CHAPTER XXIV
ANTOINETTE "MAKES GOOD"
True to her word, Antoinette appeared with food and drink early the following morning. She was again disguised as an old woman, and Hal and Chester could scarcely believe that a wig and a few dabs of paint could possibly conceal the girlish face they had seen the night before.
"I have had word to prepare a big dinner for a dozen officers of the general, staff," the girl informed Major Derevaux, "so it may be that I shall have the necessary information by nightfall."
"Let us hope so," said the major devoutly.
"And let us hope that you are not risking your life in getting it," said Hal.
"Thank you," said Antoinette. "I assure you I shall be very careful. Now, you must all remain here quietly today. You may be able to leave soon after dark."
She left the hiding place and closed the secret door behind her.
"And after we leave the house, then what?" asked Hal of Major
Derevaux.
"Don't you worry," said the major with a smile. "All that has been taken care of. Ten minutes' walk from here is a large army airplane. It brought me here and it will take us all back again."
"All of us?" exclaimed Hal.
"Yes," the major replied. "I have made trips in it before. The machine will carry ten passengers beside a pilot."
"And you do the driving, eh?" said Hal.
"No," said the major. "I have never learned the art. The pilot is with the craft."
"You mean he is in hiding in the woods?"
"Exactly."
"Great Scott!" cried Hal. "I wouldn't care about his job. Your job now isn't so bad, because you've a chance of action. But just think of sitting in a woods and waiting—waiting—never knowing what minute you are likely to be discovered."
"It is hard," agreed the major. "And here I am refreshed by a night's sleep, while he must remain there in the cold with his eyes open every minute."
"If he is discovered, then what?" asked Chester.
"His instructions, if discovered," said the major, "are to attempt to escape, leaving me behind."
"In which event," said Chester, "you'd have a hard time getting away."
"That's true. But nothing risked nothing gained, you know."
"True enough," said Hal. "Well, we must take what comes, but I hope
Mademoiselle Vaubaun does not get mixed up in any trouble."
"You seem to take rather a great deal of interest in the fair
Antoinette," said Chester slyly.
Hal's face turned red.
"Well, why shouldn't I?" he demanded. "No one likes to see a girl or a woman mixed up in this kind of business."
"Are you sure that is it?" demanded Chester. "Or is it just because it chanced to be Mademoiselle Vaubaun?"
"What do you mean?" exclaimed Hal angrily.
"Oh, no offense, no offense," declared Chester. "I was just talking to hear myself talk—maybe."
Major Derevaux smiled.
"Antoinette is a very nice girl," he said. "I'm sure she would appreciate Hal's interest in her. I'll tell her about it."
"I say! Don't do that!" exclaimed Hal in some confusion.
"Ha, ha!" laughed Chester.
Hal sat down again, his face still burning.
Even the Canadians joined in the general laugh, and Hal himself smiled. The joke was on him, and he was not the lad to get angry.
"Oh, well, have it your own way," he said. "It does no good to deny it."
The day passed slowly.
Antoinette did not appear at noon with food and water, as the others had expected she would.
"Probably busy serving the German officers," said Hal. "What's the difference, though. We can get along very well without one meal."
Night came, though to those in the little secret room it was not apparent that darkness had fallen. Hal glanced at his watch. It was after 7 o'clock.
"It's funny she hasn't come yet," he declared.
"Who do you mean by she?" asked Chester.
"Why, Antoinette," said Hal. "I—"
"Oh, sure," said Chester. "I know who you meant, all right. So you are calling her by her first name already, eh?"
"Look here," said Hal, "I don't think that is a bit funny."
"I apologize, old man," said Chester quickly. "I shouldn't have said it."
"Say no more about it then," said Hal. "I am afraid, though, that there is something wrong downstairs."
"I am beginning to think the same thing," declared Major Derevaux. "I wonder if it would not be well for one of us to sneak out and have a look?"
"I don't believe it would do any harm," declared Hal. "I'll go."
Chester was about to joke Hal again, but he changed his mind and held his tongue.
"I agree," he said. "If you want to go, Hal, we'll wait here."
"Good. If I have not returned in fifteen minutes you will know something has happened. In that event, I would advise that you all come down together, lend me a hand if I'm still in the house and in condition to be helped, and we'll all make a break for the airship."
"That is satisfactory," said Major Derevaux.
"And if I'm not in condition to be helped," said Hal, "go along without me. You will not have time to be burdened with excess baggage."
The others nodded and Hal gently slid open the secret door.
"Remember," he whispered back, "fifteen minutes."
The door closed behind him.
Hal made his way quietly through the two rooms that led to the stairs, and as quietly descended. As he passed through the parlor and approached the room in which he had met Major Derevaux the night before he heard the sound of voices. He paused and listened.
One he made out was a male voice, which he took to belong to a German officer. The second was that of Mademoiselle Vaubaun. Then a third voice boomed out. This, Hal knew, was that of a second German.
Hal approached the door and put his eye to the key-hole. Then he started back and whipped out his revolver.
In the center of the room sat Antoinette Vaubaun. She was no longer attired as an old woman. She was the girl that Hal had seen the night before. Her hair hung down her back. It was perfectly plain to the lad that she had been discovered. Her face, though pale, was set sternly. Hal listened to the conversation that ensued.
"So you are a spy, eh?" said a big German officer who sat on her right.
The girl made no response.
"Why don't you answer?" demanded the third occupant of the room, a heavily bearded man, and shook his fist threateningly in her face.
"I'll answer only what I choose to answer," returned Antoinette quietly. "Neither you nor the whole German army can make me talk."
"Is that so?" sneered the first man. "I suppose you've heard of the fate that came to an English nurse called Edith Cavell, eh?"
"I have," replied the girl angrily, "and it was crime for which Germany will have to pay some day. But you can't frighten me."
"You, too, will be shot as a spy," declared the larger German.
"And do you think that frightens me? I have done a whole lot for my country. Many times I warned my countrymen of an impending German attack. I am only sorry that I shall no longer have the opportunity."
"What!" exclaimed the German. "You admit it!"
"Of course I admit it. Why not?"
The German took a step toward the girl and raised a hand as though he would strike.
This was more than Hal could stand. He sent the door crashing in with a swift kick and dashed into the room.
It would have been possible for Hal to have shot the German where he stood, but the lad was so angry that he wanted a word with him first.
"You big, hulking coward!" he cried.
Both Germans dropped their hands to their revolvers.
Hal's revolver flashed fire.
The German nearest the young French girl clapped a hand to his forehead and sank to the floor.
There was a flash as the second German fired.