CHAPTER XXII
INTO CAMBRAI
As it developed, the distance to Cambrai, one of the chief points inthe German line of communications, was comparatively short.
As the six plodded along through the darkness there was noconversation. None of the Canadians spoke German, and Hal and Chesterhad instructed them to be silent, for the sound of a few English wordswould have done more to destroy the success of their venture than anyother possible thing. As for Hal and Chester, both of whom spokeGerman fluently, neither felt like talk.
It was almost midnight when the lads saw before them what appeared tobe the lights of a small town. Approaching closer, they saw that theywere, indeed, approaching a settlement of some kind.
"Cambrai, do you suppose?" asked Chester.
"Don't know," returned Hal. "Probably is. I understand that Cambraiis about the largest place around here, and this seems to be quite asizable village."
Half an hour later they set foot in the streets of the little Frenchcity, in German hands now for more than three years.
"We'll hunt a house with a light and see if they'll put us up for thenight," said Hal.
Down a side street they saw a house somewhat larger than the others.Several lights showed from the windows.
"Somebody up, at all events," said Chester.
"Trouble is, Germans may already be quartered there," said Hal.
"Well, we'll have to take a chance," said Chester grimly.
"Right. So the sooner we try the better."
Hal led the way, and knocked on the door. Came the sound of hurriedfootsteps within, and a moment later the door was thrown open. An oldwoman poked her head out.
"What do you want?" she demanded.
"A place to sleep," replied Hal, in excellent German, although thewoman had spoken in French.
"There is no place here for you!" exclaimed the woman, and would haveshut the door.
But Hal was too quick for her. He shoved a foot in the door, and thusprevented its closing.
"Come, my good woman," he said. "We mean you no harm, but we must havea place to spend the night."
"How many of you are there?" asked the woman.
"Six," replied Hal briefly.
The woman threw up her hands in a gesture of dismay.
"I can't possibly take care of so many!" she exclaimed.
"But we are all coming in," declared Hal, who realized that the soonerthey were off the streets the better.
He pushed the door open and went inside. Chester and the fourCanadians followed him.
"Which way, madam?" asked Hal. "Upstairs?"
The old woman nodded, and led the way up a flight of winding steps.
"I've only one room," she said, "so you will have to make the most ofit."
"That will be satisfactory," said Hal. "We don't like to inconvenienceyou."
"You don't, eh?" exclaimed the woman. "You're the first who wear thatuniform who haven't gone out of their way to inconvenience me, and allother French women."
"Come, come," said Hal. "I'm afraid you are too hard on us."
"I'm not half as hard on you as the French and British will be whenthey get hold of you!" exclaimed the woman angrily.
Hal looked at her in surprise. He supposed that all women in territoryconquered by the Germans had long since realized the value of keeping asilent tongue in their head. Aloud he said:
"I would advise you to be more careful of your speech. If words likethose came to the ears of the general staff, you probably would beshot."
"You can't frighten me," declared their hostess. "'I say what Iplease, Germans or no Germans."
"Well, suit yourself," said Hal, "but don't forget that I have warnedyou."
"Thank you," sneered the woman. "Here's your room," kicking open thedoor at the top of the stairs. "You can sleep there if you wish, but Ihope the British have arrived when you wake up again."
She waited for no reply, but descended the stairs hastily.
"By Jove!" muttered Hal. "The Germans snared a Tartar when they caughther."
"They certainly did," Chester agreed with a smile. "Great Scott!Seems to me she could have given us a candle or something. It's asdark as pitch in this room."
"You fellows stay here," said Hal. "I'll go down and remind her thatshe has been negligent in her duty as hostess."
Hal descended the stairs quietly. As quietly he passed through theroom that in days of peace apparently had served as a parlor, and movedtoward a door beyond, under which a light streamed.
"Guess she's in there," said Hal.
He laid a hand on the knob and opened the door.
As he did so there was an exclamation of alarm. Hal, in the lightbeyond, saw a form disappear into another room. The old woman rantoward him.
"What do you mean by coming in here without knocking?" she exclaimedfuriously.
"Why--why, I didn't know--" Hal began.
"Of course you didn't know," shouted the woman. "But I'll have youunderstand that you can't make free of my house, though you be theKaiser himself."
From the folds of her skirt she suddenly produced a large revolver,which she leveled squarely at the lad. Hal stepped back.
"Here, my good woman," he said. "Put down that gun. Don't you knowthat a single shot will arouse the whole German army. You couldn'tescape."
The woman hesitated, and the revolver wavered. Before she could bringit to bear again, had such been her intention, Hal seized her arm,twisted sharply, and the revolver fell to the floor with a clatter.
"I'm afraid you're not to be trusted with that gun," the lad saidquietly.
He stooped, picked up the weapon, and stowed it away in his own pocketwith this mental comment:
"One more weapon for our own little army."
"You're a brute," gasped the woman. "You're just like all Germans."
"Silence," said Hal. "I have heard enough from you. What I came herefor was to tell you that you had neglected to furnish us with a light.Now I shall have to look in yonder closet, where I saw a man secrethimself as I came in."
The old woman flew across the room and stood defiantly in front of thecloset door.
"You can't go in there!" she exclaimed.
"I can't, eh?" said Hal. "Why can't I?"
"Because I say you can't."
"That is a very poor reason," said Hal. "Either you will stand asidenow, or I shall call my men."
The woman realized the force of this reasoning. With a gesture ofresignation she stepped aside. Hal advanced.
"I hope he shoots you through the door," said the woman to Hal.
"Thanks for the hint," said Hal dryly. "I'll keep out of the line offire."
He approached the door from the side, and, standing close, called:
"Whoever you are in there, come out."
There was no response, and Hal called again.
"I've got the door covered," the lad shouted, "and if you don't come outI shall fire through it."
Slowly the door moved open. Hal stepped quickly aside, for he did notwish to be taken unaware. He seized a chair and sent it spinningacross the floor. The ruse succeeded, for the man inside, taking thenoise made by the chair for the sound of Hal's feet, stepped quicklyforward and pointed a revolver in that direction.
This meant that Hal stood directly behind the newcomer. Smiling tohimself, Hal raised his revolver and said quietly:
"Drop that gun or I'll bore a hole through you. No, don't bother toturn first."
Realizing that he was absolutely in the other's power, the newcomerobeyed. The revolver fell clattering to the floor.
"Now," said Hal, "I'd like to have a look at you. Please turn around."
Slowly the other turned, and, as Hal caught sight of the man's face,his own revolver dropped to the floor and he sprang forward withoutstretched hand.
"Major Derevaux!" he cried.