CHAPTER XII.
THE MEETING BETWEEN THE LINES.
"Good for us! We're the ones to read a message! But say, was that inGerman, or French, or English, I want to know?" and Tubby seized hischums each by an arm, as he asked this question in a husky whisper.
"When you come to making dots and dashes in the Morse code, or whatanswers for the same with the heliograph, or a torch, or signal flags, Iguess all languages are the same!" Merritt told him, more to keep Tubbyquiet than for any other reason.
"The question is, who could that message have been for?" Rob wasmuttering.
"There, he starts in again," said Tubby. "He's a most persistent sort ofchap, I take it, and means that the other fellow will get that message,sooner or later. What 'coast is clear'? Why, we're miles and miles awayfrom the sea-shore now, ain't we? And what under the sun does he meanby 'safe landing'? Where's the boat going to come from, somebody tell mequick?"
"I think I know," Rob had just managed to say in reply, when all of themwere suddenly startled to hear a queer, rattling sound from behind thatkept swiftly drawing nearer and nearer, until presently Tubby, in sheeralarm, dropped flat to the ground.
As he lay sprawled out on his back, judge of his astonishment when hesaw some object, that was like an immense bird, pass over not fifty feetabove him. It was heading directly for the spot where the light of thelantern glowed in that open field.
The shuttle sound abruptly ceased.
"He's shut off his engine," remarked Rob, apparently intenselyinterested.
"Yes, because he means to alight in the field," added Merritt.
Tubby suddenly comprehended what it must apparently mean. He hastened toscramble to his feet again, and no sooner had he accomplished this thanhe was, of course, busily engaged with his questions.
"Was that an aeroplane, Rob?"
"It certainly was," he was informed.
"Then that signal was for the pilot; that was what it meant by 'safelanding here' and 'coast clear!' Oh! I begin to see it all now. The'important news' he mentioned in his message must be something a spy hasgathered, and which he wants this air-pilot to carry back to the Germanlines for him? Am I on the right track, Rob?"
"Yes; that's about what it all means, Tubby."
"Then that machine must have been one of the Taube aeroplanes they toldus about?"
"We expect it is," replied the obliging Rob.
"It must have landed by now, then, hasn't it?"
"As we can hear nothing moving, that's about the way things stand,"replied the patrol leader.
"Please shut up, Tubby, so we can listen," Merritt suggested, notunkindly, but with the authority that his position as second in commandof the Eagle Patrol allowed him to display.
Tubby thereupon collapsed; that is, he simply mumbled to himself, whilestaring as hard as he could toward the spot where they could see thatfeeble little glow, made by the signaling lantern.
Rob was considerably interested in the adventure. It appealed to him ina way that was almost irresistible. He could understand that this mightbe only one of many methods taken by the astute Germans to get valuableinformation to the Staff Headquarters, which were at that time supposedto be located in the captured Belgian capital of Brussels.
Some spy, who had the run of the Belgian lines, would gather up certaininformation which he believed might be appreciated. Then, at a giventime, when darkness covered the land, he was to be waiting for a daringaviator, who would take such risks as always accompany night travelingand landing with an aeroplane.
If the man aloft failed to receive the signal agreed on, he would hoveraround up to a certain hour, and then go back to Brussels. But, if thecoast was clear, and the secret agent gave him assurance to that effect,he could dart down, and take charge of the precious documents or mapsshowing the positions of various hostile forces, or else some newarrangement on the part of the defenses of Antwerp.
"I'd like to be able to just crawl up closer, and see what goes on,"Merritt remarked, after they had stood there for a little while,listening and watching, yet seeing only that small light in the openspace under the stars.
"Would it be safe?" asked Tubby cautiously; though, no doubt, if hischums decided on the venture, he would be found remaining at their side.
As often happened, here again Rob had to show his leadership, and curbhis chum's impetuosity. Merritt was apt to do things sometimes on theimpulse of the moment which were really unwise.
The prospect of stealing along, like Indians on the warpath, andgradually drawing closer to the spot where the pilot of the air-craftand the spy were in consultation, was very inviting. Rob, however, tooka grip on himself, and decided that it would be most unwise of them toaccept such an unnecessary risk.
"It's really none of our business, Merritt," he said. "First of all----"
"Of course not, but----"
"And, if they discovered us, you know what it would mean?" Rob continuedgravely.
"I suppose they would fire on us," admitted Merritt.
"They certainly would, because they could only believe that we wereenemies," continued the other, who, once he had started in to convincean impulsive comrade, believed in delivering sledge-hammer blows insuccession, "and we're not aching to be filled with lead just yet."
"But," urged Merritt, "we might move along the road just a little bitfarther; that would take us closer to the place. I'd like to be able tosee that Taube machine fly over our heads again."
"Well, there's no objection to doing that, only we must keep mightyquiet. And, Tubby, mind your feet!" said Rob.
Tubby did not bother making any reply, for none seemed necessary. Heknew well enough that, as a rule, he was inclined to be clumsy, andcould stumble, if given even half a chance. But, on the open road, andwith the starlight to help out, he could not believe there was anydanger.
So he sniffed disdainfully, and braced himself to move as softly as acat; for it is wonderful how light on their feet most fat people can be,when they try their best.
Of course they could not see a thing, but then, imagination often helpsout, and by this means they could picture the daring air-pilot, havingsuccessfully landed, in consultation with the secret agent.
When he had delivered what news he had picked up, perhaps verbally aswell as through some written process, the spy would most likely assistthe flier to get his Taube under way again, after which he could returnto take up his risky profession amidst the Belgian forces.
Once Tubby did come near falling, as his toe caught in a projectingstone, which, of course, had been invisible. He managed to clutch holdof Merritt, who was on his left, and in this way avoided a tumble thatmight have caused more or less noise, even if it did not result in anydamage to his nose.
Then Rob came to a stop. The others understood that he must have decidedthey were as near the place where the lantern glowed in the field asthey could get without clambering over the stone barrier. This wallfence came up to Tubby's chin, so that he had to stand on his tiptoes tosee over it.
"Has he sailed away yet, Rob?" asked Tubby, in his hushed voice, whichsounded as though he might be using the soft pedal on his vocal organ.
"We would have heard the clatter of his motor if he had," returned Rob."So far it hasn't been found possible to deaden the rattle of thepropeller. And, on a still night like this, you could get that some waysoff. No, they're talking business yet, I reckon."
"Gee whiz! but they must have a lot to say," muttered Tubby.
"After they separate we'd better lie low a while," suggested Rob.
"What for?" demanded Tubby, bound to understand everything, even if hehad to swamp his mates with questions.
"The spy, or spies, for there may be more than one of them, might justhappen to cross this way, so as to get to the road; and, if they sawthree shadowy figures moving along, the first thing they'd be apt tothink was that we were enemies who had been listening."
"Oh! now I see!" Tubby admitted. "And, since we don't want to be madetargets fo
r them to practice at, we'll be wise to do what you say, Rob."
"Please, please, let up on all that talk, Tubby!" implored Merritt.
"Oh! I will, if it bothers you any," the fat boy answered; "but I thinkit queer a fellow can't ask a few little innocent questions once in awhile, without being sat down on so hard. Now, I know a boy who madehimself a real nuisance with his everlasting wanting-to-know, but I onlyspeak up when there's absolute nec----"
Tubby stopped short there. It was not that the annoyed Merritt clasped ahand over his mouth, thus shutting off his supply of breath, for no suchthought entered the mind of the corporal of the Eagle Patrol; but justthen a horrible din, in which shots, mingled with wild shouts, broke outin the field nearby.