CHAPTER XIII.
STUBBS TO THE RESCUE.
Chester also uttered an exclamation of dismay.
"That phrase is certainly getting to be monotonous," he said. "Itseems that every time we turn around somebody talks of sending us backto Berlin."
"Well, they won't get me back there if I can help it," said Hal.
"Nor me, either," agreed Chester.
General Steinbach now spoke again.
"You will not be sent back before to-morrow," he said; "in themeantime, if you will give me your paroles, I shall be glad to have youas my guests."
Chester glanced quickly at Hal, and the latter nodded his headnegatively.
"We are sorry, sir," said Chester, "but we cannot give our paroles."
The general hesitated for a brief moment.
"Oh, well," he said, "I don't know as it makes any difference. Thereis no chance of your escaping again. I shall be pleased to have youlunch with me."
The lads accepted this invitation gladly, for both were very hungry, andthey knew from past experiences that the Kaiser treated his officers tothe best that was to be obtained in the line of food.
They accompanied General Steinbach to his quarters, where they soon satdown to a substantial meal. The meal over, the German commander walkedwith them to the outside, and asked them if they would care to have alook about. Both lads agreed that they would and the general detailed anofficer to show them around.
"I hardly believe you will be able to reveal what you may see," he saidwith a smile, as he left them, "for within a few days you will be safein Berlin."
"I wish he wouldn't harp on Berlin so much," said Chester. "I don't likethe name of that place."
After an hour's stroll the lads were conducted to a tent at the northernextremity of the German lines, where they were placed under guard. Theyhad the tent to themselves, but guards were stationed upon the outside.
All the rest of the afternoon they sat there talking over the situationand trying to hit upon some plan of escape; but no feasible schemeoccurred to either.
Night came and food was brought them. The lads did not turn in early, forthey were in no mood for sleep. Well into the night they sat up talking.
In the midst of the conversation Hal became conscious of the fact that anobject of some kind was trying to crawl under the tent from the outside.Silently he called Chester's attention to the spot where the canvas wasbeing tampered with.
Presently a head appeared beneath the rear of the tent, followed by aman's head and shoulders. His face was not turned toward the lads, sothey did not recognize him; but they did not move from their chairs.
Now the apparition succeeded in drawing his legs within the tent, and,rising to his feet, turned toward them. In spite of their surprise,however, the boys were too cool to exclaim aloud, but both mutteredbeneath their breath:
"Stubbs!"
The newcomer was indeed the little American war correspondent.
He laid a cautious finger to his lips and came toward them. Both ladsarose and silently took him by the hand.
"I've come to get you out," whispered Stubbs.
"How did you get here?" asked Hal in a low voice.
"I have been here for two days," was the reply. "I came before you did,and when I told the German commander I was an American war correspondent,he was glad to see me. You know the Kaiser is seeking the moral sympathyof the United States. When I told General Steinbach that I was here toget the German side of the war he treated me royally. He presented mewith a pass giving me the freedom of the German lines and has taken thetrouble to show me about a bit himself."
"You certainly must have made a hit with him," said Chester.
"Leave that to Stubbs," was the little man's reply. "Now, the thing is,to get you out of here."
"But how did you know we were here?" asked Hal.
Stubbs smiled.
"I was a silent witness of the scene at the place of execution," he said."Since that time I have been following you. When I saw you placed in thistent I disappeared, for I didn't want to be seen hanging about theprisoners. I knew you would be here till morning, so I waited till darkto 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 outa hand, pulled a bundle in after him. This he brought over to the ladsand untied.
The lads bent over it eagerly and started back in surprise when they sawwhat it contained.
"Women's clothes!" exclaimed Hal in a low voice.
Stubbs smiled complacently.
"They were the best I could obtain upon short notice," he explained."Then, too, I believe they will be better disguises than anything else."
"We'll make a couple of fine-looking girls," said Hal in disgust.
"Oh, I don't know," replied Stubbs. "I guess you will look a heap betterthan some I have seen hereabouts."
"But I don't know anything about women's clothes," protested Hal.
"Nor I," said Chester, "except I know that if you don't walk just so youmight as well tell everybody you are not a woman."
"That would be true in New York, but not here," said Stubbs. "Some ofthese French peasant women walk just like a man, so you won't have anytrouble on that score. The main thing is to see if they fit."
"Well, the easiest way to tell that is to try 'em on," said Chester."Here goes."
He took a faded blue dress from the bundle, and, holding it in two hands,thrust one foot into it.
"Here, here, that's not the way to get into it," exclaimed Stubbs.
Chester looked at him in surprise.
"How else can you get into it?" he demanded.
"Put it over your head," whispered Stubbs. "You see," he explained, "I ama married man and I know something about such things."
Chester tried again, and, obeying Stubbs's injunction, found that thedress slipped on more easily. He fastened it around his waist.
"Pretty good fit, isn't it?" he asked.
"Well, it's not so awfully good," replied Stubbs, concealing a grin, "butI guess it will answer the purpose. Now throw that shawl over your headand you'll be fixed."
Hal, by this time, had climbed into the second costume, and nowstrode about.
"Hold on a minute," said Stubbs. "You'll have to roll up your trousers'legs, or a puff of wind is likely to come along and give you away."
Both lads obeyed this injunction.
"That's better," said the war correspondent, after eying them critically."Now, let's see if there is anything else."
He stood back a few paces and surveyed them carefully.
"How do we look?" asked Hal.
"It would be a shame to tell you," said Stubbs cheerfully. "However, Iguess you will pass muster. Wait a minute, though, there is anotherthing. You stand too erect. Stoop over a little bit. That's better. Nowyou have it," he exclaimed, as the lads dropped into the proper pose.
"Now, rub your hands in the dirt a bit and streak your faces."
The lads obeyed, and once more Stubbs stood off and surveyed them longand carefully.
"I guess that will do all right," he murmured.
"What are we supposed to be, anyway?" demanded Chester.
"Apple-women," replied Stubbs.
"Then where are the apples and baskets?" asked Hal.
"Well, you are shy on them right now," said Stubbs. "So you will haveto do the best you can without 'em. If you are questioned, which Idon't believe you will be, say that you have sold out; that you havethrown your baskets away and that you are going to try to get to aplace of safety."
"But I didn't know there were any apple-women near here," said Chester.
"Well, there aren't any," replied Stubbs. "However, if there had not beentwo, I wouldn't have been able to get these clothes for you."
"How did you get them?"
"Bought 'em."
"Then why didn't you get the baskets and apples, too?"
asked Hal.
The little man sniffed his contempt.
"I would have looked nice lugging two big baskets about, wouldn't I?" heasked. "If I had tried that I'd have been shot a long while ago. I hadtrouble enough getting here with the bundle without being seen."
"But why--" began Hal.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Stubbs. "You fellows should have beennewspaper men. You can ask more fool questions to the minute thananyone I ever heard."
The little man's feelings were considerably ruffled, and Hal hastened toassuage them.
"Don't think for a minute we are not grateful," he said. "If we succeedin getting safely away we'll owe you a deep debt of thanks."
"Rats!" exclaimed Stubbs. "I don't want any thanks. All I want is to getyou fellows out of here."
"But how are you going to get away?"
"Don't you worry about me. I'll get away, all right--a newspaper man cango any place, any way and any time."
"Except in times of war."
"Well, perhaps so," admitted Stubbs. "However, I have my pass. I'll getaway, all right, but not until I have found some news for the Gazette."
"But you are not paid to get killed," said Hal.
"No," was the reply, "but I am paid to get news. Now, I'll go out underthe tent first, and if the coast is clear, I'll whistle twice, likethis." He whistled softly.
The boys signified that they understood. Stubbs held out his hands, andboth lads grasped them.
"Good-by, and good luck," said Stubbs quietly.
He crossed the tent quickly, dropped down, and wormed his way out slowlyand silently.
Boy Allies in the Trenches; Or, Midst Shot and Shell Along the Aisne Page 13
