Book: The Boy Allies in Great Peril

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"And what are you going to do about it?"

"That's what I have been trying to figure out."

"Well, I guess they won't hurt Chester any," said Stubbs.

"That's where you are wrong," declared Hal, getting to his feet. "They'll
just about stand him up and shoot him as a spy."

Stubbs became more serious at once; for before he had not realized that
Chester was in any immediate danger.

"As serious as all that?" he questioned. "Tell me about it. What have you
fellows been up to?"

Rapidly Hal laid the facts before him.

"H-m-m," muttered Stubbs, when the lad concluded. "Chester certainly has
got himself into a mess. And Anderson is with him, eh? Well, we will have
to do something--and that at once."

"Yes; but what?" demanded Hal anxiously.

"Well, now, that's the question, but you'll have to give me time. I'll
find a way. A newspaper man always finds a way."

Hal felt a little relieved. He couldn't see that there was the slightest
chance to be of assistance to his chum, but the little war
correspondent's words cheered him.

"Yep, you'll have to give me a little time," said Stubbs. "Now you wait
here until I come back, and if I don't come back with a first class plan
I hope to never write another story for the _Gazette_."

He walked rapidly away, leaving Hal alone with his thoughts. Fifteen
minutes later the little man returned.

"All right," he said. "Let's go."

"Go?" exclaimed Hal. "Go where?"

"Why, go and get Chester and Anderson out of the hole. Are you ready?"

"Oh, I'm ready enough," replied Hal, as he fell in step and hurried along
beside Stubbs, "but tell me--"

"Now hold on there," interrupted Stubbs. "I'll tell you, but I am a-going
to do it in my own way. Don't hurry me."

Hal made no reply, and after a few moments the war correspondent
continued:

"Yep, we'll get 'em all right--that is, if the Austrians don't beat us to
it. Sure we'll get 'em."

He grew silent again, and although Hal could hardly restrain his
impatience, he pressed his lips close together and said nothing. Stubbs
gazed at him and smiled.

"You'll do," he said. "Now that you have managed to get a tight rein on
your impatience I'll tell you. In the first place, we'll have to hurry;
but first we'll turn in here a minute."

He turned abruptly to the right, and a moment later led the way into his
own temporary quarters.

"My diggings, as the British say," he declared with a wave of his hands.
"I'll have you fixed up in a minute."

"Fixed up?" questioned Hal.

"Sure. You didn't expect to go back to the Austrian side looking like
that, did you? They'd nab you in a minute."

He rummaged among some things in a corner, and directly produced an extra
suit of clothes.

"Climb into these," he ordered.

Hal did as commanded and awaited further instructions.

Stubbs opened a little box, which gave forth a peculiar smell and had a
queer blackish appearance. Stubbs dipped his fingers in the box, and then
passed them over Hal's face.

"Lucky I had a little experience in the art of stagecraft," he remarked
as he continued the operation.

He stepped back and surveyed Hal critically.

"There," he exclaimed. "Your own mother wouldn't know you. You look all
of ten years older. Got your guns?"

Hal picked them up from where he had thrown them when he had
changed clothes.

"All ready," he said quietly.

"Wait till I fix myself up a little," said Stubbs. "You must remember I
was within the Austrian lines not so long ago myself. They may be looking
for me, too."

He again delved into the little box, and Hal, as he watched, was
surprised at the change in the appearance of the man. He, too, seemed to
have aged greatly, and he bore slight resemblance to the old Stubbs.

"All ready to move now," he said at last.

He led the way from his quarters, and perhaps a hundred yards away,
indicated a pair of horses.

"Ours--for the journey," he said.

A moment later both were in the saddle and were riding toward the front.

"Now," said Stubbs, "I'll resume my little talk."

"One minute," broke in Hal. "How do you figure we are going to be
allowed the freedom of the Austrian camp? What'll they do with us when
we get there?"

"True," said Stubbs. He reached in his pocket and produced two papers,
one of which he passed to Hal. "This may help a little," he explained.

Hal looked at the paper. He found it was made out in the name of John
Lawrence and that it purported to be an identification of John Lawrence
as an accredited correspondent of the New York _Gazette_.

"I've got two or three more back there," said Stubbs, waving an arm in
the general direction of his quarters. "They have often come in handy."

"I see," said Hal. "Then these papers are what you are figuring on to
gain us the freedom of the Austrian lines."

"Freedom to a certain extent, yes," replied Stubbs. "Now for the other
part of my plan. To be perfectly frank, you know just as much about it as
I do. I have no plan beside getting in the Austrian lines. Events must
shape themselves after that."

"But do you suppose these papers will satisfy the Austrian commander?"

"They will after I have talked to him for five minutes."

"I hope so," said Hal.

They had now passed the Italian outposts, unmolested, and rode across the
open toward the Austrian lines. Some time later they were halted by an
Austrian sentinel.

"Take us to the general," commanded Stubbs.

The sentinel eyed the little man aggressively, but, evidently being
impressed with his manner, called a superior. To him Stubbs gave the same
command, and he gave it in such a way that the officer, after a slight
hesitation, turned on his heel and motioned Hal and Stubbs to follow him.

Five minutes later they stood again in the presence of General Brentz.
Stubbs produced his paper and Hal did likewise. The general scanned
them closely.

"How do I know you are what you represent yourselves to be?" he
demanded gruffly.

"For one reason, general," said Stubbs, "because we wouldn't be here
otherwise. Of course we don't expect the freedom of your lines, but we
would like to know a little about the Austrian troops--whether they can
fight, how they stand up under fire--what kind of men they are. The
people of America want to know, and that's what we are here for."

The general hesitated.

"I've had some trouble with spies here lately," he said at length, "and I
have become wary." He scrutinized them closely. "But you look honest.
I'll take a chance on you. Besides, it would be well for the people of
America to know something of the Austrians besides what they read from an
enemy source."

"Thank you, general," said Stubbs, "and you will provide us with papers
so that we will not be molested?"

"Yes, I'll do that."

The general scribbled a few lines on two sheets of paper, which he passed
to Stubbs. The latter gave one to Hal, and turned to go, Hal following
him. At the entrance Stubbs turned quickly.

"Oh, by the way, general, about these spies--are they Italians?"

"No, they are British," was the reply.

"And there is no doubt they are spies?"

"None; they aided a prisoner to escape and were only captured after great
trouble. There were two more whom we did not get."

"Oh! In that case, I suppose you will have to shoot them," Stubbs stated
as a matter of fact.

"Exactly. They will be executed at sunrise to-morrow."

"In the meantime they are likely to escape again," said Stubbs.

"Not much," declared the general. He walked to the window, and pointed to
a large tent a short distance away.

"See that tent?" he questioned.

Hal and Stubbs indicated that they did.

"They are confined in there," said the general, "and they are heavily
guarded. I have stationed a guard of five armed men, with instructions
never to leave them alone. I shall take no chances; and in the morning
they shall be shot. This is no place for spies."

"I can see that, general," replied Stubbs. "Well, we are obliged to you
for your courtesy, and we shall make it clear to the American people that
the Austrians are not as black as they have been painted."

The general bowed courteously, and Hal and Stubbs left his quarters.

"You see," said Stubbs when they were outside, "it wasn't such a hard
matter after all."

"And to think," said Hal, "that, in view of his recent experiences, he
was so unwary as to betray where Chester and Colonel Anderson are
confined."

"Which was lucky for us," declared Stubbs. "It will save us a lot of
worry and search."

"Now what?" demanded Hal.

"Well," was the reply, "I should say that there is nothing that can be
done before dark. However, we might as well take a look at the prison
tent from the outside. It is always well to know the lay of the land."

Accordingly they turned their footsteps in that direction, and walked by
the tent slowly. And from the inside they heard the sound of Chester's
laugh, as he talked to Colonel Anderson.

"He's not worrying any, that boy," said Stubbs with a smile. "We'll get
them out safely."

All the afternoon the two prowled about the camp; and at last darkness
fell. It was time to get busy, for whatever was done must be accomplished
before the break of day, when a firing squad would snuff out the lives of
the two prisoners.

"Well, here we go," said Stubbs.

He led the way slowly toward the prison tent.




CHAPTER XXIX.

SENTENCED TO DIE.


Chester's and Lieutenant Anderson's interview with General Brentz was far
from being the pleasant few minutes that Hal and Stubbs had experienced.
Hal now considered the general a pleasant middle-aged man and a courteous
gentleman; Chester looked upon him almost as a barbarian.

General Brentz was striding wrathfully up and down his quarters when
Chester and Colonel Anderson were taken before him. He greeted their
arrival with a fierce scowl and motioned the guards outside the door with
an angry gesture.

"So!" he exclaimed. "You are British spies instead of German secret
agents, eh? Well, we know how to treat all such here. What have you to
say for yourselves?"

"Nothing," said Colonel Anderson, replying for both.

"'Twould do you no good," responded the officer. "But there is one thing
I would know. How does it come that you are familiar with the password of
the Wilhelmstrasse?"

"I can't see where it would do any good to tell you, general,"
replied Chester.

"But I demand to know."

"You'll never learn from me," declared the lad.

Colonel Anderson smiled.

"That goes for me, too," he said quietly.

The general glared wrathfully at first one and then the other.

"Very well," he said, controlling his anger. "You shall both be shot
at sunrise."

He gazed at the two closely to see what effect his words had; but if he
expected to find an expression of fear upon either face, he was
disappointed. Colonel Anderson and Chester eyed him steadily, though
neither spoke.

It was what they had expected.

After a few moments the general spoke again, this time more kindly, with
his eyes full upon Chester.

"You," he said, "appear to be too young for this sort of business. How do
you happen to be mixed up in such desperate work?"

"It's too long a story to go into, general," replied Chester quietly.
"Besides, as we have not much longer to live, Colonel Anderson and I
would rather be left to ourselves."

The general seemed about to make an angry reply; then changed his mind,
and asked:

"Are you English?"

"No, I am not," replied Chester. "I am an American."

"I thought so," declared the general. "Well, it's too bad, but if you
will mix up in business that does not concern you, you must pay the
penalty. Orderly!"

His orderly entered and came to attention.

"Have these prisoners closely confined," was the command. "Station a
detail of five men and see that they are not unguarded a single moment.
Then present my compliments to Colonel Frestung and tell him to have a
firing squad ready at sunrise. These men are spies and must die."

Again the orderly saluted and motioned the prisoners to precede him from
the general's quarters.

With heads erect and shoulders squared, Chester and Colonel Anderson
marched out ahead of him. Each realized the futility of a break for
liberty and each was determined to live his last moments and die the
death of a soldier.

Outside a squad of soldiers surrounded them and they were led to a large
tent, which was to be their last prison. Inside they found comfortable
chairs, a table and several books.

"They seem to take pains to make it pleasant for a man about to die,"
remarked Colonel Anderson. "We should be able to spend a profitable day."

"So we should," was the reply. "I wonder if Hal and Uncle John got
through safely?" he remarked somewhat irrelevantly.

"I guess we can bank on that," said the colonel. "They got through if
there was a possible chance."

"I hope that Hal does not venture into the Austrian lines in an attempt
to rescue us," declared Chester. "It would be sticking his head into the
lion's mouth."

"Nevertheless, that is what he is likely to do," asserted Colonel
Anderson. "It is not like him to keep quiet when some one is in danger."

"That's what worries me," confessed Chester. "There is no use of his
being killed, too."

"Oh, well," said the colonel, "whatever happens is beyond our power to
remedy. Let's talk about something pleasant."

And so they did, whiling away the rapidly flying hours with stories and
reminiscences; and the shadows deepened as darkness approached.

"It seems to me that we could get out of this place some way," declared
Chester suddenly.

"It seems to me that you are wrong," said, the colonel grimly. "There are
five guards outside, each armed to the teeth. What chance would we have?"

"Well, I don't know," confessed Chester. "I was just thinking."

"Think while you have a chance," said the colonel with a slight grin.
"Looks like our thinking days were about over."

Chester's eyes roamed about the tent. His eyes sparkled.

"We might as well have a little fun, anyhow," he remarked. "How hard do
you think you could hit a man with that chair you are sitting on?"

Colonel Anderson felt the chair carefully with his fingers.

"Well, pretty hard, I guess," was his reply. "What's the idea?"

"Think you could hit him so hard he wouldn't have time to cry out?"

"Yes; if I was particular how I handled it."

"Well, we'll have a try at it then," declared Chester.

"Try at what? What do you mean?"

"I'll tell you. I'll step out of the tent. The first guard in sight will
order me to get back inside. I'll protest. Then he'll put me in. When he
lets loose of me, you whack him over the head with that chair, and be
careful how you do it."

"Yes, but the other guards?"

"I guess we can work that all right. I have noticed that no two of the
guards are in front of the tent at the same time--they are walking around
all the time. When you have disposed of the first man, we'll work the
same trick on the other."

"And then what?"

"Why then," said Chester simply, "we'll put on their uniforms and walk
out of here."

"By Jove!" ejaculated the colonel. "Now I wonder--"

He broke off and for some moments was lost in thought. Then he got
quietly to his feet, determination written upon his strong features.

"It may work," he said. "We'll try it. But we'll have to move quickly and
silently; and we shall have to don the uniforms almost in a single jump."

"All right," said Chester. "Ready?"

"All ready," replied the colonel with a nod.

He picked up the heavy chair and swung it once about his head. Then
he took up a position at the side of the tent, just out of view from
the entrance.

Chester walked boldly from the tent.

"Get back in there," came a harsh command in Austrian.

Chester paid no heed and continued to gaze straight ahead into the
rapidly descending darkness.

"Get back in there," came the command, and still Chester made no move.

The Austrian soldier came up to the lad, and taking him by the shoulders,
thrust him within the tent. Chester threw out an arm and succeeded in
drawing the man in after him. Then he released his own hold, and with an
effort shook off the grip of his captor. At the same moment he jumped
lightly aside and called in a hoarse whisper:

"Now!"

There was a rush of air as the heavy chair descended, followed by a dull
thud, and a second impact as the soldier fell to the ground with a
crushed skull. Colonel Anderson was over the unconscious form in a
moment, ready to choke an outcry should his blow not have been true. But
there was no need for this. His aim had been true, and the man was
unconscious before he fell.

"All right," whispered the colonel hoarsely. "Rip off your clothes while
I get him out of this uniform."

Chester flung off his clothes hurriedly, and stepped quickly into the
uniform Colonel Anderson gave him. Then he deprived the man of his gun
and revolvers.

"All ready for the next one," he said. He moved toward the door.

"Hold on there," called the colonel. "You can't go in that uniform."

"By George! you're right," declared Chester. "What now?"

"You'll have to wield the chair," was the reply. "There is no time to
change again."

He walked out of the tent and Chester picked up the chair and stepped
into position.

This time, therefore, it was Colonel Anderson who engaged in a heated
altercation with a second Austrian soldier. The plan worked as well as
before and the man pushed the colonel back into the tent. The latter
dragged the man in after him and stepped hurriedly aside, just as Chester
brought the chair down upon the Austrian's defenseless head with all his
power. The man dropped like a log.

Hurriedly Colonel Anderson stripped off his outer garments and climbed
into the Austrian's uniform. Then he seized the man's gun and revolvers
and led the way from the tent.

"If you see another of them, keep your back toward him if possible,"
whispered the colonel.

And just as Chester emerged from the tent a third guard stepped around
the side. Chester turned his back, as did Colonel Anderson, and the man
paid no heed to them. The fugitives walked away quickly.

Out of sight of the tent they slowed down and breathed with relief.

"Which way now?" asked Chester.

"As straight toward the front as we can go," was the reply. "We'll have
to trust to luck to get through."

They made off with all speed.

And suddenly, from the direction in which they had come, there came a
loud cry, followed by several pistol shots and the sound of footsteps
running after them.

"They have discovered our escape!" shouted Colonel Anderson. "Run."

He suited the action to the word and Chester ran after him.

"We'd better double back and try to throw them off our track," called the
colonel over his shoulder.

He swerved to the right, ran a few rods, and turned to the right again.

And then, abruptly, he came to a pause. Chester, a step behind, crashed
into him. He stumbled, and uttered an exclamation of dismay, as he heard
Colonel Anderson say:

"We surrender!"




CHAPTER XXX.

SAFE.


As Hal and Anthony Stubbs approached the tent in which Chester and
Colonel Anderson had been so recently confined, they discussed their plan
of action; and after several plans had been advanced and rejected, Hal
decided that caution must be thrown to the winds.

"A quick dash--and a fight if necessary," he declared.

And Stubbs had agreed, peaceful man though he was; and although Hal did
not know it, the little man was literally shaking in his boots. However,
like many men of his kind, he had a certain manner of concealing his
nervousness, and he now followed Hal coolly enough.

Fifty yards from the tent Hal paused, as he saw two figures emerge from
the prison and walk quickly away.

"Strange. Wonder what that means?" he said to himself. He turned to
Stubbs. "All right now," he said quietly. "Follow me and be quick."

He ran lightly forward and dashed into the tent. And in the darkness he
stumbled over a prostrate form. Quickly he drew a match from his pocket
and struck, it. The face of the man on the floor was not that of Chester
nor Colonel Anderson. The flare of the match showed him a second
prostrate form, and he saw that this, too, was a stranger to him. Then he
saw the discarded clothing and realized what had transpired.

"Quick, Stubbs! They have escaped!" he shouted, and darted from the tent.

And in the entrance he met an Austrian guard, whose attention had been
attracted by the sound of Hal stumbling within. The man uttered a low
exclamation and sought to bring his gun to bear.

But Hal was too quick for him. In spite of the fact that he keenly
realized the need of caution, he also realized the value of time. His
hand slipped quickly to his revolver, and without raising it he fired
from his hip. The Austrian staggered back and tumbled over.

"We're in for it!" cried Hal. "Follow me and hurry!"

He dashed forward in the direction recently taken by the two figures he
had seen leave the tent, for he felt sure the forms were those of Chester
and Colonel Anderson.

Stubbs was right behind him. Fear lent wings to the little man's legs,
and Hal, despite his longer strides, did not forge ahead of him. Both ran
at full speed.

And suddenly Hal made out figures in front, and before he could swerve
aside, he heard Colonel Anderson's well-known voice exclaim:

"We surrender!"

With a stifled shout, Hal put forth an extra burst of speed, as he
realized that the men who held the drop on Chester and Colonel Anderson
numbered but three, although from beyond he could see others rushing
toward them.

Again his revolver spoke and a bullet whizzed close to Colonel Anderson's
head; but an Austrian soldier dropped. The others were taken by surprise,
and relaxed their vigilance for a moment. And then Colonel Anderson and
Chester, who had now recovered his balance, fired.

Chester started as he recognized Hal's voice, which now called out:

"Quick, Chester! To the right."

Colonel Anderson was no less surprised, but he did not hesitate; and
closely bunched the four turned to the right and ran for their lives.

Men sprang up on all sides now; and it seemed impossible that the four
could escape. But fortune favored them.

Swerving suddenly again, Hal, who was in the lead, stopped short, and
uttered a cry of pure dismay. The way ahead was blocked. There seemed no
way out; and then Chester cried:

"An aeroplane hangar!"

It was true. Fortune had guided their footsteps to possibly the only
place in the whole Austrian camp where there was a chance of escape.

Hal wasted no time. Rapidly he mounted the hangar, the others following
him closely. The lad uttered a short prayer as he climbed and then gave a
great sigh of relief. He had feared there would be no air craft there,
but, and Hal cried his relief aloud, there was.

He glanced at the machine quickly and uttered another cry of joy as he
made out that the craft was exceptionally large, capable of seating at
least ten men, and the additional fact that it was a self starter.

"Climb in quick!" he shouted, leaping into the pilot's seat and taking
the wheel.

The others followed this command with all despatch, and Chester took his
place at the motor.

"Let 'er go, Chester!" shouted Hal.

There came a faint buzz at first, followed by a louder noise as the motor
began to whir; there was the sound of the whizzing propellers, and the
machine shot from the hangar with a lurch.

And at the same moment there came from all sides volleys of rifle and
pistol shots. Chester felt a sharp tinge in his left arm, and Hal felt
the breeze of a bullet as it flew by his ear. Colonel Anderson was
untouched, but Stubbs sent up a howl of anguish.

"I'm shot!" he cried and started to his feet.

The machine rocked crazily as he attempted to rise and Colonel Anderson
reached quickly up and seized him by the arm.

"Sit down, you fool!" he commanded. "Do you want to spill us all out?"

Hal threw over the elevating lever and the huge air craft soared into the
sky. And not until they had reached an altitude of a thousand feet did
Hal straighten the machine out for a level flight.

Then he slowed down a moment to take stock of injuries.

"Hit, Colonel Anderson?" he asked.

"No," was the reply.

"You, Chester?"

"Scratch, I guess," answered Chester. "Bullet touched me on the arm.
Doesn't amount to much."

"Stubbs?" queried Hal.

"I'm killed!" exclaimed the little man, and there was the trace of a
quaver in his voice. "Shot through the heart."

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Hal. "If you had been shot through the heart you
wouldn't be talking about it now."

"But I was," protested Stubbs.

"Look him over, Colonel Anderson," instructed Hal. "If it's as bad as all
that, throw him out. We can't be bothered with excess now."

"No! No! I'm all right!" declared Stubbs, drawing away as Colonel
Anderson extended an exploring hand. "I don't think the bullet
touched me."

"All right then," declared Hal, smiling to himself, for his ruse had
worked. "We'll go ahead then."

"Which way?" demanded Chester.

"Back to the Italian lines; and it behooves us to hurry. There will be a
squadron of the enemy after us in a minute."

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