CHAPTER XXIIFLIGHT
Without a word Harding led the way directly from the mine. The three German guards looked up as the friends passed and saluted, for Harding, Hal and Chester were all attired in German uniforms that bore captains’ stripes. The three returned the salutes and passed on.
“Now what, Harding?” asked Hal.
“Leave it to me,” was the reply. “I know where there are half a dozen big automobiles, but I’m afraid we’ll have to impress a driver into service.”
“I’ll do the driving,” said Hal.
“Oh, you can drive, eh?” said Harding. “So much the better.”
Fifteen minutes’ walk brought the three friends within sight of the spot where the automobiles were parked.
“Better pick that long, low car there,” whispered Hal. “It looks as though it could show some speed.”
Harding nodded.
Several guards stood about the automobiles. They saluted as the three pseudo German officers appeared, but said nothing. Hal climbed into the driver’s seat of the car he had selected, while Harding and Chester jumped into the tonneau.
“Let her go!” exclaimed Harding, “but slowly unless there is some sign of suspicion. If we start off too fast they’ll know there is something wrong.”
The car moved off slowly.
Half an hour later they were out of sight of the prison camp. It was then that Chester leaned forward and touched Hal on the arm.
“Which way now?” he asked.
“I judge that this road will take us to the Swiss border,” said Hal.
“Right you are,” agreed Harding.
“Trouble is,” said Chester, “that we don’t want to get out of Germany just yet.”
“What!” exclaimed Harding.
“Chester is right,” Hal put in. “You see, Harding, we haven’t yet obtained the information we came after.”
“By Jove! So you haven’t!” exclaimed Harding. “Well, what are you going to do about it?”
“Get it,” returned Hal briefly.
Harding smiled.
“Easily said,” he declared, “but, I am afraid, not so easily accomplished.”
“If you’ll listen to me I think I can suggest something,” declared Chester.
“Fire away,” said Hal.
“Well,” began Chester, “in the first place we have a certain immunity now that we wear German uniforms. Hal and I speak German fluently, which will help. How about you, Harding?”
“Very little,” was the reply. “English has always been good enough for me.”
“Then we shall have to do the talking,” said Chester. “You will have to be afflicted with an attack of dumbness, Harding.”
“I can do that, all right. I’ll just sit tight and say nothing.”
“Good! Now my idea is this: We’ll head for the front, bearing off a trifle to the south and thus dodging the Swiss border. We’ll proceed as straight as possible to the German front in France. We’ll trust to luck to get back to our own lines after we have learned at the front that which we desire.”
“I don’t call that much of a plan,” said Harding. “There is no strategy there. Besides, we would just be putting our heads into the lion’s mouth.”
“Nevertheless,” said Hal, “it is only in the midst of the German army that we can get the information we are after.”
“That’s probably true,” said Harding. “Well, have it your own way and count on me to the finish.”
“We’ll just keep going, then,” said Hal.
The big automobile began to pick up speed now and directly was dashing along at a rapid gait. From time to time they passed other cars on the road, but they were not stopped. The very audacity of the three friends augured toward their safety.
It was almost dark when Hal slowed down and stopped in front of a little hotel in a small village.
“We’ve got to have more gas and air,” he explained, in response to Chester’s questions. “Besides, the engine needs a drink. It’s red hot.”
“Also,” said Harding in a low voice, “we could get away with a little grub.”
“Right you are,” said Hal. “We shall be able to satisfy all our needs here.”
The three entered the hotel. The proprietor promised that the automobile should be looked after and ready within the hour and showed the three fugitives to a small dining-room at the far side of the building. The only occupant of the room at that moment proved to be a German colonel and the Englishman and the two American lads saluted him stiffly. The German returned the salute and continued his repast.
The fugitives ate heartily of the plain fare placed before them by their host. As Hal was draining his cup of the last drop of coffee, he became conscious that the German colonel was eyeing him. Suddenly the man kicked back his chair and approached the table at which the friends sat.
Hal felt of his revolver, for he smelled trouble. But he need not have worried—then.
“Where are you men going?” asked the colonel gruffly.
“To General von Mackensen, at the front, with dispatches,” said Hal, mentioning the name of the first German general he thought of.
“So?” exclaimed the colonel. “I am going that way myself, also with dispatches. I find, however, that I shall have to remain here until morning unless I can commandeer a passing automobile.”
Hal thought rapidly.
“I’ll tell you, sir,” he said at length, “we are going on to-night, and we shall be glad to have you accompany us, if you wish.”
“I shall be glad,” said the colonel. “When shall you start?”
“Immediately, sir.”
“Good! I am ready.”
Hal now introduced himself by a fictitious name; also his companions. The colonel owned up to the name of Reissler. Together the four left the hotel and returned to the automobile.
“If you will ride in front with me, I shall be honored, sir,” said Hal to the colonel.
The lad had reason for this. He intended to do all the talking done by the fugitives. He felt certain that should the colonel ride with Harding and Chester he must certainly discover that Harding was an imposter. Of Chester, however, he had no fear, for Chester’s command of the German tongue was as perfect as Hal’s own.
“Colonel,” said Hal, as he started the car, “I have been long in the east and am not altogether familiar with the roads here. You will perhaps point out the shortest route as we go along?”
“Of course,” said the colonel. “By the way,” he added, “have you an idea of the nature of your dispatches?”
Hal hesitated. He could not be sure of his ground and he was at a loss what to say. However, he knew that the German colonel would require an answer, so he took a long chance.
“I am not exactly sure, sir,” he replied, “but I believe that they have something to do with a possible retirement of our troops all along the western front.”
The colonel looked at him sharply.
“You mean a realignment, sir?” he said sharply.
“Why, yes, sir,” returned Hal.
The colonel’s face lost its sternness.
“My understanding is similar to yours,” he said. “We all know, of course, that our losses have been very heavy in the last few months—particularly in the last attempt to break through at Ypres. I’ll tell you something,” and he leaned forward, “had the Allied armies, reinforced as they have been by American troops, followed up our defeat there, we would have been compelled to fall back.”
“Why, sir,” said Hal, “this is news to me.”
“So it is,” returned the colonel. “Yet it’s true.”
Hal now became convinced of something he had begun to suspect since the moment the colonel became so talkative. The man had been drinking. In no other way could the lad account for his condescension in conversing with an officer beneath him in rank. Also, when the man leaned toward him, Hal could catch the odor of his breath.
“By Jove!” the lad told himself. “It may be that luck has turned our way at last. If I could get hold of those dispatches he carries I might learn something.”
To the colonel he said:
“Are you on your way to General von Mackensen’s quarters, sir?”
“I am,” was the reply. “Now I’ll tell you something more. Between the two of us, I am getting tired of this war; I wish it would come to an end. We know we can’t win, you and I, and so does every member of the staff. Why, our ranks have been so depleted that it takes wonderful generalship to make the enemy believe we are still impregnable in our present positions.”
“Is that so, sir?” said Hal. “I had no idea it was as bad as that.”
“Only the other day,” continued the colonel, “I chanced to be in Berlin. The emperor was there at the time, in conference with Generals Ludendorff, von Mackensen and Hindenburg. I, as you know, am on von Mackensen’s staff. Now let me tell you what I heard old Hindenburg himself say. ‘Your Majesty,’ said he, ‘we’ve got to continue our attacks, for when we stop the enemy will begin his. By our attacks we must keep from him the fact that we could not resist an offensive on a large scale.’”
“Himmel! That does sound bad,” said Hal.
“It does, indeed. Now, in my dispatches are contained practically those same words from Hindenburg—practically a repetition of the reasons he advanced at the conference, urging further attacks. Also I carry a description of the disposition of our troops and other material that Hindenburg hopes will convince von Mackensen that we must continue the offensive at all costs. Bad? I should say it is!”
Hal’s heart leaped into his throat. Here was luck, indeed.