Upon the two following days Hal and Chester, in company with the young German lieutenant, viewed the sights in the German capital. Instead of the peaceful, pleasure-loving city of their vacation, it now bore naught but signs of war.
Officers in automobiles, afoot and on horseback, were rushing hither and thither continually. Troops were moving through the streets of the city upon every hand—some preparing to entrain for the west, and some for the east, where even now it was known that the great hordes of the Czar of all the Russias were approaching as fast as their vast numbers would permit.
It was indeed a scene to delight a war-like eye, and it was not lost upon the two lads.
“It’s going to be an awful job to lick these fellows,” Chester confided to Hal, as they strolled about one afternoon.
“There is no question about that,” was Hal’s reply. “Still, it has to be done.”
“And will be done eventually,” declared Chester grimly. “The trouble is that we are not likely to see it done.”
“Don’t lose heart,” said Hal. “Something may turn up. You never can tell.”
And something did turn up, though it was nothing the lads could possibly have anticipated. As they walked down the street a squad of German soldiers approached, in their center a man in civilian clothes. Lieutenant Strauss and the boys approached them.
As the three neared, the officer in command of the squad called a halt.
“What have we here?” asked Lieutenant Strauss.
“A spy, sir,” was the reply.
“Where was he found?”
“About thirty miles west of the city.”
“How does he account for his presence there?”
“He has not had much to say,” replied the officer, “but he did tell me that he fell from an aëroplane.”
“Does he deny being a spy?”
“He does, sir.”
“Then how does he account for the fact that he wears no uniform?”
“He doesn’t account for it at all, sir. He refuses to say anything on that score.”
Hal and Chester, during this conversation, had drawn as close to the prisoner as the armed guard would permit.
“Looks like an Englishman,” said Hal.
“That’s what he is, all right,” declared Chester.
The prisoner looked up suddenly at hearing thesewords, spoken in English. Then, with a sudden movement, he shook off his guards, and, apparently in a dash for freedom, sprang toward Hal and Chester.
Taken by surprise, the boys leaped back, but not before Chester, throwing up one hand to ward off what he believed was an attack, felt a little piece of paper slipped into his hand.
In spite of his surprise, his fingers closed over it involuntarily; and, at the same instant, the man grappled with him. As they struggled, the lad was surprised to hear his opponent whisper:
“Don’t lose it. It must reach Grand Duke Nicholas at all costs, and at once. Much depends upon it.”
Then the prisoner grew weak in the lad’s grasp, and Chester realized what was expected of him.
“I’ve got him,” he cried, and, throwing the man to the ground, fell on top of him.
The guards lifted the two to their feet, and once more the prisoner was closely surrounded. Lieutenant Strauss now signified that he desired no further information and the squad of soldiers marched away, the prisoner meantime hurling epithets at the two lads.
“A nice pair of Englishmen you are,” he cried. “Traitors, that’s what you are. If you hadn’t stopped me I would have got away.”
“Never mind him,” said Lieutenant Strauss.“He’s naturally angry at being foiled in his attempt to escape.”
Chester, the little piece of paper still clutched in his right hand, was now impatient to be where he could read it, and for that reason pleaded fatigue. Stealing a moment when the lieutenant’s attention was directed elsewhere, he slipped the paper into his pocket, as he feared that, upon close scrutiny, the lieutenant might see that he was concealing something in his hand.
Alone in their own room, before Chester could speak, Hal said:
“What on earth did you want to interfere with the prisoner for? He might have got away if it hadn’t been for you. No wonder he called us traitors.”
Chester only smiled for answer, put his hand in his pocket, and pulled forth the little piece of paper. Holding it up where Hal could see it, he said:
“I didn’t know you were fooled, too. I thought you would surely know that there was something up.”
“Something up!” exclaimed Hal. “What do you mean?”
“Why, simply that the prisoner’s attempt to escape was a ruse.”
“A ruse?”
“Exactly. That’s why he jumped toward us. Do you see now?”
“No,” replied Hal, losing his temper, “I don’t. Quit beating around the bush. If you have anything to tell me, do it.”
“Well, then,” said Chester, “you see this piece of paper?”
“Yes.”
“Well, the prisoner made his attempt to escape for the sole purpose of handing this to one of us. I happened to be closer to him than you were. That’s why I got it.”
“You mean——” began Hal.
“Exactly,” Chester interrupted. “Now, let’s see what it says.”
Both lads bent over the paper.
“It’s written so finely I can hardly make it out,” said Chester, after looking over the paper.
“Bring it over to the window,” replied Hal. “Under a strong light we may be able to read it.”
Again both lads bent over the little piece of paper. This is what they read:
“For the success of military operations in the western theater of war, it is essential that the Russian campaign be pushed with immediate vigor, particularly in the north. Knowing that we are all working in sympathy and accord, without awaiting an answer, I take it for granted that this suggestion will be acted upon.”
“For the success of military operations in the western theater of war, it is essential that the Russian campaign be pushed with immediate vigor, particularly in the north. Knowing that we are all working in sympathy and accord, without awaiting an answer, I take it for granted that this suggestion will be acted upon.”
“No address and no signature,” said Hal. “What’s it all about?”
Chester bent closer over the paper.
“What’s this at the bottom?” he said.
Hal looked again.
“Some kind of a seal, it looks like to me,” he said, after a careful scrutiny. “By Jove, I have it! It’s a secret sign, that’s what it is. The man for whom this is meant will undoubtedly recognize it.”
“I believe you have hit it,” exclaimed Chester.
“But how are we to know for whom it is intended?” said Hal. “It carries no address.”
“It is intended for Grand Duke Nicholas, commander-in-chief of the Russian armies,” replied Chester.
“How do you know that?”
“When I was wrestling with the prisoner he told me so,” was Chester’s reply.
“Well, then,” said Hal, “we know for whom it is intended, but what did the man give it to you for?”
“Well, he said that it must be delivered at all costs.”
“I hope he didn’t expect us to deliver it.”
“I guess he did though, or to see that it went on its way.”
“Yes; and how are we going to do it? Can you figure that out?”
“No,” said Chester, “I can’t. But something has got to be done. I imagine that General French andGeneral Joffre figured that it would be delivered without fail. Either the messenger did not take the route as commanded, or it was believed safe for him to go by air in a sudden dash.”
“Well, I can’t see that that part makes any difference. The question now is, what are we going to do with it?”
“Yes,” replied Chester; “that’s the question.”
For a long while the boys sat and talked over this strange episode, each suggesting plans and then discarding them as unwise.
Suddenly Chester sprang to his feet with an exclamation.
“What is it?” asked Hal eagerly.
“We’ll take it ourselves!” he exclaimed.
“We will, eh?” said Hal incredulously. “Would you mind telling me how?”
“I won’t tell you anything,” was Chester’s reply. “But are you willing to do as I say?”
“Yes,” replied Hal, after some consideration.
“Good! Then, with luck we shall put this paper in the hands of Grand Duke Nicholas!”
“The first thing to do,” said Chester, “is to appropriate two of Lieutenant Strauss’s uniforms. That’s your job.”
“That’s right—pick out the easy work for me,” replied Hal sarcastically. “How do you figure I’m going to get ’em?”
“I don’t know,” said Chester. “That’s up to you. My job, and a much harder one, it seems to me, is to appropriate one of the general’s big maps, so that if we do succeed in getting out of Berlin, we shall know where we are going.”
“I take back what I said,” exclaimed Hal. “I’ll try to get those uniforms.”
“Trying is not enough,” said Chester. “You’ve got to get ’em!”
“All right, then,” replied Hal, “I’ll get ’em!”
Since the two lads had been guests, or prisoners, in the Strauss home, a detail of soldiers had been stationed around the house, with orders not to let either of the lads pass unless accompanied by either the lieutenant or the general. The boys had been given the freedom of the house. The lieutenant haddemurred at the placing of a guard around the house, saying that there was not the slightest chance of the boys escaping, anyhow, but the general had held out on that point, remarking:
“I know these Americans better than you do. They’re slippery. You have to watch them closely, or they will slip between your very fingers.”
Choosing a moment when the lieutenant had left the house, Hal slipped unobserved into his room. He knew the uniforms hung in a closet.
He approached and tried the knob. The door was locked.
“It’s up to me to see if I can’t pick that lock,” he told himself, and set to work with what improvised little tools he could bring from his pocket.
In vain he worked. He could not pick the lock. He stepped back and viewed the door, meantime keeping his ear cocked for sound of footsteps from without. Then an idea struck him.
Using his knife as a screwdriver, he removed the hinges from the door. A moment later he was inside the closet. Quickly selecting two of the lieutenant’s uniforms, he laid them on a chair, and hurriedly put back the door and tightened the bolts.
Then, holding the uniforms behind him, he made his way back to his own room, where he threw the uniforms under the bed. Chester was not there.
“Hope he has things as easy as I did,” said Halto himself, and sat down to await his friend’s return.
When Chester entered the general’s private room, which he found unlocked, he went straight to the general’s desk. He knew that maps and valuable papers were kept there, because the general had once referred to them as being there while at supper.
The desk was locked, but this did not disconcert the lad, for he had expected it would be. Drawing a small buttonhook that he always carried from his pocket, he inserted it in the keyhole. After several unsuccessful attempts the lock finally turned, and Chester quietly threw up the top.
Walking to the door and making sure that no one was near, the lad returned to the desk. Quickly he looked over the assortment of papers, and at length a smile lighted up his face. Evidently he had found what he was in search of, for he quickly thrust a paper in his pocket.
He did not leave at once, but continued to rifle the contents of the general’s desk. Finally he appropriated several more documents, which he also thrust into his pocket.
There was the sound of a door slammed on the floor below. Quickly the lad closed the desk, and, walking softly to the door, peered out. There was no one in sight. Closing the door quietly behind him, Chester walked rapidly down the hall tohis own room, where Hal was waiting for his return.
“Did you get it?” asked Hal, as Chester entered the room and closed the door behind him.
“Yes,” replied Chester; “and you?”
“They are under the bed,” said Hal, with a grin. “I believe I would make a first-class burglar.”
“And I,” agreed Chester. “However, ‘All’s fair in love and war,’ you know.”
“I am glad I do know it,” said Hal. “Otherwise I wouldn’t think much of myself now.”
“We had better hide these things,” said Chester. “Their loss might be discovered and a search made.”
“Where shall we put them?”
Chester glanced around the room. He walked to the closet and opened the door. Peering in, he found, just above the top shelf, a small opening, apparently not meant for use, as it was too close to the ceiling.
“Put ’em in here,” he said, and, withdrawing the papers from his pocket, he suited the action to the word.
Hal now brought the uniforms out from under the bed, and, by dint of hard squeezing, also finally succeeded in secreting them. The dark cloth made the hiding-place look like nothing more than a hole.
“All we need now are swords and pistols,” said Chester.
“Pistols,” agreed Hal. “I don’t know that we need swords.”
“You don’t,” said Chester, in contempt. “We would make a couple of fine-looking officers, strutting around without swords, wouldn’t we?”
“You’re right,” Hal agreed, somewhat sheepishly. “Where are we going to get them?”
“The general always leaves his sword and revolvers on the table in the hall before retiring,” said Chester. “Then I noticed another pair of swords hanging on the wall there. Also the lieutenant invariably leaves his weapons on the parlor table. Careless, I say, but lucky for us.”
Chester’s thoughtfulness in hiding the articles they had appropriated stood them in good stead, as it turned out that evening. General Strauss, upon his arrival home, went straight to his private office, saying that he would be in to dinner in a few moments.
Accordingly the others went in and sat down at the table without waiting for him. A moment later the old general came storming into the room.
“My maps!” he cried. “My maps! Has anyone seen my maps?”
The lieutenant jumped to his feet.
“Have you lost them, sir?” he asked.
“Lost ’em? Lost ’em? Do you think I would ask for them if I knew where they were?”
“Perhaps you left them at headquarters, sir.”
“No, I didn’t leave ’em at headquarters,” raged the general. “Someone has stolen them!”
“Stolen, sir? Why, there has been no one in the house, and you know that none could have entered without the guard on the outside seeing them.”
“I tell you they have been stolen!” cried the general. “I want the house searched at once—every room in it, sir, yes, and the room of these two Americans also.”
“Father!” admonished the lieutenant. “Surely you are not accusing them?”
“I am not accusing anybody, sir, but I want this house searched. Must I call for outside help, or will you help me, sir?”
“I’ll help, sir,” replied the lieutenant quietly. To the lads he said softly: “Never mind him. He is always irritable when he misplaces something.”
The old general’s sharp ears caught this remark.
“Irritable, am I?” he cried. “Well, maybe I am, but I don’t need to have my own son apologize for my actions. If I have done anything that demands an apology I’ll apologize myself.”
Lieutenant Strauss shrugged his shoulders, as he said:
“I’ll search the second floor, sir. Will you take the first?”
“Yes,” snapped the general, “and see that you make a thorough job of it.”
At this juncture Chester rose to his feet.
“If you think we have your papers, sir,” he said quietly, “we are willing to submit to a search.”
“And searched you shall be,” said the general. He turned to his son. “Search them!”
The lieutenant protested, but to no avail. The lads submitted to the search in silence.
“They have nothing, sir,” said the lieutenant.
“Then search the second floor,” commanded the general.
An hour later the lieutenant came downstairs, and a few moments later the old gentleman, now considerably cooled off, also returned.
“I found nothing, sir,” reported the lieutenant.
“Nor I,” said the general slowly. “Can it be I was mistaken? Perhaps, after all, I did leave the maps at headquarters.” He turned to Hal and Chester. “I hope you will pardon me for my outburst,” he said gravely, “but I am easily excited.”
“Say no more about it, sir,” replied both lads together, but to each came the same thought:
“We are in luck.”
Dinner over and the old general having left the house, Lieutenant Strauss said to the boys:
“There is still some amusement in Berlin, in spite of the war. Would you care to accompany me to the play to-night?”
Both lads, knowing that this would be as good an opportunity as they could expect for making their escape, pleaded that they were too tired.
“Some other evening, if that will do as well,” said Chester.
“Oh, all right, whatever you say,” replied the lieutenant. “I hope there are no hard feelings—that you will overlook my father’s show of temper?”
“Of course,” said Hal. “Anyone would have done the same under the circumstances.”
After a few further words the lieutenant departed, and the lads, bidding his mother good night, and announcing their intention of retiring early, made their way to their room.
There their air of leisure gave way to haste.
“We’ll have to hurry,” said Hal. “The general will fail to find his maps at headquarters, and will be back here in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”
Quickly the lads threw on the young lieutenant’s uniforms, and Chester placed the maps in his pocket.
“We will have to go without revolvers,” said Chester, “for we certainly can’t afford to wait until the general and lieutenant come home.”
“I should say not,” Hal agreed. “The sooner we get out of here now the better, providing we can get out.”
Quickly, but silently, the boys made their way from the room and descended the stairs. Stepping lightly upon a chair, Hal secured the two swords, suspended in their scabbards with a pair of army belts, and, leaping lightly down, passed one to Chester.
Quickly the lads strapped the swords around them and quietly they opened the front door and closed it softly behind them. Then, with a swaggering air, they descended the front steps, to bump squarely into one of the guards.
The guard drew back respectfully and saluted.
“I beg your pardon, sir,” he said, addressing Chester. “I saw you go out once before, but I didn’t see you return.”
“You must be more careful,” said Chester, imitating the lieutenant’s voice. “My friend and I came in a few moments ago and I didn’t see you anywhere.”
“But I was right here, sir, or at least, only a few steps away,” protested the soldier.
“Well, I’ll pass over it this time,” said Chester, “but don’t let it happen again. The prisoners might escape.”
“Thank you, sir,” replied the soldier, saluting again. “But the prisoners will not escape while I am on guard. Never fear, sir.”
The lads bade the soldier good night and walked slowly away. Once around the first corner, however, they increased their pace, and soon had put considerable distance between them and the Strauss home, where, even now, the old general, having failed to find his maps at headquarters, was again raging about, swearing that his documents had been stolen.
Walking into a quiet little shop, Chester purchased two revolvers. Also, while there, he withdrew the map from his pocket and studied it carefully.
“I want to impress this firmly on my mind,” he said to Hal, “for we may not have a chance to look at it again for some time.”
Hal also bent over and studied the map carefully. A few moments later they left the store, each feeling more secure because of the ugly-looking Colt each carried in his pocket.
As the boys walked along one of the dark streets, they became aware of the soft pat-pat of steps behind them, coming swiftly. They turned to facewhatever danger threatened, and then Hal suddenly broke into a laugh.
“Marquis!” he cried aloud.
Sure enough, it was their four-footed friend. He came running up to the boys, wagging his tail happily at being with them once again, but with reproach in his eyes at having been left behind.
“Good old Marquis,” said Chester, patting his head. “You didn’t want to be left behind among all these Germans, did you?”
Marquis wagged his tail fiercely.
“What are we going to do with him?” asked Hal. “Won’t he be in the way?”
“No, I don’t think so,” replied Chester. “Not if the plan I have in mind works.”
“What is your plan?”
“You’ll know soon enough,” said Chester calmly. “Come on.”
For two hours the lads walked along, gradually drawing out of the city at the eastern extremity. They passed many German officers as they walked along, but were not molested nor even challenged.
Finally, beyond the city, Chester increased his pace and the two boys and the dog hurried on. At length they came to a large building.
“I thought I was right,” said Chester to himself. “But I was beginning to doubt it.”
“What is it?” demanded Hal. “What is that building?”
“That,” said Chester calmly, “is an aëroplane station. We shall now go in and get one.”
“Oh, we will, eh? And I suppose they give one to every strange officer who happens along?”
“No, they don’t,” said Chester. “But, among other things in General Strauss’s desk, I found several orders upon this place, each one calling upon the commandant to furnish bearer with one plane.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” demanded Hal.
“I wanted to save it as a surprise,” said Chester.
As they approached nearer, it became apparent that the structure was a long, low shed. A hundred yards away, they were challenged by a sentry.
“I have an order for the commandant,” called Chester.
“Approach,” said the sentry.
A moment later, the commandant, being summoned by the sentry, arrived.
“What can I do for you, gentlemen?” he asked.
Without a word, Chester pulled one of the orders he had appropriated from General Strauss’s desk from his pocket and passed it to the commandant. The latter glanced at it quickly, and then bowed.
“You shall have the machine in five minutes,” he said, and left them.
True to his word, five minutes later a large-winged biplane stood before them.
“You will have to run this thing,” Chester whispered to Hal.
“Well, it won’t be the first time,” Hal whispered back.
Hal took the aviator’s seat and Chester also took his place. Then the latter whistled to Marquis, who came bounding up and sprang in and sat down calmly between Chester’s feet.
“Surely you are not going to take that dog,” protested the commandant.
“Yes,” said Chester. “He is one of the dispatch dogs taken from the French. We are going to make use of him with a false dispatch.”
“I see,” exclaimed the commandant. “A good idea.”
“Isn’t it?” said Chester.
“All ready?” demanded the commandant of Hal.
“All ready,” was the lad’s reply.
“Let her go, then,” the commandant ordered the two men who had appeared to give the aëroplane a start.
A moment later and the machine was speeding along the ground.
“Good luck,” called the commandant.
Chester waved his hand in reply.
Now Hal touched the elevating lever, and the aëroplane left the ground, and, soaring high in the air, sped on its way.
“Which way, Chester?” Hal called back over his shoulder.
“Due east,” replied Chester, “but first rise as high as you can.”
Hal obeyed this command, and soon the two boys and a dog were thousands of feet above the earth.
“What’s your altitude?” called Chester.
Hal told him.
“Good!” said Chester. “Keep her there, and now head due east.”
Quickly Hal brought the big aircraft about, and pointed her nose in a direction that eventually, barring accidents and the misfortunes of war, would land them in the heart of Poland, where the mighty armies of Russia were rushing upon the German legions.
“I know we shall get through safely,” called Chester, as they sped along. “Some way I feel it.”
“And so do I,” Hal called back.
They were right, and before another night had fallen these two young American boys placed in the hands of the Grand Duke Nicholas, commander-in-chief of the mighty hordes of the Czar, the paper which had so strangely fallen into their hands—the paper which, later on, brought about more than one serious check to German arms.
But here ends the story of the Boy Allies along the Marne. Their further adventures will be told in a succeeding volume, entitled,“The Boy Allies With the Cossacks; or a Wild Dash Over the Carpathian Mountains.”
1. Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters’ errors; otherwise every effort has been made to remain true to the author’s words and intent.
2. The original of this book did not have a Table of Contents; one has been added for the reader’s convenience.