CHAPTER XXIV
ANTOINETTE "MAKES GOOD"
True to her word, Antoinette appeared with food and drink early thefollowing morning. She was again disguised as an old woman, and Haland Chester could scarcely believe that a wig and a few dabs of paintcould possibly conceal the girlish face they had seen the nightbefore.
"I have had word to prepare a big dinner for a dozen officers of thegeneral, staff," the girl informed Major Derevaux, "so it may be that Ishall have the necessary information by nightfall."
"Let us hope so," said the major devoutly.
"And let us hope that you are not risking your life in getting it,"said Hal.
"Thank you," said Antoinette. "I assure you I shall be very careful.Now, you must all remain here quietly today. You may be able to leavesoon after dark."
She left the hiding place and closed the secret door behind her.
"And after we leave the house, then what?" asked Hal of MajorDerevaux.
"Don't you worry," said the major with a smile. "All that has beentaken care of. Ten minutes' walk from here is a large army airplane.It brought me here and it will take us all back again."
"All of us?" exclaimed Hal.
"Yes," the major replied. "I have made trips in it before. Themachine will carry ten passengers beside a pilot."
"And you do the driving, eh?" said Hal.
"No," said the major. "I have never learned the art. The pilot iswith the craft."
"You mean he is in hiding in the woods?"
"Exactly."
"Great Scott!" cried Hal. "I wouldn't care about his job. Your jobnow isn't so bad, because you've a chance of action. But just think ofsitting in a woods and waiting--waiting--never knowing what minuteyou are likely to be discovered."
"It is hard," agreed the major. "And here I am refreshed by a night'ssleep, while he must remain there in the cold with his eyes open everyminute."
"If he is discovered, then what?" asked Chester.
"His instructions, if discovered," said the major, "are to attempt toescape, leaving me behind."
"In which event," said Chester, "you'd have a hard time getting away."
"That's true. But nothing risked nothing gained, you know."
"True enough," said Hal. "Well, we must take what comes, but I hopeMademoiselle Vaubaun does not get mixed up in any trouble."
"You seem to take rather a great deal of interest in the fairAntoinette," said Chester slyly.
Hal's face turned red.
"Well, why shouldn't I?" he demanded. "No one likes to see a girl or awoman mixed up in this kind of business."
"Are you sure that is it?" demanded Chester. "Or is it just because itchanced to be Mademoiselle Vaubaun?"
"What do you mean?" exclaimed Hal angrily.
"Oh, no offense, no offense," declared Chester. "I was just talking tohear myself talk--maybe."
Major Derevaux smiled.
"Antoinette is a very nice girl," he said. "I'm sure she wouldappreciate Hal's interest in her. I'll tell her about it."
"I say! Don't do that!" exclaimed Hal in some confusion.
"Ha, ha!" laughed Chester.
Hal sat down again, his face still burning.
Even the Canadians joined in the general laugh, and Hal himselfsmiled. The joke was on him, and he was not the lad to get angry.
"Oh, well, have it your own way," he said. "It does no good to denyit."
The day passed slowly.
Antoinette did not appear at noon with food and water, as the othershad expected she would.
"Probably busy serving the German officers," said Hal. "What's thedifference, though. We can get along very well without one meal."
Night came, though to those in the little secret room it was notapparent that darkness had fallen. Hal glanced at his watch. It wasafter 7 o'clock.
"It's funny she hasn't come yet," he declared.
"Who do you mean by she?" asked Chester.
"Why, Antoinette," said Hal. "I--"
"Oh, sure," said Chester. "I know who you meant, all right. So youare calling her by her first name already, eh?"
"Look here," said Hal, "I don't think that is a bit funny."
"I apologize, old man," said Chester quickly. "I shouldn't have saidit."
"Say no more about it then," said Hal. "I am afraid, though, thatthere is something wrong downstairs."
"I am beginning to think the same thing," declared Major Derevaux. "Iwonder if it would not be well for one of us to sneak out and have alook?"
"I don't believe it would do any harm," declared Hal. "I'll go."
Chester was about to joke Hal again, but he changed his mind and heldhis tongue.
"I agree," he said. "If you want to go, Hal, we'll wait here."
"Good. If I have not returned in fifteen minutes you will knowsomething has happened. In that event, I would advise that you allcome down together, lend me a hand if I'm still in the house and incondition to be helped, and we'll all make a break for the airship."
"That is satisfactory," said Major Derevaux.
"And if I'm not in condition to be helped," said Hal, "go along withoutme. You will not have time to be burdened with excess baggage."
The others nodded and Hal gently slid open the secret door.
"Remember," he whispered back, "fifteen minutes."
The door closed behind him.
Hal made his way quietly through the two rooms that led to the stairs,and as quietly descended. As he passed through the parlor andapproached the room in which he had met Major Derevaux the night beforehe heard the sound of voices. He paused and listened.
One he made out was a male voice, which he took to belong to a Germanofficer. The second was that of Mademoiselle Vaubaun. Then a thirdvoice boomed out. This, Hal knew, was that of a second German.
Hal approached the door and put his eye to the key-hole. Then hestarted back and whipped out his revolver.
In the center of the room sat Antoinette Vaubaun. She was no longerattired as an old woman. She was the girl that Hal had seen the nightbefore. Her hair hung down her back. It was perfectly plain to thelad that she had been discovered. Her face, though pale, was setsternly. Hal listened to the conversation that ensued.
"So you are a spy, eh?" said a big German officer who sat on herright.
The girl made no response.
"Why don't you answer?" demanded the third occupant of the room, aheavily bearded man, and shook his fist threateningly in her face.
"I'll answer only what I choose to answer," returned Antoinettequietly. "Neither you nor the whole German army can make me talk."
"Is that so?" sneered the first man. "I suppose you've heard of thefate that came to an English nurse called Edith Cavell, eh?"
"I have," replied the girl angrily, "and it was crime for which Germanywill have to pay some day. But you can't frighten me."
"You, too, will be shot as a spy," declared the larger German.
"And do you think that frightens me? I have done a whole lot for mycountry. Many times I warned my countrymen of an impending Germanattack. I am only sorry that I shall no longer have the opportunity."
"What!" exclaimed the German. "You admit it!"
"Of course I admit it. Why not?"
The German took a step toward the girl and raised a hand as though hewould strike.
This was more than Hal could stand. He sent the door crashing in witha swift kick and dashed into the room.
It would have been possible for Hal to have shot the German where hestood, but the lad was so angry that he wanted a word with him first.
"You big, hulking coward!" he cried.
Both Germans dropped their hands to their revolvers.
Hal's revolver flashed fire.
The German nearest the young French girl clapped a hand to his foreheadand sank to the floor.
There was a flash as the second German fired.