled to the ground.
Hal and Chester descended from their place of refuge.
The two lads hurried up to the officer in command of the English troops.
“You arrived just in time,” cried Hal, grasping the hand the officer extended.
“I should say you did,” declared Chester, also shaking the officer’s hand. “A few moments later and we would have been goners, sure.”
“Well, I am glad we arrived so opportunely,” said the officer, laughing a little. “We heard shooting in this direction last night, but we did not get an order to advance until this morning. As you may perhaps have surmised, we are part of the advance guard of the army.”
“Do you mean the French and English have both assumed the offensive in force?” demanded Hal.
“Exactly,” replied the British officer. “We are not far in front, and are pushing slowly along, that we may take the Germans by surprise, if possible. Perhaps you may have gathered some information as to the German position and strength?”
This last was in the form of a question, and the lads made haste to answer in the affirmative.
“We have not learned a whole lot,” Chester continued, “but we have a little information that may be of value.”
“Then you had better hasten back to General French and report,” said the officer. “I am sure he will be glad to have any information you may be able to give him.”
The lads thanked the officer, and soon the little troop was on the advance again. Hal and Chester resumed their journey in the opposite direction. For an hour they hurried along, occasionally meeting a detachment of mounted troops going forward, but they had traversed at least five miles before they made out in the distance the first long line of the British advance.
It was indeed an imposing sight, this long line of khaki-clad men, marching rapidly toward them, and Hal and Chester were not unmindful of it, and their hearts swelled with pride at the thought that they themselves were a part of this great fighting machine.
They hurried on toward the advancing army. Already the lads had been challenged several times, but upon explaining their predicament had been allowed to continue on their way. Now they reached the first line of the advancing host, and an officer hastily rode toward them.
Upon a glance at their uniforms, now unkempt and dirty, he saluted.
“What is your business here?” he demanded.
Briefly Hal explained, and added:
“We are seeking General French. Can you direct us to him?”
The officer did as requested and the lads made off in the direction he indicated. It was fully two hours later before they were admitted to the presence of the commander-in-chief of the small though mighty host of Britain.
For once the English field marshal lost his habitual calm and greeted them warmly.
“I had made sure that you two lads were lost,” he said. “Come, give an account of yourselves.”
Chester did so as briefly as possible, and General French listened to the lad’s recital in unfeigned amazement.
“And so you are the two who created such havoc in the ranks of the enemy,” he exclaimed when Chester had concluded his account of their adventures. “I learned through some of my scouts that a wild engine had dealt a heavy blow to the Germans, but I had never thought that you two were aboard it.”
Then it was that Hal told his commander of his encounter with young Dersi, and of what the latter had told him concerning General Tromp, of General Joffre’s staff.
“What!” cried General French, springing to his feet. “Tromp a traitor! Why, it is unbelievable.General Joffre has entire confidence in his ability and integrity.”
“Nevertheless it is true, there can be no doubt of that,” said Hal quietly. “Dersi told us with almost his dying breath, and he certainly was repentant at the end.”
“Oh, I do not doubt your word,” General French assured Hal, “but it seems impossible. Something must be done at once.”
“Will you allow me to make a suggestion, sir?” asked Hal respectfully.
“By all means,” was the general’s reply.
“Then I would suggest that you send word of General Tromp’s treachery to General Joffre by special messenger, and not trust to the field wireless, for in that way Tromp might learn that he was suspected and make his escape.”
“An excellent idea,” said General French. “It shall be acted upon at once.” He turned away, signifying that the interview was at an end.
But Hal had no intention of letting such a piece of work slip through his fingers.
“If you please, general,” he said. “Chester and I would like to carry the message. You see, we are greatly interested in this matter.”
The general glanced at the two lads, and a faint smile lighted up his face.
“And so you shall,” he said at length. “Refreshyourselves with food and drink first, and then report to me.”
Hal and Chester saluted and took their departure. Having done as the general ordered, they lost no time in returning to him. General French had already prepared his dispatch and this he placed in Hal’s hand.
“General Joffre no doubt will be amazed at the contents of this message,” the general told the lads, “and he probably will demand all details from you. Tell them to him as you have to me and I am sure he will be convinced. That is all, except that you return as soon as possible, for I may have other work for you.”
The two lads saluted and started forth on their journey. Both had been furnished with good horses at the command of the general, for they had asked for these in preference to being carried in an army automobile.
“Those things are likely to break down any time,” Hal had confided to Chester, “and you can always depend upon a good horse.”
Chester had agreed with him, so now we find the two lads mounted and riding rapidly toward the southwest, in which direction they knew they should reach the French commander-in-chief.
It was a long, tedious ride, for the French general, that he might have perfect quiet in which to make his plans and direct the movement of theFrench forces, had made it his custom to remain well in the rear of his army. And here, the following day, the lads found him, and upon informing his orderly that they bore important communications from General French, were admitted to his presence at once.
The French commander-in-chief sat at a small desk, surrounded by members of his staff. Hal and Chester drew themselves up and saluted; then the former advanced and placed the document in Gen. Joffre’s hand.
Quickly the French commander ran his eyes over the paper; then leaned back in his chair. For perhaps five minutes he retained this position, uttering no word, apparently deep in thought.
Then he arose, and with a wave of his hand dismissed all his staff, motioning for Hal and Chester to remain. The tent cleared, the general spoke:
“Now tell me your story,” he said briefly.
Hal did so, and the general listened attentively, without asking a single question until Hal had concluded his story.
“It must be true,” he said at length, half to himself. “I remember well that there was something mysterious in the traitor Dersi’s escape. It was never explained satisfactorily. Yes, it must be true.”
He was silent again for some moments, then finally spoke again:
“And I would have staked anything I possess on Tromp’s honor. He has uncommon ability. Still, there has always been something queer about him. Yes, it must be true.”
Suddenly the general sprang to his feet with agility that Hal and Chester had not believed him capable of, and struck a small bell upon his desk a sharp tap. Immediately an orderly entered.
“Have my car brought here instantly,” commanded the general briefly.
The orderly saluted and withdrew.
Chester and Hal stared at each other in some surprise. What could the general be about to do? They were soon enlightened.
“I must act at once,” said the general, again half to himself. “Never would Tromp have a better chance to work treachery to our cause than at this time. I must stop him, and I must do it personally and without publicity, for should this become noised abroad throughout France, nothing could prove more detrimental to our cause.”
He turned suddenly to Hal and Chester.
“And you two shall come with me,” he said. “You shall confront Tromp. If he is guilty, we shall find it out some way.”
At that instant the orderly entered again and saluted.
“Your car is ready, sir,” he said.
The general moved toward the door, motioning for the lads to follow him.
“Come,” he said. “We shall go to the front, where even now Tromp is in command and meditating mischief.”
So this is how it transpired that Hal and Chester, two American boys, happened to be present at an interview between the commander-in-chief of the French army and General Emil Tromp, an incident that has never been told, and never will find its way into history; an interview between a gallant French officer and another who, were his actions known, would be likened to the greatest of American traitors—Benedict Arnold.
Hal and Chester followed General Joffre from his tent without a word and entered his car behind him.
“To General Tromp’s command,” said General Joffre briefly. “Hurry!”
The chauffeur needed no second urging, and a moment later the huge car was literally flying over the ground, passing large bodies of troops moving rapidly forward as though they were stationary.
Hal and Chester found ample time to take an inventory of the general’s car. It was a huge machine, and besides being fitted up luxuriously was also furnished as an office, that the general mightstill be at work while he hurried from one part of the field to another when events demanded his immediate presence. Even now, with treachery threatening, and whirling along at a terrific speed, General Joffre, probably because of habit, fell to work sorting papers, studying maps and other drawings.
For almost two hours the car whirled along at top speed, and at length pulled up in the rear of an immense body of troops, who, even to Hal and Chester, could be seen preparing for an advance.
General Joffre was out of the car before it came to a full stop, and Hal and Chester were at his heels. An orderly approached.
“My respects to General Tromp, and tell him I desire his presence immediately,” ordered General Joffre.
The orderly saluted and dashed away. General Joffre paced up and down nervously. Finally, at the approach of rapid footsteps, he raised his head. A group of officers were approaching. One of them advanced right up to the general and saluted, and even as he did so the sound of a bugle rang out, ordering a general advance.
“Sir——” began the officer, whom the boys instantly knew to be General Tromp.
General Joffre interrupted him with a wave of his hand.
“Why this sudden advance?” he demanded coldly.
General Tromp started back.
“Why, sir,” he explained, “I have word that a large force of the enemy is approaching to give battle. I am advancing to meet him.”
“Order a halt,” said General Joffre abruptly.
“But, but——” began General Tromp in some confusion.
“Order a halt, sir!” commanded General Joffre sternly. “Or,” as he saw that General Tromp still hesitated, “shall I do it myself?”
General Tromp turned and gave the command to one of his staff, who immediately dashed away. A moment and a bugle rang out, and the great army came to a pause.
“Now, sir,” said General Joffre to General Tromp, “you will please dismiss your staff.”
Without a word General Tromp turned and gave the necessary order. A moment later and the four, General Joffre, General Tromp, Hal and Chester, were alone together.
“What is the meaning of this, sir?” demanded General Tromp, with some dignity.
“The meaning, General Tromp,” said General Joffre calmly, “is that you are a traitor!”
General Tromp started back, and his hand went up before his face as if to ward off a blow.
“What!” he cried in well simulated surprise. “Have a care, sir. I shall allow no such insults, even though you are my superior officer.”
“Tush, tush,” chided the commander-in-chief gently. “Why keep up the pretense? You are discovered. Why not admit it and have done?”
“Sir!” cried General Tromp, drawing himself up. “I demand an explanation of your strange conduct.”
“And you shall have it, sir!” thundered General Joffre, now very angry, as he took a step forward.
General Tromp quailed before him. His eyes fell to the ground and his injured dignity dropped from him like a mask.
“I accuse you,” continued General Joffre, “of being a traitor to France. I accuse you of aiding and abetting the escape of another traitor, one Dersi. And I also accuse you,” and here the general pointed an accusing finger at General Tromp, “of even now playing into the hands of the enemy by ordering an advance, when you knew very well that such an advance could mean only the extermination of our troops.”
By a great effort General Tromp forced his eyes to meet those of his commander.
“I deny it,” he said in a thick voice.
“A denial is useless,” said General Joffre quietly.
But General Tromp had now succeeded in regaining command of himself to a certain extent, and once more he tried to bluff it out.
“Who accuses me?” he demanded, with well assumed bravado.
“I do,” said Hal, stepping forward.
“And I,” cried Chester, also advancing a step.
General Tromp turned to General Joffre.
“And you take the word of those two upstarts in preference to mine?” he demanded.
“I do,” said the general quietly, “upon the advice of General Sir John French, who vouches for the truth of their story. Besides, your actions just now have convicted you. Come, Tromp, further denial is useless. Dersi has confessed.”
“Dersi!” exclaimed Tromp, his fingers twitching. “If I could just get my hands on him for one minute——”
“But you can’t,” said General Joffre. “He is dead. And he died with a clear conscience, as I hope you will do.”
“What do you mean?” cried Tromp, starting back.
“Exactly what I say,” was General Joffre’s chilling reply. “You have your choice. Either the way I mean, or to be publicly hanged as a traitor. If possible, I desire to avoid publicity. Which shall it be?”
General Tromp shifted nervously from one foot to the other, his hands twitching convulsively. Suddenly one hand leaped to his side.
“I wouldn’t do that,” said Hal quietly, and turning General Tromp saw the lad’s revolver pointed squarely at him, held in a steady hand.
His hand dropped to his side again, and for some moments the traitor stood in silence. Then, suddenly, his shaking stopped. He raised his eyes and looked his commander straight in the eyes.
“It shall be as you say, sir,” he said calmly. “You are right. I am a traitor. I would not have been, but—but—well that makes no difference now. You shall see, sir, that I am no coward. I am not afraid to die. Neither need you fear that I shall not do as you command. Thus shall I atone for my sin.”
“I do not fear you will disobey,” said the general softly.
“I am sorry, sir,” continued General Tromp, “sorry because of you, more so than because of France. I know that it is useless to ask your forgiveness.”
“For your treachery toward me,” said General Joffre softly, “I forgive you freely; but for your treachery to France I cannot.”
The traitor once more looked the general straight in the eyes, and slowly his heels came together and his hand came to a salute.
“Good-by, sir,” he said quietly; then turned on his heel and walked away, his carriage erect, and without a tremor.
For a moment General Joffre stared after him, and his eyes became dim. Quickly he passed his hand over his eyes; then, motioning for Hal andChester to follow him, turned slowly toward his car.
“A good man—and an excellent officer,” he muttered to himself, “if he had but gone straight.”
The car sped away. That evening, while Hal and Chester stood beside General Joffre, back again in his headquarters, an orderly rushed into the tent, and forgetting the formality of a salute in his haste, went up to the general and thrust a paper into his hand.
Silently the general read it, passed it to Hal, and turned his head away. Chester, leaning over his friend’s shoulder, read the words the message contained:
“The body of General Emil Tromp was found in his quarters at the front this afternoon. He had shot himself through the head.”
“Evidently came by field wireless,” said Chester.
“Yes,” replied Hal.
General Joffre turned again to his desk, picked up a pen and wrote. Then he read aloud to Hal and Chester:
“General Emil Tromp was struck down by a German shell at the front this afternoon. He died almost instantly.”
“I am sure I may depend upon you to say nothing of what you have heard to-day,” he said quietly.
“You may, sir,” said Hal and Chester in one breath.
General Joffre tapped the bell on his desk. An orderly entered and came to a salute.