“No guns!” ordered the Lieutenant. “Too much noise. Use your knives.”
Eyes wide open with fear, the children started to back away slowly as two of the soldiers approached with knives drawn.
James found his voice first. “Quick, back to the mines! Fast as you can!”
The children turned quickly and dashed down the road.
“Lieutenant, let me shoot!” demanded Hassler.
“No, Hassler! No one must know we’re here. Deal with them silently.”
“After them, men,” screamed the Sergeant, gesturing wildly for the others to follow. Tossing aside their heavy bags, Hassler and three others began to run after the children, the Lieutenant following.
Running for their lives, the children quickly separated themselves from the soldiers. But two of the soldiers sped ahead of the others and started to close the gap.
“The Nazis! They’ll catch us!” screamed Susie.
“No! Take the short-cut through the woods. Maybe they won’t follow,” said James, panting rapidly. The children immediately veered onto a narrow path through the woods.
Seconds later, three of the soldiers followed, slashing at the underbrush with their knives.
“Nazis? Could they really be Nazis?” panted Jeremy as the children moved swiftly down the narrow path.
“What else could they be? Two of them had submachine guns. I don’t think angry farmers carry those,” said Charlie, gasping for breaths of air between the words.
“Don’t talk, just run!” demanded James. “We’ll be safe if we can get to the mines. They’ll never follow us into the mines!”
Chapter 15: Run for Your Lives!
Sam kicked at the rock in front of him. “This is getting boring,” he grumbled.
“What’re you talkin’ about?” said Alfred. “If we go a little farther down this tunnel, we’ll be almost to the end. We’ve never gone this far.”
“Yeah, but we’re just gonna to see the same stuff we’ve seen in the other tunnels,” said Sam, shaking his head.
“Well, what do you expect to see, Sam? Do you think you’re gonna to run into King Arthur’s treasure just sittin’ out somewhere for the taking.”
“I never said that, Alfred,” said Sam. “You know I don’t believe in that stuff. Besides…”
At that instant, shouts were heard from the entrance to the mine.
“What the…” began Sam.
“It’s the boys!” said Alfred. “They’ve come back! Maybe they decided to ditch Susie and come back.”
“Yeah, maybe,” said Sam. “Let’s go see.”
The boys charged back up the tunnel. Within a couple of minutes, James, Susie, Jeremy and Charlie met them coming the other way.
“You’re back!” said Alfred joyfully. “You decided to come back!”
Breathless, James stopped and put his hand on Alfred’s shoulder, gasping for air. “No, Alfred…we’re running…from the Nazis…they followed us here.”
“Right,” said Sam, a smile creeping across his face. “A good story, but I don’t think your aunt is gonna believe it.”
“It’s true!” exclaimed Charlie. “They’re right behind us. We’ve got to hide! Now!”
Sam looked at the four of them, wiping the sweat from their faces, Susie trying to stop from crying. “This is crazy. There are no Nazis in St. Bees and…” he began.
“It’s not crazy. They’ll be here in seconds. They’ve got guns…and knives,” said Jeremy, pushing on Alfred’s shoulder to get him moving down the passageway.
“I don’t know what this is all about,” said Alfred, grabbing his brother by the arm, “but they’re runnin’ from something. Let’s get out of here!” Alfred took a few quick steps down the tunnel and then began to sprint. “This way,” he shouted. “We’ll take the left tunnel. It looks like nobody ever goes that way. But be quiet! If they don’t know which tunnel we took, maybe we can lose them.”
The six children began to move quickly but as silently as possible through the main mine shaft. Within minutes, they had arrived at the crossroads between the new tunnels. They paused for a moment.
“Hear anything?” said Alfred in a loud whisper.
“No,” said James. “But I’m sure they’re coming. I think they saw us go into the mine. They’ll follow us.”
“Well, they haven’t …” began Sam. Just then the children heard shouts in the distance.
“They’re after us all right!” said James. “We have to move faster.”
Now the six children ran furiously through the shaft, barely pausing at the junction between the two tunnels to turn to the left.
“Over here,” demanded Alfred, as he turned into a small chamber on their right, partially hidden by fallen dirt and rocks. “This chamber is abandoned. It looks like they gave up on digging here. Now listen for a minute. There’s no way to get out of here but we might be able to barricade ourselves into this chamber. Hurry, pile up the rocks and then crouch down and hide. With any luck they’ll just run right by us without noticing a thing.”
The children acted quickly. Within a couple of minutes, loose rocks and dirt had been piled up in the entrance to the chamber to a height of almost five feet. The six of them crouched down behind the barricade and huddled, waiting to hear the sounds of their pursuers.
Minutes passed. No sounds were heard.
“They probably went down the wrong tunnel,” said Alfred quietly.
“Yeah,” said Charlie. “I’m glad you picked this one.”
Susie shuddered. “But if they can’t find us down the tunnel on the right, won’t they just backtrack and come down this tunnel?”
“Look,” said Charlie, forcing his voice to sound cheerful. “Maybe they’re not even looking for us. Maybe they’re looking for King Arthur’s treasure, you know—the one James’ uncle is always talking about.”
Sam groaned. “Please! Not the treasure again!”
James frowned. “They’re not looking for any treasure. They’re looking for us.”
“Well, maybe we can find the treasure,” said Charlie, his eyes brightening.
“The treasure wouldn’t do us any good if we’re dead,” said James. “We’d need Arthur himself and some of his knights to get out of this one.”
Susie spoke quietly. “In England’s hour of greatest need.”
“What are you talking about, Susie?” asked Jeremy.
“In England’s hour of greatest need,” replied Susie. “That’s when Arthur will return. That’s what the stories say. That’s what uncle says.”
“So?” said Charlie, slightly annoyed. “They’re just stories. We’re in real danger here.”
“But this is it!” protested Susie. “This is England’s hour of greatest need—the Nazis are trying to invade England. Maybe Arthur will come to help England…and to help us.”
Chapter 16: The King Returns
He found himself lying down on a cold, flat surface. He opened his eyes slowly and could catch only a glimmer of light, apparently coming from the corner of the large, dusty chamber where he lay.
He was conscious of his own breathing, the musty air moving in and out of his lungs. It seemed to make more sound that he remembered. But he was hungry for sound. He squinted…trying to focus his thoughts. He raised his head slightly to look around the cave-like room, which now seemed to be getting a little lighter. It did not look familiar, but he knew where he was.
Slowly, he raised himself up and swung his legs over the side of the stone table on which he lay. He felt his feet touch the floor. He wobbled slightly, his knees bending, and then stood up straight, his chain mail rattling into position. Arthur of Camelot reached over to a nearby table, seized his sword and strapped it on firmly.
Two other men lying on stone tables next to Arthur’s began to stir. Groggily, the taller of the two swung his legs over the side of the table and found his feet. He looked at Arthur.
“Arthur?” he said softly.
“Yes, Lanc
elot,” replied Arthur. “I’m here. Gawain is here as well.”
Lancelot shook his head gently. “I never believed it, Arthur. I never really believed we would come back.”
“It is never wise to underestimate Merlin,” said Arthur, a light smile crossing his lips.
“But why? Why now?” asked Lancelot.
“In the hour of England’s greatest peril,” said Arthur simply. “I know not what awaits us outside these chambers, but I know that some Englishmen need our help. Right now…at this very moment.”
Sir Gawain soon rose to his feet as well. After a few minutes of muddled confusion, he saluted King Arthur and Sir Lancelot and took council with them. Then the three knights rose and took up their shields.
Chapter 17: The Nazis Strike
Slowly but surely, the sounds of the German soldiers grew louder and louder.
“Listen,” whispered Charlie. “They’re coming closer. And if they find us, it won’t take them long to get through those rocks we piled up. Anybody got any ideas?”
“We can’t fight them,” said Jeremy.
“And we can’t run from them,” said Alfred firmly.
“Maybe we can get through the back wall of the chamber somehow,” Susie said, panic rising in her voice.
“We can’t get through that wall, Susie. The tunnel ends here. It’s a solid wall of rock,” said James. “That’s why the miners stopped digging here.”
“It doesn’t look so solid to me,” said Susie, kicking violently at the wall, managing only to raise a little dust. “Maybe there’s a secret passage.”
“Susie,” said James sadly, “There’s no…”
Suddenly the voices were upon them. The soldiers were clawing at the rocks that blocked the entrance to their chamber.
“Get out of there!” barked one of the Germans. “Schnell! Quickly!”
The children backed away from the soldiers.
“Maybe we should surrender…” began Jeremy.
“They’re not going to let us go, Jeremy,” interrupted Charlie. “They’re going to kill us.”
Susie turned again toward the back wall of the chamber and kicked harder at the rocks. “James!” she demanded. “Help me dig!”
Suddenly she stopped. “There’s something behind this wall,” Susie said eagerly. “I hear it! Quick! Help me dig through the wall!”
But before James could raise his foot, the entire wall of rock and dirt burst into fragments…dust was everywhere. James could hear the angry voices of the soldiers, finally bursting through the barricade of rocks that had blocked them. But then…silence. Just as the soldiers started to rush into the chamber, they stopped abruptly. In front of them, stepping through the dust and debris that had replaced the back wall of the chamber, were three knights, their armor dusty but still gleaming in the dim light.
“Come men, we are called forth,” said Arthur calmly.
And the three knights drew their swords.
“What kind of devilry is this?” demanded Lieutenant Schneider.
“My God, sir!” said Hassler, blinking his eyes in disbelief, “What do we do now?”
Schneider sneered. “We kill them.”
Two of the soldiers stepped forward cautiously, their knives held loosely in their hands. Arthur stepped in front of Susie, gently pushing her to the side of the chamber. James quickly went to her side, while the other four boys pressed themselves against the far side of the tunnel.
As the soldiers advanced, Arthur smiled. As the first soldier lunged forward, Arthur easily parried his knife thrust. Lancelot then grabbed the man’s shoulder and tossed him forcefully against the wall, collapsing him into an unconscious heap.
The other soldier continued to advance, flashing his knife in the air. Gawain stepped forward, and with a flick of his wrist stabbed the soldier in his hand with his great sword. The man screamed and fell backwards.
Lieutenant Schneider glared into Hassler’s eyes. “End this now,” he demanded. Sergeant Hassler drew his pistol and took careful aim at Gawain. Just then, Arthur strode forward, and as the gun muzzle flashed, he quickly moved the blade of his sword in front of Gawain’s face. The bullet ricocheted harmlessly away.
Schneider bellowed as if in pain. He turned and yelled for the remaining soldier. “Kline, come quickly…bring the machine gun!”
But Sergeant Hassler, his eyes wide with amazement, began to back away from the three knights. “My God, Schneider,” he said in a trembling voice, “it won’t do any good. Don’t you see that they’re not human?”
Susie broke free from her brother’s grasp and ran to Arthur’s side. “You’ve come,” she cried, “in England’s hour of greatest need!”
Arthur looked down to her and smiled gently. “No child, in the hour of your greatest need. No land can conquer England.”
Hassler’s eyes darted back and forth. Suddenly, he turned and ran up the tunnel. Schneider, his face twisted with anger and hatred, turned to follow him. “Kline! Kline!” he, roared. “Bring the machine gun!” The two other soldiers struggled to their feet and hurried after Schneider.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Sam screamed joyously. “Let’s go after them!”
James and Jeremy hesitated, but Sam, Alfred, Charlie, and even Susie dashed through the chamber opening in pursuit. The three knights followed with James and Jeremy bringing up the rear.
As Hassler, Schneider and the three other soldiers fled toward the mine entrance, Kline dashed down through the tunnel, cradling his machine gun. But, turning a corner quickly, all five collided, sending each sprawling to the ground. Within seconds the children flocked around them. Seizing his chance, Schneider quickly picked up the machine gun and began to take aim at the children. But Lancelot appeared silently behind him and put the edge of his sword to Schneider’s throat. Schneider slowly dropped the machine gun and Alfred quickly claimed it. “I’ve always wanted to try one of these,” he said eagerly.
“And I’ve got some rope that should come in handy right about now,” said Sam cheerfully, as he began to tie the hands and legs of the five prisoners.
Chapter 18: The Day Saved
Seconds later, voices were heard from the mine’s entrance.
“Hullo! Anyone in there?” yelled the lowest voice.
“We’re here! We’re here!” shouted Susie gleefully, heading full speed toward the entrance.
“Wait, Susie,” demanded James. “You don’t know who…”
Susie yelled over her shoulder. “Of course I do! It’s Chief Constable Wilson!”
And it was the Chief Constable, with two other officers by his side. “So your Aunt Charlotte was right!” said the Chief Constable to Susie, meeting her a few feet inside the mine tunnel. “She said we might find you here.”
“Chief Constable,” cried Susie, almost jumping with excitement. “You must help us! We’ve captured five Nazis! They’re all tied up! Come and see!”
“Five, you say?” said the Chief Constable, laughing heartily. “Only five? Your aunt said you children were an ambitious lot. I’d have figured you would have captured the whole German army by now.”
“No, really,” demanded Susie. “Come and see. The knights helped us. King Arthur and his knights.”
“Ah, the King helped you, did he?” said the Chief Constable. “And I suppose you found Arthur’s treasure as well.”
“No, there’s no treasure, that’s silly,” said Susan, starting to tug on the Chief Constable’s sleeve. “But the King is real. He helped us. So did Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain.”
“I see,” said the Chief Constable. “You’ve captured five Nazis with the help of King Arthur and his knights. Maybe we’d better take a look.”
And they did. The police were shocked to find the five Nazis tied together about fifty feet from the mine entrance. The police quickly called for help and within the hour the five soldiers, all still in a confused state, were in the custody of the British Home Guard.
***
D
espite a thorough investigation by the local police and military authorities, no one could ever really understand exactly what had happened that day. They couldn’t really believe the children’s stories. Besides, they all seemed to be different. Susie told her version of what happened confidently, the same way every time, about how the three knights had helped the children capture the Nazis. But the five boys would sometimes hesitate and never seemed to come up with exactly the same story. When Sam and Alfred told their stories about what happened, they sometimes mentioned the knights but usually gave themselves most of the credit for capturing the five German soldiers. James said as little as possible. He couldn’t deny that three knights had helped to catch the soldiers, but he seemed confused about how exactly they had appeared on the scene in the first place. And if the story of the knights was true, no one could ever quite explain why it was that the Chief Constable had never seen them or, for that matter, why they had never again been seen in St. Bees, despite an exhaustive search of the mines.
There was also a bit of a puzzle as to why no one had ever discovered that mysterious chamber before, or why it contained three ancient stone tables and—strangely enough—the hilt of an old broadsword that the local historians thought might be at least 800 years old.
But despite these mysteries, and the incredible achievement of capturing the five German soldiers, not everyone was completely pleased with the children’s adventure in the mines that day. James’ and Susie’s mother and father quickly made them both promise that they would never again do anything as dangerous as exploring the old mines. Lieutenant Waterford did also mention the fact that he and Major Morris were very grateful to James, Susie and the other boys for foiling what surely had been a plot by the Nazis to destroy the new radar installation lying on the outskirts of St. Bees. Clearly, the German raiding party, deposited by the U-boat on the wrong stretch of beach, had become disoriented and accidentally stumbled upon the road by which the children were returning home. But if the German soldiers hadn’t pursued the children and ended up being captured themselves, they might have succeeded in their mission to destroy the new installation and many British lives might have been lost.
But there was other good news as well. A day after their adventure in the mine, Jeremy found out that his father had returned to his duties as a RAF pilot and no charges would be brought against him. All in all, the six children were quite pleased with the way their “mission” had turned out and quite pleased with themselves.
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