Clair W. Hayes

“ I certainly won't let them take me out and shoot me without a fight."
"No more will I," declared Chester. "I would rather be killed fighting than to be taken out and stood up against a wall."
"Then if it comes to the worst we will pitch into the guards when they come to take us out and fight until the end," said Hal.
"We will," agreed Chester. "It would be a much more pleasant death. I don't think much of walking out and standing over my own grave and letting somebody shoot at me without a chance to fight back." ”

“ The first gray dawn streaked the eastern sky before they drew rein at a little brook, where they sat down to rest for a few moments, and to allow their horses to quench their thirst.
"How far do you suppose we have come?" asked Hal.
"I don't know," replied the Frenchman; "but we have covered considerable ground."
"Do you think we are out of danger?"
"We are never out of danger as long as we are in Germany," put in the lieutenant. "We may be safe from pursuit, but we are not out of the woods yet, by any means."
"How long should it take us to get out of the country?" asked Chester. ”

“ It was late that night when the lads made their way from the young captain's quarters, passed beyond the outposts, and made their way into the forest beyond, following the road, but keeping well within the shadow of the trees.
"This is the best summer vacation we have ever had," declared Hal, as they went slowly along.
"You are right, there," replied Chester. "Of course, war is a terrible thing, but as long as there is a war I would rather be over here where I can see what is going on than to be sitting home reading about it in the newspapers." ”

“ Looking through his glass, Hal sought out the form of Captain Derevaux. Finally he espied him, right where the fighting was fiercest and men dropped fastest.
Hither and thither rode the gallant young Frenchman, striking, thrusting, parrying, now raising his revolver for a snap shot, the while urging his men on.
"If he gets out alive it will be a miracle!" cried Hal, passing the glass to Chester. ”

“ With its thousands upon thousands of huts, it spread out like a great fan, extending almost as far as the eye could see.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Chester. "There must be a million men down there!"
"Hardly that many," laughed Hal; "but there are a few. I guess we had better go a little higher. We might be seen, and a chance bullet might bring us down in the middle of them."
The machine rose gently again; but, as the airship headed once more upon its course, there was a muffled explosion, and the machine rocked dangerously.
"What on earth is the matter now?" demanded Chester. ”

“ And to think that a young lad like you should be the means of saving my life!"
"You have indeed rendered a great service to Belgium," broke in the surgeon. "But how do you feel?"
"A little weak," replied Chester, with a faint smile. "But Captain
Bassil? Where is the traitor?"
"Dead," was the Belgian commander's laconic response.
Chester shuddered involuntarily.
"Never mind," said the general; "it was his life or yours, and mine too, for that matter."
"But it makes a fellow feel awfully queer," said Chester. "In battle it would have been different. ”

“ The Uhlans must be driven back at all hazards, and an order rang out from the Belgian commander.
There sallied forth a body of Belgian cavalry and the few French that remained of the French Lancers who had borne the brunt of the fighting in the battle in which Hal and Chester had distinguished themselves. In the center of these Hal and Chester recognized Captain Derevaux, his sword flashing aloft.
"He is a grand soldier!" whispered Hal to Chester softly. "A brave man, indeed. France may well be proud of him!"
"There can be none better," answered Chester. ”

“ All this time the crowd of assailants continued to grow. Attracted by the sounds of the scuffle, reinforcements arrived from all directions, and it is hard to tell what would have happened had not the sudden blast of a whistle interrupted the proceedings.
"The police!" yelled someone in the crowd. "Run!"
In less time than it takes to tell it, Hal, Chester, and the two other young men were alone, while racing toward them, down the street, were several figures in uniform.
"Run!" cried the young Frenchman. "If they catch us we will all go to jail, and there is no telling when we'll get out. Run!" ”

“ The German officer laughed gleefully, but, even as he did so, Hal, smiling, took a step forward.
With a quick stroke, he sent the German's sword flying from his grasp, and the officer was at his mercy.
The German's rage burst like a bubble.
"Kill me!" he said quietly to Hal.
"No," replied the lad; "I cannot kill a man in cold blood. Pick up your sword."
The officer obeyed, and Hal placed himself on guard. But, taking the weapon by the blade, the German extended the hilt to Hal. ”

“ Hal explained.
"Why did you not submit to arrest in Angermunde?"
"Because we feared we would be detained."
"And is that a sufficient cause for attacking a squad of German troops?"
"We considered it so," replied Hal.
"Enough!" exclaimed General Steinberg. "It is my belief you are all spies. You shall be shot to-morrow at sunrise!"
Turning to the officer who had escorted them to his hut, he commanded:
"Return them to their cell and see that they are well guarded!"
"But, general," the young captain spoke up, "these boys are in no way to blame. They are perfectly innocent!" ”

“ Warding off the officer's sword, Anderson suddenly dropped his rifle, and, stepping inside the other's guard, placed the officer hors de combat with several well-directed and lightning-like blows to the face and jaw.
At that moment Captain Derevaux's opponent succeeded in shaking off the captain's grip, and, springing to his feet, leveled his rifle, which he snatched from the ground as he arose, squarely at the young Frenchman.
With a shout Chester sprang forward, picking up a rifle as he leaped, and aimed a smashing blow at the man's head. ”

“ Hal turned to a man in the crowd.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Matter? Why, the man was caught spying near one of the forts."
"How do you know he was spying?"
"He is a German. Why else should he be prowling around, if not to spy?" And their informant rushed into the thick of the crowd, gesticulating violently, and adding his voice to the din.
"Great Scott! We can't stand for this!" exclaimed Chester. "Come on!"
Together the two lads rushed into the thick of the mob. Elbowing and pushing men to right and left they made their way through the mass of humanity. ”

“ Briefly and quietly Chester told him what he had learned.
"Impossible!" was the officer's exclamation, when Chester had concluded his recital. "It is my belief that you have come here to spy." He turned to the soldier. "Send Lieutenant Armand to me at once," he said.
The man saluted and disappeared. At the last words of the officer it suddenly came to Chester where he had heard the voice before. He approached the officer and peered more closely into his face.
"I wasn't sure, until I heard your last words," he told him, "but I know you now. You are a German spy." ”

“ For a long time, it seemed to them, they were marched along slowly, and finally the first huts of the German army came into view.
"I am afraid our mission is a failure," whispered Hal, as the two lads were led to a hut and placed under heavy guard.
"It looks that way," Chester agreed; "but we must hope for the best. It may be lucky for us that we have no papers on us."
"What are they going to do with us?" Hal asked one of their guards.
"Shoot you in the morning, I suppose," was the answer. "Persons found between the two armies in civilian clothes cannot hope for mercy."
"But we are not spies!" ”

“ Hal and Chester, strolling about the fort, in some unaccountable manner had been left behind. Suddenly, for the first time, they noted the utter desolation of the place.
"Strange," muttered Hal. "Where has everyone gone?"
"You've got me," declared Chester, "but there must be someone around some place. Let's go up to the general's quarters."
Now, when the soldiers and civilians had been ordered to leave the fort, no one knew it was General Simon's intention of blowing it up. They thought he was abandoning it because he believed it no longer capable of resistance. ”

“ A revolver cracked, and a bullet whined over Hal's head even as he leaped forward.
With a bound all four fugitives were among the horses, and almost with a single movement each threw himself into a saddle.
But at that moment the camp came to life. Armed men sprang up on all sides.
In the very act of digging his heel into his horse's flank, the lieutenant pulled up.
"It's no use," he said quietly to his friends. "To move is certain death." ”

“ As he staggered along he passed many tumbled-down buildings that gave evidence of the accuracy of the fire of the German gunners; and in some places the bodies of non-combatants littered the streets.
Straight toward the front went Chester, his face set in grim determination. He realized that in that direction lay whatever chance there was of safety; for even now his keen ears detected the sound of firing from the rear, as the Germans made their attack from that direction. ”

“ This time Hal had spoken in English, and a look of surprise had come over her face, followed by an expression of delight.
"I was sure you were Americans!" she exclaimed, and then added hesitatingly, "or are you—can it be you are English?"
"No; we are Americans, all right," Chester broke in; "but we certainly didn't expect to run into an American girl in this corner of the world."
"No; particularly at a time like this," agreed Hal.
"Oh, I am perfectly safe here," replied the girl "Uncle, who is a Belgian officer, has joined his regiment, and I am here with only two servants. ”

“ With a wave of his hand he signified that the interview was ended.
"Take them away!" he ordered.
"It's all my fault!" exclaimed Captain Derevaux when they were back in the cell once more. "I should not have permitted you boys to accompany us."
"It is not!" denied Hal and Chester together. "Whatever may befall us is no discredit to you. Had we not come with you, we probably should have tried to escape the country alone."
"But if you had not been captured in our company you would be in no danger of being shot," declared Lieutenant Anderson. ”

“ The cavalrymen were plainly discernible in the glare of an electric street light.
"It's impossible," replied the lieutenant. "We shall have to stop. They would shoot us to pieces before we could get through. Here," turning to Chester and Captain Derevaux, "cover up the chauffeur with these rugs and lay him in the bottom of the car. It would never do for an officer to see him. It may be that our friends behind have not tipped off our present enemy, but the sight of this wounded chauffeur would give it all away." The car was slowly nearing the line of troops. ”

“ He returned almost immediately with two pieces of rope.
"Careful, now," whispered Hal, as, keeping in the shadow of the house, they made a short detour.
Out of sight of the guards, they made a silent dash for the rear of the workshop, where they stood, silently awaiting the approach of the guard.
"I hate to do this," whispered Hal, as he heard the footsteps of the guard; "but it has to be done."
As the guard rounded the corner of the shop, Hal struck out. Swift and true was the blow; and struck upon the point of the chin, the man crumpled up without a sound. ”

“ Chester gave his chum's hand a slight squeeze.
"Well, it can't be helped now," he replied, with an attempt to appear cheerful. "But come, brace up; if we must die, we will die bravely."
"You are right," said Hal, brushing the tears from his eyes with a rapid movement.
With heads erect, the two lads marched on.
At that moment a group of German officers approached on horseback. They eyed the two captives, and suddenly one left his companions and rode over to the firing squad. The officer in command of the squad halted his men and saluted.
"What have we here?" demanded the newcomer. ”

“ He dived to the floor of the car, the young Frenchman and Hal following his example.
Chester, however, had been so surprised at the suddenness of this maneuver, that for a moment he was unable to move; but, while his momentary inaction placed him in great danger, it nevertheless saved his companions from capture, or even death.
As the automobile lunged away, hurling the officer to the side of the street, the latter shouted a command:
"Fire! Shoot the driver!"
One man only was in a position to obey. The others were forced to jump for their lives, as the machine bore down on them. ”

“ As they did so, they heard the door to the closet through which they had recently passed open again, and a voice exclaim:
"I know these high and mighty Belgian gentlemen too well. There is always wine in the cellar. Come, Franz, we shall explore."
Heavy footsteps descended the stairs, and two German officers hove in sight. The boys, in the dimness of the cellar, were not seen.
"Quick!" whispered Chester, "into the passageway."
As Hal followed Chester into the darkness of the passageway, he tripped over some obstacle in the dark, which gave forth the sound of tinkling glass. ”

“ Both boys were large and sturdy, and the months spent in the lumber camps had given hardness to their muscles. Their ever-readiness for a rough-and-tumble, the fact that neither had ever been known to dodge trouble—although neither had ever sought it, and that where one was involved in danger there was sure to be found the other also—had gained for them among the rough men of the lumber camp the nickname of "The Boy Allies," a name which had followed them to their city home. ”