“Orderly,” said General Joffre, handing him the message he had just written, “have this sent to the war office immediately.”
The gallant French commander turned again to his desk, and as the orderly, Hal and Chester passed from his tent he once more brushed the moisture from his eyes.
Hal and Chester accepted General Joffre’s offer of an automobile to make their return trip, which consequently did not consume as much time as their journey to the headquarters of the French commander-in-chief.
The first thing they did upon their arrival was to report to General French. The latter listened gravely to their story, and then said:
“I know that I need not caution you to obey General Joffre’s injunction concerning the fate of General Tromp. Let the matter be forgotten.”
The lads saluted and left the tent to hunt up temporary quarters of their own, for the great army had again come to a halt.
Meanwhile, what of the great driving movement of the allied forces, which after checking the vast German horde almost at the gates of Paris, had forced the foe back mile after mile without cessation? A word of the situation is here necessary.
From the first moment when the allied armies had assumed the offensive, after being driven backfor days by the Germans, they had continued their steady advance. Such fighting as the world had never known was in progress continually, for the Germans contested every inch of the ground.
Time after time the Allies threatened the German lines of communication, and the Germans were forced to fall back to protect them, or to be cut off and eventually annihilated, or forced to surrender. The strategy of General Joffre, condemned by many in the earlier days of the war, now was beginning to bear fruit, and he was praised on every hand.
The English, under the command of Sir John French, the chief stumbling block in the path of the Germans as they advanced on Paris, were proving their mettle every day. Despite their numerical inferiority to the enemy, they stood bravely to their herculean task, until now the whole world realized that they were the real fighting strength of the allied army.
Each day found the Germans farther and farther from the walls of Paris. Each day found the Allies pressing the foe more closely. The great battle line, stretching out for more than 200 miles, was in constant contact with the enemy. Almost hourly there was such severe fighting as in former wars would have earned the designation of battles. But along this great line they were but skirmishes.
The losses on both sides had been tremendous,although the Germans, because of the fact that they had been previously on the offensive, and also because of the massed formation they had used in their advance, had suffered considerably more than the Allies.
Louvain and other towns in Belgium had been sacked by the Germans, pillaged with fire and sword, until hardly one stone was left upon another. And now the fighting was again in Belgium, that little buffer state which, ever since she became a nation, has always been the battleground of European wars.
The Belgian army, in spite of the terrible havoc wrought upon it by the heavy German guns, was still fighting desperately and had no mind to withdraw from the conflict. Possibly Belgium had more at stake than any other country in the war. She was fighting for life and freedom—from possible absorption into the German Empire.
And now the German forces had been pushed clear across the River Marne, where they were making a determined stand. The eastern shore of the little river was held by the Kaiser’s troops, the western shore by the Allies.
So here the great armies now paused for a moment to take a much needed breathing spell. For the moment the fierce advance of the Allies was checked. Tired men sank to the ground in theranks, there to remain until the battle should be resumed.
But over all still was heard the roar of the great guns. The artillery continued in action, as it had ever since the two great armies had come into contact with each other. Shells dropped and burst among the troops on both sides of the river, blowing men to atoms; but still the main portions of the armies rested on their arms, awaiting the word to move forward again.
The fire of the German artillery was hourly creating great havoc in the allied army; but in spite of their great guns, the greatest ever known, their execution had been no more terrible than that done by the smaller guns of the Allies; for the fire of the British gunners was far superior to that of the Germans. Few shells were wasted, while, up to this time, the comparatively poor marksmanship of the German gunners was the cause of much comment and surprise.
So now, when Hal and Chester once more returned to their own posts, they found the two great armies lined up on either bank of the Marne; or rather some distance from it, only the outposts of either army occasionally riding right up to the river’s edge, while the great shells continued to burst on both sides of the river.
Hal and Chester sought out Lieutenant Anderson, whom they found after a long search. Throughan orderly they also reported to General French, apprising him of where to find them should he desire their presence. After a short talk with Lieutenant Anderson, who had insisted that they make free use of his quarters, both lads turned in, for they had been many hours without sleep, and were tired out.
How long they slept it is impossible to say, but they were awakened by Lieutenant Anderson shaking them by the arm.
“Get up,” commanded the lieutenant. “You are ordered to report to General French immediately.”
Hal and Chester were on their feet in a moment. Bright sunlight streamed through the entrance to the tent. It was early morning.
Once more in the quarters of General French, both boys impatiently waited for him to speak—to tell them the reason he had summoned them so suddenly.
At length the general rose and approached them. He placed a hand on the shoulder of each, and spoke:
“You two lads already have been of invaluable service. Perhaps I should not again call upon you so soon, although I know your hearts are in the success of the arms of France and England. But you have so often proved your fitness for dangerous missions that you seem the ones needed.”
“We shall be glad to undertake the work, general, no matter what it is,” said Hal.
“Indeed we shall,” agreed Chester.
“What I must know,” said General French, “is the approximate strength of the enemy on the other side of the Marne, the positions of his troops and so on. I could ascertain this possibly by means of the flying corps; but in that event the enemy would know that I had learned. It must be done some other way. Are you lads willing to undertake this task?”
“Yes, sir,” said Hal and Chester, almost in a single breath.
“Good,” said General French. “I shall leave the means to you, for I have already come to know your resourcefulness. I have only one injunction: Be back at the earliest possible moment.”
The two lads saluted and left the tent. They immediately returned to Lieutenant Anderson, where they apprised him of the nature of the work before them.
“You two youngsters certainly do have all the luck,” said the lieutenant, “while we old heads sit back here and do nothing.”
“It seems to me that you have been doing your share,” said Hal.
“And to me, too,” Chester agreed.
“Oh, well,” laughed the lieutenant. “I have seen considerable action. I don’t suppose I should complain.But how do you propose to gather this information? I suppose you realize that you have quite a sizable job on your hands?”
“Yes, we realize that,” Hal replied, “and we thought perhaps you could help us with an idea or two.”
The lieutenant was silent for some moments. Finally he said:
“I believe that I should not go alone, were I in your place. The enemy will be constantly on the lookout for spies. My plan would be to make quite a detour along the river, crossing by a bold dash and riding right into the heart of the enemy’s country, at whatever point it might be practically unprotected.”
“A good idea,” said Hal. “But, in that event, we should have to have a larger party.”
“Exactly,” said Lieutenant Anderson. “And I, for one, offer my services. I suppose we should have at least twenty-five men.”
A few moments later Hal was back in General French’s headquarters.
“General,” he said, “I should like to have your permission to pick twenty-five men, and permission to use one of the highest power automobiles in the army.”
The general looked at him in silence for a while before speaking, but finally said:
“You have my permission. Here,” turning to hisdesk and writing a few words, “is a written order. I shall not ask the nature of your plan. Good luck to you.”
“I shall let you pick the men,” said Hal to Lieutenant Anderson, when he was again back in the latter’s quarters, “and, so far as they know, you are in command.”
“Very well,” was the reply; “but remember that it is not so. On this expedition I waive my rank, and will act under your orders.”
Half an hour later Chester and Hal inspected the men selected by Lieutenant Anderson, to whom the boys were introduced as scouts. A likely body of men they were, strong and sturdy, and not a man of them under six feet in height.
“Look like they could give a good account of themselves,” muttered Chester to himself.
At length all were piled in a great motor truck, and a second later, in response to Hal’s directions were speeding southward.
For two hours the great motor truck continued its journey southward at top speed. Then Hal called a halt.
Quickly the men clambered out, and with Hal in the lead marched in the direction of the river.
The place where Hal had ordered the men from the car could not have been better selected, for, on the opposite side of the river, though Hal did not know it then, there was a considerable open space between the German forces.
The troopers followed the lad to the bank of the river, and then, as there was not a shot from the opposite side, all walked boldly along the shore. At length they came upon a number of small boats, evidently having been placed in readiness by some of the British forces.
“We’ll appropriate these,” said Hal. “Luckily they were here or we should have been forced to swim across.”
The men piled into the boats, and pushed off. They reached the opposite side without discovery, and hastily clambering up the bank were soon hiddenfrom sight in a clump of trees. Here Hal called another halt, until he was able to decide upon his next move.
The boats had been pulled into the trees, to be used for their return trip. The driver of the auto truck was ordered to remain where the party had left him. All in readiness for a hasty retreat, Hal now bethought himself of a way to successfully accomplish their mission.
After a consultation the party moved forward, keeping as much as possible in the shelter of the trees. As they approached the edge of the little woods they came suddenly upon three German horsemen.
The latter had not seen them, so quietly had they crept along. Hal, Chester and Lieutenant Anderson were upon them before they knew it, their men right behind them. Seeing that they were far outnumbered, the Germans did not put up a fight.
The hands of all three immediately went into the air, and one of them called out in German:
“We surrender.”
“Dismount!” ordered Hal, and the Germans obeyed.
“This is what I call luck,” said Hal to his friends.
“What do you mean?” demanded Lieutenant Anderson.
“Why,” said Hal, “here we have three horsesand three German uniforms. If that isn’t luck, I don’t know what is.”
Quickly the three Germans were stripped of their uniforms, bound and gagged.
When Hal, Chester and Lieutenant Anderson had donned the German uniforms, Hal called three of the British troopers to him.
“You men,” he said, “will leave all your weapons here, except your revolvers, which you will hide in your clothes. Then you will accompany us, afoot, apparently as prisoners.”
He called a fourth trooper to him.
“Your name?” he demanded.
“Bristow, sir.”
“Then, Bristow, we appoint you to take command while we are gone. The rest of you will remain here until we return, or until you find it necessary to retreat across the river.”
“Very good, sir,” said Bristow, and fell back and informed his companions of the situation.
“Do you realize,” asked Lieutenant Anderson of Hal, “that if we are captured in these German uniforms it will mean a spy’s death for all of us?”
“Perfectly,” said Hal, “but we shall have to take that chance. I believe that having three English soldiers with us, apparently prisoners, will be a means of avoiding detection.”
“All right,” said Chester, “only we shall have to be careful.”
Quickly the three mounted, and marching the soldiers on ahead of them started north, bearing off slightly to the east. For an hour they continued their journey, passing now and then a body of German troops. But they were not molested, not even challenged.
At length they came upon a farmhouse, setting well back from the road.
“Perhaps we can learn something here,” said Chester.
Hal called a halt, and all approached the house. The door was opened by a young woman, who started back in dismay at sight of them.
“Have no fear,” said Hal, who acted as spokesman of the party. “We are simply tired out and hungry. We thought perhaps you could furnish us with a bite to eat, and also our prisoners here.”
Without a word the woman opened wide the door, and motioned for them to enter. The six followed her into the dining-room, where soon a hearty repast was spread on the table.
“We have been on a mission south,” Hal said to the woman. “Can you tell me just how far the German staff is from here?”
“It can’t be very far,” the woman replied, “for some of the officers often come here to eat. They say that they like my cooking better than the regular army fare. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if some of them were to come along soon.”
“Good,” said Hal, aloud, but nevertheless he was seriously alarmed. He did not wish to come into such close proximity with the German staff officers.
Hastily the six bolted their food, and even as they were disappearing around the outbuildings, Chester, glancing back, saw six men, in gold-trimmed uniforms, entering the house they had just quitted.
“Great Scott,” he said, “we got out of there just in time. Look.”
The rest looked back and saw the cause of his excitement. In the shelter of a clump of trees Hal called a halt.
“There must be something up,” he declared, “or the German staff would not be this far south. I don’t suppose General French has been informed of this. In some way we must find out what is going on.”
“And I wouldn’t be surprised,” said Chester, “if they were using that farmhouse for a certain purpose.”
“By Jove! I never thought of that,” said Hal. “I believe you have hit it. That is where they are making their plans. I wonder”—and he grew greatly excited. “I wonder if by any chance the Kaiser could be in that party.”
“He is probably pretty near the whole party,” said Lieutenant Anderson dryly. “Kaiser Wilhelm is no coward, and if his staff is there, this closeto the British lines, the Kaiser is probably there also.”
“Then it’s a wonder the woman didn’t say something about the Kaiser being near.”
“She probably didn’t know him,” said the lieutenant.
Hal sat wrapped in thought for a long time.
“Do you know what I am going to do?” he said at length, dismounting.
“No. What?” demanded Chester and Lieutenant Anderson in a single voice.
“I’m going to sneak back to the farmhouse, and see if by some hook or crook I can hear what is going on. We shall probably not have another chance of overhearing the German plans.”
“Great Scott!” said Lieutenant Anderson, “that certainly is a bold plan. You don’t mean it?”
“I certainly do,” was the reply.
“Then I shall go, too,” said Chester.
“And me,” declared Lieutenant Anderson.
“No you won’t,” said Hal, positively. “The rest of you will stay here. If I should get into any trouble, I shall fire my revolver, and then the rest of you can come up. The six of us will be a match for them, the Kaiser included.”
Suddenly Chester was struck with a great inspiration.
“Why can’t we get the rest of our men, andcapture the whole crowd?” he demanded in great excitement.
“I had thought of that,” replied Hal, “but something tells me it can’t be done—a hunch, if you like. I have a feeling that if we attempt such a thing our whole expedition will go wrong. I can’t explain just what I mean, but I feel it.”
“And I too,” declared Lieutenant Anderson. “I don’t know why, but I know it’s true.”
“Bosh!” said Chester, but the words of his two friends evidently had created some impression, for his ejaculation was only half-hearted.
“Well, if you must go by yourself, all right,” said Lieutenant Anderson. “But my advice is that the sooner you get there the better.”
Hal nodded, and, a moment later, going some distance to one side, where he knew he could not be seen from the dining-room window, he walked slowly toward the house.
He made no attempt at concealment as he walked along, for he knew that such an action, should he be seen, would be suspicious and would probably mean an unsuccessful termination of his plan. He had little fear of detection, clothed as he was in a German uniform.
Now the lad reached the house, and sought a means of entrance. He did not wish to go in the front door, for fear that someone might see him,so, keeping close to the wall, he walked around the house.
His effort was rewarded. For at the extreme rear was a low window, apparently halfway between the first and second floors.
“Evidently, at a turn in the steps,” Hal told himself.
Quickly he grasped the edge of the sill, and exerting great strength slowly and cautiously drew himself up. The window was open, and the lad put one leg over the sill. A second later he sat in the opening, and then disappeared inside the house.
Very cautiously he ascended the steps. Remembering the exact location of the dining-room, the lad sought out the room above it. There, at one end of the room, he found what appeared to be a little closet.
Gently opening the door, he peered in. Nothing but darkness met his eyes. Hal stepped inside, pulling the door to after him, leaving just a little crack that he might not be suffocated.
Then he laid his ear to the floor and listened intently. From below came the faint sound of German voices.
Hal ran an exploring finger over the floor of the closet. His finger felt a little hole, and changing his position the boy saw a very small opening in the floor. He put his eye to the hole and peereddown, and as he made out the figures in the room below he chuckled softly to himself.
The first man upon whom he laid his eyes was Count Von Moltke, commander-in-chief of all the German armies, and who, upon one occasion, had saved him from death before a firing squad.
“Wonder what he would say if he could see me now?” Hal asked himself.
His gaze roved over the room, and there at one end of the table sat an imposing figure in gold-trimmed military uniform, sword between his knees, a fierce military mustache curling upward.
There was no mistaking this figure. It was Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany!
In spite of the fact that Hal had sure sense that Emperor Wilhelm would be in the room below, he felt a peculiar thrill creep over him as he made out the imposing figure of “The War Lord of Europe.” He whistled softly to himself.
“Great Scott!” he ejaculated, and then looked long and silently.
“To think,” he said to himself after a long pause, “that he is primarily responsible for this great war, with its toll of thousands of lives and the destruction of property worth millions of dollars.”
Unconsciously, almost, he drew his revolver, and pointed it straight at the War Lord’s breast.
“With one little movement of my finger,” said the lad softly to himself, “I could snuff out the life of the man who has already sent thousands to their death. One shot, and——”
His fingers tightened on the trigger, but for a moment only. Then he lowered his weapon, and a moment later dropped it back in his pocket, whilehe wiped away little beads of perspiration that had gathered on his brow.
“It’s no use,” he told himself, “I couldn’t do it if I wanted to.”
Wilhelm II, Emperor of the German Empire and War Lord of Europe, will never know how close he was to death at that moment!
Now the voices of the officers in the room below became louder, and by straining his ears the lad could make out what they were saying.
“If,” came a voice from below, and Hal recognized it as that of Count Von Moltke, “if we can draw the British to this point, we can cut them off from their French support and annihilate them. And——”
“And,” came the voice of the Kaiser himself, “we can, then, by a quick turning move, take the French by surprise and our victory will be complete.”
“Exactly, sire,” came Count Von Moltke’s voice again.
“But, sire,” said a third voice, “what have we to warrant that the English will accept our bait?”
The Emperor did not reply immediately, and Count Von Moltke broke in again.
“We will make a strong showing on the eastern shore of the Marne,” he said, “and will retire slowly before the British. As they come on, flushed with apparent victory, Von Kluck will take themon the left flank. We shall cut them to pieces.”
“The plan sounds well to me,” came the voice of the Kaiser again. “General Von Kluck, how soon can you be in readiness to execute this coup?”
“Not before day after to-morrow, sire,” was the reply. “It will take me that long to bring my men to the designated point, at the same time keeping the British unaware of their withdrawal.”
“And how many men will you be able to bring?” asked the Kaiser.
“Half a million, sire.”
“Leaving how many in their present position, as a screen?”
“Very few, sire. Hardly more than 50,000 men.”
The Kaiser growled something, unintelligible to Hal, into his mustache. Then he spoke aloud:
“If the British were aware of that,” he said, “by a quick advance they would place us at a tremendous disadvantage.”
“So they would, sire,” agreed General Von Kluck. “But it must be seen that they do not anticipate our plan.”
“In that event,” came the Emperor’s reply, “it will be necessary for that part of your force which is left to make a show of strength at the same moment the mass of your command is withdrawn.”
“Exactly what I had figured upon, sire.”
“Good; but you say it is impossible for you tobe ready until the day after to-morrow. In that event, we must hold the English in their present positions at all costs. A premature advance on their part, while we would undoubtedly repulse it, would mean the ruination of our coup. See to it, gentlemen, that there is no leak.”
“There shall be none, sire,” came a chorus of officers.
“Very well. But I had had my mind set on being in Paris long ere this. Had it not been for the interference of these English—and these starving Belgians, I would be there now,” and the Kaiser’s voice grew harsh. “They must be crushed,” and he struck the table a heavy blow with his clenched fist.
“And crushed they shall be, sire,” said Count Von Moltke soothingly. “It is only a question of time.”
“Well, you have been long enough doing it,” came the Emperor’s angry voice. “See that you do not fail me again. If you do——”
He broke off, but his silence was more menacing than any threat he might have uttered.
There was the sound of chairs scraping on the floor, and a moment later of heavy footsteps. Hal, in his hiding place, knew that the German officers were leaving the house.
“By George!” the lad muttered to himself, “Wilhelm must be a holy terror. I’ll bet Von Kluck,Von Moltke and all the rest are due for a terrible wigging, for I’m here to see that this plot fails.”
Hal waited patiently for perhaps half an hour, and then, feeling certain that the coast was clear, emerged from his hiding place. He was just lowering himself from the window by which he had entered when, from almost below him, there was a loud scream.
Glancing down, Hal beheld the pale face of the woman who had given them food only a short time before. Fearing that the Emperor and his officers might be attracted by her screams, Hal dropped quickly to the ground, and an instant later had his hand clapped over the woman’s mouth.
“Quiet!” he commanded in a harsh voice. “If you make no noise you shall not be harmed.Otherwise——”he paused significantly.
The woman shuddered once or twice, but she uttered no further sound.
“Go into the house,” Hal commanded, and followed her.
“I guess I had better tie you up for safe keeping,” the lad muttered to himself. “I can’t afford to be interfered with now.”
He found a piece of rope, and, making a gag out of a napkin, gagged and bound her securely. Then he placed her gently in a chair.
“You will have to sit there until someone comes along to free you,” he told her. “I hope it won’tbe long, for your sake, but I can’t afford to take any chances with you.”
He left the house; and as he turned his eyes toward the spot where he had so lately left his friends, his heart sank.
Chester, Lieutenant Anderson and the three troopers were running toward him as fast as their legs would carry them, closely pursued by a band of mounted Germans. Even at this distance Hal could make out the forms of Count Von Moltke, and, yes, Emperor Wilhelm himself!
With the high German officers came a little troop of mounted soldiers, evidently, Hal thought, an escort, that had been left some distance behind while the Emperor and his officers discussed their plans in the farmhouse. In all, there were twelve horsemen dashing after the fugitives.
Now his friends came up with him, and Hal, believing as did his friends that discretion was the better part of valor, also turned and ran. Several shots rang out, but none was touched and they did not pause to reply.
“Just wait till we get back to our own men,” thought Hal to himself as he ran along, “that is, if we can make it.”
But help came unexpectedly. Bristow, the man who had been left in charge of the little band of English, hearing the sound of firing, had crawled forward to investigate. He made out the figuresflying toward him and recognized them instantly; also, he saw the pursuing horsemen.
Quickly he returned to his men, and at a word they all dashed forward. This reinforcement arrived not a moment too soon, for the horsemen were overhauling the fugitives rapidly.
When the fugitives saw their own men approaching they stopped in their mad flight, drew their revolvers and fired at the pursuers with almost a single movement.
The horses of the Germans came to a sudden halt, being pulled up on their haunches, so forcibly did their riders bring them to a stop. A moment later the pursuers themselves were in full flight.
Hal laughed loudly to himself, and so great became his mirth that he was forced to hold his sides.
“What on earth is the matter with you?” demanded Chester in great surprise. “What are you laughing at?”
“Why,” explained Hal, between bursts of laughter, “I am laughing at the sight of Emperor Wilhelm II, War Lord of Europe, flying as if the evil one himself were after him!”
Briefly now Hal recounted to his two friends what he had overheard in the farmhouse, pointing out the danger that threatened the allied armies. When he had concluded he said:
“Now I have another plan, and I want to know if you, Chester, and you, Lieutenant Anderson, will follow my instructions?”
“Certainly,” said the lieutenant.
“You know I will, Hal,” said Chester.
“All right, then. What I want you to do is this: Return and report to General French what I have just told you. Take the men with you. That’s all.”
“But you?” demanded Chester; “aren’t you coming, too? Surely you have accomplished the mission successfully.”
“No,” replied Hal. “In this German uniform I believe I shall be perfectly safe on this side, and I am going to try and gain further information. It may be that I can learn something that will be important.”
“Then I shall go with you,” declared Chester.
“And I, too,” said Lieutenant Anderson.
“Oh, no you won’t,” said Hal grimly. “Didn’t you just promise to obey my commands, both of you?”
“But we didn’t know what you planned to do,” said Chester.
“I know you didn’t,” said Hal. “That is why I asked your promises before I told you.”
“But I don’t think it is fair,” protested Chester.
“I don’t care what you think,” replied Hal. “You have both promised, so that’s all there is about it.”
In vain did Chester and Lieutenant Anderson protest. Hal was firm.
“Come, now,” he said at last. “You are making it more dangerous for me every moment you stand here arguing about it. Get in the boats and return at once.”
Slowly Chester and Lieutenant Anderson complied with his request. The men already were in the boats, and Hal stood and watched them row away.
“I shall be back some time to-night or in the morning,” he called to Chester; “but,” and he smiled grimly to himself, “if I were you, I wouldn’t wait up for me.”
Chester and Lieutenant Anderson waved their hands in reply, and with one last look Hal turned and made his way back in the direction of the farmhouse.
He walked by the house without stopping, for he had no mind to linger long in that vicinity.
“The quicker I find the main army and lose myself among the rest of the officers the better off I shall be,” he told himself.
He espied a small squadron of Germans approaching him at a quick trot. Making sure that his revolvers were ready for instant action, the lad trudged bravely on. The mounted troops passed him at a distance of perhaps a hundred yards, and the officer in command waved his sword in greeting as they went by.
“So far, so good,” muttered the lad to himself.
Small bodies of troops passed him at more frequent intervals now. But feeling perfectly safe in his German uniform, with shoulder straps of captain, the lad continued boldly on.
At last, some distance ahead, he made out a large encampment.
“Guess this is the place I am headed for,” he told himself.
He approached boldly and soon mingled with the German officers, who were taking life easy, war, seemingly, being far from their thoughts. The place, to Hal, looked as if it might be a drill ground, with a large body of troops on parade.
He walked about for an hour or more and was not challenged once, although once or twice passing officers nodded pleasantly to him.
“Either they mistake me for someone else, or they are a very pleasant and courteous set,” the lad told himself. “However, I didn’t come here to learn how they behave themselves. I won’t get any information this way. I wonder who is in command here, but I can’t afford to ask.”
Continuing his stroll, he at last mingled with a crowd of officers who were idling about talking.
“I heard General Beulow say that we were likely to be ordered forward within a few hours,” said one of the group of officers.
“So?” questioned another. “I had forgotten that you are now a member of his staff.”
“What’s up, do you know?”
“Nothing that I can talk about,” replied the other with a pleasant smile.
“All right,” said another. “The sooner the better.”
The little group broke up and Hal continued his stroll.
“Good,” he said to himself. “At least I have learned that General Beulow is in command here.”
And he had learned not a moment too soon, as it turned out.
At that moment an officer approached him.
“I can’t seem to place you,” he said. “Is your regiment here?”
“No,” returned Hal, in excellent German, without the slightest accent. “I am attached to GeneralVon Kluck’s command. I came here with him to-day.”
“Oh,” said the German officer, “then you are on his staff?”
“Yes.”
“In that event I am in luck. Evidently you are the very man I have been sent to seek. You are Captain Dersam?”
Hal took a long chance.
“Yes,” he replied.
“Good,” said the German officer. “Come to my quarters. I have documents to deliver to you.”
Hal followed the German officer to the latter’s tent. There the German took from a small express box a small package of papers, which he placed in the lad’s hands.
“These,” he said, “you are to deliver to General Von Kluck. I suppose you knew that he had already returned to his command?”
“Yes,” replied Hal firmly. “I was simply waiting for these. My horse is yonder,” and he waved his hand.
“Oh,” continued the German. “Then perhaps you know that Von Kluck, Von Moltke and the Emperor himself had a brush with a bunch of British or French spies a while back. The Emperor was much put out. He believed that information of an expected coup had leaked out, so all generalswere hurried back to their posts to see that everything was shipshape.”
“Yes,” said Hal briefly; “I know.”
He placed the papers in his pocket.
“Auf Wiedersehen,” said the German officer, bowing Hal from his tent. “Your orders are to put those papers into General Von Kluck’s hands at the earliest possible moment.”
“It shall be done,” said Hal as he walked rapidly away.
“Great Scott!” he said to himself. “I am in luck. I wouldn’t be surprised if these papers were orders concerning the movement which I overheard in the farmhouse.”
Quickly he sought out a quiet spot, and broke the Imperial seal. It was even as he had expected—only more. For the papers contained the present troop positions, their expected movements and the number of men and how stationed.
Hal whistled softly to himself.
“Won’t General French be surprised when he sees these?” he said softly. “Now to get back.”
It was growing dusk, and as Hal walked along toward the outposts in the direction from which he had so recently come, he whistled blithely to himself. It was a mission well done, and the lad, although by no means egotistical, was well aware of it.
He passed the farthest outpost of the camp unchallenged,and made off in the darkness. Then, still feeling safe in his German uniform, and more confident at having not been recognized during his stay in the German camp, he paid no heed to footsteps that were now approaching.
A lantern swung suddenly into his face by a newcomer caused him to start back in surprise. And even as he did so he made out that the pair who had accosted him were a man and woman.
And what is more he also recognized the woman. It was she whom he had so recently bound in the farmhouse. And her cry made it apparent that she had recognized him as well.
“It is he!” she exclaimed in a loud voice.
Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side. He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike. But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad’s head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
Hal contrived to keep the woman between the man and himself, until he had decided just what course to pursue. He had now freed his hands, and awaited an auspicious moment to spring upon his enemy.
It came at last. Suddenly hurling the woman violently from him, Hal leaped forward and, catching his opponent off his balance, struck out swiftlywith his bare fist. There was a sharp “spat” and the man fell to the ground.
Hal turned to run, but found himself opposed by the woman, who pointed the revolver at his head. She held the weapon in a steady hand, and the lad realized that a miss at that close range was utterly impossible.
“Hands up!” commanded the woman.
Hal temporized.
“Now see here——” he began.
The woman interrupted.
“Hands up!” she commanded again.
This time Hal obeyed, for he knew by the hard ring in the woman’s voice that she was not to be trifled with.
“About face,” commanded his captor.
Hal did as ordered.
“Now,” continued the woman, “you will march on ahead of me, and, remember, at the first false move I shall fire.”
Without a word Hal turned and started away, the woman but a few paces behind him. But Hal was of no mind to be taken back to the German camp. He realized clearly what fate awaited him there.
His nimble wit was at work as he walked along, and he finally hit upon a plan. It was not without danger, but the lad figured he might just aswell be shot then and there as to be put to death as a spy.
As he walked along he seemingly tripped over some unseen obstacle. In attempting to regain his balance he reeled backward. The woman by this time was right upon him.
Unable to tell whether he had really tripped or whether it was a ruse, she stood undecided a moment. That moment proved her undoing. For Hal, spinning on his heel, swept the revolver from her outstretched hand, and with a quick leap seized it himself.
“Now, madam,” he said calmly. “I shall give you just thirty seconds to get away from here. If you have not put a considerable distance between us by the time the thirty seconds have expired, I shall be forced to use this weapon, much as I should dislike to shoot a lady. I am on important business and it brooks of no delay. Neither shall one life stand in the way.”
The woman took one quick look at him, then turned and ran.
“I am glad she believed me,” said Hal to himself. “I don’t believe I could have brought myself to shoot.”
He turned and walked back to the spot where he had placed one of his opponents hors de combat.
The latter was just struggling to his feet, and as Hal approached he sprang forward.
“What! haven’t you had enough yet?” asked the lad in well simulated surprise. “Well, here’s some more then.”
He stepped quickly forward, and feinting with his left, drove his right fist squarely into the German’s mouth. It was more than flesh and blood could stand, and once more the German toppled to the ground, where he remained, unconscious.
“Now to get back across the river,” said Hal to himself. “Wonder if I can find a boat of some kind.”
He walked slowly along the bank, keeping a keen eye out for any kind of a craft in which to make the trip. He could find none; but, from the direction of the great German camp, came the sound of excited voices and the trampling of many feet.
“Great Scott! Here they come,” exclaimed Hal aloud. “I guess it’s up to me to get away from here pretty quick.”
Without a moment’s hesitation he advanced to the water’s edge and plunged into the stream. The water was icy cold, and Hal’s breath was taken away by the suddenness of the shock.
He recovered himself in a moment, however, and struck out for the opposite shore. About half way across he became aware of voices on the shore immediately behind him.
“I don’t believe there is anyone there,” said a voice.
“The woman is a spy herself, that’s my belief,” said a second. “She has concocted this story as an excuse for her being abroad at this hour. I certainly don’t believe there is a spy on this side of the river.”
“Nor I; however, if he is in that water we can spot him with a searchlight. Turn yours on.”
Hearing the words, Hal took a long breath and sank from sight. It was well that he did so promptly, for a brilliant shaft of light flashed across the water, making it as bright as day. The German swept it back and forth across the water. He could see no one.
“I told you so,” he said. “There is no one out there. Come, let’s get away from here.”
“Good,” returned the other. “Come on.”
Hal remained under the water just as long as he could and came to the surface as the Germans turned to walk off, ready to take another quick breath and dive again. But seeing no sign of the searchlight, he rightly concluded that the Germans, who had been but half-hearted in their search anyhow, had gone.
Treading water he listened intently for a few moments, and then made out the sound of retreating footsteps.
“Well,” he said to himself at last, “I guess theyhave gone. Now to get out of here as soon as I can. I’ll be frozen if I don’t hurry.”
With quick strokes he continued his cold swim, and soon emerged upon the farther shore. He made out the form of a dark figure some distance away, and hurried toward it, remarking to himself:
“Looks like a sentinel. I’ll get a match from him and build a fire and get thawed out before I continue my journey.”
He approached to within a few yards of the figure before his presence was noted. Then the sentinel, for such he proved to be, hearing footsteps behind him, turned suddenly and leveled his rifle at Hal.
“Halt!” he commanded.
“It’s all right,” said Hal. “I’m English.”
“Come a little closer and let me look at you,” said the sentinel, not lowering his weapon.
Hal did as commanded. Suddenly the sentinel made out the German uniform and his rifle leaped up again.
“So,” he exclaimed. “You Dutchman! You thought you’d fool me, did you? You are my prisoner. One false move and you are a dead man.”
“Don’t be a chump,” said Hal, his teeth chattering from cold. “I tell you I’m English. Can’t youtell that by my talk? What do you think I am? A German?”
“Well,” said the sentinel, “what do you think I would take you for in that German uniform?”
Now Hal understood, and in spite of the cold he laughed.
“I don’t blame you,” he said. “I forgot all about this uniform. But I can assure you I’m English. I’ve been over the river getting a little information.”
“Well,” said the sentinel, by no means assured that Hal was what he represented himself. “I’ll let the colonel decide that point. March ahead of me now, and mind, no tricks, unless you want a bullet in your back.”
“All right,” said Hal shortly, “as long as you can’t take my word for it, I suppose I shall have to go with you.”
He walked along some little distance, the sentinel behind him with leveled rifle, before he came to the tent of the officer in charge of what he now saw was a reconnoitering force.
“My name is Paine,” he informed the colonel. “I have been across the river within the German lines on a mission for General French. I have accomplished it and was returning when this sentinel accosted me. I can show credentials,” and he showed the officer a pass signed by the commander-in-chief.
The officer shook hands with him.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
“I must be back at the earliest possible moment,” said Hal. “Have you a fast auto?”
“Yes.”
“Then I should be grateful if you would allow me to make use of it.”
“It shall be done,” said the officer. “Now you sit here by the fire while I have it put in readiness. You are half frozen.”
“Thanks,” replied Hal. “I am. But I haven’t very long to stay. Please have the car ready as soon as possible. And if you can spare a driver I shall be glad of his services. I don’t believe I could drive the car any great distance.”
“You shall have him,” agreed the officer, and left the tent. Hal huddled up close to the little fire.
Wrapped tightly in a great fur overcoat that the officer had insisted on lending him, Hal snuggled back comfortably in the large automobile as it sped over the ground toward General French’s headquarters.
The chauffeur was a speed demon and the huge machine covered the ground much more quickly than the one in which the little party of British had started on their mission. It was not long, therefore, before the lad found himself descending from the car. Another moment and he once more stood before his commander.
“So, you got back safely, eh,” exclaimed General French. “Young Crawford gave me your report, and I was afraid that you would be captured. Did you learn anything further?”
“Yes, sir,” Hal made reply. “I have learned the number of men in each command, their positions and all details.”
“What!” exclaimed General French in great surprise.
“Yes, sir,” continued Hal, and reaching in hispocket he drew out the documents given him by the German officer. “Here they are, sir.”
General French took the papers from the lad’s hand, and glanced at them quickly. After a brief perusal, he laid his hand on Hal’s shoulder.
“You have done well,” he said quietly. “I shall not forget it. You may go now, for I doubt not that your friend is greatly worried over you. I will say this: You have rendered an invaluable service to England—one that the King shall hear of. I have already taken steps to thwart this German coup, and if we are successful the credit will be mainly due you.”
Hal saluted and with glowing heart left the general’s tent.
“Now to find Chester,” he said.
He had little difficulty in doing this, for Chester was still making his quarters with Lieutenant Anderson. Approaching the lieutenant’s tent, Hal walked up cautiously.
“I want to surprise them,” he told himself.
Inside he heard the sound of voices, and he paused to listen.
“I’m afraid he won’t ever get back,” came Chester’s voice. “I should have insisted on accompanying him. I shouldn’t have let him go alone.”
“Still,” said Lieutenant Anderson, “he was in command. We had to obey him.”
“That is true,” replied Chester, “but just thesame if ill befalls him I shall feel that I am partly to blame. Besides, we had the information we went after. What had he to gain by staying and putting himself in the enemy’s power?”
Stepping quietly into the tent, Hal advanced to the center before he was observed.
“A whole lot, Chester,” he said quietly.
Chester and Lieutenant Anderson were upon their feet in an instant, and one had him by either hand, wringing it enthusiastically.
“Stop it, stop it,” laughed Hal. “You’ll wring my arms off.”
“And so you are back safely,” said Chester, looking long at his friend.
“Yes, I’m back,” said Hal.
“And what did you learn? Anything else?”
“Lots,” replied Hal, “but let me get out of this wet German uniform;” having done which he plunged into a story of his experiences after they had left until his return to General French’s tent.
“And General French says,” he concluded, “that steps have been taken to spoil the Kaiser’s plan.”
“Good,” said Chester and Lieutenant Anderson in one voice.
“Well,” said Chester, after some further talk, “I guess we might as well turn in. Anderson and I were unable to sleep because you had not returned. We can rest easier now.”
Almost completely exhausted, the three were soonslumbering deeply. The day’s work had been strenuous indeed, and there is no telling how long they would have slept on had not the sound of a bugle, calling “To arms!” roused them.
Quickly they leaped up, and throwing on what few clothes they had removed, were soon at their posts. The whole army was ready to move at a moment’s notice.
The first glimmer of the morning sun appeared over the horizon as the command for a general advance rang out. Slowly at first, then faster, the great British fighting machine moved on, squadron upon squadron of cavalry leading the way.
There were no bridges across the little river, nor were there boats enough to carry the army across. But under the direction of skillful engineers, the best in the world, pontoon bridges sprang up as if by magic. Before the Germans were fully aware of what was going on, several thousand men had been hurled across the little stream.
These—advancing in the face of the overwhelming force of Germans, rushed forward to check them—fought off the enemy while other British troops were poured over the Marne. Desperately did the Germans try to drive them back. Time after time they charged, only to be hurled back again by the British horsemen, and the infantry that now had had time to form after crossing the river.
Artillery was brought into action to force the British back across the little stream. But it was no use. The Germans had been caught unprepared. Already Gen. Von Kluck had weakened his defense by sending some of his men south to take their places in the force with which the Kaiser and his generals expected to execute their great coup.
Evidently the danger of a sudden attack had not been anticipated by the German general staff. That the British, without the support of their French allies, farther to the south, would take the offensive, was a factor that had apparently been overlooked.
The surprise was practically complete. The British army on the continent at this time numbered slightly more than 100,000 men. Probably two-thirds of this whole force was hurled across the Marne in this battle, which, starting as a skirmish, soon grew into one of the fiercest and bloodiest struggles of history.
Scotch Highlanders, Irish troops, Sikh legions, recently arrived from India, British troops from other of her foreign possessions and the English themselves stood shoulder to shoulder, fighting nobly and driving back the foe.
But the Germans contested every inch of the ground. Outnumbering the British as they did, however, they were slowly compelled to retreat, the British pursuing them relentlessly.
Apparently it was not General French’s plan to push the battle too strongly now. It was merely his intention to deliver such a blow as would make the coup planned by the Germans impracticable.
For seven solid hours the battle for the opposite shore of the Marne continued, both sides fighting desperately and heroically. Then, as the Germans continued to retreat, General French called a halt. The British fell to work digging trenches in the recently won ground, and preparing to resist an attack should one be delivered.
This first skirmish on the eastern banks of the Marne, while possibly unimportant, when viewed in the light of later events, became one of the greatest factors in the offensive movements of the Allies.
Now that the English had obtained a foothold upon the opposite side they did not relinquish it, in spite of heavy assaults made by the Kaiser’s troops in the days that were to follow. Passage across the stream for the rest of the allied army was now comparatively easy, for the English, already having a foothold, stood ready to drive off the Germans as reinforcements crossed.
And if the action at the Marne was one of the deciding factors in the offensive movement of the Allies, the credit of it is undoubtedly due largely to Chester and Hal, who, at the risk of their own lives, enabled the British troops to catch the Germans in their own trap.
That the boys’ value in this important battle was recognized, is evidenced by the fact, that, when the army once more had come to a halt, General French summoned the two lads to him, and with a hand on the shoulder of each, and his whole staff grouped about him, said:
“You have done well! England is proud of her kinsmen!”