CHAPTER XXVII.
WONDERFUL NEWS.
"If what you suspect is true, Josh," said Rod hurriedly, "we must dosomething to baffle the terrible game he is bent on playing. Can youlead us to the place where the man is hiding, and is it possible to getclose to him without his knowing about our being there?"
"Sure thing, Rod; why, I could have jumped down on his back if I'dwanted to; but I just moved away as slick as you please."
On second thoughts, however, Rod changed his plan. What he hadcontemplated trying seemed too risky; for if the man learned that hisplot was discovered he might touch the key and explode the mine beforethe boys could master him, even though all the staff including thegeneral himself had not gathered as yet under the Headquarters shelter.
"I'll try and get in touch with the officers before the council iscalled," he told his comrades, and immediately started off.
It was an object with Rod to hasten his steps, and yet at the same timetry not to arouse any suspicion. If he were detained on the way preciousseconds would be lost, and after all he might fail to save the Frenchofficers from a dreadful fate at the hands of a crazy German soldier.
Arriving close to the shelter of which mention has been made, Rod boldlysingled out a man who he fancied would be apt to listen to him.
"Pardon, Monsieur," he said hastily, "but by accident myself and friendshave just learned that there is a scheme afoot to blow up this shelterwhile you and your brave fellow officers are in conference. Even now amadman lies hidden close by, his finger on a battery, and ready to closethe circuit in haste. I am come to give you warning. Please do notexhibit any alarm, but arrange it so that every one may spring away fromthis place when you give the word!"
The officer stared hard at him, as indeed he had good reason to. Theinformation was certainly of a thrilling nature, and well calculated toarouse a chill in the region of his heart.
Again that frank and fearless face of Rod convinced his listener of thetruth of his story, even though it seemed so remarkable and monstrous.The officer turned to his four companions and said something to them ina low but positive tone. From their startled looks it was soon evidentthat they chose to take the warning most seriously.
All at once he uttered a loud cry. It was the signal agreed upon, forevery man proceeded to leap away from the shelter and make haste toplace as many yards as possible between Headquarters and his own person.Rod had taken care to be on his way before this, since his object hadalready been accomplished.
If any of those French officers had felt disposed to doubt the truth ofthe astounding story that had been brought to them by the American boythey found immediate cause to change their minds. Hardly had the last ofthem succeeded in leaving the shelter than there came a heavy shock, andup into the air arose the fragments of the cover under which they hadjust been gathered.
Had they remained where they were ten seconds before not one of themwould have likely escaped death or severe bodily injuries.
A loud shout from Josh just then called attention to a running figure.The hidden conspirator, seeing that his mad scheme had proven a failure,must have crept forth from his hiding place, and was hoping to escape inthe general confusion. But his uniform betrayed him, and presently gunsbegan to sound, until finally they saw him curl up on the ground.
It was later on found that he had only been wounded, and he was broughtin, foaming at the mouth. There could be no doubt regarding hiscondition, for even a tyro might see that he was crazy, perhaps from awound received in the head in some earlier stage of the great battle.
It was not believed that German officers would connive at such adastardly scheme as trying to blow up a shelter under which the Frenchstaff had gathered for consultation; and in the end it was put down asonly the plot of one who was wholly irresponsible.
Of course the three American boys were thanked most heartily by theofficers whose lives they had saved. It promised to turn out to be oneof the best things that could have happened for them; and, as Joshremarked, their old luck seemed to be working at full speed.
They were soon summoned into the presence of the general, who, with hisstaff gathered about him, publicly thanked Rod and his chums for theirrecent act. He shook their hands with considerable feeling, as became aneffusive Frenchman whose life was not only valuable to himself and hisbeloved country in time of need, but also to the wife and children whoawaited news of his labors at home, and daily prayed for his safety.
While they stood there the madman was brought past, screaming andcarrying on in a frightful manner. He must have been connected with theEngineer or Signal Corps of the enemy forces, to have the knowledge ofexplosives that he did, as well as the ability to lay his wires so asnot to attract attention.
The boys could admire any deed of daring that was meant to further thecause of a soldier's heart; but to plot to blow up a whole staff in sucha treacherous way was something that could only originate in adisordered mind, and filled them with horror.
"Now tell me who you are, and what brings you here at such a time, whenFrance is bleeding from ten thousand wounds, and Paris has only beensaved as through a miracle?"
It was, of course, the general who asked this. He was looking into theexpressive face of Rod while speaking, and perhaps unconsciously sayingto himself that if his oldest boy ever grew up to be such a manlylooking young fellow as this American cousin he would be contented; forthat was usually the way Rod impressed those whom he met.
Rod was just about to answer and explain as briefly as possible, for heknew how valuable time must be with this brave officer, when somethinginterrupted him.
A number of men were passing and carrying a stretcher upon which lay oneof their number. Rod guessed that this must be the hero of the battlewhen he saw every officer make a salute that could only stand for hisappreciation toward valor beyond all parallel.
"That's the man who threw the bomb that saved the ford!" said Josh toHanky Panky, as the little procession drew near.
Evidently the wounded man had received attention at the hands of thefield surgeon, and was now about to be placed in an ambulance and takento Paris with an escort of honor to guard him. Nothing could be too goodfor him in the opinion of those who had observed his daring deed.
The general laid his hand on Rod's arm.
"Come," he said kindly, "it seems that you too witnessed the wonderfulfeat performed by this hero of heroes. Perhaps you would be glad to sayyou had taken his hand when you return to your native country. I ampleased to say he will undoubtedly live to receive the honors that agrateful France is ready to shower on his head."
"Thank you, Monsieur le General," said Rod warmly; "I speak for mycomrades as well when I say we would esteem it an honor to meet him; andwe also hope and pray he may live to see victory come to France."
Accompanying the general, they advanced toward the party with thestretcher. The attendants had halted at a signal from thecommander-in-chief, and set their burden down. Rod saw the face of theman who had dared all to save his fellows. Somehow it seemed to him thatsomewhere or other he must have met him before, although for the life ofhim Rod could not imagine how that could be.
"This, then, is the one man whose act made the taking of the fordpossible," said the French general; "and when you remember what this dayyou have witnessed, always place high on the roll of fame the honoredname of Andre D'Aubrey, to whom we who have fought the battle for theford owe all our success!"
"What! _our_ Andre, and a hero of heroes at that!" cried Josh, ableto grasp the amazing fact, even if much that the general had said was asGreek to him; "now what do you think of that, Hanky Panky?"
As for the party in question, he could only stare and shake his head asthough utterly unable to understand what it meant.
Rod suddenly remembered why the face of the man on the stretcher hadseemed so familiar. When Jeanne told him all about her troubles he hadbeen looking at the small boy who accompanied her on her milk route withthe dog team; and it was Andre's son who
se face was in his mind when hestared at the father, for the lad was certainly "a chip off the oldblock."
Things could hardly have turned out better for the three MotorcycleBoys. Why, not only would Andre have witnesses when he signed thedocument, but high honors awaited him after he had recovered from hiswounds. Jeanne in her far-distant, humble home in Antwerp must soon heargreat tidings that would bring her much joy.
No wonder then that Rod hastened to pour out the story in his bestFrench.