CHAPTER XX
A STRANGE PROCEEDING
"Lieutenant," said the Canadian named Gregory, "before I joined thearmy I was considered somewhat of a detective in Montreal. I've hadsome experience with pickpockets. It's a pleasure to see you work."
"That sounds like rather a left-handed compliment," said Chester with asmile, while Hal and the others laughed.
"Nevertheless, it was very neatly done," said Gregory.
"Well, Hal," said Chester, "you've got one gun, what are you going todo with it?"
"Hold your horses, old man," returned Hal. "Nothing was ever gained bytoo great haste. Something will turn up."
Something did a moment later in the form of the German officer who sorecently had left the tent. He came in quickly, looked around, andstood undecided.
"Why, I thought you'd gone, captain," said Chester, though his heartsank.
The lad realized the import of the other's return.
"I've lost something," said the German.
"What was it?" asked Hal.
"Well, it's my revolver," said the German. "I thought maybe I haddropped it here."
"Hope you didn't expect to find it if you had?" said Hal.
The German laughed good-naturedly.
"Maybe not," he said. "However, I'm going to ask you if any of youhave it."
"If we had," said Hal quietly, "I'll guarantee we wouldn't stay herehalf an hour."
The German looked at Hal keenly. Apparently he took the lad's answerfor a denial, for he said:
"Well, all right. I just thought I'd make sure. I know you wouldn'tlie about it."
He bowed again and was gone.
"Well, by George!" exclaimed Hal. "I didn't tell him I didn't have hisgun, did I?"
"You did not," said Chester, "but you seem to have convinced him thatyou didn't have it."
"It's just as well," said Smith.
Five minutes later a German soldier entered, bearing a tray on whichwas water and dry bread.
"Well, well," said Hal. "What a feast for the hungry, eh?"
He took the tray from the man's bands, while Chester edged closer tohim. When the man left the tent, Chester produced an object which heheld aloft.
"Something for you, Gregory," he said.
Gregory eyed the object in surprise. It was a long-handled knife.
"I just happened to see it sticking in his belt," said Chester.
"I believe that you two fellows have been fooling us," said Gregorywith evident sincerity. "Come, now. What was your occupation beforeyou joined the army?"
"Well, it wasn't picking pockets, if that's what you mean," saidChester with a laugh.
"If this thing keeps up," said Crean, "we'll soon have weapons enoughto equip a first-class arsenal."
"And that's no joke," said the man called Jackson.
"We can't hope for any more such luck," said Hal quietly. "We'll haveto create what opportunities come to us now."
"You take this knife, Gregory," said Chester. "I wouldn't know what todo with it."
Hal approached the canvas door to their prison and poked his head out.
"Get back there!" came a guttural command in German.
Hal spied a sentry standing before the tent.
"Hello," he said pleasantly. "Didn't know you were there. All byyourself, too, eh?"
"Not much," was the reply. "There's a man in the rear, too."
"I just wondered," murmured Hal.
"Get back inside," commanded the guard.
"Oh, all right," said Hal, "if you are going to be nasty about it.But, say, do you have a pack of cards you can lend us?"
"No, I don't," said the guard.
"Well, all right," and Hal would have withdrawn but the German haltedhim.
"I didn't say I didn't have a pack," he said.
"But I heard--"
"No, you didn't. I said I didn't have a pack to lend."
"Well, what's--?"'
"I've a pack to sell," said the guard.
"Oh, I see," said Hal. "Rather hard up, are you."
"If you mean I have no money, yes."
"I've a few German coins, I believe," said Hal, and explored hispockets. "I'll give you these for the pack of cards."
He held forth two coins.
The German grunted.
"All right," he said.
He produced a pack of cards, and took the money Hal extended.
"Times must be getting hard in Germany," said Hal suggestively.
Again the German granted.
"We don't have any bread, and we don't have any meat," he declared. "Ihaven't had a good meat for a year, it seems."
"It'll be worse before the war's over," said Hal pleasantly.
The German grounded his rifle with a thump. "Don't you think I knowit?" he demanded with some heat.
"Well, don't get angry," said Hal, struck with a sudden idea.
"You've got some money," he said.
"Not very much."
"Well, I'll tell you something. We're going to have a little card gameinside. I don't have any too much money, either, and I'd be glad towin some. What's the matter with you sneaking in and getting in thegame? Your money's as good to me as anyone else's."
"And an officer'll come along, and I'll face a firing squad," grumbledthe German.
"Pshaw!" said Hal. "Nothing risked nothing gained, you know. Besides,we're in an out of the way place here. When will you be relieved?"
"Not before 10 o'clock."
"And it's only a little after six now. However, if you won't, youwon't. You know your own business best."
The German smiled an evil smile.
"Have you any objection to my inviting another in the game?" he asked.
"Not a bit. Who?"
"The man who is guarding the tent in the rear. He will come in handy,too. If you should try to escape, we'd do for you. We will be armed,and you won't."
"Who said anything about trying to escape?" demanded Hal. "This is tobe a little friendly game of poker."
"Poker?" exclaimed the German.
Again his eyes gleamed.
"You go back in the tent," said the guard. "I'll probably be alonglater with my friend. I need the money, and will take a chance."
"Good!" said Hal, and disappeared within.
Hal explained the situation to the others, and added:
"Of course, the man's idea is that he and his friend, by playingtogether, will win by cheating. Well, that doesn't make any differenceto us. Let them have the money. All we want is to get out of here. Idon't know much about playing cards, anyhow. But let no man make amove until I give the word."
The others nodded their understanding of this to him.
"We may as well get started, so it won't look bad," said Chester.
The six seated themselves on the ground, and Gregory dealt out thecards.
"I can't understand how a man will take a chance like this guard," saidChester.
"He says he needs money," declared Hal.
"But even so," said Chester, "he should have sense enough--?"
"You haven't forgotten he is German, have you?" demanded Jackson. "Iwas brought up among them to some extent. One idea is all a trueGerman's head will hold at one time. That's the truth. And if he getsan idea in his head, you can't get it out.
"Shh-h!" said Hal. "Here comes someone."
A moment later the guard with whom the lad had conversed entered thetent. A second man followed him.
"Quiet!" whispered the first guard.
The two men sat down among the others. Each laid his rifle within easyreach of his hand, and each loosened a revolver in his belt.
"Go on with the game," said the first German in a low voice.
Gregory dealt out the cards.
Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders; Or, the Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge Page 20
