CHAPTER XXII
THE PARTY IS INCREASED
"I guess an aeroplane is the best way after all," said Hal, when they were 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 our information. Now about clothes. Shall we keep on these uniforms?"
"What would you suggest?"
"Well, I don't know. Thought maybe we would take some German clothes 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 civilian costumes?"
"I don't know. Guess it wouldn't do any harm, though. The more clothes the 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 and had stocked it with all they thought they would need in the way of clothing and food. Then they returned to their own quarters. Hal glanced at his watch.
"Only five o'clock," he said. "We've a good three hours yet. We don't want to go up until well after dark. Let's go out and have a look around."
Chester was agreeable and they made their way from the tent. They had walked about for probably an hour, when suddenly Hal took Chester by the coat 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. Maybe we can have some fun."
It was the first time they had seen the little war correspondent since the 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 his shoulder, 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." He raised his voice in a shout "Hey, there, Stubbs!"
The little man glanced quickly back over his shoulder. Then, seeing that
Hal 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 making the best time his short legs would permit. At a word from Hal, Chester slowed 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 literally hanging out as Hal and Chester continued to gain slowly. He was puffing like a locomotive and his arms were working like pistons. Once or twice he staggered and it seemed to him that he could not run another step. But he set his teeth and plodded on.
"I've got to get away," he told himself. "There is no knowing what these young ruffians will do to me."
In vain he tried to increase his pace. It could not be done. Every step cost him an effort and it seemed that he could not take another. He waddled crazily from one side to the other; and at last he came to a stop, and with what strength remained, he faced his pursuers and threw up his 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. "I don't want to have any tro—trouble with you."
"Perhaps not, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, "but we want to have a little trouble 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 let alone. 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 an unpleasant surprise. Instead of moving backward, Stubbs suddenly lowered his head and charged Chester.
Taken by surprise, the lad was unable to get out of the way and the top of Stubbs' head rammed him squarely in the stomach. Chester doubled up and fell to the ground with a cry of pain.
Stubbs turned and started to run; but before he had taken half a dozen steps, Hal had reached him and taken him by the arm. In vain the little man struggled to shake off the lad's grasp.
"Hey, Stubbs!" cried Hal, laughing at the predicament in which Chester found himself, "what's the matter that you've turned so pugnacious all of a 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 battering ram 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't going 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 him just 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 grasped
Chester'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 fingers back 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 to go along?"
"Not me," said Stubbs, briefly.
"Come now, Stubbs, don't be afraid. Nothing is going to hurt you, and we might need you."
"That's what I thought," said Stubbs. "I knew there was some reason you wanted me to go along. I knew you didn't just want to take me along to show me the sights. Want me to stand in the gap when the trouble comes up. I know you."
"I assure you I had no such thoughts."
"Well, maybe you didn't have them, but that is what would happen all the 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 air with you two."
"Come on, Stubbs," said Chester, seriously. "Honestly, we would be glad of your company. We haven't seen much of you for some time."
"I know you haven't," returned Stubbs, "and that's why my health happens to be so good right now. But what are you going to do over the German lines?"
"Get the lay of the land," said Hal. "Find out the German strength and a few other things, if possible."
"Hm-m-m," muttered Stubbs. "Ought to be some news for the Gazette over there, don't you think?"
"Lots of it, Stubbs," replied Chester.
"The only trouble," said Stubbs, "is that if I go after it, will I be able to come back and tell the Gazette about it?"
"If you don't mind, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal, "one of us will take it upon himself 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 take you up on this bet. I might be able to learn something of importance. The next thing would be to get it by the censor."
"Why, Stubbs," said Chester, "with your pull with General Petain, I can't see that you should have any trouble."
"My pull, eh?" said Stubbs, with rather a sickly grin. "You two went and smashed 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's time to be moving."
The little war correspondent made his decision.
"I'll go," he said quietly.