“I’d like to have all the Americans under me just like this one,” he mumbled to his companion.
“We’ll have them all under our feet some day,” answered the other. “They will be sorry they ever went to war against the Vaterland;” and then the soldier began his singing again, in which his companion presently joined.
Dave noted with satisfaction that the guns of both of the soldiers lay forward, on the bottom of the rowboat. While the craft was passing along in the darkness he put forth one hand cautiously and pulled first one gun and then the other toward him. He did not dare to raise either of the weapons; but he placed them in such a position that neither of the Germans could get at them very readily.
A full mile had been covered on the journey down the river, and one soldier was looking ahead as if to see at what point he might make a landing, when Dave resolved to act. He felt somewhat recovered, and, gathering himself for the effort, he suddenly leaped up and caught one of the soldiers by the arm.
“Stop! What does this mean?” spluttered the fellow, but before he could utter another word Dave had him half overboard. Then he gave the soldier a shove which sent him headlong into the water.
The encounter had been a brief one, but short as it was it had given the second soldier a chance to leap up and at the young lieutenant. He came at our hero very much like a big bear, fastening himself on Dave’s back with a grab at his throat which was as painful as it was dangerous.
But all the young lieutenant’s fighting blood was now aroused, and, standing straight up, he suddenly bent low, sending the German soldier flying into the air and over his head.
The fellow gave a yell of rage and alarm, but he did not lose his grip; and a moment later both he and Dave splashed overboard into the swiftly flowing river!
CHAPTER XXVI
DEEP IN THE WOODS
Evidently the German soldier who had gone overboard with Dave knew little or nothing about swimming, for the minute he touched the water he seemed to grow frantic, clutching our hero around the neck in a deathlike grip.