CHAPTER XXIII.
WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES.
Briefly now Hal recounted to his two friends what he had overheard inthe farmhouse, pointing out the danger that threatened the alliedarmies. When he had concluded he said:
"Now I have another plan, and I want to know if you, Chester, and you,Lieutenant Anderson, will follow my instructions?"
"Certainly," said the lieutenant.
"You know I will, Hal," said Chester.
"All right, then. What I want you to do is this: Return and report toGeneral French what I have just told you. Take the men with you.That's all."
"But you?" demanded Chester; "aren't you coming, too? Surely you haveaccomplished the mission successfully."
"No," replied Hal. "In this German uniform I believe I shall beperfectly safe on this side, and I am going to try and gain furtherinformation. It may be that I can learn something that will beimportant."
"Then I shall go with you," declared Chester.
"And I, too," said Lieutenant Anderson.
"Oh, no you won't," said Hal grimly. "Didn't you just promise to obeymy commands, both of you?"
"But we didn't know what you planned to do," said Chester.
"I know you didn't," said Hal. "That is why I asked your promisesbefore I told you."
"But I don't think it is fair," protested Chester.
"I don't care what you think," replied Hal. "You have both promised,so that's all there is about it."
In vain did Chester and Lieutenant Anderson protest. Hal was firm.
"Come, now," he said at last. "You are making it more dangerous for meevery moment you stand here arguing about it. Get in the boats andreturn at once."
Slowly Chester and Lieutenant Anderson complied with his request. Themen already were in the boats, and Hal stood and watched them rowaway.
"I shall be back some time to-night or in the morning," he called toChester; "but," and he smiled grimly to himself, "if I were you, Iwouldn't wait up for me."
Chester and Lieutenant Anderson waved their hands in reply, and withone last look Hal turned and made his way back in the direction of thefarmhouse.
He walked by the house without stopping, for he had no mind to lingerlong in that vicinity.
"The quicker I find the main army and lose myself among the rest ofthe officers the better off I shall be," he told himself.
He espied a small squadron of Germans approaching him at a quick trot.Making sure that his revolvers were ready for instant action, the ladtrudged bravely on. The mounted troops passed him at a distance ofperhaps a hundred yards, and the officer in command waved his sword ingreeting as they went by.
"So far, so good," muttered the lad to himself.
Small bodies of troops passed him at more frequent intervals now. Butfeeling perfectly safe in his German uniform, with shoulder straps ofcaptain, the lad continued boldly on.
At last, some distance ahead, he made out a large encampment.
"Guess this is the place I am headed for," he told himself.
He approached boldly and soon mingled with the German officers, whowere taking life easy, war, seemingly, being far from their thoughts.The place, to Hal, looked as if it might be a drill ground, with alarge body of troops on parade.
He walked about for an hour or more and was not challenged once,although once or twice passing officers nodded pleasantly to him.
"Either they mistake me for someone else, or they are a very pleasantand courteous set," the lad told himself. "However, I didn't come hereto learn how they behave themselves. I won't get any information thisway. I wonder who is in command here, but I can't afford to ask."
Continuing his stroll, he at last mingled with a crowd of officers whowere idling about talking.
"I heard General Beulow say that we were likely to be ordered forwardwithin a few hours," said one of the group of officers.
"So?" questioned another. "I had forgotten that you are now a memberof his staff."
"What's up, do you know?"
"Nothing that I can talk about," replied the other with a pleasantsmile.
"All right," said another. "The sooner the better."
The little group broke up and Hal continued his stroll.
"Good," he said to himself. "At least I have learned that GeneralBeulow is in command here."
And he had learned not a moment too soon, as it turned out.
At that moment an officer approached him.
"I can't seem to place you," he said. "Is your regiment here?"
"No," returned Hal, in excellent German, without the slightest accent."I am attached to General Von Kluck's command. I came here with himto-day."
"Oh," said the German officer, "then you are on his staff?"
"Yes."
"In that event I am in luck. Evidently you are the very man I havebeen sent to seek. You are Captain Dersam?"
Hal took a long chance.
"Yes," he replied.
"Good," said the German officer. "Come to my quarters. I havedocuments to deliver to you."
Hal followed the German officer to the latter's tent. There the Germantook from a small express box a small package of papers, which heplaced in the lad's hands.
"These," he said, "you are to deliver to General Von Kluck. I supposeyou knew that he had already returned to his command?"
"Yes," replied Hal firmly. "I was simply waiting for these. My horseis yonder," and he waved his hand.
"Oh," continued the German. "Then perhaps you know that Von Kluck, VonMoltke and the Emperor himself had a brush with a bunch of British orFrench spies a while back. The Emperor was much put out. He believedthat information of an expected coup had leaked out, so all generalswere hurried back to their posts to see that everything wasshipshape."
"Yes," said Hal briefly; "I know."
He placed the papers in his pocket.
"Auf Wiedersehen," said the German officer, bowing Hal from his tent."Your orders are to put those papers into General Von Kluck's hands atthe earliest possible moment."
"It shall be done," said Hal as he walked rapidly away.
"Great Scott!" he said to himself. "I am in luck. I wouldn't besurprised if these papers were orders concerning the movement which Ioverheard in the farmhouse."
Quickly he sought out a quiet spot, and broke the Imperial seal. Itwas even as he had expected--only more. For the papers contained thepresent troop positions, their expected movements and the number ofmen and how stationed.
Hal whistled softly to himself.
"Won't General French be surprised when he sees these?" he saidsoftly. "Now to get back."
It was growing dusk, and as Hal walked along toward the outposts inthe direction from which he had so recently come, he whistled blithelyto himself. It was a mission well done, and the lad, although by nomeans egotistical, was well aware of it.
He passed the farthest outpost of the camp unchallenged, and made offin the darkness. Then, still feeling safe in his German uniform, andmore confident at having not been recognized during his stay in theGerman camp, he paid no heed to footsteps that were now approaching.
A lantern swung suddenly into his face by a newcomer caused him tostart back in surprise. And even as he did so he made out that thepair who had accosted him were a man and woman.
And what is more he also recognized the woman. It was she whom he hadso recently bound in the farmhouse. And her cry made it apparent thatshe had recognized him as well.
"It is he!" she exclaimed in a loud voice.
Boy Allies on the Firing Line; Or, Twelve Days Battle Along the Marne Page 23
