CHAPTER XXIII
THE MAJOR EXPLAINS
The man who had emerged from the closet gazed at Hal in amazement.
"Who are you?" he exclaimed, taking a step forward.
"What! Don't you know me?" exclaimed Hal.
The other peered at him intently. Then he uttered an exclamation of pure astonishment.
"Hal Paine!" he cried. "Is it really you? And what are you doing in that uniform?"
"I might ask you, major, what you are doing out of uniform?" laughed
Hal, as he grasped his old friend's hand.
"Well, I'm here on business," explained the major.
"And I'm here trying to get out of the German lines," said Hal.
"And where is Chester?" asked the major.
"He's upstairs, waiting for me to bring up a candle that he may have light," said Hal. "By George! It's good to see you again. Let me see, it has been almost two years since I last saw you in France."
"Yes, it's been all of that," agreed the major.
"And what of our old friend Anderson? Do you know what has happened to him?"
"No," said Hal, "the last indirect word I had of him he had been sent to Mesopotamia. I have not seen him for many months. But, tell me, what are you doing here?"
"It isn't a very long story," said Major Derevaux. "As you perhaps know, General Byng's drive against the Germans has been one of the greatest successes since the Battle of the Marne."
Hal nodded.
"Well," the major continued, "I have been stationed with General Pitain at Verdun, where I last saw you. Now we know that the Germans have drawn heavily from other fronts to make possible the Italian invasion. Other fronts now will have to be weakened to hold back General Byng—even to launch a counter-offensive, for we all know that Hindenburg will strike back. That leaves the Verdun situation somewhat in the air."
"I see," said Hal. "If you can make sure that the Verdun front of the enemy has been weakened, the French will strike there."
"Exactly," said the major. "Then there is another possibility. It may be the plan of the German general staff to make a show of force here and then, when we are feeling secure before Verdun, to deliver a lightning-like blow there. Those are the things I am commissioned to learn."
"I see," said Hal again. "But how does it happen I find you here?"
"It's very simple. This woman here is a distant relative of mine. She is a patriot to the soul. Under the gruff exterior which you have seen she is the most kindly soul in the world. She is risking her life every minute she remains here, for she is accounted one of the most successful of French spies."
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal. "You don't mean it. Why, her very actions toward us, if used toward other Germans, it strikes me, would mean a firing squad for her."
"That," laughed Major Derevaux, "has been her greatest asset. The Germans are not particularly fond of her, that's a fact. She attacks them with a sharp tongue, but for that very reason she is looked upon as harmless. Come, I'll introduce you."
Major Derevaux led the way across the room to where the woman had been eyeing the two in the utmost astonishment.
"Lieutenant Paine," said the Major, "I take pleasure in presenting you to Mademoiselle Vaubaun. Mademoiselle, this is Lieutenant Paine, of His British Majesty's service."
"I must correct you, major," said Hal, smiling and acknowledging the introduction. "Lieutenant Paine, U.S.A."
"Oh—o!" said the major. "So you are fighting with your own countrymen at last, eh?"
"I am, thank goodness," said Hal. "But can this indeed be Mademoiselle Vaubaun? I have heard of her before, but I judged that she was a young woman."
Major Derevaux smiled.
"And a consummate actress," he said. "Mademoiselle, will you grant my friend the lieutenant a look at your true self?"
"If this young man is a friend of yours, Raoul, he is a friend of mine," said the woman.
She removed a cap from her head, straightened herself up and shook down her hair. Then she passed a hand several times over her face, and when Hal looked again there stood before him a girl in her teens.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal, and started back.
In a few words he now explained his own presence in the German lines, together with that of Chester and the four Canadians.
Mademoiselle Vaubaun, in turn, told the lad how she had been left in Cambrai when German troops had swept across Belgium and France in the early days of the war, and how, from time to time, she had found it possible to send word to the French and British staffs of impending German movements.
"But how about me and my friends?" inquired Hal.
"I can hide you all, too. Beyond the room in which your friends are now is a second room and beyond that a false wall. It is there, I will hide the major. I was about to take him there when you came to the door tonight. There is room for all."
"Then I shall return to my friends," said Hal. "I have been gone so long Chester will fear something has happened to me. Will you go with me, major?"
"To be sure. I shall be glad to see Chester again. May we have a light, Antoinette?"
"I will lead the way myself," said the girl. "It will be as well that you go to your hiding places now."
She lighted the way upstairs with a candle.
In the darkened room above, Chester and the Canadians had been waiting impatiently. Chester had come to the conclusion that something had happened to Hal and was about to go down and hunt for him. As the light came upstairs, however, he drew back.
"It's all right, Chester," Hal called. "Here is the light and an old friend to greet you."
"Old friend," said Chester in surprise. "I didn't know I had any friends on this side of the line."
"Well, have a look at this man and see if you recognize him," said Hal, and pushed Major Derevaux forward.
Chester took one look at the major and then dashed forward with hand out.
"Major Derevaux!" he cried.
The two clasped hands warmly.
"Now, Chester," said Hal, "I want you to meet our hostess, Mademoiselle
Vaubaun."
Chester bowed in acknowledgment of the introduction, then added: "I suppose it was your mother who admitted us some time since?"
The girl laughed lightly.
"Why, no," she said. "I admitted you myself."'
"But—but—" said Chester, nonplussed.
"I'm not surprised at you, Chester," said Hal. "Cannot a woman or a girl wear a disguise as well as you?"
"By Jove!" said Chester. "I hadn't thought of that. So that was it, eh?"
"Yes, that was it," said the girl.
The Canadians now were introduced around, after which the young girl said.
"Come. I may as well show you to your hiding places. It is as well for you to be there as here. There is no telling when some of the Germans may arrive."
"But aren't you afraid to be among them alone?" asked Hal.
"Pshaw!" exclaimed the girl. "Who would hurt a harmless old woman?"
She led the way into the room beyond, walked across and pressed a hidden spring in the side of the wall. Instantly a secret door moved open.
"It can be opened from within as well," said the girl. "You may have a light here if you wish. The door is so constructed that the rays cannot be seen from without. I shall leave you now. My only injunction is, do not talk too loud. I'll bring you food and water in the morning."
She bade them good-night and took her leave.
The friends talked in low tones for some moments, then stretched out on the floor and soon were fast asleep.