CHAPTER XVII--A MYSTERY
At another place and under different circumstances this meeting wouldhave been a most ordinary and commonplace event, but, somehow, in theshadowed and deserted farmhouse it seemed to have imparted to it acuriously dramatic effect.
It was Peur Jamais who broke a rather intense and awkward silence.
"Hello! You are here after all!" he cried.
"Ah! So it is some of my young friends, the aviateurs Americaines!"exclaimed the peasant. His manner was that of a man who had beenstartled by an unlooked-for intrusion, and, in consequence, feltconsiderably displeased. "In France, mes amis, before entering adwelling one usually knocks."
"So we do when we enter a dwelling," said Peur Jamais, airily. "But whatin the world are you doing here?"
"And, may I inquire, what in the world are you doing here?"
"We came to see you."
"You came to see me! How did you get here?"
Thereupon George Glenn, who had a more fluent command of French thanBobby, smilingly explained.
"But, you must remember, people cannot go everywhere they please withoutknowing that they have the right," said the peasant, chidingly.
"Well, since we're here we're here," said Peur Jamais. "However,Monsieur, you certainly can't be staying in a place like this?"
"I believe I have not as yet given any information as to my place ofresidence." The Frenchman's tone clearly conveyed a hint that he wasannoyed at the curiosity which Bobby displayed. "Houses are like men,mon ami: they live their allotted time, and then their days are done."
"Well, come on, Georgie, let us take a look at the old place," criedPeur Jamais.
And Bobby, with a merry laugh, started for the adjoining room.
But his passage was unexpectedly blocked.
His passage was unexpectedly blocked]
The peasant had stepped in front of him, saying in a firm tone:
"Must I remind you, my young friend, of what I said just a few momentsago?"
Bobby was surprised--so much surprised, indeed, that for an instant hestared at the peasant without speaking; and his scrutiny was sosearching, so earnest, that the man, as though finding it eitherannoying or disconcerting, moved toward a shadowy corner of the room.
"But what have you got to say about it?" blurted out Peur Jamais, atlength. "It isn't your house; so I'd like to know why we mayn't goup-stairs?"
"Like good soldiers, we must sometimes obey commands without knowing thereasons for their being given," said the peasant, gravely. "So I am sureyou will consider me neither impolite nor unobliging if I refrain fromspeaking further on the subject."
"Certainly, Monsieur," put in George, quickly. "We have no wish tointrude. Come on, Bobby."
Peur Jamais, however, his face wearing a rather curious expression,began to interrogate the Frenchman, beginning with this rather unusualquestion:
"What's the best time to plant potatoes?"
The peasant smiled genially.
"Are you thinking of starting a farm?" he queried.
"No; I am merely a seeker after information."
"Then I would advise you to buy a copy of some agricultural paper whichtreats such questions exhaustively. And now, if you will pardon me, Iwill say _au revoir_!"
"No objections, I'm sure!" grumbled Bobby. "I hope your farm prospers.It's quite a hard life, isn't it?"
"That depends upon a man's health, strength and temperament," counteredthe peasant, in an unruffled tone. "Goodbye!"
He laid just enough emphasis on the last words to cause the boys to nodand then walk slowly outside.
They had progressed but a few yards when Bobby began to laugh andchuckle in a most peculiar manner. Then his face suddenly became graveand stern.
"Georgie, I think I've made a discovery--quite an astonishing discovery,too," he exclaimed. "That man is as much a peasant as either you or I.He's merely a bit of human camouflage; he's masquerading--do you getme?--masquerading! And what's the answer?"
Peur Jamais' brow was knit. His hands were clenched.
"I am willing to admit that just now he did not either speak or actexactly like a peasant," said George.
"You've said something, Georgie," declared Bobby, very earnestly."Listen!" As they walked slowly, side by side, he gripped George Glenn'sarm. "Ever since that night old Pere Goubain talked to us about spiesI've been keeping my eyes and ears open. Well, do you want to know whatI think the answer is?--that mysterious peasant is a spy--yes sir, aconfounded spy. Why has he been nosing around the aviation camp? Whydidn't he want us to go up-stairs? Oh yes, it's all as clear as day. Whoknows--it may even have been he who was the means of sending thosebombing machines to spill a little fireworks on the camp!"
By this time the two had reached the road, and Bobby stopped and leanedagainst the fence.
"It strikes me that this hasn't been such a mild adventure, after all,"he continued, with increasing vehemence. "And through it we may be themeans of ridding France of a dangerous enemy; just think of it--you andI, Georgie! I can almost hear the commander saying: 'My brave and loyalfriends, in the name of my countrymen, I thank you!'"
"Can you also see the medals pinned to our manly breasts?" asked theother, quizzically.
"I'm not joking, Georgie."
"I'm sure you're not. You look just as earnest as if Captain VonRichtofen and his red planes had come over to pay us their respects."
Peur Jamais sniffed.
"At any rate it isn't going to be a laughing matter for some one," heasserted, grimly. "Pretty smart old chap, that! 'Buy a copy of someagricultural paper,' eh! No doubt he's chuckling now at the way hepulled off those evasive answers. But evasions don't go with courtmartials."
"You are certainly correct there," acquiesced his companion.
"By George, Georgie, you're an aggravating chap!" exploded Bobby. "Bythe way you act one might think that this great discovery was of no moreimportance than reading an agricultural paper. Wake up! You're righthere on earth, and not up among the clouds!"
"I'm trying to do a little discreet thinking before indulging in anyindiscreet remarks," said George. "You know, as Longfellow says: 'Thingsare not always what they seem.'"
"Well, I declare! Indiscreet talking, indeed!" almost shouted PeurJamais. "I suppose your idea is to let the old bird alone, eh?"
"As yet, I haven't a very clear idea of what my idea on the subject is,"returned George, with a smile.
"And I have such a clear idea of what my idea is that it fairly dazzlesme. Great Julius Caesar!----"
Peur Jarnais blurted out this exclamation with considerable force, andas he certainly could have neither seen nor heard anything to justifyits utterance George very naturally demanded an explanation.
"Oh, it's nothing that would be likely to interest you," returned Bobby,sarcastically. "Some rather odd thoughts about Jason Hamlin justhappened to pop into my mind." And then, as though ruminating tohimself, he added: "Oh, yes, I'm mighty glad we took this walk. It mayhave an astonishing sequel."
George pressed him for an explanation, but Bobby merely replied:
"One of these days you'll find out."
"But just think of all the suspense I'll have to endure," said George,lightly.
Thereupon the march was resumed.
And notwithstanding the fact that both boys were in the uniform of theflying corps they were occasionally obliged by the ever-vigilantsentries to show their credentials.
It was after one of these experiences that Bobby thoughtfully remarked:
"I can't understand how, with all their care, that old would-be peasantwas able to pull off the trick."
"What trick?" asked George, innocently.
"Trying to kid me, eh?" jeered Peur Jarnais. "But I'm the original kidthat can't be kidded."
Toward late afternoon, seeing that a storm was approaching, the two tookcounsel and decided that it might be better to retrace their steps.
"I prefer my shower baths taken in the
regular way," remarked Bobby. "Bythe looks of it, I should say the weather is going from bad to worse."
"And we'll have to move quickly if we expect to escape it," commentedthe other.
During the entire trip George had many times felt twinges of anxiety inregard to his chum Don Hale, which he found quite impossible to castaside. Acting as an escort over a hostile territory was a very dangerousthing for a new pilot to undertake. He could recall many men who hadfailed to return from such journeys, some of whom were probablylanguishing in a German detention camp.
Quite a number of the Lafayette Escadrille were at the villa when theboys arrived. But George Glenn found that he was unable to join in thegeneral fun and jollity.
The storm was very severe indeed; and during its height George, unableto bear the suspense any longer, went to the telephone and called up thebureau on the aviation grounds.
"Hello! Is Don Hale there?" he asked.
A pang shot through him as the answer came back:
"No; neither he nor Albert returned with the rest of the escort."
"Did not return with the rest of the escort!" gasped George. He felt apeculiar dryness come into his throat and into his heart a sinkingfeeling. "Were the escorting machines attacked?" he asked.
"Yes; there was a lively scrimmage."
"Great Scott! This is terrible!" murmured George. Then, speaking intothe transmitter again, he asked, weakly: "Have you no news of them atall?"
"None whatever," came the response. "We have telephoned to theobservation post at the front, but they can tell us nothing. Hale,however, has been given credit for preventing the destruction of theCaudron machine."
By this time several others were crowding around. All had becomeaccustomed to tragic happenings and the occasional disappearance of someof their members; yet every fresh event of the kind brought with it thesame distressing pangs.
"This is bad news, indeed!" exclaimed Victor Gilbert. "Poor Don Hale!Poor Albert! I wonder--I do wonder what could have happened to them!"
"I hope it will not be the official communique that tells us," saidGeorge, gloomily, as he replaced the telephone on the hook.