CHAPTER XVI.
IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY.
Although it had been a trying morning for Hal, and he was very tired, thelad continued on his way as swiftly as possible. From time to time, as hehastened along, he heard the sound of distant firing, and he proceededwith the greatest caution; but he encountered no more of the enemy.
It was late afternoon when he made out in the distance the town ofLouvain. He quickened his pace, and soon came upon the outposts.
"I have a communication for General Givet," he told the soldier whostopped him.
The soldier lowered the weapon, with which he had barred the lad'sprogress, and called a nearby officer. The latter led Hal to thegeneral's quarters.
Hal gave General Givet the letter, and stood at attention. The generalread in silence. Then he turned to Hal.
"All right," he said briefly, signifying that Hal might go.
"But, general," said the lad, "I was ordered to bring back your answer."
The general looked at him in surprise.
"Do you mean you intend to go back to-night?" he demanded.
"I thought I would start along about midnight," replied Hal. "I wouldsleep until that time."
The general was silent for some moments, musing.
"You are a brave lad," he said, at last. "I had figured on sending myanswer by another courier; but perhaps your plan is better. You mayreport to me at midnight, and I shall have the answer ready."
Hal saluted and turned to leave the hut.
"Wait a minute," commanded the general. "Tell me something of yourself.How comes it that you, an American, I take it, have been selected forsuch perilous work? Why, you cannot be more than eighteen years old."
"Seventeen, general," replied Hal, with a smile; and then he told theBelgian officer of his experiences since leaving Berlin.
The old general was amazed.
"Remarkable! remarkable!" he repeated, time after time.
Finally he called an officer, and commanded that the latter find Hal aplace to sleep.
"Remember, midnight," called the general, as Hal was leaving the hut.
Hal saluted again.
"Yes, general," he replied, and followed the young officer.
Promptly at midnight Hal, greatly refreshed by a sound sleep and heartymeal, once more entered the general's quarters and came to attention.
"The answer you are to carry back is simply: 'I shall act upon yourplan,'" said General Givet. "Good luck to you on your journey, and I haveonly one command: Make all possible haste."
Hal saluted and set out on his return, journey to Liege.
It was early morning when he came once more to the farmhouse where he hadfought so nobly the day before. His fear for Chester's safety increasedas he approached, and it was not without some misgiving that he ascendedthe porch steps and knocked softly at the door.
He heard a light footstep within, the door swung open, and Edna peeredforth at him.
"What! Back so soon?" she exclaimed gladly.
"Yes, I made pretty good time. How is Chester?"
Hal's doubts were soon set at rest.
"He is much better this morning than could have been expected," repliedthe girl. "He ate a hearty breakfast, and says he is feeling fine."
Hal followed her up the steps to where Chester lay, impatientlyawaiting his coming. Edna went downstairs to see about getting himsomething to eat.
"Will you be able to leave to-day?" asked Hal, of Chester.
"I am ready to go right now. I am still weak, but I am sure I can make itall right. I'm bandaged up fine."
"You are sure you are feeling fit?"
"Certainly. Besides, I don't want to be left behind again. You are havingall the fun. I want to get in on a little of it myself."
And so it was arranged that the boys should leave immediately afterluncheon. They sought long and earnestly during the morning to prevailupon Edna to accompany them, or to make her way to Louvain; but shedeclared her intention of remaining where she was.
"I am much safer here than I should be on the road," she said. "No onewill harm me. Besides, I must take care of the house."
Unable to shake her determination, the boys gave up the attempt, and forthe rest of the morning the three chatted pleasantly.
Luncheon over, the boys immediately prepared to fare forth again. Ednaaccompanied them to the bottom of the steps, where they said good-by.
"Come and see me again," she urged, as they shook hands with her. "Youare always welcome here."
"We certainly shall," cried both lads together, as they started upontheir way.
Chester was still weak, but he walked along wonderfully well, consideringthe nature of his wound. Still, it was plain to Hal that every step costhim an effort, and their progress was necessarily slow.
All afternoon they plodded onward without encountering the enemy, andsoon after nightfall came upon the place where the Belgian outpostshad been stationed the night before. The signs of a struggle wereplainly evident.
"There has been a battle here," remarked Hal, after inspecting theground.
"There is no doubt about that," returned Chester, "and the Belgians havebeen driven back. We shall have to be careful."
They were proceeding on their way more cautiously than before, when fromahead there suddenly came the sound of trampling hoofs.
"A Belgian reconnoitering party, I guess," said Hal. "We are safeenough now."
Presently a body of horsemen came into view. The lads continuedtoward them, and the horsemen were but a few yards away, when Chestercried suddenly:
"They're Germans!"
It was true. It was a squadron of Uhlans, returning from a reconnaissanceof the Belgian position.
It was too late for the boys to run. The cavalry was upon them. The ladsstepped to the side of the road, and continued on their way apparentlyunconcerned. A German officer stopped them.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "What are you doing here?"
"We are American boys," replied Hal, "and are making our way to Liege."
"Well, you won't get to Liege to-night. Turn about and march theother way."
There was nothing to do but obey. With a sinking sensation in theirhearts the lads about-faced and headed toward the great German camp. Fora long time, it seemed to them, they were marched along slowly, andfinally the first huts of the German army came into view.
"I am afraid our mission is a failure," whispered Hal, as the two ladswere led to a hut and placed under heavy guard.
"It looks that way," Chester agreed; "but we must hope for the best. Itmay be lucky for us that we have no papers on us."
"What are they going to do with us?" Hal asked one of their guards.
"Shoot you in the morning, I suppose," was the answer. "Persons foundbetween the two armies in civilian clothes cannot hope for mercy."
"But we are not spies!" cried Chester.
"Perhaps not; but I don't believe that will make any difference."
The guard would talk no more.
"Our only chance is that they believe we were trying to get to Liegesimply to get out of the country," whispered Chester. "If they knew wewere just returning from a mission, we would be bound to die."
"Looks to me as though we were bound to die, no matter what they know,"was the reply.
The boys got little sleep that night. They realized just how near theywere to death, and, while their courage never faltered, they neverthelesshad practically given up all hope.
At the first streak of dawn they were led to the quarters of thedivision commander, and their case was disposed of with remarkablerapidity. Their protests availed nothing, and they were sentenced to betaken out and shot.
With a firm step the two lads walked to the place of execution,surrounded by their guards. But the hearts of both were heavy.
"I wish I could have seen mother once more," said Hal softly.
Chester gave his chum's hand a slight squeeze.
"Well, it can't be helped now," he
replied, with an attempt to appearcheerful. "But come, brace up; if we must die, we will die bravely."
"You are right," said Hal, brushing the tears from his eyes with arapid movement.
With heads erect, the two lads marched on.
At that moment a group of German officers approached on horseback. Theyeyed the two captives, and suddenly one left his companions and rode overto the firing squad. The officer in command of the squad halted his menand saluted.
"What have we here?" demanded the newcomer.
"Two spies, sir," was the reply. "They were taken between the lines, andhave been ordered shot."
"These two boys are my business," declared the mounted officer, a note ofauthority in his voice. "Their execution is stayed. Take them to myheadquarters."
"But, general--" began the officer in charge of the squad.
The general raised a hand imperiously.
"There are no 'buts,'" he said. "You have heard my command. Obey it."
Hal and Chester were dumfounded. As their guards turned and marched themin the direction of the general's quarters, Hal asked of Chester:
"Do you remember him?"
Chester nodded in the affirmative.
For the German officer who had thus saved them from death before a firingsquad was none other than the officer whom they had encountered in thestation at Berlin, the man who had threatened to have Hal whipped foraccidentally bumping into him, and had pushed him from the train.