Air Service Boys Flying for Victory; Or, Bombing the Last German Stronghold

by E. J. Craine

  CHAPTER XXI

  AT THE OLD CHATEAU

  THE air service boys had no difficulty in retracing their steps,especially since Tom, with his usual caution, had been careful toremember the spot where the main road was joined by that coming from thecountry cemetery.

  Once again they made their way past the ghostly looking stones.

  "I can see our boomer now, Tom!" Jack cried, as if he had been a littleafraid that something had happened while they were absent, and that theywould find the airplane missing.

  "You want to be mighty careful of that stuff," his chum warned him, asJack stumbled over some unnoticed object, and only retained his balanceby a supreme effort.

  "That's a fact," mumbled the other. "Especially as there's no more wherethis lot came from. I attended to that, all right. But here we are, andnow to get the holes plugged up."

  "At last my time to make use of that little outfit has arrived!" Tomexclaimed. "I've carried it for months, thinking I'd need it badly someday or other. Well, that time is on us, and this repays me for all mytrouble. Set that pail down, and be ready to lend a hand, Jack."

  He fumbled in a pocket of the body of the plane, producing a small roll,which, upon being opened, disclosed several plugs of soft wood, such asmight easily swell if moistened. There was also some wax, the kind fruitgrowers use in grafting new scions on old trees.

  Tom carefully examined one of the holes in order to learn its exactdimensions.

  "Just as I expected, it's perfectly round in shape, which makes iteasier to plug up," he announced, pleased with his discovery.

  A minute later he had fitted one of the wooden pegs in tightly. Then heused the wax, which was just hard enough for his purpose.

  "That one is finished, and I think it will hold fairly well," heremarked, somewhat to the surprise, as well as delight, of hiscompanion, who had anticipated that it would take much longer.

  "You're a sure-enough wizard, all right, Tom," was his gratifiedcomment. "Why, you're getting things put through in a jiffy. But I hopethere isn't any danger of the petrol acting on the wax, and causing aquick leak."

  "I've tested it, and feel certain it will hold for an hour or so,anyhow, Jack. And by then we ought to be back in camp."

  "Will, if we have any luck at all," asserted Jack.

  "Now I'll get busy on the other hole," continued Tom. "Though that isn'tso important, as it's at the top of the reservoir. Still, it might bejust as well to close it up in order to avoid waste. Besides, there'salways danger of an explosion if your tank sprinkles this deadly stuffaround."

  Jack took occasion to step aside to where he could look up between thetrees and glimpse the dimly seen chateau, knowing now just where to lookfor it. When he came back he had information to impart that he thoughtwould please Tom.

  "Still a blaze up there, Tom, showing that the conference isn't overyet."

  Presently Tom straightened up.

  "That is all done," he announced, in a satisfied tone. "And done well inthe bargain. Now bring along your gas, and be careful how you pour itin. By good luck I've got a funnel that can be used. I'll hold it whileyou start things going, Jack. Easy now, no hurry; every drop is preciousremember!"

  The contents of the little pail was presently successfully transferredinto the reservoir which Tom had so adroitly mended after its roughtreatment at the hands of the Huns who worked the "Archies," oranti-aircraft guns.

  Tom gave a sigh of relief when that part of the proceeding was finished.He had entertained a little fear that Jack, in his haste to get thingsover with, might spill the precious fluid on which so much depended.

  Afterwards Tom examined for himself, and was satisfied.

  "Not a sign of a leak yet, and there isn't going to be either," he toldhis companion, not exultantly, but nevertheless with confidence that abelief in the staying qualities of his own work justified.

  "Now we can get going on the second part of our programme," Jackreturned, as he once more cast a steady look toward the height on whichthe chateau stood.

  "No need of staying here another minute, Jack. Nobody knows just what'sgoing on over there, or how long those visitors mean to stay."

  "All the same," the other air service boy mentioned, as if casually,"General von Berthold is giving his guests a regular jolly time of it.In these days of war I reckon the Huns are missing pretty much all theirfavorite drinks, and when they do strike a cellar full--and I guess theyhave it here--it's like drawing teeth to pry them loose. Listen, don'tyou hear them at it now?"

  Indeed, it would have been impossible for any one with ordinary hearing,when within half a mile of the chateau, not to have heard what Jackreferred to. Some one was singing at the top of his voice, and a heavyvoice he had in the bargain. He kept time with the rhythm of his song byrepeated poundings on a table with what might have been a stein.

  "Well, what nerve!" ejaculated Jack. "It's the _Watch on the Rhine_ he'strolling, as sure as you live!"

  "And with the whole bunch joining in the chorus in the bargain," addedTom, as the burst of singing suddenly grew stronger in volume. "Theyutterly refuse to believe they're whipped flat, even with the Americansready to step over into Germany and mop 'em up all the way to Berlin."

  "Huh!" snorted Jack disdainfully, "we'll soon be the ones keeping watchon the Rhine, see if we'll not. Only sillies with their witsflabbergasted by pride would shut their eyes to the handwriting on thewall. But I'm not sorry, for if they keep on enjoying themselves in thatway we'll find it an easy job to roam all over the old shack, lookingfor Helene."

  They were walking briskly along while exchanging these remarks inguarded tones. Greatly to their satisfaction they met no one while onthe road. They had both wondered whether General von Berthold did nothave a bodyguard camped somewhere near his headquarters, some of whomwere likely to be moving about; though, to be sure, the hour was latefor that sort of thing.

  When they arrived at the scene of their previous escapade it was to findthat one of the military chauffeurs had returned, and was even thentaking a look at the engine of his car, for he struck several matches,and was thrusting his head down close to the machinery.

  They halted to watch. A minute afterwards he tidied things up again, andJack, hearing his loud yawn, decided he could not have discovered thatsome one had been meddling with his petrol supply.

  Then the soldier vanished inside his big car, as though to find acomfortable seat, if his masters chose to linger an hour longer incelebrating with General von Berthold.

  Tom led the way around, now approaching the building from an angle wherethey would be screened from the observation of the driver, did he chanceto have his eyes open. They also took care to be ready to duck and lielow, in case the other chauffeur came from the back of the chateau.

  But nothing happened to endanger them, and presently they were seekinga means of entering the castle. This proved the easiest thing possible,for there were no locks or bars attached to the door they tried. Oncethis barrier had been passed, they found themselves in a great hall,just such as Jack had always believed, from his reading, must beconnected with every such old-time castle.

  A light burned low. It was in itself a quaint lamp, and at another timethe boys might have found themselves very much interested in it as arelic of times long since past.

  Of course there could be no system of modern lighting in use at such anisolated habitation. Besides, electricity would have seemed sadly out ofplace in connection with so much that belonged to bygone days.

  The tall lamp on the newel post at the foot of the broad stairway gaveenough light to show one where to walk; and just then the two prowlersasked for nothing more.

  Over to the right lay the wing that had not suffered from the work ofthe Hun despoiler. It was there the German general entertained hisassociates, discussing business until a late hour; and then givingthemselves up to a little social enjoyment, which evidently became sopleasant that it was hard to break away.

  The boys decided that since this
wing was the only decent part of thebuilding remaining, they were apt to find the object of their search inone of the many rooms it contained.

  Having no guide to assist them, they must make a thorough search,neglecting no possible room where the little girl might be sleeping.

  Of course their dodging about the corridors would be accompanied by moreor less danger of discovery. There must be attendants moving about, forthe Hun general would not inhabit this chateau unless he could havesubordinates at his beck and call.

  Once let any of these see strangers moving about with the air ofspies--well, Jack imagined it would be nip and tuck with them as towhether they would be shot down like rats, get away by a close shave, orfall into the hands of the Huns, which last, he felt, would be the veryworst fate that could befall them.

  "It's upstairs for us, Jack." And with these words Tom led the way,headed for the upper floors of the chateau, even as a door opened andthey heard a wild gust of uproarious chorus echo along the corridorleading to the dining hall in the right wing.