Boy Allies on the Firing Line; Or, Twelve Days Battle Along the Marne Read online

  CHAPTER XI.

  CAPTURED.

  Caught thus unexpectedly Hal immediately threw his hands above hishead; Chester followed his example. It was plain to both lads thatthere was not a chance in a thousand to escape, for the German soldierhad his rifle pointed squarely at them.

  Of course there was a possibility that by a sudden spring one of thelads might have succeeded in knocking the man down; but this probablywould have meant the death of the other. Hal and Chester both realizedthat it was no time to take such a chance.

  "We surrender," called Hal in German, and immediately the soldierlowered his weapon and approached them.

  He passed his hands around their waists and then felt in the pocketsof their coats and relieved them of their weapons. Then he ordered:

  "Right about; forward, march!"

  The lads obeyed this command, and the German stalked after them,keeping his rifle in readiness for a quick shot should his prisonersattempt to escape.

  But the lads had no thought of taking to their heels, for they werefully aware that a bullet would stop one of them at least should theymake even one false move.

  They continued their walk, and presently came in view of what appearedto be a large German camp. Here their captor marched them directly tothe tent of the commanding officer.

  "What are you doing within our lines?" was the latter's first questionafter the soldier had related how he had made his capture.

  "Well," said Hal, "we were accidentally carried through your lines bya locomotive which we happened to be running when the rest of thetrain was blown up. We couldn't get back, so we went ahead. We finallylost the engine, so we were making our way back to our own lines."

  "Lost the engine? What do you mean?" asked the officer.

  "Why," Chester broke in, "we sent it over a precipice that it mightnot fall into the hands of the Germans."

  "You did, eh?" said the German officer. "Well, I shall attend to yourcase in the morning. Orderly! See that these prisoners are carefullyguarded, and have them brought to me the first thing in the morning.Perhaps they may be induced to give me the information I require."

  "You won't get any information out of us," said Chester angrily.

  "Won't I?" replied the officer, with a sneer. "We shall see. Take themaway."

  The two lads were led to a small field tent and thrust inside, with aguard on the outside.

  "Well, here we are again," said Chester, with a faint smile. "What doyou suppose will be done with us if we refuse to divulge what thegeneral wants to know?"

  "I'm sure I don't know," was Hal's reply, "but I am afraid we arein for it this time. I have never taken much stock in the tales Ihave heard of the barbarous treatment of the Germans toward theirprisoners, but one look at the general's face was enough to convinceme that he would stop at nothing to gain his end."

  "The same thought struck me, too," agreed Chester. "But, one thing iscertain, he'll get no information out of me."

  "Nor out of me, either," declared Hal.

  Chester rose and started to walk around the tent. In the darkness hestumbled over something and fell to the ground. Arising he reached inhis pocket and produced a match. A tiny flame lighted up the darkinterior of the tent, and the lad stepped back with an ejaculation.

  "Bicycles," he muttered.

  "What?" demanded Hal.

  "Bicycles. I wonder why they are here?"

  "Probably dumped in here by a couple of men who have returned from ascouting expedition," said Hal.

  "By George!" exclaimed Chester suddenly.

  "What is it now?" demanded Hal.

  Chester did not reply immediately. He appeared to be thinking deeply.

  "Have you a knife?" he asked at length.

  Hal produced one, and, taking it from his friend's hand, Chesterstepped to the back of the tent. Quickly he opened the blade, and madea neat incision in the canvas, finally cutting out a little square.Then he put his eye to the hole and peered out.

  There was no one in sight. The guard could be heard pacing to and froin front of the tent, but apparently there was no guard at the rear.

  Chester left his peep-hole and returned to Hal's side.

  "If we can get two of these bicycles out here," he whispered, "we maybe able to get away by a quick dash. Are you willing to take achance?"

  "Sure," agreed Hal. "Anything is better than sitting here and waitingfor I know not what. But do you think we can make it?"

  "Well, we can at least try. There doesn't seem to be a guard in therear. I am going to cut a big slit in the back. Then we'll slip thebicycles through it, mount and make a dash."

  "Good!" said Hal.

  Quietly Chester slit the canvas in the rear of the tent, making a holelarge enough for a man to step through. Quietly the boys each selecteda bicycle and pushed it cautiously through the opening.

  Once on the outside they drew a breath of relief.

  "We'll have to depend on our luck now," whispered Chester. "Come on!"

  The lads leaped into the saddles, and a moment later were speedingthrough the heart of the German camp.

  In the very boldness of their scheme lay a certain degree of safety,for the sentinels on guard certainly did not look for two youths ofthe allied armies to be riding through their midst.

  They were not even challenged as they sped through the camp, turningthis way and that, and they had passed beyond the last row of tentsbefore a hubbub from the rear told them that their flight had beendiscovered.

  "We must be careful," cried Hal, as he rode his wheel close besideChester. "There is still the outpost to pass."

  But they did not diminish their speed. Rather, if anything, theypedaled faster; and then the outpost came into sight--a long line ofmen, almost in front of them. Some were pacing to and fro, whileothers sat upon the ground.

  The riders were upon them before they knew it, and two flying bicyclessped between the German troopers. A cry of "halt!" went unheeded, andthe Germans, quickly bringing their rifles to their shoulders, sent avolley after the lads.

  But neither was hit. In the darkness the Germans were unable to aimcarefully. The boys heard the hum of bullets around them, but they didnot falter. There was no second volley, for the lads had disappearedin the darkness, and the Germans were not minded to spend theirammunition foolishly.

  The first streak of dawn appeared in the sky, and still the boys rodeon swiftly. But at length Hal slowed down and Chester followed suit.

  "I'm tired out," said Hal, as he jumped from his bicycle.

  "And so am I," replied Chester, as he, too, jumped to the ground tostretch his legs.

  Suddenly from the distance in which they had come came a faint"chug-chug."

  Chester pricked up his ears.

  "What's that?" he demanded anxiously.

  For a brief moment Hal paused to listen. The sound became louder. Halsprang toward his bicycle.

  "Come on!" he cried, and leaped into the saddle. "Motorcycles! We arepursued!"

  Chester was hardly a second behind him, and the two lads were againriding madly along the road. Fortunately there were many curves in thehighway, and this fact prevented their pursuers from sighting themfrom any great distance.

  Hal suddenly brought his bicycle to an abrupt stop and jumped to theground. Although not knowing what plan Hal had in his mind, Chesterimmediately did likewise.

  The spot where they had alighted was in the midst of a clump of trees,and quickly the lads drew their bicycles in among them, hiding themfrom sight of the road. Then Hal turned, and, with Chester closebehind him, dashed back in the direction from which they had come,taking care to keep well within the shelter of the trees.

  And now Chester made out the object of his friend's wild dash. It wasa farmhouse, setting well back from the road. Chester had not detectedit as they sped by, but Hal's keen eyes had singled it out as apossible refuge.

  "We'll have to take a chance of the occupants being friendly," Haltold his friend, as they ran toward the house. "If th
ey will allow usto hide here until night, we may be able to get back to our linessafely."

  The boys ran around the house, and Hal rapped sharply upon the reardoor. A moment later and a kindly-faced woman appeared in the doorway.She started back at the appearance of the two lads.

  "Are the English coming?" she demanded, after a quick glance at thelads' uniforms, and then she clasped her hands and exclaimed: "Atlast! At last!"

  "No, madam," Hal undeceived her, "the English are not coming--yet. Weare trying to make our way back to our lines, but a German motorcyclesquad is after us. We have come here to see if you will hide us untilnightfall."

  The woman was silent for one moment. Then she stepped aside andmotioned them into the house.

  "Come," she said quietly. "The Germans will not learn you are herethrough me."

  The lads stepped inside the door, and not a moment too soon. For atthat very instant a band of a dozen Germans flashed by on the road,their motorcycles kicking up a cloud of dust.