CHAPTER XIII.
STUBBS TO THE RESCUE.
Chester also uttered an exclamation of dismay.
"That phrase is certainly getting to be monotonous," he said. "It seems that every time we turn around somebody talks of sending us back to Berlin."
"Well, they won't get me back there if I can help it," said Hal.
"Nor me, either," agreed Chester.
General Steinbach now spoke again.
"You will not be sent back before to-morrow," he said; "in the meantime, if you will give me your paroles, I shall be glad to have you as my guests."
Chester glanced quickly at Hal, and the latter nodded his head negatively.
"We are sorry, sir," said Chester, "but we cannot give our paroles."
The general hesitated for a brief moment.
"Oh, well," he said, "I don't know as it makes any difference. There is no chance of your escaping again. I shall be pleased to have you lunch with me."
The lads accepted this invitation gladly, for both were very hungry, and they knew from past experiences that the Kaiser treated his officers to the best that was to be obtained in the line of food.
They accompanied General Steinbach to his quarters, where they soon sat down to a substantial meal. The meal over, the German commander walked with them to the outside, and asked them if they would care to have a look about. Both lads agreed that they would and the general detailed an officer to show them around.
"I hardly believe you will be able to reveal what you may see," he said with a smile, as he left them, "for within a few days you will be safe in Berlin."
"I wish he wouldn't harp on Berlin so much," said Chester. "I don't like the name of that place."
After an hour's stroll the lads were conducted to a tent at the northern extremity of the German lines, where they were placed under guard. They had the tent to themselves, but guards were stationed upon the outside.
All the rest of the afternoon they sat there talking over the situation and trying to hit upon some plan of escape; but no feasible scheme occurred to either.
Night came and food was brought them. The lads did not turn in early, for they were in no mood for sleep. Well into the night they sat up talking.
In the midst of the conversation Hal became conscious of the fact that an object of some kind was trying to crawl under the tent from the outside. Silently he called Chester's attention to the spot where the canvas was being tampered with.
Presently a head appeared beneath the rear of the tent, followed by a man's head and shoulders. His face was not turned toward the lads, so they did not recognize him; but they did not move from their chairs.
Now the apparition succeeded in drawing his legs within the tent, and, rising to his feet, turned toward them. In spite of their surprise, however, the boys were too cool to exclaim aloud, but both muttered beneath their breath:
"Stubbs!"
The newcomer was indeed the little American war correspondent.
He laid a cautious finger to his lips and came toward them. Both lads arose and silently took him by the hand.
"I've come to get you out," whispered Stubbs.
"How did you get here?" asked Hal in a low voice.
"I have been here for two days," was the reply. "I came before you did, and when I told the German commander I was an American war correspondent, he was glad to see me. You know the Kaiser is seeking the moral sympathy of the United States. When I told General Steinbach that I was here to get the German side of the war he treated me royally. He presented me with a pass giving me the freedom of the German lines and has taken the trouble to show me about a bit himself."
"You certainly must have made a hit with him," said Chester.
"Leave that to Stubbs," was the little man's reply. "Now, the thing is, to get you out of here."
"But how did you know we were here?" asked Hal.
Stubbs smiled.
"I was a silent witness of the scene at the place of execution," he said. "Since that time I have been following you. When I saw you placed in this tent I disappeared, for I didn't want to be seen hanging about the prisoners. I knew you would be here till morning, so I waited till dark to come to you."
"Have you a plan?" asked Chester.
"A newspaper man always has a plan," was the reply.
He went to the place where he had come under the tent and, reaching out a hand, pulled a bundle in after him. This he brought over to the lads and untied.
The lads bent over it eagerly and started back in surprise when they saw what it contained.
"Women's clothes!" exclaimed Hal in a low voice.
Stubbs smiled complacently.
"They were the best I could obtain upon short notice," he explained.
"Then, too, I believe they will be better disguises than anything else."
"We'll make a couple of fine-looking girls," said Hal in disgust.
"Oh, I don't know," replied Stubbs. "I guess you will look a heap better than some I have seen hereabouts."
"But I don't know anything about women's clothes," protested Hal.
"Nor I," said Chester, "except I know that if you don't walk just so you might as well tell everybody you are not a woman."
"That would be true in New York, but not here," said Stubbs. "Some of these French peasant women walk just like a man, so you won't have any trouble on that score. The main thing is to see if they fit."
"Well, the easiest way to tell that is to try 'em on," said Chester.
"Here goes."
He took a faded blue dress from the bundle, and, holding it in two hands, thrust one foot into it.
"Here, here, that's not the way to get into it," exclaimed Stubbs.
Chester looked at him in surprise.
"How else can you get into it?" he demanded.
"Put it over your head," whispered Stubbs. "You see," he explained, "I am a married man and I know something about such things."
Chester tried again, and, obeying Stubbs's injunction, found that the dress slipped on more easily. He fastened it around his waist.
"Pretty good fit, isn't it?" he asked.
"Well, it's not so awfully good," replied Stubbs, concealing a grin, "but I guess it will answer the purpose. Now throw that shawl over your head and you'll be fixed."
Hal, by this time, had climbed into the second costume, and now strode about.
"Hold on a minute," said Stubbs. "You'll have to roll up your trousers' legs, or a puff of wind is likely to come along and give you away."
Both lads obeyed this injunction.
"That's better," said the war correspondent, after eying them critically.
"Now, let's see if there is anything else."
He stood back a few paces and surveyed them carefully.
"How do we look?" asked Hal.
"It would be a shame to tell you," said Stubbs cheerfully. "However, I guess you will pass muster. Wait a minute, though, there is another thing. You stand too erect. Stoop over a little bit. That's better. Now you have it," he exclaimed, as the lads dropped into the proper pose.
"Now, rub your hands in the dirt a bit and streak your faces."
The lads obeyed, and once more Stubbs stood off and surveyed them long and carefully.
"I guess that will do all right," he murmured.
"What are we supposed to be, anyway?" demanded Chester.
"Apple-women," replied Stubbs.
"Then where are the apples and baskets?" asked Hal.
"Well, you are shy on them right now," said Stubbs. "So you will have to do the best you can without 'em. If you are questioned, which I don't believe you will be, say that you have sold out; that you have thrown your baskets away and that you are going to try to get to a place of safety."
"But I didn't know there were any apple-women near here," said Chester.
"Well, there aren't any," replied Stubbs. "However, if there had not been two, I wouldn't have been able to get these clothes for you."
"How did you get them?"
"Bought 'em."
"Then why didn't you get the baskets and apples, too?" asked Hal.
The little man sniffed his contempt.
"I would have looked nice lugging two big baskets about, wouldn't I?" he asked. "If I had tried that I'd have been shot a long while ago. I had trouble enough getting here with the bundle without being seen."
"But why—" began Hal.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Stubbs. "You fellows should have been newspaper men. You can ask more fool questions to the minute than anyone I ever heard."
The little man's feelings were considerably ruffled, and Hal hastened to assuage them.
"Don't think for a minute we are not grateful," he said. "If we succeed in getting safely away we'll owe you a deep debt of thanks."
"Rats!" exclaimed Stubbs. "I don't want any thanks. All I want is to get you fellows out of here."
"But how are you going to get away?"
"Don't you worry about me. I'll get away, all right—a newspaper man can go any place, any way and any time."
"Except in times of war."
"Well, perhaps so," admitted Stubbs. "However, I have my pass. I'll get away, all right, but not until I have found some news for the Gazette."
"But you are not paid to get killed," said Hal.
"No," was the reply, "but I am paid to get news. Now, I'll go out under the tent first, and if the coast is clear, I'll whistle twice, like this." He whistled softly.
The boys signified that they understood. Stubbs held out his hands, and both lads grasped them.
"Good-by, and good luck," said Stubbs quietly.
He crossed the tent quickly, dropped down, and wormed his way out slowly and silently.