CHAPTER XXII
FLIGHT
Without a word Harding led the way directly from the mine. The threeGerman guards looked up as the friends passed and saluted, for Harding,Hal and Chester were all attired in German uniforms that bore captains'stripes. The three returned the salutes and passed on.
"Now what, Harding?" asked Hal.
"Leave it to me," was the reply. "I know where there are half a dozenbig automobiles, but I'm afraid we'll have to impress a driver intoservice."
"I'll do the driving," said Hal.
"Oh, you can drive, eh?" said Harding. "So much the better."
Fifteen minutes' walk brought the three friends within sight of the spotwhere the automobiles were parked.
"Better pick that long, low car there," whispered Hal. "It looks asthough it could show some speed."
Harding nodded.
Several guards stood about the automobiles. They saluted as the threepseudo German officers appeared, but said nothing. Hal climbed into thedriver's seat of the car he had selected, while Harding and Chesterjumped into the tonneau.
"Let her go!" exclaimed Harding, "but slowly unless there is some signof suspicion. If we start off too fast they'll know there is somethingwrong."
The car moved off slowly.
Half an hour later they were out of sight of the prison camp. It wasthen that Chester leaned forward and touched Hal on the arm.
"Which way now?" he asked.
"I judge that this road will take us to the Swiss border," said Hal.
"Right you are," agreed Harding.
"Trouble is," said Chester, "that we don't want to get out of Germanyjust yet."
"What!" exclaimed Harding.
"Chester is right," Hal put in. "You see, Harding, we haven't yetobtained the information we came after."
"By Jove! So you haven't!" exclaimed Harding. "Well, what are you goingto do about it?"
"Get it," returned Hal briefly.
Harding smiled.
"Easily said," he declared, "but, I am afraid, not so easilyaccomplished."
"If you'll listen to me I think I can suggest something," declaredChester.
"Fire away," said Hal.
"Well," began Chester, "in the first place we have a certain immunitynow that we wear German uniforms. Hal and I speak German fluently, whichwill help. How about you, Harding?"
"Very little," was the reply. "English has always been good enough forme."
"Then we shall have to do the talking," said Chester. "You will have tobe afflicted with an attack of dumbness, Harding."
"I can do that, all right. I'll just sit tight and say nothing."
"Good! Now my idea is this: We'll head for the front, bearing off atrifle to the south and thus dodging the Swiss border. We'll proceed asstraight as possible to the German front in France. We'll trust to luckto get back to our own lines after we have learned at the front thatwhich we desire."
"I don't call that much of a plan," said Harding. "There is no strategythere. Besides, we would just be putting our heads into the lion'smouth."
"Nevertheless," said Hal, "it is only in the midst of the German armythat we can get the information we are after."
"That's probably true," said Harding. "Well, have it your own way andcount on me to the finish."
"We'll just keep going, then," said Hal.
The big automobile began to pick up speed now and directly was dashingalong at a rapid gait. From time to time they passed other cars on theroad, but they were not stopped. The very audacity of the three friendsaugured toward their safety.
It was almost dark when Hal slowed down and stopped in front of a littlehotel in a small village.
"We've got to have more gas and air," he explained, in response toChester's questions. "Besides, the engine needs a drink. It's red hot."
"Also," said Harding in a low voice, "we could get away with a littlegrub."
"Right you are," said Hal. "We shall be able to satisfy all our needshere."
The three entered the hotel. The proprietor promised that the automobileshould be looked after and ready within the hour and showed the threefugitives to a small dining-room at the far side of the building. Theonly occupant of the room at that moment proved to be a German coloneland the Englishman and the two American lads saluted him stiffly. TheGerman returned the salute and continued his repast.
The fugitives ate heartily of the plain fare placed before them by theirhost. As Hal was draining his cup of the last drop of coffee, he becameconscious that the German colonel was eyeing him. Suddenly the mankicked back his chair and approached the table at which the friends sat.
Hal felt of his revolver, for he smelled trouble. But he need not haveworried--then.
"Where are you men going?" asked the colonel gruffly.
"To General von Mackensen, at the front, with dispatches," said Hal,mentioning the name of the first German general he thought of.
"So?" exclaimed the colonel. "I am going that way myself, also withdispatches. I find, however, that I shall have to remain here untilmorning unless I can commandeer a passing automobile."
Hal thought rapidly.
"I'll tell you, sir," he said at length, "we are going on to-night, andwe shall be glad to have you accompany us, if you wish."
"I shall be glad," said the colonel. "When shall you start?"
"Immediately, sir."
"Good! I am ready."
Hal now introduced himself by a fictitious name; also his companions.The colonel owned up to the name of Reissler. Together the four left thehotel and returned to the automobile.
"If you will ride in front with me, I shall be honored, sir," said Halto the colonel.
The lad had reason for this. He intended to do all the talking done bythe fugitives. He felt certain that should the colonel ride with Hardingand Chester he must certainly discover that Harding was an imposter. OfChester, however, he had no fear, for Chester's command of the Germantongue was as perfect as Hal's own.
"Colonel," said Hal, as he started the car, "I have been long in theeast and am not altogether familiar with the roads here. You willperhaps point out the shortest route as we go along?"
"Of course," said the colonel. "By the way," he added, "have you an ideaof the nature of your dispatches?"
Hal hesitated. He could not be sure of his ground and he was at a losswhat to say. However, he knew that the German colonel would require ananswer, so he took a long chance.
"I am not exactly sure, sir," he replied, "but I believe that they havesomething to do with a possible retirement of our troops all along thewestern front."
The colonel looked at him sharply.
"You mean a realignment, sir?" he said sharply.
"Why, yes, sir," returned Hal.
The colonel's face lost its sternness.
"My understanding is similar to yours," he said. "We all know, ofcourse, that our losses have been very heavy in the last fewmonths--particularly in the last attempt to break through at Ypres. I'lltell you something," and he leaned forward, "had the Allied armies,reinforced as they have been by American troops, followed up our defeatthere, we would have been compelled to fall back."
"Why, sir," said Hal, "this is news to me."
"So it is," returned the colonel. "Yet it's true."
Hal now became convinced of something he had begun to suspect since themoment the colonel became so talkative. The man had been drinking. In noother way could the lad account for his condescension in conversing withan officer beneath him in rank. Also, when the man leaned toward him,Hal could catch the odor of his breath.
"By Jove!" the lad told himself. "It may be that luck has turned our wayat last. If I could get hold of those dispatches he carries I mightlearn something."
To the colonel he said:
"Are you on your way to General von Mackensen's quarters, sir?"
"I am," was the reply. "Now I'll tell you something more. Between thetwo o
f us, I am getting tired of this war; I wish it would come to anend. We know we can't win, you and I, and so does every member of thestaff. Why, our ranks have been so depleted that it takes wonderfulgeneralship to make the enemy believe we are still impregnable in ourpresent positions."
"Is that so, sir?" said Hal. "I had no idea it was as bad as that."
"Only the other day," continued the colonel, "I chanced to be in Berlin.The emperor was there at the time, in conference with GeneralsLudendorff, von Mackensen and Hindenburg. I, as you know, am on vonMackensen's staff. Now let me tell you what I heard old Hindenburghimself say. 'Your Majesty,' said he, 'we've got to continue ourattacks, for when we stop the enemy will begin his. By our attacks wemust keep from him the fact that we could not resist an offensive on alarge scale.'"
"Himmel! That does sound bad," said Hal.
"It does, indeed. Now, in my dispatches are contained practically thosesame words from Hindenburg--practically a repetition of the reasons headvanced at the conference, urging further attacks. Also I carry adescription of the disposition of our troops and other material thatHindenburg hopes will convince von Mackensen that we must continue theoffensive at all costs. Bad? I should say it is!"
Hal's heart leaped into his throat. Here was luck, indeed.