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

  CHAPTER VII.

  HAL MAKES AN ENEMY.

  Hal bent over his friend and shook him gently.

  "Chester! Chester!" he exclaimed anxiously. "Are you wounded?"

  There was no reply from the unconscious boy, and Hal became greatlyalarmed. He turned to the few troopers who remained.

  "Here, lend a hand some of you," he commanded. "One of you fetch somewater!"

  Two of the men bent over the unconscious lad and one raised his headgently to his knee. A third dashed for the river, and a moment laterreturned with his cap filled with water.

  Hal sprinkled a few drops of water on his friend's face, and soonnoticed signs of returning consciousness. Finally Chester opened hiseyes and smiled feebly.

  "Are you much hurt, old fellow?" asked Hal anxiously.

  "No," came the feeble response. "I don't think so. A bullet justgrazed my side. I don't know how I came to topple over like that."

  Quickly Hal unloosened his friend's coat, tore open his shirt andexamined his wound.

  "It's only a scratch," he said, straightening up at last. "Here,"pulling out his handkerchief, "I'll fix it up until we can have asurgeon look at it. You will be able to walk in a few minutes."

  "I'm able right now," said Chester, struggling to his feet.

  Leaning heavily on Hal's arm, Chester turned his eyes toward the riverbank, which now was lined with British troops, who were firingsteadily at forms disappearing on the opposite side of the stream. Theapproach of the English in force had caused the Germans to beat arapid retreat. From the opposite shore, however, still came puffs ofsmoke, and bullets continued to fall among the English troops, andhere and there men fell to the ground.

  "They arrived just in time, didn't they, Hal?" said Chester.

  "You bet they did," was the reply. "But come, we will try to make ourway back to our station."

  With Chester still leaning on his shoulder, Hal led the way, goingvery slowly because of his burden. Making his friend comfortable underan army wagon, Hal went at once to Gen. French to make his report.

  "You have done well," was the general's only comment when Hal hadconcluded his recital.

  Hal saluted and left.

  "Guess I'll go back and keep Chester company," he said to himself.

  He was walking slowly along with bowed head, musing, when he camesuddenly into contact with another figure. The man with whom he hadcollided mumbled an imprecation and violently pushed the lad away, atthe same time exclaiming:

  "What do you mean by bumping into me like that? Can't you see whereyou are going? I have a notion to teach you better manners."

  Hal's face flushed, and he turned a steady gaze on the other, whoproved to be a French lieutenant.

  "I wouldn't try it if I were you," the lad advised him.

  "What!" exclaimed the Frenchman. "You dare to talk to me like that?"

  "Of course I dare," was the lad's heated response.

  The Frenchman took a quick step forward and slapped Hal smartly acrossthe face.

  Hal promptly sent his right fist crashing into the other's face andknocked him down.

  The Frenchman rose slowly to his feet, and with blood streaming fromhis nose, approached Hal.

  "I am Lieutenant Dupree," he said. "My friend shall call on you thisevening."

  "I am Hal Paine, attached to the staff of General French," Hal saidcalmly, "and your friend may call any time he so desires."

  The Frenchman bowed stiffly, and continued on his way. Hal returned toChester.

  "Back so soon?" said Chester.

  "Yes," was Hal's reply; "and back with more trouble."

  "What's the matter?" demanded Chester in some consternation.

  "Well, I am afraid I have a duel on my hands."

  "A duel?"

  "Yes; on my way here I accidentally bumped into some fiery Frenchlieutenant. He slapped me across the face and I knocked him down. Hethen informed me his friend would call on me this evening. That soundslike a duel to me."

  "Yes," said Chester, "unless it can be patched up."

  "I am afraid it can't. You know these Frenchmen. As far as I amconcerned, there is nothing to fight about, but I am afraid theFrenchman feels he has a grievance. He'll probably demand a fight oran apology."

  "Well?"

  "I have nothing to apologize for; therefore I am afraid it means aduel."

  "Not if I can prevent it," exclaimed Chester, jumping to his feet.

  "But you can't," replied Hal grimly. "And you had better lie downagain. You are liable to strain your wound."

  "Oh, I am not worrying about the wound," exclaimed Chester. "Thedoctor said there was no danger. It's you I am worrying about. Why,you are likely to be killed."

  "Oh, I guess I can give a good account of myself," returned Hal. "I'vebeen pretty fortunate thus far. I don't figure I am going to fallbefore any Frenchman's sword or pistol. I'll probably be saved for aGerman bullet some of these days."

  Chester became silent. He knew that an argument was useless. Besides,he knew that in Hal's position his own actions would be the same.

  It was shortly after 6 o'clock that evening when two French officersmade their way to the quarters to which the boys had been assigned.

  "Choose swords," said Hal laconically, as Chester rose to greet thecallers.

  "Mr. Paine," queried one of the Frenchmen politely.

  "No," replied Chester; "but I shall act for him."

  "Good," returned the Frenchman. "I am Lieutenant Mercer, and this,"indicating his companion, "is Lieutenant Lamont."

  "I am Chester Crawford," said the lad briefly.

  "Then, to get down to business," said Lieutenant Mercer. "Mr. Painehas insulted my friend, Lieutenant Dupree. My friend demands anapology."

  "There'll be no apology," said Chester shortly.

  "Ah! In that case my friend, Lieutenant Dupree, demands satisfactionfrom Mr. Paine."

  "It seems to me he has had satisfaction," said Chester.

  "Ah!" replied the Frenchman cheerfully. "You no doubt refer to theblow passed by Mr. Paine? It is for that my friend demandssatisfaction."

  "He had that coming to him," declared Chester.

  "So you may believe. Lieutenant Dupree thinks otherwise. Now, as tothe arrangements----"

  "Look here," said Chester, interrupting. "With the whole German armylined up in front of us, it seems to me that our friend should be ableto find all the fighting he wants. This fighting among ourselves isall nonsense."

  "But my friend's honor----" began the Frenchman.

  "Bosh!" declared Chester. "It wasn't your friend's honor that washurt. It was his face."

  "Then am I to understand that your friend refuses to fight?"

  "No!" shouted Chester. "He doesn't refuse to fight. He just doesn'tsee the necessity of fighting. That's all. But if you insist, he willgive your friend all the satisfaction he wants."

  "I must insist," replied Lieutenant Mercer.

  "All right, then," said Chester. "I am not familiar with duelingetiquette, but as the challenged party I believe the choice ofweapons lies with us."

  The Frenchman bowed in assent.

  "Then let it be swords!"

  "Good! And the time and place?"

  "I'll leave that to you."

  "In the morning at half-past five--provided we are all alive--in thelittle woods half a mile in the rear. Are these convenient for you?"

  "Perfectly. We shall be there on time. Will you please bring weapons?"

  "I shall be delighted," replied the Frenchman. "Until the morning,then," and the two French officers bowed themselves out.

  "Well, you are into it now," said Chester to Hal, after their visitorshad gone. "Looks to me as though you had a fair chance of seeing theHappy Hunting Grounds before six o'clock to-morrow."

  Before Hal could reply another visitor poked his head through the doorof the tent.

  "Am I intruding?" he asked.

  "Lieutenant Anderson!" exclaimed Chester. "Just the man I wanted tose
e."

  "What's the matter now?" demanded the lieutenant.

  "Matter is that Hal's mixed up in a duel, to be pulled off in themorning."

  "What!" exclaimed Lieutenant Anderson in surprise.

  "Fact," said Hal. "I bumped into some little whipper-snapper of aFrench lieutenant a couple of hours ago. He slapped me and I knockedhim down. Now he demands satisfaction, and I am going to give it tohim in the morning, at half-past five."

  The lieutenant sat down heavily.

  "Well, you are the limit," he said. "You are always in a scrape ofsome kind. I suppose it's up to me to prevent the duel."

  "No chance," said Hal briefly.

  "No," agreed Chester, "and it's up to you to make the third party onour side. I suppose the other crowd will bring a surgeon."

  "Do you know what will happen if you are found out?" demanded thelieutenant.

  "No," said Hal.

  "Well, it probably will mean strict confinement, at least. Theregulations in regard to dueling are very stringent."

  "I can't help that," said Hal. "I can't back out now."

  "Well, if that's the way you feel about it," replied the lieutenant,"I'll help you as best I can. I'll stay here to-night and go along tosee that you get fair play."