CHAPTER XIV.
A DANGEROUS MISSION.
Chester was embarrassed.
"I did nothing," he said. "I only rode fast."
The hurrahs of the men who heard him drowned his words.
"The general will think differently," returned the captain.
"How does it happen you arrived so opportunely, Chester?" asked Hal.
"It's very simple. I was returning from my mission, and was riding between you and the outposts. I heard firing and rode forward to see what was going on. I saw how things were with you. Even from where I was I thought I could recognize you in the front rank.
"At first I thought I would ride directly toward you, but then I knew that I could be of greater service by hurrying back and summoning aid. When I told the general of your perilous position, he acted at once, and I came with the reinforcements. That's all there is to it. You, Hal, are the one deserving of praise."
"And I shall see that he is rewarded for it!" exclaimed the captain. "But your gallant conduct also shall be made known. Certainly I made two good friends when I met you two boys. At some time I hope to be able to repay you in some slight measure, although I know I can never entirely cancel my indebtedness to you both."
In the hut of the officer commanding the division Captain Derevaux went into detail concerning the gallant actions of our two boys.
The general congratulated them.
"I shall see that your conduct is brought to the personal attention of the King," he declared. "You shall both be rewarded if I live long enough to write out my report."
"Thank you, general," both lads replied, and then accompanied Captain Derevaux to his quarters, where his wound, which was found to be slight, was attended to.
It was the next afternoon that the general again summoned the lads to his hut.
"I have a mission of importance," he said, "and I am seeking volunteers. It is somewhat dangerous, and I am loath to order anyone to go. But in view of your gallant conduct, I thought I would give you the first chance."
"We shall gladly undertake it, general, no matter what it is," replied Hal.
"Yes, sir," agreed Chester, "we shall always be glad to aid the cause of the Allies, no matter what the dangers."
"Well, then," replied the general, taking a paper from his desk. "I want this paper put into the hands of General Givet, at Louvain. If there is any danger of your being captured, destroy it. It contains information that would be invaluable to the enemy.
"In view of your past resourcefulness, I am putting great confidence in your ability to get through. The country between here and Louvain, while not precisely in the hands of the Germans, is being constantly overrun with parties of raiders. You will bring General Givet's reply to me here."
The lads saluted and departed.
"You certainly have made a great impression upon the general," said Captain Derevaux, when the boys informed him of their mission. "Just keep as cool as you have been in the past, and I am sure you will get through without trouble."
It was late that night when the lads made their way from the young captain's quarters, passed beyond the outposts, and made their way into the forest beyond, following the road, but keeping well within the shadow of the trees.
"This is the best summer vacation we have ever had," declared Hal, as they went slowly along.
"You are right, there," replied Chester. "Of course, war is a terrible thing, but as long as there is a war I would rather be over here where I can see what is going on than to be sitting home reading about it in the newspapers."
"Yes; and then you couldn't be exactly sure you were getting the facts."
Shortly after sunrise the boys came upon a large farmhouse.
"It's pretty early," remarked Hal, "but perhaps we can find some one and get a bite to eat."
They approached and found the household already astir. As they ascended the steps, a young girl, probably sixteen years of age, came out on the porch.
"Can you provide us with a little something to eat?" asked Hal politely in French, doffing his cap.
The girl glanced at him, a puzzled expression coming over her face.
"I don't understand French very well," she said, in English.
"By George!" exclaimed Hal. "I thought so. That is," he apologized for his exclamation, "I was sure you were not French."
This time Hal had spoken in English, and a look of surprise had come over her face, followed by an expression of delight.
"I was sure you were Americans!" she exclaimed, and then added hesitatingly, "or are you—can it be you are English?"
"No; we are Americans, all right," Chester broke in; "but we certainly didn't expect to run into an American girl in this corner of the world."
"No; particularly at a time like this," agreed Hal.
"Oh, I am perfectly safe here," replied the girl "Uncle, who is a Belgian officer, has joined his regiment, and I am here with only two servants. He wanted me to go to Liège with him, but I preferred to remain here. No one will harm me."
"But the Germans may come through here at any time, and then you would be in danger."
"Oh, no. Several German regiments already have passed by, and some of the officers were here. They assured me I would not be molested."
"Nevertheless, you are likely to be. You can't tell what may happen."
"I am not afraid," replied the girl. "The Germans won't bother an
American."
Remembering their own experiences, Hal and Chester looked at each other and smiled.
"I am not so sure," replied Hal; "but if you have decided to stay,
I suppose you will. You see," smiling, "I know something of
American girls."
The girl also smiled.
"I suppose you wonder who I am," she said. "I am Edna Johnson, and I live in Chicago. Mother was here with me, but she went home just before war was declared. I suppose she is worried to death about me, but I believe it is safer here than elsewhere, and I have heard Americans are having great difficulties getting home."
Hal and Chester introduced themselves.
After a few minutes Edna suddenly exclaimed:
"Here I am, keeping you chatting, when I know you must be awfully hungry.
Come with me and we shall have some breakfast."
The boys followed her into the house, where a hearty meal was soon set in the dining-room, and the three fell to with a will.
Hardly had they satisfied their appetites when there was the sound of many feet upon the porch. Miss Johnson glanced through the door.
"Germans," she said, with a smile; "but they won't bother us."
Hal and Chester jumped to their feet.
"We must hide, Miss Johnson," exclaimed Hal. "If we fall into the hands of the Germans it may mean death to us."
"What!" exclaimed the girl.
"Exactly. I neglected to tell you that we are attached to the Belgian forces and our capture would not only mean trouble for us, but would be a blow to the cause of the Allies."
The girl looked at the lads in amazement, but there was no time for words. There was a loud knock at the door, followed almost immediately by the tramp of feet within the house.
Edna acted promptly. Rushing to the side of the room, she pulled open a door to what appeared to be a closet and motioned to the boys.
"In here, quick!" she cried, and closed the door tightly.
As they passed through the door the boys saw a flight of steps leading apparently to the cellar. Hardly had the door closed behind them ere the steps of the Germans were heard in the room they had just left.
They also heard the girl greet them pleasantly, and the gruff demand for breakfast. Edna called one of her servants, and gave an order that breakfast for the Germans be prepared immediately.
"It is too cramped here," whispered Chester. "Let's go down these stairs.
If we were to make a move here, they would surely hear us."
The boys descended the steps. At the bottom they emerged into what, upon inspection, proved to be a wine cellar. At the far side they saw another passageway and moved toward it.
As they did so, they heard the door to the closet through which they had recently passed open again, and a voice exclaim:
"I know these high and mighty Belgian gentlemen too well. There is always wine in the cellar. Come, Franz, we shall explore."
Heavy footsteps descended the stairs, and two German officers hove in sight. The boys, in the dimness of the cellar, were not seen.
"Quick!" whispered Chester, "into the passageway."
As Hal followed Chester into the darkness of the passageway, he tripped over some obstacle in the dark, which gave forth the sound of tinkling glass. The boys stopped stock still.
"What was that?" demanded one of the officers.
"I didn't hear anything," was the reply.
"I thought I heard something moving in the cellar."
"Probably a rat. Here is what we came after. Let's go back upstairs."
The boys heard the sound of retreating footsteps, and presently the door above slammed once more.
Hal and Chester breathed easier.
"Pretty close," remarked Chester, in a low tone.
"You bet it was close," was the reply. "For a minute I thought it was all off."
"Well, I guess we are safe enough now."
"Yes, I guess so. But we must wait here until the Germans have left the house."
"I suppose they will go as soon as they have finished their breakfast."
"I hope so; we haven't any time to waste."
The boys sat down and waited.
What seemed like hours later, the door to the closet above again opened, and the voice of the girl floated down the stairway.
"It's all right, now," she exclaimed. "They have gone. You can come up."