“Look here!” exclaimed the colonel. “How dare you talk like that to your superior officer? You shall be disciplined, sir.”
“No time for words,” said Harding in English at that moment.
He ran in suddenly and seized the colonel from behind. In spite of the latter’s frantic struggles, the Englishman lifted him into the tonneau and held him as he climbed in himself. Chester also jumped in and showed a revolver, which he pressed close to the colonel’s head.
“One word and you are a dead man!” said the lad quietly.
Hal, still guarding the German lieutenant closely, saw the German privates move the machine and open the road.
“Now, lieutenant,” he said, “you’ll accompany me back to my own car, first ordering your men to stand one side.”
The lieutenant gave the necessary order and preceded Hal back to the other car.
“One more thing, lieutenant,” said Hal, as he placed his foot on the step prepared to leap in, “if you make an outcry before we have passed your men yonder, some of them will get hurt. Take my advice and keep still.”
Hal lowered his revolver slowly until it pointed at the German’s feet. Then he pulled the trigger.
There was a flash and a report and the German lieutenant skipped nimbly back as the bullet kicked up the dust about him. He was not wounded, nor had Hal intended that he should be. The lad’s act was simply a ruse to get a little start.