CHAPTER XVII
ACCUSED
A smile came to Jimmie's lips as he heard the crashing sound thatindicated wrecking of the plane. He turned to observe the condition inwhich he would find the machinery, hoping that it had been damagedbeyond repair, or at least so badly damaged that its repair would be amatter of considerable time and effort.
As he wheeled he observed that Dave already had turned to look in thatdirection, and that his face bore a look of astonishment and surprise.Jimmie's own smile died away as the thought of possible injury to theplucky pilot of the craft came to his mind.
"Oh, Dave!" he cried anxiously, laying his hand upon his comrade's arm."Can you see the pilot? Has he been hurt badly?"
"I can't see from here, but there's a big crowd gathering about thewreckage, and they seem to be picking something up."
"Gee!" was Jimmie's regretful rejoinder. "I surely hope he got out ofthe mess without getting hurt. That's all. We haven't got anyparticular grudge against him, and I didn't wish to harm him."
"What on earth did you do, anyway, Jimmie?" inquired Dave.
"That was easy enough," replied the other. "I had observed some boltsthrough the hub of the propeller. I also had several bullets in mypocket, and a good-sized chunk of lead that had been used for fillingsome holes in a piece of iron back there in the camp at Peremysl. Whatcould be easier than to take out the loose bolt I noticed and fill thehole plumb full of lead? That was all."
"But lead wouldn't wreck a machine so completely as that!"
"Don't you think it wouldn't!" boasted Jimmie, rather proud of themanner in which he had brought about the destruction of the magnificentmachine. "Just you ask some one when you get home. Go to a machineshop and ask 'em what an unbalanced condition will do to a high-speedpiece of machinery that isn't firmly fastened to a solid base."
"But I can't understand, you know," went on Dave, "just how it wasdone. I know that you unbalanced the apparatus, but how should that dosuch damage as this we see here?"
"Well, to be honest with you, I didn't expect that it would. My onlythought was to slip out the big bolt, put in enough lead to fill thehole if I had time, and then let the vibration of the unbalancedmachine render it impossible for the aviator to steer or handle theplane. I had not figured on anything giving way as it did."
"Then you don't want all the credit for wrecking the machine?" inquiredDave, with a twinkle in his eye. "Is that it?"
"For some time I don't want any of the credit," replied Jimmie,lowering his voice as an officer approached their position.
"Here comes a fellow," Dave stated, "that would probably be mighty gladto connect us with the incident. But I know nothing!"
"Nor I!" declared Jimmie. "I didn't even see the thing happen!"
"That's true, too, as I can easily testify," added Dave.
Their visitor proved to be none other than von Liebknecht, the officerin charge of the regiment, with whom they were now well acquainted.
"You boys are wanted at the rear," he announced. "Walk directly alongthe train and report at the coach reserved for the Kaiser."
"Yes, sir," answered Jimmie, giving the Boy Scout salute. "And whoshall we find there to whom we shall report?"
"Fritz and Otto, whom you both know, will be on duty. Tell them that Ihave sent you back and that you are there for special duty. They areexpecting you and will give you instructions."
"Very good, sir," replied Jimmie gravely. Then, as von Liebknechtturned to proceed toward the little station building, he added:
"I see an accident has happened to the aeroplane. I hope the aviatorwas not badly injured. They're carrying him away."
For a moment von Liebknecht paused to look searchingly into the face ofthe boy. Jimmie returned his gaze unflinchingly. He said afterwardthat it was quite the hardest thing he had ever attempted, and severaltimes he was on the point of letting his gaze wander. However, hestood the ordeal well and presently heard the other say:
"He is not badly injured. A few minor contusions and a scratch or socomprise all his hurts. It is very fortunate, however, for all partiesconcerned," placing peculiar emphasis upon the phrase, "that it is nomore serious. It might mean trouble for some one."
"I sure am glad that the fellow is able to get about," was Jimmie'sstatement. "He's a plucky chap, and from what I saw of him when helanded he is an expert in the matter of handling the aeroplane. Itwould certainly be a pity if he should be killed or badly injured."
"The German army would lose one of its very best aviators if he weregone," von Liebknecht replied, "and although the loss of his life wouldbe irreparable, it might be decided to take payment in kind."
"Meaning?" asked Jimmie, paling slightly under the freckles as the fullimport of the other's words came to him.
"Meaning," von Liebknecht replied with wonderful self-control, "thatyou will report at once as I directed you."
With these words he turned and resumed his interrupted journey towardthe station, striding along with considerable haste.
"Gee, Bo!" exclaimed Jimmie as the two lads started for the rear, "thatwas some close shave! That fellow has got a suspicioner tucked awayinside his brain that is working overtime. Every little thing thathappens he thinks is caused by a spy or something like that. Iwouldn't have his disposition for a million dollars in Mexican money."
In spite of the gravity of their position Dave could not resist thetemptation to laugh at Jimmie's exaggerated statement.
The lads could see that the switching engine that had been moving thecoach was making preparations to couple it to the rear of the train,and lost no time in proceeding in its direction.
As stated by von Liebknecht, they found Otto and Fritz acting as guard.The two had received the instructions and were prepared to take chargeof the two lads accordingly.
Shortly after Jimmie and Dave reached the coach it was attached to thetrain and the journey westward was resumed.
Jimmie and Dave had been placed in a compartment at the rear of thecoach, together with several of the attaches of the Kaiser's staff.The Kaiser himself occupied a compartment near the forward end, andhere he was conducting the necessary details of preparation for theexceedingly strenuous work that lay before the German forces.
For a long time the train jolted on. Engines were changed and traincrews replaced by others, and still the regiment proceeded westward.The soldiers disposed themselves about the cars in such positions aswere possible and slept the tired sleep of overworked humanity.
Still the Kaiser and his staff sat and discussed plans and preparedorders for the grave matters confronting them in the westernamphitheatre of war. Apparently their endurance knew no bounds. Sleepseemed to be farthest from their thoughts.
But at length, wearied from their long vigil and arduous labors, thegroup were glad to find the Kaiser disposed to snatch a few moments ofrest. The maps were folded, the dispatch boxes closed, and allprepared to find positions where they could sleep.
"But the two boys!" von Liebknecht suggested as final preparations werebeing made for dismissing the group. "What of them?"
"Their case can be settled at once," declared the Kaiser. "Let them bebrought here and we shall question them."
And so it was that as the dawn was breaking ruddily in the east Jimmieand Dave were wakened from their sound sleep and informed that theirpresence was desired in the compartment where the Kaiser waited.
On their feet almost instantly, the two lads rubbed the sleep fromtheir eyes. They stretched and yawned prodigiously.
"Setting-up exercise," commanded Jimmie sharply. "It'll wake us up infine shape. Here goes--one, two three."
Dave followed Jimmie's example, and the two went through a shortroutine of bending and turning exercises that started the bloodcoursing through their veins and cleared away the fog of sleep.
"There!" announced the red-headed lad presently to the officer. "Nowwe're ready for the Kaiser or the whole bloomin' German army. Lead
onand we'll follow as closely as you like."
Their movements had been closely observed by a group about them, and,in spite of the fact that they were foreigners, many a kindly glancetold of the attitude of the men with whom they were placed.
The train had slowed somewhat in climbing a grade, and the boys foundno difficulty in following their guide. As they proceeded slowlytoward the forward end of the coach Dave found a chance to nudge Jimmie.
"If we only knew what was about here, this would be a grand chance,don't you know, to give them the slip."
"What do you mean, give them the slip?"
"Why, drop off the train and fade away into the landscape somewherehereabouts!" declared Dave with a glance over his shoulder.
"With the day just opening, like switching on all the electric lightsin the world!" objected Jimmie. "The intention of the gentleman fromVancouver is excellent, but I'm afraid that his execution of themaneuver would be decidedly rotten. It won't do just now."
"Perhaps not," sighed Dave, "but just the same, I'd like to try it outonce to see whether we could make a go of it."
"Nothing doing!" declared Jimmie. "We're under suspicion already, or Imiss my guess. The events of the last few hours are enough to let usknow that if we tried anything like that the Germans wouldn't takekindly to any such plan. We wouldn't get very far, I fear."
"All right, then," agreed Dave. "I guess you're right."
"Sure I am!" went on Jimmie reassuringly. "Just leave it to me, oldchap, and we'll grab the first opportunity that comes along with agenuine Frank Gotch toe hold and hang on till we put the Germanshoulders to the mat for the count. Leave it to me."
"I'll be with you for all I'm worth!" declared Dave.
Their conversation had attracted the attention of the officer, who nowcommanded silence on their part.
"We are now approaching the Kaiser's apartment," that worthy stated,with a show of reverence as he pronounced the title of his superior."You shall not talk until you are asked to do so."
"Correct!" came Jimmie's reply. "We will keep as still as mice."
The three were admitted in response to the officer's knock, and theboys found that the little compartment was now somewhat crowded. Theirpresence filled the place until there was not a vacant seat.
For some moments as the train rolled along the upgrade the Kaiser paidno attention to them, busying himself over a bundle of papers.
At length he looked up and searched the boys carefully with hispiercing gaze. After he had apparently taken a complete inventory ofthe two boys--one in the uniform of his own Uhlans and the other in theuniform of the Boy Scouts--he turned to one of his aides.
"What is the charge you wish to bring against these young men?"
"That of being spies and tampering with the aeroplane last night!" camethe startling answer.