CHAPTER XI
AN UNEXPECTED CHANCE
The first impression they had of General Smith-Derrien was of hisabsolute calmness. The major had been excited when he heard the reportof the German infantry in the woods. But when they entered the room inwhich sat the British general who was responsible for the retreat, asthey guessed, they saw a quiet-faced man with smiling eyes, who listenedattentively to the reports of the officers who were constantly hurryingup to him, spoke a word or two in answer, and turned, imperturbably, tothe next comer.
Their guide left them near the door.
"Wait a minute here," he said. "I'll tell the General your story. Buthe'll want to speak to you himself. He always does."
Frank watched the British leader closely as he turned to the major, whonow went up to him. If the news moved him, he gave no sign of hisemotion. Instead he nodded quickly, once or twice; then he looked overtoward Frank and Henri. The major turned to them, beckoning, and theywent up. General Smith-Derrien was sitting at a table. Before him was anordnance map of the section covered by his operations.
"Now tell me exactly what happened, as quickly as you can," he said."You saw these Germans--just where? Point it out on the map. Give meyour position and the road they took."
Frank and Henri studied the map a moment. They traced their own coursefrom Amiens; soon they found the spot. The map was on a very largescale, and it showed the hills and a great deal of detail. It was easyto explain just where they had seen the Germans.
"They went into the woods, you say," said the general. "But why did youthink they stayed there? Why shouldn't they have gone on?"
"I went along the road to a spot where I could see beyond the woods,sir," said Frank. "And there was no sign of them."
"You did? That was excellent--regular scouting. Oh, I fancy Iunderstand! Boy Scouts, are you?"
"Yes, sir," they echoed together.
"Well, if your information is exact--and I have no reason to doubt it,of course--you did a very fine piece of scouting, and I shall be glad tosee that you get the proper amount of credit for it, when the timecomes. Now your information is most valuable. But before I can act onit, I must be absolutely certain that it is accurate. Will one of youhelp one of my scouts to determine this?"
"Let me go, sir," said Frank, quickly. "I was the one who saw the otherside of the woods--"
"But I know the country best," protested Henri. "And--"
"I think you'd better go," said the general to Frank. Perhaps he thoughtFrank was English; in any case he selected him. "I don't think it willbe dangerous at all, or I shouldn't let you go. We haven't started usingboys in this war yet. Major, you will see to it that a start is made assoon as possible!" turning to that officer.
The major saluted.
"Yes, sir, at once," he said. "The one who does not go can deliver thedespatches they brought from Amiens--a handful of marbles!"
"Eh? What's that? Those are the despatches from Colonel Menier. I'lltake those!"
Plainly, since he knew of them, he was the officer to whom they shouldbe delivered. So Frank and Henri, not without some misgivings, since themajor's annoyance at the sight of the marbles had rather depressed them,handed over their marbles. General Smith-Derrien picked them up, weighedthem in his hand, and finally selected two, to the undisguised amazementof his staff. But when he pressed a hidden spring, and each marble flewback, showing that it was hollow, cries of admiration came from thosewho were close by.
"Very well. They are in good order," he said, after a glance at the thinbut tough paper. "I will send an answer by the scout who remains here."
The major was already moving toward the door, and Frank, with a quickgrasp of Henri's hand and a salute for the general, followed him. He wassorry for Henri's disappointment, but he had made up his mind when theyleft Amiens that whenever possible, he himself would take any risks thatwere to be run. No one would care greatly if anything happened to him,since his parents were dead, and his only other close relative was hisuncle, of whom he had seen very little. But Henri's mother was alive,and, moreover, she had troubles enough. Her husband was at the front,and there was no telling whether or not he would ever return.
"Come along, young 'un," said the major. His name, Frank learned, when apassing officer spoke to him, was Cooper. "Know what you're going todo?"
"I'm to help a scout to determine the position of the Germans we saw,"said Frank.
"Yes, but how? In an aeroplane, my lad! I envy you. They've never let mego up in one of the blooming things yet--and just because I happen tobe assigned to a special job here with the staff. A lot of fun this waris going to be for me! We've been at it pretty nearly a month, and Ihaven't been under fire yet!"
Frank found it hard to conceal his delight. He had always wanted to havethe experience of riding in an aeroplane, but never before had he seeneven a remote chance that it would be gratified. Now he was to havefulfilled one of his most cherished ambitions--and in what a way! To flywith one of the wonderful aviators of whom he had been hearing eversince the war began, and over hostile territory. Risk! What if therewas?
In his own room Major Cooper sent an orderly flying, and in a fewmoments he returned, followed by a spare, tall man in a uniformdiffering slightly from that of the regular troops. He wore a heavysweater, and on his head was a headgear resembling, Frank thought, thatworn by football players in America.
"You sent for me, Major?"
"Yes, Captain Greene. You'll have to make a flight to-night. This lad isone of two Boy Scouts who have reported seeing German infantry in ratherconsiderable force south and west of our position here. He will show youon the map just where he says they are lying up. The general wants toverify this report or disprove it as quickly as possible. Your ordersare simply to make a reconnaissance and to run no avoidable risks. If itis possible, ascertain the facts without betraying your own presence. Ihave detailed you because you have a silent motor."
"Very well, sir," said Captain Greene. "Now, then, my lad, sharp's theword. Show me just where you say these Germans are."
For the third time Frank pointed out the spot on the map, and the flyerwhistled.
"Don't wonder you want to know where they are!" he said. "If that's so,it's a pretty big sell for us flying chaps--eh, what? We rather fanciedthere wasn't a chance for them to do anything that we didn't know allabout as soon as it was done."
"Exactly," said the major, rather dryly. "Well, here's your chance tomake up for errors of omission. Get the facts, and get back as quicklyas you can."
"All right. Double quick, young 'un. What's your name, eh? Might as wellbe sociable!"
Frank told him, and liked the tall aviator immensely. But there was nomore talk between them as he followed the captain to the outside. He hadall he could do to keep up with the Englishman's great strides withouttrying to talk too. Greene led the way to a park-like enclosure, where,under shaded electric lights that lit the ground fully but were soscreened that no betraying flashes showed from above, a dozen aeroplanesstood, gaunt and ghostlike in the night.
"See those lights?" said Greene. "If one of those German Johnnies in aTaube came along he could make a lot of mess by dropping a couple ofbombs down here. An aeroplane's delicate enough as it is. A bomb willput it out of business in no time. Here we are! Wait till I try themotor and see to my tank. If you run out of petrol at five hundred feetyou can't always find a garage where they'll sell you more!"
The tank was full, however. His mechanic had seen to that. And theengine responded beautifully to the first test.
"All right," said Greene. "In with you! Ever been up?"
"No. This is my first trip," said Frank.
"Easy enough, if you don't get scared. Keep perfectly still. No matterwhat happens, don't touch me or anything except the grips for your handsthat you'll find there. She's apt to rock and kick like a bronchosometimes but you can't fall out, because you'll be strapped in.Remember, now, don't touch me and don't touch any levers or anythingelse you see."
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