CHAPTER XXII
THE PARTY IS INCREASED
"I guess an aeroplane is the best way after all," said Hal, when theywere back in their own quarters.
"Sure," Chester agreed. "It's swifter, and if we have any luck at all,it's a pretty good contraption to get away in after we have gained ourinformation. Now about clothes. Shall we keep on these uniforms?"
"What would you suggest?"
"Well, I don't know. Thought maybe we would take some Germanclothes along."
"Might not be a bad idea, though we won't put them on unless we have to.I don't want to be shot as a spy if I can help it."
"Nor I. Don't suppose there would be any use in taking civiliancostumes?"
"I don't know. Guess it wouldn't do any harm, though. The more clothesthe better. We may need a change of costume most any time."
"All right. We'll load up, if we can find what we want."
"I guess there won't be any trouble about that."
The lad was right. Soon they had a large army plane at their disposal andhad stocked it with all they thought they would need in the way ofclothing and food. Then they returned to their own quarters. Hal glancedat his watch.
"Only five o'clock," he said. "We've a good three hours yet. Wedon't want to go up until well after dark. Let's go out and have alook around."
Chester was agreeable and they made their way from the tent. They hadwalked about for probably an hour, when suddenly Hal took Chester by thecoat sleeve.
"Look there!" he exclaimed.
Chester looked; and there, perhaps fifty yards away, was Anthony Stubbs,slinking along, now and then casting an eye at Hal and Chester.
"He's seen us," said Chester. "Let's have a little talk with him. Maybewe can have some fun."
It was the first time they had seen the little war correspondent sincethe talk in General Petain's tent more than two months before.
"Come on, then," said Hal.
They increased their stride; but Stubbs, with a quick glance over hisshoulder, observed this and also increased his pace.
"He doesn't want to see us, Hal," said Chester, with a grin.
"I see he doesn't," Hal grinned back. "Well, we want to see him." Heraised his voice in a shout "Hey, there, Stubbs!"
The little man glanced quickly back over his shoulder. Then, seeing thatHal and Chester were gaining on him, he broke into a run.
"After him, Hal!" cried Chester, and also broke into a run.
Hal followed suit.
Around turn after turn they darted after the little man, who was makingthe best time his short legs would permit. At a word from Hal, Chesterslowed down, for they didn't want to catch Stubbs too easily.
"Let him run himself out," Hal said.
And that was what the little man was doing. His tongue was literallyhanging out as Hal and Chester continued to gain slowly. He was puffinglike a locomotive and his arms were working like pistons. Once or twicehe staggered and it seemed to him that he could not run another step. Buthe set his teeth and plodded on.
"I've got to get away," he told himself. "There is no knowing what theseyoung ruffians will do to me."
In vain he tried to increase his pace. It could not be done. Every stepcost him an effort and it seemed that he could not take another. Hewaddled crazily from one side to the other; and at last he came to astop, and with what strength remained, he faced his pursuers and threw uphis hands in an attitude of defense.
At arm's length, Hal and Chester came to a pause.
"So we have you at last, eh!" said the former.
"You--you keep a-away from me," gasped Stubbs, panting for breath. "Idon't want to have any tro--trouble with you."
"Perhaps not, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, "but we want to have a littletrouble with you."
"Let me a-alone," gasped Stubbs.
Hal moved a step closer.
"Remember what you did to us?" he asked.
Stubbs stepped backward quickly.
"Don't you come any closer," he gasped. "Let me alone."
"Had us tied up, didn't you, Stubbs?" demanded Chester.
"Yes; but it was for your own good!" Stubbs had regained his wind now.
"For our own good, eh? Well, we have come after you for your own good."
"What have you got to say for yourself, Stubbs?" demanded Hal.
"Nothing," snapped the little man angrily, "except that I want to be letalone. You hoodwinked the general, all right, but you can't hoodwink me.Now go on away from here."
Again Chester stepped forward, and this time the lad was treated to anunpleasant surprise. Instead of moving backward, Stubbs suddenly loweredhis head and charged Chester.
Taken by surprise, the lad was unable to get out of the way and the topof Stubbs' head rammed him squarely in the stomach. Chester doubled upand fell to the ground with a cry of pain.
Stubbs turned and started to run; but before he had taken half a dozensteps, Hal had reached him and taken him by the arm. In vain the littleman struggled to shake off the lad's grasp.
"Hey, Stubbs!" cried Hal, laughing at the predicament in which Chesterfound himself, "what's the matter that you've turned so pugnacious all ofa sudden? Getting to be a regular fighter, aren't you?"
"Well, he was just about to swat me," declared Stubbs.
Chester had now picked himself up and advanced upon Stubbs,threateningly.
"Say!" he exclaimed; "what do you mean by using your head as a batteringram on me?"
"I told you to keep away," returned Stubbs.
"I know you did; but that's no sign you should try to kill me. I wasn'tgoing to hurt you."
"Maybe not," said Stubbs, "but I wasn't going to take any more chances.Now you keep away from me."
"Oh, Chester won't hurt you," said Hal, with a laugh. "You treated himjust right, Stubbs. He's got no kick coming."
"No, that's right, Stubbs," said Chester, with a grin. "No hard feelings,I'm sure. You're all right. Put her there."
The lad extended a hand. Stubbs advanced doubtfully, but at last graspedChester's hand.
Immediately he began to dance about wildly, shouting:
"Leggo! Leggo my hand! Ouch!"
At last Chester relaxed his grip.
"That makes it square all around, Stubbs," he said with a grin.
For a moment Stubbs gazed at him angrily, the while he worked his fingersback and fro to chase away the stiffness. Then he smiled.
"All right," he said. "Now we're square."
"Where you bound, Stubbs?" asked Hal.
"Hunting news," returned Stubbs.
"By Jove!" said Chester. "Why not take him along with us, Hal?"
"Suits me," was Hal's answer, "if he wants to go."
"Where you going?" demanded Stubbs.
"Sailing," returned Chester. "Sailing over the German lines. Want togo along?"
"Not me," said Stubbs, briefly.
"Come now, Stubbs, don't be afraid. Nothing is going to hurt you, and wemight need you."
"That's what I thought," said Stubbs. "I knew there was some reason youwanted me to go along. I knew you didn't just want to take me along toshow me the sights. Want me to stand in the gap when the trouble comesup. I know you."
"I assure you I had no such thoughts."
"Well, maybe you didn't have them, but that is what would happen allthe same."
"Stubbs," said Hal, quietly. "It's my belief that you're afraid."
"Hal," said Stubbs, "you can bet your life I'm afraid to go up in the airwith you two."
"Come on, Stubbs," said Chester, seriously. "Honestly, we would be gladof your company. We haven't seen much of you for some time."
"I know you haven't," returned Stubbs, "and that's why my healthhappens to be so good right now. But what are you going to do over theGerman lines?"
"Get the lay of the land," said Hal. "Find out the German strength and afew other things, if possible."
"Hm-m-m," muttered Stubbs. "Ought to be some news for the _Gazette_ overthere, do
n't you think?"
"Lots of it, Stubbs," replied Chester.
"The only trouble," said Stubbs, "is that if I go after it, will I beable to come back and tell the _Gazette_ about it?"
"If you don't mind, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal, "one of us will take it uponhimself to see that the _Gazette_ gets the news."
"After my job, are you?" said Stubbs, with a smile.
"Well, not exactly. We just offered to help you out."
"I can't see where that would do me any good. However, I guess I'll takeyou up on this bet. I might be able to learn something of importance. Thenext thing would be to get it by the censor."
"Why, Stubbs," said Chester, "with your pull with General Petain, I can'tsee that you should have any trouble."
"My pull, eh?" said Stubbs, with rather a sickly grin. "You two went andsmashed my pull all to smithereens."
"Oh, well," said Hal, "a newspaper man always finds a way."
Stubbs looked at Hal, suspiciously.
"If you're making fun of me--" he began.
"Far from it, Mr. Stubbs," replied Hal. "I was just stating a fact. Why,you've told us that yourself."
"Come, come, Stubbs," said Chester. "Are you going along or not? It'stime to be moving."
The little war correspondent made his decision.
"I'll go," he said quietly.