CHAPTER XVI
CHESTER'S GALLANT FEAT
The object upon which Chester's eyes had fallen and which was the causeof the sudden activity on the lad's part was nothing less than therapid-fire gun the Germans so recently had brought up to bombard thefarmhouse and cut off the retreat of its French defenders. Its crew hadbeen killed, picked off by the accurate shooting of the French beforethey abandoned the house, and the gun had not been remanned. Apparentlythe Germans had overlooked the small field piece in their haste to givechase to the retreating French.
The horses were standing a short distance away, unhurt, as Chester couldsee. The lad dashed toward the gun at top speed, his five men followinghim as fast as they could run.
There was a light of anticipation on Chester's face as he reached the gunand examined it carefully.
"Plenty of ammunition," he said with a grin, as his men came up to him.
The others grinned also.
"What are you going to do with it, sir?" asked one.
Chester waved his arm in the direction of the retreating French andpursuing Germans.
"Give those fellows a little surprise party when they turn back," hesaid.
The men caught the idea and were immediately filled with enthusiasm.
"We'd better get away from here before we're discovered, though," saidChester. "Catch those horses, some of you."
This was an easy matter, for the horses stood still as two of the Frenchsoldiers approached them.
"Hook 'em up," cried Chester.
This, too, was the work of a moment.
"I'll do the driving," said Chester. "You fellows climb aboard."
The others needed no urging and a moment later this strange battery movedtoward the French lines at a gallop.
The Germans in pursuit of the French were still in plain view and Chesterintended to keep close behind. He reasoned that the distance was toogreat for the Germans to make out the uniforms of the men on the gun andhe intended to turn off the roadway at the first sign that the Germanswere ready to give up the chase.
Along the road ran a fringe of trees, sparse in some places and thickerin others. It was Chester's plan to wheel the gun in among the trees atthe proper moment and open on the foe when they came back.
And the plan was to be put in execution sooner than the lad hadhoped for.
Chester saw the Germans slow down. Then they turned and came toward him.The lad could not make out at once the cause of their sudden decision toretreat, but it came to him a moment later with the sound of heavy riflefiring. Apparently, French infantry had advanced to the support of thecavalry and the Germans were not strong enough in numbers to contesteffectively.
Immediately, Chester swung the horses to the right in among the trees,which, fortunately, happened to be dense at this particular point.
"Guess we'll give 'em a little surprise," said Chester, with a grin.
Dismounting, he motioned the men to unhitch the horses, which was done.Then the gun was whirled into position where it commanded the roadway.
"We're ready for them," said Chester, quietly.
The Germans drew on apace. Suddenly a thought struck Chester.
"Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "I can't shoot them down in cold blood, I'llhave to give them a chance. Here!" he motioned to one of his men and thelatter approached. "Take this gun," the lad commanded. "I'm going to givethese fellows a chance to surrender. If they refuse I'll duck back hereand you let them have it. I'll keep out of range, but don't turn this gununtil I get back. Understand?"
The man signified that he did.
Chester walked some distance back to where the road curved a bit. He wasout of the direct line of fire, but still in such position to make hisdemand for the surrender of the Germans without allowing them to pass thesweep of the rapid-firer.
With the Germans still some distance down the road, Chester steppeddirectly into the highway and raised a hand.
The leading Germans pulled up and an officer demanded:
"What's the matter?"
"Surrender!" exclaimed Chester, "or you shall all be killed."
The German officer gave a great laugh.
"Hear the boy talk," he exclaimed. "He asks us to surrender when we havejust chased all the French back to their own lines."
There was a roar of laughter from the troop.
"Surrender!" called Chester again.
Again there was a laugh and the German officer called:
"Throw up your hands, boy, or you shall be shot!"
"Well," said Chester, "I've done all I can. I've warned you. Your bloodbe upon your own heads."
With a sudden leap he disappeared among the trees. With a fierce cry, theGerman officer made after him, firing as he did so.
At the same moment there was a crash as of a thousand rifles.Germans fell from their saddles like chaff before a storm. Horsesreared, screamed, stampeded and fell down dead, crushing theirriders beneath them.
By this time Chester had returned to his men and took charge of therapid-fire gun himself. He turned it this way and that, sweeping theroadway clear, where the foe was in range.
And from far behind the German line at this moment broke out the crack ofrifles. The French infantry had advanced in pursuit of the Germans, asquadron of cavalry showing the way.
The Germans were caught between two fires.
Unable to estimate the number of men in the force that had ambushed them,the Germans threw down their arms.
"We surrender!" cried a German officer.
Instantly the fire of the machine gun ceased and Chester advanced to theroad again. The same German officer who, a moment ago, had scorned thelad's warning, now advanced and tendered his sword to Chester.
"Tell your men to throw down their arms," commanded Chester.
The officer did so, and swords and pistols rattled to the ground.
"Now," said Chester, "you will about face and march toward the Frenchlines. There must be no foolishness. My army here is rather small, but westill have the rapid-fire gun and it will be trained upon you until youare safe."
The lad signalled to his men, who had already hitched up the horses, andthese now advanced.
"What!" exclaimed the German officer, when he had taken a glance atChester's "army," "are these all the men you had when you attacked us?"
"They seemed to be enough," said Chester, with a smile.
"No wonder we haven't beaten you a long while ago," the German officermumbled to himself. "When five men and one a boy perform a feat likethis, I begin to have my doubts as to the outcome of this war."
"Well," said Chester, "I don't have any such doubts. But come, now;forward march."
Slowly the German troopers marched ahead, Chester and his machine gunbringing up the rear.
And in this manner they came directly upon the French cavalry andinfantry advancing in pursuit of the Germans.
Great were the exclamations among the French troops when it was foundthat five men and a young officer had made such an important capture, tosay nothing of the terrible execution inflicted upon the enemy with theirown rapid-fire gun. The French officers were loud in the praises ofChester's gallantry.
And with the troop of French cavalry Chester found Hal and CaptainLeroux.
"By Jove! I'm glad to see you, Chester," said Hal, advancing withoutstretched hand. "I was afraid we wouldn't get back in time."
"I guess you wouldn't have, if we had waited for you," said Chester,dryly. "I wasn't going to take any more chances if I could help it. Whenyou left us there by ourselves, I was sure if we wanted to come away,we'd have to do it by ourselves."
"We didn't do it intentionally," said Captain Leroux.
"Who said you did?" demanded Chester, somewhat angrily.
The French captain flushed. He drew himself up, seemed about to make anangry reply; then cooled down and said:
"I'm sorry."
With that he walked away.
"Look here, Chester," said Hal, "you know that I woul
dn't have leftyou behind for anything if I had only thought of it. But in theexcitement and--"
"That's it," said Chester. "There was too much excitement and you werehaving it all. I get buried down in a cellar with five men and sit therein the dark till the fun's all over. Then you don't even take the troubleto tell me it's time to go home. I don't like it."
"Great Scott! You're not mad, are you, Chester?"
"Mad? Sure I'm mad. Next time you get in a hole I'm going to walk awayand leave you there."
Hal smiled.
"Oh, I guess not," he returned.
"You do, eh? Well, you try it and see what happens."
"Come, now, Chester, you know how this thing happened," said Hal. "Wedidn't do it purposely."
Chester seemed about to make an angry retort; but a moment later a smilebroke over his face and he extended a hand to his chum.
"I know you didn't," he replied, "but can't a fellow have a little fun?"
Hal took the hand as he exclaimed:
"You've offended Captain Leroux."
"Well," said Chester, "Captain Leroux has offended me."