CHAPTER XXII
INTO CAMBRAI
As it developed, the distance to Cambrai, one of the chief points in the German line of communications, was comparatively short.
As the six plodded along through the darkness there was no conversation. None of the Canadians spoke German, and Hal and Chester had instructed them to be silent, for the sound of a few English words would have done more to destroy the success of their venture than any other possible thing. As for Hal and Chester, both of whom spoke German fluently, neither felt like talk.
It was almost midnight when the lads saw before them what appeared to be the lights of a small town. Approaching closer, they saw that they were, indeed, approaching a settlement of some kind.
"Cambrai, do you suppose?" asked Chester.
"Don't know," returned Hal. "Probably is. I understand that Cambrai is about the largest place around here, and this seems to be quite a sizable village."
Half an hour later they set foot in the streets of the little French city, in German hands now for more than three years.
"We'll hunt a house with a light and see if they'll put us up for the night," said Hal.
Down a side street they saw a house somewhat larger than the others.
Several lights showed from the windows.
"Somebody up, at all events," said Chester.
"Trouble is, Germans may already be quartered there," said Hal.
"Well, we'll have to take a chance," said Chester grimly.
"Right. So the sooner we try the better."
Hal led the way, and knocked on the door. Came the sound of hurried footsteps within, and a moment later the door was thrown open. An old woman poked her head out.
"What do you want?" she demanded.
"A place to sleep," replied Hal, in excellent German, although the woman had spoken in French.
"There is no place here for you!" exclaimed the woman, and would have shut the door.
But Hal was too quick for her. He shoved a foot in the door, and thus prevented its closing.
"Come, my good woman," he said. "We mean you no harm, but we must have a place to spend the night."
"How many of you are there?" asked the woman.
"Six," replied Hal briefly.
The woman threw up her hands in a gesture of dismay.
"I can't possibly take care of so many!" she exclaimed.
"But we are all coming in," declared Hal, who realized that the sooner they were off the streets the better.
He pushed the door open and went inside. Chester and the four
Canadians followed him.
"Which way, madam?" asked Hal. "Upstairs?"
The old woman nodded, and led the way up a flight of winding steps.
"I've only one room," she said, "so you will have to make the most of it."
"That will be satisfactory," said Hal. "We don't like to inconvenience you."
"You don't, eh?" exclaimed the woman. "You're the first who wear that uniform who haven't gone out of their way to inconvenience me, and all other French women."
"Come, come," said Hal. "I'm afraid you are too hard on us."
"I'm not half as hard on you as the French and British will be when they get hold of you!" exclaimed the woman angrily.
Hal looked at her in surprise. He supposed that all women in territory conquered by the Germans had long since realized the value of keeping a silent tongue in their head. Aloud he said:
"I would advise you to be more careful of your speech. If words like those came to the ears of the general staff, you probably would be shot."
"You can't frighten me," declared their hostess. "'I say what I please, Germans or no Germans."
"Well, suit yourself," said Hal, "but don't forget that I have warned you."
"Thank you," sneered the woman. "Here's your room," kicking open the door at the top of the stairs. "You can sleep there if you wish, but I hope the British have arrived when you wake up again."
She waited for no reply, but descended the stairs hastily.
"By Jove!" muttered Hal. "The Germans snared a Tartar when they caught her."
"They certainly did," Chester agreed with a smile. "Great Scott! Seems to me she could have given us a candle or something. It's as dark as pitch in this room."
"You fellows stay here," said Hal. "I'll go down and remind her that she has been negligent in her duty as hostess."
Hal descended the stairs quietly. As quietly he passed through the room that in days of peace apparently had served as a parlor, and moved toward a door beyond, under which a light streamed.
"Guess she's in there," said Hal.
He laid a hand on the knob and opened the door.
As he did so there was an exclamation of alarm. Hal, in the light beyond, saw a form disappear into another room. The old woman ran toward him.
"What do you mean by coming in here without knocking?" she exclaimed furiously.
"Why—why, I didn't know—" Hal began.
"Of course you didn't know," shouted the woman. "But I'll have you understand that you can't make free of my house, though you be the Kaiser himself."
From the folds of her skirt she suddenly produced a large revolver, which she leveled squarely at the lad. Hal stepped back.
"Here, my good woman," he said. "Put down that gun. Don't you know that a single shot will arouse the whole German army. You couldn't escape."
The woman hesitated, and the revolver wavered. Before she could bring it to bear again, had such been her intention, Hal seized her arm, twisted sharply, and the revolver fell to the floor with a clatter.
"I'm afraid you're not to be trusted with that gun," the lad said quietly.
He stooped, picked up the weapon, and stowed it away in his own pocket with this mental comment:
"One more weapon for our own little army."
"You're a brute," gasped the woman. "You're just like all Germans."
"Silence," said Hal. "I have heard enough from you. What I came here for was to tell you that you had neglected to furnish us with a light. Now I shall have to look in yonder closet, where I saw a man secret himself as I came in."
The old woman flew across the room and stood defiantly in front of the closet door.
"You can't go in there!" she exclaimed.
"I can't, eh?" said Hal. "Why can't I?"
"Because I say you can't."
"That is a very poor reason," said Hal. "Either you will stand aside now, or I shall call my men."
The woman realized the force of this reasoning. With a gesture of resignation she stepped aside. Hal advanced.
"I hope he shoots you through the door," said the woman to Hal.
"Thanks for the hint," said Hal dryly. "I'll keep out of the line of fire."
He approached the door from the side, and, standing close, called:
"Whoever you are in there, come out."
There was no response, and Hal called again.
"I've got the door covered," the lad shouted, "and if you don't come out
I shall fire through it."
Slowly the door moved open. Hal stepped quickly aside, for he did not wish to be taken unaware. He seized a chair and sent it spinning across the floor. The ruse succeeded, for the man inside, taking the noise made by the chair for the sound of Hal's feet, stepped quickly forward and pointed a revolver in that direction.
This meant that Hal stood directly behind the newcomer. Smiling to himself, Hal raised his revolver and said quietly:
"Drop that gun or I'll bore a hole through you. No, don't bother to turn first."
Realizing that he was absolutely in the other's power, the newcomer obeyed. The revolver fell clattering to the floor.
"Now," said Hal, "I'd like to have a look at you. Please turn around."
Slowly the other turned, and, as Hal caught sight of the man's face, his own revolver dropped to the floor and he sprang forward with outstretched hand.
"Major Derevaux!" he cried.