CHAPTER XXI.
THROUGH WALLS OF FIRE.
Quickly Chester bent over his friend.
"Hal! Hal!" he cried in alarm, shaking him gently. "Tell me where you are hurt!"
He laid his friend's body back gently; then for the first time he noticed that blood flowed from a wound in Hal's side.
In vain did Chester try to bring his chum back to consciousness. The boy lay like one dead. Finally, seeing that his efforts to revive his companion were useless, Chester picked him up in his arms, and in this manner started for the town.
By pure grit Chester succeeded in carrying his burden to the Belgian outposts, where he turned him over to a Red Cross surgeon.
"Is he badly hurt?" the boy demanded, as the surgeon arose from examining his chum's wound. "Will he live?"
"It is dangerous," was the reply. "But I think he will come around all right presently. But he has had a narrow escape. One inch higher up and the bullet would have pierced his heart. He must be taken to the hospital. He must have proper attention."
Leaving his chum in good hands, Chester made his way to General Givet's tent, where he gave him the message the boys had gone through so much to deliver safely. Then he went to the hospital. He was permitted to see his friend at once.
Deathly pale, but with a smile on his face, Hal greeted his friend.
Chester sprang forward and grasped his hand.
"Are you all right, old fellow?" he asked eagerly.
"Fit as a fiddle," was the faint reply.
"Why didn't you tell me you were wounded?"
"To tell the truth, I didn't know it myself until just as I stepped from the wagon. I can't remember when the bullet hit me, but I suppose it was when the Germans fired through the side of the wagon. But it was weak of me to give way as I did."
"Weak! Great Scott! Even the surgeon is unable to see how you held out as long as you did. You have had a mighty narrow escape, I can tell you!"
"I guess I have," replied Hal feebly. "But anyhow it's an escape. Did you deliver the letter to General Givet?"
"Yes."
At this juncture, a nurse approached.
"You must go now," she told Chester. "Your friend must have perfect quiet for the remainder of the day."
"All right," replied Chester, and then turning to Hal:
"Well, good-by, old man. I'll be here the first thing in the morning."
"Good-by," replied Hal. "Now, don't you worry about me. I shall be all right."
Chester made his way from the hospital.
"By George!" he muttered, as he walked down the street. "I wish it had been me that was wounded instead of good old Hal. It's certainly tough on him, but he sure does bear up bravely."
As Chester continued down the street, he was brought to a sudden halt by the sound of firing from the outskirts of the city; and a moment later a mounted officer dashed through the street, shouting:
"The Germans! The Germans are approaching!"
People along the street took up the cry and the air was filled with the sound of startled voices:
"The Germans! The Germans!"
Dashing squadrons of cavalry swept through the streets on their way to the front; people jumped out of the way as the artillery was hurried by; and then came columns upon columns of infantry on a quick run.
It was plainly evident that an attack by the Germans had not been anticipated; but now that the enemy was close at hand, everything possible was being done for the defense of the city.
Chester hurried in the wake of the troops, and, as he did so, the first screaming shell burst over his head. He was hurled to the ground, but escaped injury. The crowds that had thronged the streets a moment before vanished as if by magic.
The flying shells now screamed incessantly overhead. From the front came the deafening roar of many guns, and the crash of thousands upon thousands of rifles. Suddenly the screams of many voices rose, as a building, not far from where Chester stood, was blown into a million pieces.
For a moment Chester was awe-stricken and stood still.
"This is terrible!" he muttered to himself. "Terrible!"
He was struck by a sudden thought.
"Suppose one of those shells should strike the hospital?" he said to himself. "What would happen then? What would happen to Hal?"
Turning, he hurried back in the direction from which he had come. Was it a premonition, or what?
As he turned the corner and the hospital came into view, a horrible scene met his eyes.
The hospital was afire! A brilliant flame shot high into the air, and the smoke poured forth in a dense volume. Even from where he stood Chester could see that one wall of the hospital had fallen. It had crumbled under the shock of a German shell.
Chester dashed forward; nor did he pause or falter at the thought of the dangers he would encounter in the burning building, but ran rapidly up the steps and plunged into the dense cloud of smoke and the sheet of flame.
His sense of direction stood him in good stead now. Almost stifled, his hands and face scorched by the intense heat, he ran up the stairs. At the top, where the air was somewhat clearer, he paused for a moment for breath, then dashed for the room where he knew Hal lay.
Hal was sitting on the edge of the bed when Chester burst into the room. He had noted the first signs of smoke, and had attempted to rise, but the effort was beyond him. There was not another soul in the room.
He looked up as Chester rushed in.
"I am afraid I can't make it," he said, in a faint voice.
"We have got to make it," replied Chester quickly. "Can you walk at all?"
Hal shook his head.
"I tried to," he said, "but I can hardly stand on my feet."
"Put your arm about my shoulder!" commanded Chester.
"It's no use," said Hal. "You can't possibly carry me out, and we shall both perish. Save yourself while you have time!"
"No more talk like that," commanded Chester, in a stern voice. "We go or stay together."
"But we cannot do it," replied Hal. "Alone you may make it; but with me you are certain to perish. Go!"
"Will you do as I tell you peaceably, or must I use force?" demanded Chester. "If you don't obey me, so help me, I will knock you cold and then carry you out. Come, which shall it be?"
"Have your own way, then," said Hal.
Chester stooped over and Hal put his arm about his neck; then, lifting him up in his arms, Chester staggered through the doorway, and to the staircase.
But, as he was about to put his foot on the first step, there was a terrible rumble and roar, and the steps crashed downward. The supports had been burned away.
By a mighty effort Chester regained his balance, and the two lads were saved from death in the smoking ruins below by a hair's breadth. Turning, Chester rushed toward a window and looked out. It was a long drop to the ground below, and he saw no help in sight.
"I told you it was no use," said Hal. "Let me go, and save yourself!"
Chester did not reply, but laid his chum gently on the floor. Then he dashed into the next room, returning in a moment with several sheets.
Quickly he tore these into strips and tied them together. Then he approached Hal and tied one end under his arms.
"We will get out yet," he said quietly, and assisted Hal to the window.
"Put no more strain upon your wound than necessary," he instructed Hal. "Hold to the sheets with your hands, and it will relieve some of the strain."
So saying, Chester lifted Hal to the window sill, and gently lowered him over the edge. With his feet braced against the wall, he paid out the improvised rope slowly.
Now the flames burst into the room in which Chester stood, but it did not hasten the lad in his desperate work. Slowly he let the sheets slip through his hands, that Hal's wound might not be opened afresh by any sudden jerks; and presently the slack of the rope told him that his chum had reached the ground. At the same moment he heard Hal's voice:
"All right! Pull up the rope!"
Rapidly now Chester set about saving himself. The room was a seething mass of flames, which burned him terribly. Tying one end of his improvised rope to a bedpost, Chester leaped to the window sill, and began his descent.
So fierce were the flames that the sheets lasted but a second; but, in that time Chester had slid halfway to the ground. Then the rope broke and he fell with a crash. He picked himself up immediately, however, and, turning to Hal, said swiftly:
"Quick! We must get away from here at once. The building is likely to fall at any moment and we shall be buried beneath it."
He stooped down.
"Put your arms around my neck again!" he commanded.
Hal obeyed, this time without question.
Raising up with Hal in his arms, Chester staggered forward at a run, and it was well that he did so.
For at the moment he had reached a place of safety, the great building caved in with a deafening crash. There was a roar like the roar of a thousand guns, and, a moment later, on the spot where the hospital had stood there was only a mass of smoking and blazing débris.
More slowly, now, Chester continued on his way. Before him he could still hear the thundering of many cannons as the battle progressed, but he kept his face turned in that direction.
In spite of the heavy burden in his arms, he made good progress; nor did the bursting of an occasional shell nearby deter him, nor turn him from his course. As he staggered along he passed many tumbled-down buildings that gave evidence of the accuracy of the fire of the German gunners; and in some places the bodies of non-combatants littered the streets.
Straight toward the front went Chester, his face set in grim determination. He realized that in that direction lay whatever chance there was of safety; for even now his keen ears detected the sound of firing from the rear, as the Germans made their attack from that direction.
But, even as Chester neared the outskirts of the city a great cheer rang out from in front, and the sound of firing grew less distinct. Presently troops began to come toward them. Victorious in front, they were now hurrying through the city to drive off the enemy attacking from the other side.
Chester stopped and laid Hal down in a doorway. There the two lads remained in silence for some time. Soon the sound of firing from the other directions grew more faint; then ceased altogether.
Chester put Hal in the care of a pleasant-faced Belgian woman, who came to the door now that the battle was over, and went forth in search of General Givet. The latter was about ready to give himself up to a much-needed rest, but permitted Chester to enter his hut.
"General," said Chester, passing over how he had saved Hal's life in the hospital fire, "my friend is badly wounded, and is in a bad way. It will be long before he recovers. I have come to ask if there is not some way in which he can be sent out of the country, at least until he has entirely recovered."
The general considered.
"There is a party leaving for Brussels to-morrow," he said finally. "You both may go with them."
"But it is not necessary for me to go," returned Chester. "I might be of use to you here."
"Would you not like to be with your friend?" asked the general.
"I would like nothing better," replied Chester.
"Then it shall be so," said the general. "You are both brave lads. I shall make the necessary arrangements myself."
Chester was in the best of spirits as he made his way from the general's quarters and started down the street to where he had left his wounded chum. The lad was walking slowly along, when his arm was seized from behind. Turning, Chester beheld the face of Edna Johnson.
"Why, how do you do!" exclaimed Chester, raising his cap. "This certainly is a surprise. What are you doing in Louvain? I thought you had decided to remain at the farmhouse. But what is the matter?"
This last was called forth by the signs of distress and excitement plainly visible on the girl's face, which Chester, in his pleasure at seeing her again, had not perceived at first.
"I am staying here with a friend," the girl explained rapidly. "My uncle ordered me to leave the farmhouse and come here. I am indeed fortunate to have encountered you."
"Why?" demanded Chester.
"Listen," said the girl. And, taking Chester by the arm, she bent close to him and whispered:
"In my friend's home there are two men, presumably civilians. But I know better. I heard them plotting. They are going to send word to the German commander, telling him the exact position of the Belgian troops, the weak spots in the defense, and all other details."
"What!" exclaimed Chester. "Spies right here in the midst of the
Belgian army?"
"Yes," replied the girl. "I overheard them talking in the room next to mine. I didn't stop to hear any more. I ran out of the house, and was on my way to the general, when I saw you. Then I thought I had better tell you what I had learned."
"And I am glad you told me!" said Chester. "Come, lead me to the house and I shall try and gather fuller details before reporting to the general. It may be that there are other spies in the city, and that, by listening, I can learn something concerning them."
Chester for the moment put aside all thoughts of Hal. He considered it his first duty to serve the country for which he had already gone through so much. Hal was in good hands. So, walking slowly, Chester and Edna made their way to the house where the girl was living.
"I am not particularly fond of playing eavesdropper," Chester told the girl, as he stealthily followed her up the stairs; "but it is all in the line of duty, so I guess it is up to me."
From Miss Johnson's room could be heard the subdued sounds of voices in the next room.
"Rather unthoughtful of them to discuss such business in such a place, to say the least," remarked Chester. "Apparently they forget that even the walls have ears."
The lad laid his ear to the door between the two rooms. Edna stood close behind him, and the two listened eagerly.
"Well, then it is all settled," came a low voice from the room beyond. "You report to the chief immediately. I'll remain here an hour, so that we shall not arouse suspicion by going together. But tell the chief I shall be on hand in time."
"Good!" came the reply. "I suppose all other details have been attended to and that the thing will be pulled off smoothly. To-morrow night should see the end of Louvain."
Chester straightened up.
"I must get out of the house before he does," he told the girl. "I must follow him."
"But won't you be in danger?" protested Edna. "Why not report to the general at once?"
"No," the lad declared. "I must at least find the rendezvous."
Quickly he slipped from the room, and stepped outside the front door just as a door on the upper floor slammed to.
Chester walked slowly down the street, whistling.
"I hope he comes this way," he told himself. "Otherwise, I shall have to do some fast walking."
Fortune favored the boy. As he walked slowly along, a man brushed swiftly past him. Taking care to avoid all pretense of pursuit, Chester followed.