CHAPTER XXII.
THE KAISER.
In spite of the fact that Hal had sure sense that Emperor Wilhelmwould be in the room below, he felt a peculiar thrill creep over himas he made out the imposing figure of "The War Lord of Europe." Hewhistled softly to himself.
"Great Scott!" he ejaculated, and then looked long and silently.
"To think," he said to himself after a long pause, "that he isprimarily responsible for this great war, with its toll of thousandsof lives and the destruction of property worth millions of dollars."
Unconsciously, almost, he drew his revolver, and pointed it straightat the War Lord's breast.
"With one little movement of my finger," said the lad softly tohimself, "I could snuff out the life of the man who has already sentthousands to their death. One shot, and----"
His fingers tightened on the trigger, but for a moment only. Then helowered his weapon, and a moment later dropped it back in his pocket,while he wiped away little beads of perspiration that had gathered onhis brow.
"It's no use," he told himself, "I couldn't do it if I wanted to."
Wilhelm II, Emperor of the German Empire and War Lord of Europe, willnever know how close he was to death at that moment!
Now the voices of the officers in the room below became louder, and bystraining his ears the lad could make out what they were saying.
"If," came a voice from below, and Hal recognized it as that of CountVon Moltke, "if we can draw the British to this point, we can cut themoff from their French support and annihilate them. And----"
"And," came the voice of the Kaiser himself, "we can, then, by a quickturning move, take the French by surprise and our victory will becomplete."
"Exactly, sire," came Count Von Moltke's voice again.
"But, sire," said a third voice, "what have we to warrant that theEnglish will accept our bait?"
The Emperor did not reply immediately, and Count Von Moltke broke inagain.
"We will make a strong showing on the eastern shore of the Marne," hesaid, "and will retire slowly before the British. As they come on,flushed with apparent victory, Von Kluck will take them on the leftflank. We shall cut them to pieces."
"The plan sounds well to me," came the voice of the Kaiser again."General Von Kluck, how soon can you be in readiness to execute thiscoup?"
"Not before day after to-morrow, sire," was the reply. "It will takeme that long to bring my men to the designated point, at the same timekeeping the British unaware of their withdrawal."
"And how many men will you be able to bring?" asked the Kaiser.
"Half a million, sire."
"Leaving how many in their present position, as a screen?"
"Very few, sire. Hardly more than 50,000 men."
The Kaiser growled something, unintelligible to Hal, into hismustache. Then he spoke aloud:
"If the British were aware of that," he said, "by a quick advance theywould place us at a tremendous disadvantage."
"So they would, sire," agreed General Von Kluck. "But it must be seenthat they do not anticipate our plan."
"In that event," came the Emperor's reply, "it will be necessary forthat part of your force which is left to make a show of strength atthe same moment the mass of your command is withdrawn."
"Exactly what I had figured upon, sire."
"Good; but you say it is impossible for you to be ready until the dayafter to-morrow. In that event, we must hold the English in theirpresent positions at all costs. A premature advance on their part,while we would undoubtedly repulse it, would mean the ruination of ourcoup. See to it, gentlemen, that there is no leak."
"There shall be none, sire," came a chorus of officers.
"Very well. But I had had my mind set on being in Paris long ere this.Had it not been for the interference of these English--and thesestarving Belgians, I would be there now," and the Kaiser's voice grewharsh. "They must be crushed," and he struck the table a heavy blowwith his clenched fist.
"And crushed they shall be, sire," said Count Von Moltke soothingly."It is only a question of time."
"Well, you have been long enough doing it," came the Emperor's angryvoice. "See that you do not fail me again. If you do----"
He broke off, but his silence was more menacing than any threat hemight have uttered.
There was the sound of chairs scraping on the floor, and a momentlater of heavy footsteps. Hal, in his hiding place, knew that theGerman officers were leaving the house.
"By George!" the lad muttered to himself, "Wilhelm must be a holyterror. I'll bet Von Kluck, Von Moltke and all the rest are due for aterrible wigging, for I'm here to see that this plot fails."
Hal waited patiently for perhaps half an hour, and then, feelingcertain that the coast was clear, emerged from his hiding place. Hewas just lowering himself from the window by which he had enteredwhen, from almost below him, there was a loud scream.
Glancing down, Hal beheld the pale face of the woman who had giventhem food only a short time before. Fearing that the Emperor and hisofficers might be attracted by her screams, Hal dropped quickly to theground, and an instant later had his hand clapped over the woman'smouth.
"Quiet!" he commanded in a harsh voice. "If you make no noise youshall not be harmed. Otherwise----" he paused significantly.
The woman shuddered once or twice, but she uttered no further sound.
"Go into the house," Hal commanded, and followed her.
"I guess I had better tie you up for safe keeping," the lad mutteredto himself. "I can't afford to be interfered with now."
He found a piece of rope, and, making a gag out of a napkin, gaggedand bound her securely. Then he placed her gently in a chair.
"You will have to sit there until someone comes along to free you," hetold her. "I hope it won't be long, for your sake, but I can't affordto take any chances with you."
He left the house; and as he turned his eyes toward the spot where hehad so lately left his friends, his heart sank.
Chester, Lieutenant Anderson and the three troopers were runningtoward him as fast as their legs would carry them, closely pursued bya band of mounted Germans. Even at this distance Hal could make outthe forms of Count Von Moltke, and, yes, Emperor Wilhelm himself!
With the high German officers came a little troop of mounted soldiers,evidently, Hal thought, an escort, that had been left some distancebehind while the Emperor and his officers discussed their plans in thefarmhouse. In all, there were twelve horsemen dashing after thefugitives.
Now his friends came up with him, and Hal, believing as did hisfriends that discretion was the better part of valor, also turned andran. Several shots rang out, but none was touched and they did notpause to reply.
"Just wait till we get back to our own men," thought Hal to himself ashe ran along, "that is, if we can make it."
But help came unexpectedly. Bristow, the man who had been left incharge of the little band of English, hearing the sound of firing, hadcrawled forward to investigate. He made out the figures flying towardhim and recognized them instantly; also, he saw the pursuing horsemen.
Quickly he returned to his men, and at a word they all dashed forward.This reinforcement arrived not a moment too soon, for the horsemenwere overhauling the fugitives rapidly.
When the fugitives saw their own men approaching they stopped in theirmad flight, drew their revolvers and fired at the pursuers with almosta single movement.
The horses of the Germans came to a sudden halt, being pulled up ontheir haunches, so forcibly did their riders bring them to a stop. Amoment later the pursuers themselves were in full flight.
Hal laughed loudly to himself, and so great became his mirth that hewas forced to hold his sides.
"What on earth is the matter with you?" demanded Chester in greatsurprise. "What are you laughing at?"
"Why," explained Hal, between bursts of laughter, "I am laughing atthe sight of Emperor Wilhelm II, War Lord of Europe, flying as if theevil one himself were after him!"
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