CHAPTER XXVI
NEW ARRIVALS
Hal gave a long whistle.
"Now, that's what I call hard luck," he said. "Do they know we're inhere?"
"I judge not," replied Chester. "They seem, to be waiting forsomething."
"Maybe they're waiting for our friend, whom we have tied up here, saidMajor Derevaux.
"By Jove! I hadn't thought of that," said Hal. "We may be able tomake use of him."
The lad stepped quickly across the room and lifted the German to hisfeet.
"I'm going to remove your gag," he said quietly, "but I want you tounderstand that if you make an outcry you'll never live to make asecond. Do you understand?"
The German signified that he did.
"All right, then," said Hal, "out comes the gag. Chester, keep yourgun in the middle of his back. We can afford to take no chances."
"Now," said Hal, "I want you to show yourself at the door and orderyour men there away."
The German eyed the lad angrily.
"So you want me to help you escape, eh?" he said. "Well, I won't doit."
"We're desperate," said Hal quietly. "If you don't I give you my wordyou shall be shot."
"Pooh!" sneered the German. "One shot and you will all be killed."
"But you won't be here to see it done," returned Hal. "Now I am notgoing to waste time with you. I shall count three, and if you have notdecided by that time to do as I order, you will die. Chester, do youunderstand?"
"You bet I do," declared Chester.
"Very well," said Hal. "One! Two!" Still the German made no move."Three!" said Hal.
The hammer on Chester's revolver clicked.
"Hold on!" cried the German. "I give in!"
Chester drew a breath of relief. He couldn't have shot the man down incold blood and he knew it. He lowered his revolver a trifle, but stillkept the man covered.
"Go to the door and order your men away from here," Hal ordered theprisoner.
The German strode toward the door.
"Careful," said Chester in a low voice. "One false move and it will beyour last."
Again he pressed his revolver against the German's back.
"Do you think I'm a fool?" exclaimed the prisoner. "I'm not going tobe killed if I can help it. Take that gun away."
"Not until you have done as commanded," returned Chester quietly.
The German opened the door and stepped outside. Chester, still feelingperfectly safe in his German uniform, accompanied him.
"Men," said the German, addressing the soldiers, "I find that I shallnot have need of you tonight. You will a return to your quarters."
The soldiers, who had stood at attention as the officer addressed them,at command from a minor officer, wheeled and marched away.
Chester marched his captive back inside.
"There," said the latter. "That's done; now what are you going to dowith me?"
"We'll have to tie and gag you again," said Chester. "You will befound and released in the morning."
"And probably court-martialed and shot if this night's proceedings everleaks out," muttered the German. "However, there is no help for it."
He suffered himself to be bound and gagged without opposition, and Halthen stretched him out on the floor again.
"Now," said the lad, "I guess our way is clear once more."
He moved toward the door, with the others following. Glancing out, heraised a hand suddenly and motioned the others to silence.
Outside two figures approached the house cautiously.
Hal called Chester to his side and the two watched the approachingfigures. It was too dark outside to distinguish the features of themen who approached, but there was no room for doubt that they wereenemies.
"Back inside and put out the light," whispered Hal. "They're comingin." The light was extinguished promptly. Then Hal added: "Be readyto grab them and stifle their cries the minute they are inside and Ihave closed the door behind them."
Those in the house stood silent.
A moment later the door moved cautiously inward. Then two shadowyforms stepped inside. Immediately Hal kicked shut the door behind themand sprang forward to lend a hand to Chester and Major Derevaux, whohad pounced upon the strangers as they entered.
"Don't let them cry out and don't kill them if you can help it," thelad cried.
The struggle raged furiously in the darkened room for some moments.Then Hal and Chester found themselves sitting upon one of theintruders, the latter with a revolver pressed to the man's forehead.
Gregory and Crean also had taken a hand in the struggle, and, withMajor Derevaux, now held the other man helpless.
"Strike a light, Antoinette," called the major.
The girl obeyed, and then for the first time the lads were able to geta look at their prisoners.
"By the great Horn Spoon!" ejaculated Chester, after one look at hisprisoner. "I'll take my oath that this man is Stubbs."
At the same moment a cry of astonishment was wrung from MajorDerevaux.
"Anderson!" he cried.
Chester and Hal got to their feet. The former twisted his hand in thecollar of his prisoner and lifted him to his feet.
"Stubbs!" he said severely, "you should know better than sneak upon afellow in the dark. You are liable to get hurt."
"I wouldn't have sneaked up, if I had known you were here," growledStubbs. "I would have come up openly and with my gun shooting."
"My, my!" said Chester. "Little man's getting bloodthirsty. Butdidn't I hear someone mention the name of Anderson."
"You did," replied a voice, and Chester found his hand gripped by noneother than his old friend, the British colonel. "By George! I'm gladto see you again," continued Anderson, "though I must say that this israther a strenuous reception for a couple of old friends."
He also shook hands with Hal. Major Derevaux and Stubbs expressedpleasure at seeing each other again. Then Hal demanded:
"Where did you get hold of Stubbs, Anderson?"
"I found him back in the British lines," said the colonel. "I wasdetailed to come here to see a woman who lives in this house and tobring a companion for the journey. I asked Stubbs to accompany me, andhe was glad of the chance."
"What!" exclaimed Hal. "You mean you brought Stubbs where there wasdanger and he didn't protest."
"No, I didn't protest," declared the little war correspondent. "But Iprotest now. I didn't sign up for any adventures in your party, andneither will I; you can bet on that."
"If you didn't know him, you'd think he was afraid," laughed ColonelAnderson.
"I am afraid," declared Stubbs. "I'm afraid to go fooling around withthese two," and he indicated Hal and Chester with a sweeping gesture."I'd rather fool around with dynamite."
"Well, we can't stay here any longer," said Major Derevaux, and in afew words explained to Colonel Anderson what had happened. "What wasthe nature of your business here?" he asked.
"About the same as yours," returned the colonel with a laugh. "But,as you say, there is no need to linger now. You have learned what ICame to find out. We may as well be moving."
"How'd you come, an airship?" asked the major. "Yes; and you?"
"Same way."
"Then we may as well get both machines back. I'll take half of yourparty. My plane is only about a hundred yards from here."
"My plane is not much farther--in a little woods there."
"By Jove! So is mine. Wouldn't be surprised if they were near thesame spot. Well, let's be moving."
Colonel Anderson led the way from the house, and the others followedhim through the darkness.