*CHAPTER XXV*
*A BATTLE*
The descending airplane became the target at which a hundred or morerifles were aimed. Nevertheless, it reached the ground without any ofits occupants being wounded.
Out sprang Hal and Chester and behind them the German envoys. While Haldarted around to examine the nature of the machine's injuries, Chesterand the Germans drew their revolvers.
At the distance, however, as Chester well knew, revolvers were of noavail against the rifles in the hands of the mutinous Germans. But frombehind, loyal troops were closing in on the latter. It appeared for themoment that the mutineers must yield in the face of this overwhelmingforce against them. Several threw down their rifles and raised theirarms in token of surrender. The others, however, as they retreatedbefore their erstwhile friends, drew even closer to the crippledairplanes.
One of the German envoys gave a sudden cry as a rifle bullet grazed hisleft arm. The mutineers had now come within range of the revolvers ofthe little party gathered about the fallen airplane, and the latteropened fire.
Confusion ensued in the ranks of the mutineers.
"Give 'em another," cried Chester, forgetful for the moment that hiscompanions were Germans. Nevertheless, his words were understood, and asecond volley of revolver bullets checked the approach of the enemies.
"How's the machine, Hal?" shouted Chester.
"I'll have her fixed in a jiffy," was Hal's reply, as he tinkered withthe engine. "Nothing serious."
From all sides of the German camp, troops, attracted by the sounds offiring, rushed toward the scene of conflict. The mutineers, heavilyoutnumbered, nevertheless fought on doggedly. They must have realizedthat death would be the penalty should they be captured, and it seemedto be their intention of bringing down as many of their formercompanions as possible before being killed themselves.
The attack from the rear and either flank had become so severe that themutineers were forced to abandon their efforts to shoot down the Germanenvoys. Their ranks were sadly depleted now, but those who were leftshowed no signs of surrender.
And at last there remained but half a dozen.
"Surrender!" cried a German officer, and ordered his men to withholdtheir fire.
The mutineers' reply was a volley that laid the officer low.
But the shot that struck the officer did not kill. With difficulty theman raised himself on his elbow and gave a command to his men.
"Kill them!" he said quietly.
Three more volleys flared forth in rapid succession, and when the smokehad cleared away there was no mutineer left standing.
Chester breathed a sigh of relief.
"Safe again," he muttered.
This outbreak of German troops had an unpleasant effect on the Germanenvoys.
"It is time we had peace, no matter at what price," mumbled one tohimself. "Our people are on the verge of open revolt. Those menprofessed to be loyal servants of the emperor. It just goes to show thetemper of the masses. Mutiny is in the hearts of the armies. Soon theywould take matters in their own hands."
"You are right," said another. "It is to be earnestly hoped that we mayhave peace and set up a stable government before rioting becomesrampant."
"I am afraid it is too late even now," declared the first speaker.
At this juncture Hal came from beneath the airplane with theannouncement that the machine was fit to resume its voyage.
"Please get in at once, gentlemen," he said. "We have not much time."
The German envoys stepped aside to permit Chancellor Ebert to return tothem. This the chancellor did a few moments later, but what was thesurprise of the others when the chancellor announced that he would notaccompany them.
"My duty is here, it seems," he said quietly. "Events that have justtranspired seem to prove that. No, gentlemen, I shall not go with you."
"But, sir--" began General Herwigs.
Chancellor Ebert stayed the protest with upraised hand.
"I have decided," he said quietly. "You, General Herwigs, I havedesignated as my representative. These gentlemen," and he included Haland Chester with the others, "are witnesses to the fact."
The other bowed, but made no reply.
"That is all, gentlemen," said the chancellor. "You would better be onyour way."
General Herwigs seemed to realize that further protest was useless. Hedrew himself up stiffly, as did the other envoys, and saluted thechancellor. Then, without another word, he re-entered the airplane.
The others took their seats, and Hal climbed again into the pilot'sseat.
"All ready?" he asked.
Chester glanced around to make sure that all the passengers were readyfor the trip.
"Let her go, Hal," he said a moment later.
The airplane sped across the ground. Directly it began to ascend. SoonHal turned it a trifle so that its nose pointed toward the distantvillage of Hirson, where Marshal Foch and staff were awaiting the returnof the two lads and the German envoys.
"And I hope," Hal muttered to himself, "that there will be no otherdelays."
But in this he was doomed to disappointment, and it was due to the lad'sown carelessness that the trouble came about.
Looking now for the map given him by General Dupree, which was to markout for Hal the safety zones in the allied lines, the lad was unable tofind it.
Frantically he explored his pockets, the while keeping one hand on thewheel. He could not find the map.
"Now what do you think of that?" he muttered. "By Jove! I've justnaturally got to have that map."
He slowed down the speed of the craft to enable him to make a morecareful search of his pockets. The search was futile. The map was notthere.
Hal turned the situation over in his mind as the craft sped on.
"I don't know how," he told himself, "but I've lost the map. That muchis certain. What a dunderhead I must be, by Jove! Well, what shall Ido now?"
Again he considered the matter.
"Well," he said aloud at length, "there is no need alarming the others,but if I don't have a map to show the safety zones at certain hours,I'll just naturally have to get there without one. That's all there isabout that."
With Hal to decide was to act. He acted now, and without furtherthought of the danger that lay ahead.
The speed of the plane increased, and it soared higher into the heavens.
"It's safer up here," the lad told himself.
The airplane had now passed from over the German lines, so it was clearthat the danger that Hal feared, whatever it was, was not from Germanaircraft. What worried the lad was the fact that he might be unable torun safely the gauntlet of allied machines that were patrolling the sky.
Once sighted by allied pilots, Hal knew, and there would be trouble.Any plane approaching from the direction of the German lines, and not inthat section of the field designated as a safety zone by General Dupree,Hal was perfectly well aware, would incur the suspicion of whateverallied airman sighted it.
"He might let me explain, and he might not," the lad told himself."Best way, I guess, is to keep out of their reach."
The lad made out the forms of several sky fighters several miles away.Of these he had no fear, however, for the distance was too great andthey seemed, if anything, to be moving away from his machine. But soonthe boy saw half a dozen craft, in close battle formation, bearing downon him.
"Here they come, ready for business," he muttered, "and they'reFrenchmen, too, judging from here. Well, we'll have to go up a littlehigher and see if we can't dodge them."
The airplane went higher in the air.
But the craft bearing the German peace envoys had been sighted by thepilot of the air fleet, and the entire squadron now dashed toward Hal.
Came a rifle shot from the distance and Hal heard the whine of a bulletnot a great distance from his ear.
"Too close for comfort," the lad muttered. "Now her
e is a case where I'msorry the French air fighters are such confounded good marksmen. I'llhave to see what this craft can offer in the way of speed."
The airplane seemed to leap forward as Hal touched the controls.
The machine bearing the lads and the German envoys was now many feetabove the allied battle squadron. And, before the commander of the airflotilla realized what was happening, his prey sped by him unharmed.
Instantly he flashed a command to his other vessels to give pursuit, andthe entire squadron turned and gave chase.
Although Hal had not warned the others of their danger, they were nowfully conversant with what was going on. Plainly the German envoys wereworried, for they had come on a mission of peace and naturally supposedHal would pilot them safely to Hirson without their being molested.
But Chester had some glimmering of the truth.
"Hal's lost his map," he told himself. "Oh, well, I guess it won't makeany difference. We'll get there safely enough. Hal is as full oftricks as a magician. Besides, we seem to be leaving those fellows inthe lurch."
It was true. The pursuing flotilla was falling behind.
And directly Hal was so far in advance of his pursuers that he knew hewas safe.
"Now for Hirson!" he muttered.
The remainder of the journey was made without incident, and severalhours later the airplane landed only a few yards from where it hadstarted the day before.