CHAPTER XIV
BAFFLED PURSUERS
"There, there," said the man soothingly, "of course you're not spies.I didn't intend to have you understand that you would be acting thepart of spies in giving me the trifle of information I wanted. Youfailed to understand me, that's all."
"Well, then," replied Ned, "I apologize. I thought you were asking meabout the German troops and their movements."
"So I was," went on the man. "I wanted to know so that the good peopleof this stricken village could be prepared."
"How could the people of this village resist the Germans?" asked Nedwonderingly. "I don't see any fighting men about."
"That's just the point," pursued the other. "All the men and boyscapable of carrying weapons or doing anything like a man's job at anykind of work have been drafted by the Germans."
"Then what's the excitement about?" put in Jack impatiently. "We can'tsee why you or the village people should worry if the Germans havetaken everything that can be taken."
"You don't understand, I see," continued the other. "The Germans haveleft here only women and children and very old men. They even tookaway with them such food supplies as could be transported easily. Nowthere is very little grain left, and with it perhaps a few potatoes andother things. But all the cattle and other food supply has beenremoved. The villagers are on the point of starving."
"Won't the soldiers feed them when they come--that is, if they'reactually coming?" inquired Jack, presenting his own solution of thecase.
"We are afraid they will not," was the answer. "They have not a verysavory reputation here. It is the intention of the remaining people toescape to the country, taking with them whatever they can carry, whenthey know the Germans are again moving in this direction."
"Why, then, don't they go now and be done with it?" asked Ned.
"Evidently you do not understand the characteristics of this people ortheir love of their home, no matter how humble it may be," was theanswer. "If you only understood the fact that these good people have agentler side to their nature and that their love of home and family isfully as great as you will find in your own country, you would not needto ask such a question. It is a most serious matter to most if not allof these people to go away from their homes."
"But I don't see that any information we can give you would be of theslightest assistance at this time," objected Ned.
"It would give us time to prepare for the intended flight."
"I can't see it," argued Ned. "You seem to know that the Germans aremoving westward from Peremysl. That is more than we know."
"We know that they have been successful in their assault on the town,and we understand that the capture of that stronghold will leave manytroops free for use at other points. What can be more natural thanthat they should leave Peremysl in the hands of a force sufficient toguard it against any possible attack by the Russians and rush theremainder of their troops to other points where they are needed--say afew regiments at strategic points like Verdun?"
As he finished speaking the man glanced casually about the place, as ifobserving a passer-by. Ned and his companions exchanged quick looks ofinquiry. Using the mute language in which the boys were adept, Nedflashed a question at his chums.
"What do you suppose he wants?" he asked. Then in the same manner hewent on: "Be careful. I mistrust this fellow! He is not square!"
Jack and Harry had only time to nod their understanding of the messagebefore the man again turned to them and went on:
"So you see, don't you, that you would be rendering a real aid to astricken and starving people by giving us whatever information you mayhave about the movements of the German troops?"
"No, I can't say that I do," replied Ned positively. "You seem to haveplenty of information on hand right now to enable you to make anynecessary preparations for the advent of the Germans if such a thingshould happen. For myself, I don't believe that the Germans wouldvisit this place a second time. It isn't at all likely."
"And why not, pray?" was the man's query.
"For the same reason that lightning doesn't strike twice in the sameplace and a mule doesn't kick twice in the same place--they don't haveto," was Ned's quiet answer. "That's a good reason, isn't it?"
Although Ned's answer had been made in a quiet tone, the words werefull of meaning, and it was apparent to all that the man was capable ofunderstanding the firmness and resolve in Ned's manner and voice.
"So, then, you refuse to give me any information concerning themovement of the troops?" went on the other with an air of finality."Of course, I suppose you realize that the result of a German raid onthis town would be laid at your door if an inquiry were made? The goodpeople here are not so ready to forgive as you may imagine. If youhave information that would help them to safety and do not give it,could you blame them if they felt rather unfriendly toward you?"
"Now see here, Mister--whatever your name is--," began Ned, slightlynettled, "we came here only to find a place to buy some gasoline andsome food. We are not in this country as spies, and we have repeatedlydeclined to give information to either side. We can't start now."
"All right, then," said the man, nodding his head slightly, "have yourown way about it. But," he went on, "if you fail to make any purchasessuch as you desire, please don't blame anyone but yourselves."
With these words he turned on his heel and left the three lads staringafter him in amazement. He proceeded quickly, and was soon out ofsight behind a house slightly larger than the others.
"Well, he told us where we were, at any rate," said Ned with a hugesigh as the man disappeared from their view. "He's generous!"
"Nix on the sarcasm," counseled Harry; "it strikes me that we are in apretty tight fix right now. That fellow won't do a thing but make itinteresting for us if he gets half a chance."
"You're right, Harry," put in Jack with vigor. "Do you know, boys, Iwouldn't object to making a little bet that our visitor is a Germanhimself, put here for the purpose of keeping an eye on everything thatgoes on. He was just trying to pump us, that's all."
"Do you really think so?" asked Ned. "He seemed all right at first."
"I thought so, too," went on Jack, "but did you notice how ratheruppish he got when we wouldn't tell him all we know and then some?"
"He was inclined to get rather dictatorial toward the last," admittedNed. "Come to think about it, he didn't look like an ordinary villagerat that. Wonder who he could have been."
"I'm not wondering so much at who he could have been as what he'sliable to do," was Jack's answer. "I began to suspect him just theminute you warned us. I'm glad we didn't tell him anything."
"Let's get out of here, boys," suggested Harry. "If that fellow iswithin fourteen rows of apple trees of the truth and this village isdeserted by all the able-bodied men, we won't have much chance ofgetting gasoline or food or information at this place."
"What shall we do?" asked Ned. "What is your idea?"
"I move we go back to the Eagle and 'get out of town'."
"Second the motion," cried Jack eagerly. "I don't like this place alittle bit! Let's be going now."
"All right, then; right about face, march!" commanded Ned.
All three boys wheeled and started back in the direction they had come.They traveled at a good pace for the first few moments.
Jack even essayed to whistle "Tipperary" between his teeth to help themalong. With visions of a speedy departure from that neighborhood intheir minds, the boys swung along at a good pace.
Suddenly they were startled to hear the report of a rifle and to begreeted by the peculiar tearing sound made by a bullet in its flightthrough the air. Almost as if actuated by a common impulse the threelads crouched low and broke into a run.
Again came the report of the rifle and the noise of a bullet speedingon its errand of death. As Jack had stooped to run he had taken aquick glance over his shoulder. Now he closed in nearer to Ned.
"That fellow is
in the house on our right," he panted. "I saw theflash of the gun as he fired that time."
Ned's only reply was a quick nod. He did not waste breath in making areply where none was needed. For answer he merely extended his hand toadminister a touch of encouragement on Jack's shoulder.
By this time darkness had settled almost completely over the place, andthe boys found running in the not over-excellent highway a task thatrequired every ounce of their strength and agility.
Presently Ned slackened speed. His companions did likewise.
"Whew!" the boy panted. "That was rather exciting, wasn't it?"
"Sure was," came Harry's labored answer. "But we ought to be somewherenear the Eagle by this time," he added.
"I think I recognize those trees there now," Ned put in as the threeadvanced at a walk. "Let's get into the field and be on our way justas quickly as we can. I don't like to be shot at."
"Do you think we have gasoline enough for an extended flight?" askedHarry anxiously. "We'd feel nice to get caught with a flat tire orsomething a mile up in the air."
"We have plenty, I think," was Ned's answer. "We can gauge the tankeasily enough if we can't see the indicator."
"Ha, there she is now!" exclaimed Jack as the three boys broke throughthe growth of underbrush and entered the field where the Eagle had beenleft. "She's closer in than I thought," he went on.
"Well, distances are mighty deceptive in the darkness," explained Ned."It is very easy to be mistaken on a little matter like that."
"All right, Boss," was Jack's answer in a relieved tone, now that hewas again near their beloved plane. "Let's have your searchlight."
"Here it is," said Ned, producing the desired article. "Lucky for usthat I brought it along. Better start the engine with the muffler on.We don't want the remaining villagers to come storming up here."
Ned handed the searchlight to Jack and then prepared to make ready forthe anticipated flight by buttoning his coat tightly at the throat. Heknew that the damp chilliness of night would be uncomfortable. Just asNed and Harry were preparing to assist their chum they were startled tohear him cry out in surprise:
"This isn't the Eagle, boys! This is a strange machine!"
"What?" gasped the two boys on the ground. "A strange machine?"
"Certainly. Look here! Why," Jack continued, "I actually believe it'sa German aeroplane! Now, what do you think of that!"
"Then in that case there are Germans near," decided Ned instantly.
"Say, boys, I have an idea!" was Harry's excited statement.
"All right, let's have it," requested Jack. "Such rare occurrencesshould deserve special mention. We'll mention you in the log of thetrip. Perhaps you'll have a medal struck off just for that."
Although the lads were in a situation that was anything but pleasant,Jack could not resist the temptation to have a little fun.
"Let's take the German gasoline and put it into our tanks," went onHarry, without giving attention to the attempted joke.
"Good idea!" declared Ned in lower tones. "But where's the Eagle?"
"I think I can see it right over there," said Harry, pointing.
It was even as the lad said. Their own machine lay not far from theone they were examining. Working quickly, the lads produced a bucketfrom the Eagle and in a short time had located the drain cock at thebottom of the German plane's fuel tank.
They had successfully transferred several loads of the precious fluidto the tank of the Eagle, working with extreme caution, when Jack gavea warning hiss from his post at the hedge screening the field.
"They're coming!" he cried in a whisper as he hurried up.