The bargain was soon struck and Bob, skirting the silent hamlet, hurried at his best speed down the hill toward the landing-stage. It was deserted when he came in sight of it. Darkness had fallen and the moon was shining. He saw the barge moored in the shadow of the birches.
“How do they expect to get away?” he wondered. Then, with a start, he saw the outline of a motor-boat below the landing-stage, and a man sitting in it.
Bob drew his revolver, stole on to the shaky planks of the stage and called out a challenge in German. The motor-boat’s occupant stood up uncertainly, bareheaded in the moonlight, and leaning toward Bob with one hand on the landing-stage, said doubtfully:
“I don’t speak German, sir. Ain’t there some mistake?”
“Seems to be,” said Bob, smiling in spite of himself. “Who are you, anyway? Whose boat is this?”
“It’s a government boat, sir. I’m the engineer. I brought Captain Eaton over from Coblenz, and——”
“You did? Where did he go?”
“He went up the hill there, toward that light you see near the top. They were after some——”
“Who’s this?” said Bob suddenly. As he spoke he sprang into the motor-boat beside Rogers and crouched low, pulling the soldier down with him. A second motor-boat had glided into view, coming down the river, and, slowing speed as it turned toward the shore, it made for the bank with engine softly purring.
It drew near the landing-stage. Bob peered over the gunwale, ready to challenge if it came closer. But the man at the wheel, leaning forward to look out into the moonlit darkness, no sooner caught sight of the other boat than he swung sharply inshore below the hamlet, a dozen yards from where Bob awaited him.