CHAPTER XXII
FACING MORE DIFFICULTIES
"As for me," spoke up Bessie, immediately, just as Jack felt positiveshe would, "I'd like nothing better. I've been up once in ahydro-airplane, and would have gone many times if mother had allowedme."
The lady did not seem to anticipate having a very delightful time of it,for Tom felt her shudder; but she was courageous, and evidently ready toattempt any hazard in order to gain her freedom.
"If only there is some way to fasten me securely," she told them, "I amwilling to do anything you say, my brave boys. So make your planswithout regard to my feelings in the matter."
Jack about this time evidently began to scent something with regard toTom's intuitions; at least his word implied a growing skepticismconcerning their ability to find room for two passengers aboard a planeintended only for a pilot and an observer, or a gunner.
"Of course one could squeeze in alongside me, Tom," he mentionedhesitatingly; "but do you think it's wise to have anybody with you?Mightn't it interfere with the working of the controls, and add to thedanger?"
"It certainly would, Jack; and that's why I'm forced to call on you tomake a sacrifice."
"Go on and say what's on your mind, then," demanded Jack. "No matterwhat it's going to be, you'll find me ready and willing for anything."
"You'll have to wait for the second trip," Tom announced.
"All right, just as you say, Tom. When will that be, later on to-night?"
"If it's possible to get back, yes," said the other.
"But if you can't make it, then to-morrow night, Tom?"
Jack was not overcome with fear, even though the prospect did appearanything but cheerful. Bessie listened to this low talk, and gaveevidence of growing anxiety.
"But why should this be necessary?" she put in at that juncture. "I canstay behind just as well as not. Then perhaps another night later on youcould come again, and take me with you to the French lines, and safety."
Jack sniffed in disdain.
"Well, I guess not, Bessie!" he told her, almost sternly. "I'd just liketo see myself sailing away, and leaving you here to stand the racket.No, both of you are going to accompany Tom. I can find a hiding placesomewhere around; and besides, no one will suspect that an Americanflier is hanging out here. There's only one thing I hate like everythingto think of."
"And I can guess what that is," Tom said, quickly. "You dread tocontemplate a long eatless day before you. That's the worst punishmentanyone could hand out to you, Jack."
"As far as that goes," interrupted Bessie; "I can tell Jack where thepantry window lies. As the catch is broken you can easily climb inthrough it later on to-night, and lay in a supply of food. There isalways something there. Before that bad man shut me up he tried tostarve me, and I stole food myself. Then he guessed what was happening,for he fastened my door, and only allowed me to walk in the grounds incompany with a woman he has for a housekeeper."
Thereupon Bessie gave Jack minute directions how to find the windowleading into the storeroom. Thus armed the young aviator felt that heought to be able to stand it, in case his comrade found it impracticableto return on the same night.
"Since all that is fixed," remarked Tom, "it strikes me we had betterget out of this place quickly. Can you lead us down by way of thestairs, Bessie?"
"Oh, yes; for I know every foot of the way," she told him withouthesitation. "You see, I expected that some time we would have to slipaway by stealth; and so I made myself familiar with everything, even tothe fastenings of the great front door, with its chain and catch."
"Then we're in great luck," Jack observed, while Tom on his part went onto ask further.
"All seems dark outside now, Bessie; would that indicate your jailer hasgone to his bed? And do you happen to know where his apartment is? Thatmight mean a whole lot to us, you understand."
"I don't believe he ever does really go to bed," she replied. "Once Iheard him complain that there were so many times during the night thatmessengers came from headquarters with demands, or after informationexpected from over the lines, that he had to secure his sleep whilefully dressed, and by throwing himself down on a Turkish lounge he hasin his room."
"Well, so long as his sleep is sound it's little we care how or when hegets it," announced Jack, flippantly. "And when you give the word, Tom,we'll all be ready to follow Bessie down the stairs."
Tom was even opening his mouth to say there was really nothing to detainthem, if Bessie and her mother had secured what trifles they wished totake away, but after all he did not speak the words that were on hislips.
Through the open window they suddenly heard the sound of heavy, gutturalvoices. They seemed to come from the road near the entrance gates.
Tom stepped over to the window and looked out. What he saw gave him anunpleasant feeling. There were lights already on the crooked driveway,and a number of men seemed to be advancing in a group.
Jack at his elbow was also staring, and grinding his teeth with anger.
"Hang the luck, I say!" he gritted. "That fresh bunch of Boche officersis bound to knock our plans silly. They'll stir things up again, and wecan't get away. Then perhaps some one will discover the doors of the tworooms are unfastened, and that'll start a hornet's nest about our ears."
"Get down, and keep hidden, Jack," urged his companion. "They havelights with them, and might see us as they come along. There's ageneral, at least, in the lot, that big stout man in the center, and Iimagine those other officers belong to his staff."
"But what are they walking for?" whispered Jack, incredulously. "Germanofficers in the High Command don't often tramp along the roads likethat, do they?"
"They may have broken down in their car; and learning they were close tothis house have come on here to wait till repairs are made. Lots of themknow Potzfeldt, I suppose, and one of these men may have been herebefore on business. The worst of it all is we'll have to give up ourscheme of going down by way of the stairs."
They crouched down and watched as best they could, while the half-dozenmen in the gray-green uniforms of German officers, and with manydecorations on the breast of the martial-looking commander, approachedthe chateau's front door.
Already lights had sprung up on the lower floor. Undoubtedly Potzfeldthad heard his unexpected guests coming, and was bestirring himself towelcome them, though inwardly raving over having his rest so frequentlydisturbed.
He met them at the door, and there ensued more or less talking, all ofit in the choicest of German. Again Jack felt sorry that his educationwas so incomplete that he could only guess at what most of it meant.
Still, Tom could pick up a little of what was said. There was certainlymention made of an unfortunate accident to a car, that would necessitatea delay of some hours for repairs, possibly until morning. The generaldid not altogether fancy sitting in the car for hours in the cool nightair. Especially was this the case after he had learned that there was ahouse half a mile or so further on where food and drink could beobtained in plenty, if only they chose to walk that far.
All of the newcomers had by now stalked inside the house, and the coastseemed to be clear, so far as those above could see. But down belowthere was much hurrying to and fro, which would indicate that Potzfeldtmust have aroused his retainers, and they were running up and down fromwine-cellar to dining-room, bearing acceptable refreshments for theunbidden guests.
"Say, I wonder if that old stout chap could be Hindenburg himself?" Jackwhispered in his chum's ear. "I noticed that Mr. Potzfeldt seemed mightyobsequious, as if he felt highly honored at having such a noble visitor,and nothing could be too good to set before him."
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if you'd hit the nail on the head whenyou said that, Jack," the other told him. "He was a big, burly man, witha mighty important air about him; and he wore a mustache such as we'vealways seen in pictures of Hindenburg. But no matter, it doesn't concernus at all, if we can find a way to get down from here."
"Only," said Jack, whi
msically, "I do hope if they've got their Germanappetites along, they don't clean out that pantry before I get mylook-in, that's all. Twenty-four hours without a single bite would bethe limit for me. I don't think I'd survive the ordeal. Now what, Tom?"
Tom was looking out again.
"That's lucky," Jack heard him mutter.
"Of course it is. But tell me what you're referring to, Tom."
"Some clouds have come along. One is right now covering the face of themoon, you notice. Well, if we are forced to lower Bessie and her motherfrom the window by means of a rope made from knotted bed-sheets, westand a chance to avoid being discovered at work by any one who mighthappen to be abroad just then."
Jack chuckled as though pleased.
"Sure, that's the game, Tom! I knew you'd be equal to getting up somesort of clever scheme. And I'll start in right away making that rope. Wewant to be certain it's strong enough to bear their weight, that's all."
"I'll help you at the job," Tom told him, for he too wished to bepositive about the twisted parts of the sheets, before trusting the girland her mother to their care.
Fortunately they found that Carl Potzfeldt had some of the airs of amillionaire about him. The sheets were of stout linen, instead of thecustomary cotton to which the American boys were accustomed. When thesewere cut first with a sharp pocket-knife, and then torn into long stripsabout a foot or so in width, they could be twisted and knotted until theresult was a novel rope of at least twenty feet in length.
Neither Bessie nor her mother said a single word. They seemed more thanwilling to be thus lowered to the ground. Such a novel experience mightnot be delightful, but it amounted to very little when compared withwhat they had suffered at the hands of their rude and cruel captor.
Soon the odd rope was ready for use.
"Let me be the first to go down," Bessie then said to Tom, in anauthoritative voice.
As he had been about to propose the same thing he made not the leastobjection, but proceeded to secure one end of the strange rope aroundher body just below the arms, Bessie herself assisting in the operation.
Before attempting the task, Tom stood at the window listening for somelittle time. He wished to make sure that none of the German officers hadremained outside. Tom also meant to satisfy himself that there was nolurking form among the bushes on that side of the chateau, since thelight streaming from the lower windows dissipated some of the advantagesgained by the temporary clouding of the moon.