Clair W. Hayes

“ In the rear it was perfectly dark and on each side of the narrow passageway the dark, grimy walls rose sheer for perhaps twenty-five feet. The place reeked with the smell of foul air and tobacco smoke.
Now that the light shattered the blackness the little man, who had advanced as soft-footed and as sure-footed as a cat in spite of the darkness, increased his stride and made toward the light. He brought up directly against another door, through cracks in which the light streamed. Here he turned to Hal and Chester. ”

“ Chester, after sleeping for perhaps an hour, had roused up, and, by holding his hands over the blaze, had loosened the knot that bound them. Then quickly untying his feet, he had relieved the German officer of his weapons, and in turn had bound and gagged him. He was just approaching Hal when the latter awoke and saw him.
To untie his chum was the work of a moment. Then the boys, in low tones, talked over what was best to be done.
"There is no use staying here," said Hal. "Every moment brings us that much nearer death." ”

“ Instantly the war correspondent lost all resemblance to a dead man, and the man and cats became a panting, struggling, rolling heap.
As Stubbs cried out in alarm, Chester—still some distance away—raised his head and quickly realized the struggle that was taking place. Throwing caution to the winds, he sprang to his feet and with a shout charged the feline foes.
The war correspondent was fighting off his biting, clawing assailants as best he could; but the very fact that the cats clung to his back was a point in their favor. ”

“ Standing firmly erect, with his face to the west, was Captain Eberhardt. Facing him, with grounded rifles, were six soldiers. These made up the firing squad who were to snuff out the life of the German captain.
Right between these men and their victim Chester and Hal dashed.
There came a startled cry as the Germans made out the French uniforms in which the lads were dressed, and an exclamation of alarm broke out.
"The French!" came the cry.
The Germans turned quickly in the direction from which the lads had come, evidently expecting to see more of the enemy. ”

“ Didn't Captain Eberhardt put himself out attempting to save us?
He interceded for us, didn't he?"
"Yes, but—"
"Well, then, it is our fault that he is to be executed."
"I know all that," said Hal; "but, if we go back to intercede for him, we shall probably be shot in his stead."
"That's a chance we must take," said Chester briefly.
"Well," said Hal slowly, after some hesitation, "I don't know but you are right."
"Of course I'm right," declared Chester. "We can't stand by and have a man shot because of us." ”

“ He turned again to Hal and Chester. "Do you know anything of the Apaches of Paris?" he asked.
"Only what we have read," replied Chester. "I should say that they are of the lowest possible order of criminals."
"You are entirely right," replied General Gallieni. "The Apaches of Paris have not acquired an undeserved reputation. There is no crime on the calendar they would not commit for a few cents. From petty thievery to murder they have advanced by degrees, until to-day the life of a person who ventures among them is not worth a cent, should they believe he had a franc in his pocket. ”

“ Hal advanced slowly toward the table, and laid down the revolver he held in his right hand. The man in the bed took a step toward him. It was the moment for which the lad had been waiting and he acted instantly.
Slowly his weapon came down, and then it suddenly flashed in the Apache's face as the lad's hand pressed the trigger.
A miss was impossible. Hal had made up his mind that he would trifle with his opponent no longer. He realized fully that his own life depended upon his getting the upper hand and that it was no time to be squeamish. ”

“ Now that Stubbs had been returned the victor, greatly to the surprise of all, Hal advanced and induced the little American to relinquish his seat. This the latter did, though not without some trepidation—fearing that the German would attack him again as soon as he could arise—and, when he finally did get upon his feet, he put a respectable distance between himself and his late opponent.
"You fellows are bent on getting me killed," he said, turning to Chester with a frown. "You always help each other, but whenever I am in trouble you leave me to fight it out alone." ”

“ The war correspondent now became talkative, and entertained with an account of his adventures.
Upon learning that Hal and Chester were American lads, the little man's pleasure knew no bounds.
"I knew it!" he exclaimed. "I knew it the minute I set eyes on you."
"Perhaps that is why you were in such a hurry to get back down the road," said Chester.
"No, no," was the reply. "I knew you were Americans, but I feared, for the moment, that you might be fighting with the Germans."
"Well," said Chester shortly, "I don't imagine you will find many
Americans in the German ranks." ”

“ Each man raised his glass to his lips and drained it, but Hal and Chester drank the toast in clear, cold water. As the first Frenchman returned his glass to the table, he noticed that the wine before Hal and Chester remained untouched. His face turned a dull red, and he approached the lads.
"And why does not monsieur drink with us?" he demanded in a harsh voice, thrusting his face toward Chester. "Can it be that you are spies?"
"No," said Chester, taking a step backward; "we are not spies. We are British officers, and we drank your toast in water. We do not drink wine." ”

“ When the little motorboat had capsized, four French soldiers had run down to the bank and thrown themselves into the stream. Almost at the same time a squad of perhaps a dozen Germans had performed the same maneuver. Now, from both sides of the river, men were closing in upon the almost exhausted lads.
But the Germans were the best swimmers and overtook them first. One grasped Hal by the arm and another seized Chester. In vain did the lads try to shake off these opponents, striking out blindly at them, and calling to the French to hurry to their assistance. ”

“ Perhaps a mile from the river the lads came upon thousands of sleeping men, housed in little tents. Here and there sentries flitted about in the dark and campfires blazed merrily.
Keeping their horses well out of the glare of the fires, and going very slowly, so as to make no sound, they drew nearer and nearer to the river. The Germans were some distance back from the water's edge, to escape the danger of being bombarded by the heavy guns of the French during the night, and consequently there was quite an open space between the river and the most advanced German outpost. ”

“ The first two rows of German trenches had fallen into the hands of the French, and there the troops prepared to make themselves at home. Thousands upon thousands of men were set to work burying the dead, and soon the field was cleared of the bodies. The losses on both sides had been enormous, for the battle of Soissons had been the bloodiest of the war.
General Joffre, who had moved his headquarters somewhat toward the rear when the German advance began, reoccupied his old quarters once more, and it was here that Hal and Chester, having been summoned, found him. ”

“ There was a loud smack, as his right first crashed into his opponent's face, and a stream of blood poured from the German's nose. Hal now had regained his wind, and jumped to aid his chum.
All this time the battle between the two skirmish lines of the armies continued. Both sides had perceived the struggle in the boat, but both were fearful to fire for fear of wounding friend as well as foe—for the very fact of the struggle proved that there were men of both armies in the boat. Gradually the fire of both sides slackened, as the troops peered intently toward the fighting figures in midstream. ”

“ Wonder who's doing it?"
"There is not much question about that," said Hal dryly. "That is His
Lordship, fighting for his bed."
"By Jove!" cried Chester. "I'll bet that's just who it is."
The lads were right.
No sooner had they left the room in which His Lordship lay asleep than he arose and peered forth. His eyes fell upon the Germans in the distance.
His Lordship muttered to himself: "Why can't they let a man sleep?"
It was at that moment that one of the Germans, thinking to draw a fire from whoever chanced to be in the house, fired through the window. ”

“ They had friends among the British officers, many of whom, because of their long absence, had mourned them as dead.
The lads let their eyes roam about. Troops, troops, troops! Nothing but troops, as far as the eye could see. Cavalry, artillery and infantry in solid masses on every side; officers darting hither and thither delivering sharp orders. It was an impressive sight.
An officer on horseback dashed up to General French and the two held a short conversation. As the rider turned and was about to make off again the lads recognized him.
"Major Derevaux!" shouted Hal, taking a step forward. ”

“ The promenade along the exposed side of the plateau, in sight of Soissons and the bank of the Aisne, also held by the French in force, gave a rather uncanny feeling of insecurity. However, it was less dangerous than it seemed, for a slight haze rendered the group in German field gray invisible to the French artillery on the heights on the opposite side of the valley.
In the part of the field where Hal and Chester had been on the eighth day of the fighting, at the edge of the plateau, the struggle had been desperate. ”

“ It will not be strong enough to cope with the Apaches. Besides, the surprise itself augurs well for the success of the plan."
"Well, I hope neither plan fails."
"You may rest easy on that score. If one fails the other is sure to succeed."
Hal and Chester, from their concealment, heard the men rise and move off in the opposite direction.
"Great Scott!" cried Chester. "Do you know what that means?"
"I do," said Hal simply. "It means that, unless General Joffre is warned, the French army may suffer a crushing blow; also, if President Poincaré is not warned, he may be kidnapped by the enemy!" ”

“ When I saw you placed in this tent I disappeared, for I didn't want to be seen hanging about the prisoners. I knew you would be here till morning, so I waited till dark to come to you."
"Have you a plan?" asked Chester.
"A newspaper man always has a plan," was the reply.
He went to the place where he had come under the tent and, reaching out a hand, pulled a bundle in after him. This he brought over to the lads and untied.
The lads bent over it eagerly and started back in surprise when they saw what it contained.
"Women's clothes!" exclaimed Hal in a low voice.
Stubbs smiled complacently. ”