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diff --git a/30969-h/30969-h.htm b/30969-h/30969-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b0c03d --- /dev/null +++ b/30969-h/30969-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7161 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" > +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Big Five Motorcycle Boys on the Battle Line, by Ralph Marlow</title> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;} +p {margin-top:1ex; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:0; text-align:justify;} +p + p {margin-top:0; text-indent:1em;} + +h1,h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} +h1 {font-size:1.6em; margin-top:4ex; margin-bottom:2ex;} +h1.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size: 190%; margin-top:0ex; margin-bottom:0ex;} +h2 {font-size:1.4em; margin-top:4ex; margin-bottom:2ex;} + +a {text-decoration:none;} +div.toc a {text-decoration:underline;} +div.loi a {text-decoration:underline;} + +p.center {text-align:center; text-indent:0em;} +p.caption {font-size:smaller;} + +table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; clear:both;} +td.tcol2 {text-align:left; padding-right:10ex; vertical-align:top;} +td.tcol3 {text-align:right; vertical-align:bottom;} + +div.figcenter {text-align:center; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em;} +div.figcenter p {text-align:center;} + +div.bquote {font-size:1.0em; margin:5px 5%;} +div.bquote p {text-indent:0em; margin-bottom:4px; margin-top:4px;} + +div.titlepage {margin-bottom:4px; margin-top:4px;} +div.titlepage p {text-indent:0em; text-align:center; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;} + +.tiz {text-indent:0} +.tin {text-indent:-2ex; margin-left:2ex; margin-bottom:10px;} +.tar {text-align:right;} +.tac {margin-left: auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center;} + +.fss {font-size:smaller;} +.fsl {font-size:larger;} +.fs08 {font-size:0.8em;} +.fs12 {font-size:1.2em;} +.fs14 {font-size:1.4em;} +.fs16 {font-size:1.6em;} +.fs18 {font-size:1.8em;} +.fs20 {font-size:2.0em;} +.fs22 {font-size:2.2em;} +.fs24 {font-size:2.4em;} +.mt20 {margin-top:20px;} +.mb10 {margin-bottom:10px;} +.mb20 {margin-bottom:20px;} +.mb40 {margin-bottom:40px;} + +.bold {font-weight:bold;} + +hr.tb {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; height: 1px; width: 60%; text-align: center; margin: 15px 20%;} +hr.b10 {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; height: 1px; width: 10%; text-align: center; margin: 15px 45%;} + +hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none; border-top:thin dashed silver;} +@media handheld { +hr.pb {border:none; page-break-after:always; margin-top:4em;} +} + +.footnote {font-size: 90%; } +.footnote .label {float:left; text-align:left; width:2em;} +.footnote a {text-decoration:none;} +.fnanchor {font-size: 80%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: 0.25em;} +div.footnote p {margin-bottom:1ex;} +hr.fn {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; height: 1px; width: 10ex; text-align: left; margin: 10px auto 10px 0;} + + .centerpg { text-align: center; } + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Big Five Motorcycle Boys on the Battle +Line, by Ralph Marlow</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Big Five Motorcycle Boys on the Battle Line</p> +<p> Or, With the Allies in France</p> +<p>Author: Ralph Marlow</p> +<p>Release Date: January 15, 2010 [eBook #30969]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS ON THE BATTLE LINE***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="centerpg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank, D Alexander,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div style='margin:0px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='cover' src='images/icover.jpg' /> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='titlepage'> +<p class='fs20 mt20 mb10'>The Big Five Motorcycle Boys<br />On the Battle Line</p> +<p class='mb10'>OR</p> +<p class='mb40 fs16'>With the Allies in France</p> +<p class='mb20 fs14'>By RALPH MARLOW</p> +<p class='fss mb10'>AUTHOR OF</p> +<p class='fss'>“The Big Five Motorcycle Boys Under Fire,” “The Big Five<br /> +Motorcycle Boys at the Front,” “The Big Five Motorcycle<br /> +Boys’ Swift Road Chase,” “The Big Five Motorcycle<br /> +Boys in Tennessee Wilds,” “The Big<br /> +Five Motorcycle Boys Through by<br /> +Wireless,” “The Big Five<br /> +Motorcycle Boys on<br /> +Florida Trails.”</p> +<div style='margin:0px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/ititle.jpg' /> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='titlepage'> +<p class='fss'>Copyright, 1916</p> +<p class='fss'>B<span class='fss'>Y</span> A. L. B<span class='fss'>URT</span> C<span class='fss'>OMPANY</span></p> +<hr class='b10' /> +<p class='fss'>THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS ON THE BATTLE LINE</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i003.jpg' id="img001" alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +THERE WAS A SUDDEN SPITEFUL CRACK FROM THE REAR, AND JOSH DUCKED HIS HEAD INVOLUNTARILY. <i>The Big Five Motorcycle Boys on the Battle Line.</i> <i>Page 35.</i> +</p></div><!-- figure --> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<h1>THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS ON THE BATTLE LINE.</h1> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_1'></a>CHAPTER I.<br /><span class='fss'>ON THE STREETS OF ANTWERP.</span></h2> +<p>“Good-bye, Elmer, and you, too, Rooster!”</p> + +<p>“It’s too bad we have to hurry home, and break up the +Big Five Motorcycle Boys’ combination, just when we’ve been +having such royal good times over in the country of the Great +War!”</p> + +<p>“But there was nothing else to do, Elmer, when you got that +cable message telling you to take the first steamer home, as your +mother was about to undergo an operation, and wanted to see you +first.”</p> + +<p>“And Rooster here chose to go along with you, because +he’s got such a tender chicken heart he just hates to see all the +misery and suffering these poor Belgians are enduring.”</p> + +<p>“There’s the last call to go ashore. Come along, Josh, +and you too, Hanky Panky. Boys, to be honest with you I more than half +wish I was going along. Home would look mighty fine to me just +now.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! shucks! you’ll soon get over that feeling, +Rod,” said the lanky boy called Josh, taking the alarm at once, +for he seemed perfectly contented to stay where he was; “just +wait till we’re spinning along on our bully machines down through +Ostend, Dunkirk, and Calais to Boulogne, where we may take a steamer to +the U. S. if we can find berths.”</p> + +<p>“Be sure to keep a regular daily log of your happenings, Josh, +so we can look it over when you get back home,” begged the boy +who went by the strange nick-name of “Rooster,” doubtless +because he crowed so much over his accomplishments.</p> + +<p>“Good-bye, and good luck!” called out Elmer, waving his +hand again.</p> + +<p>“Remember us to everybody in Garland, particularly all the +pretty girls!” shouted Hanky Panky, after the last exchange of +handshakes, when with his two chums, Rod and Josh, he hurried down the +gang-plank to the dock.</p> + +<p>The steamer for London was leaving its Antwerp pier, and all seemed +excitement. Many people were already fleeing madly from Belgium, now +partly overrun by the vast invading army of the German Kaiser. At any +day Antwerp was likely to be bombarded by the tremendous forty-two +centimetre guns that had reduced the steel-domed forts at Liege and +Namur, and allowed the conquering hosts entrance to Brussels.</p> + +<p>While the trio on the dock continued to frantically return the +salutes of their two chums as long as they could distinguish their +figures on the hurricane deck of the staunch steamer bound down the +Scheldt, a few brief explanations might not come in amiss. Possibly +some of those who start to read this book may not have had the pleasure +of meeting Rod and his four friends in previous volumes of this +series.</p> + +<p>The boys who wore the khaki lived in the enterprising town of +Garland across the water in the States. How they came by the fine +motorcycles they owned would be too long a story to narrate here, and +those who are curious about the circumstances must be referred to +earlier stories for the details.</p> + +<p>They called their organization the Big Five because they planned to +carry out numerous enterprises that might have daunted less courageous +spirits. Rod Bradley was really the leader, though Elmer Overton, the +Southern boy, often proved himself a good second.</p> + +<p>Then there were Henry Jucklin, known to all his mates as +“Hanky Panky” because of his skill as a magician; Josh +Whitcomb, with a bit of the Yankee in his composition; and Christopher +Boggs, otherwise “Rooster.”</p> + +<p>They had covered many thousands of miles with those wonderful steel +steeds, and met with some surprising adventures up to the time when an +opportunity arose allowing them to go abroad. A wealthy old gentleman +of their town, who knew their calibre well, had given them an important +errand to carry out, and stood responsible for their expenses to the +other side of the Atlantic.</p> + +<p>Coming leisurely down the Rhine country they had been suddenly +caught by the war tide; and as it was in Antwerp that Rod expected to +meet the party he sought they had to strike out boldly for that +far-distant city.</p> + +<p>Strange happenings had marked their course through the war-stricken +country of Belgium. Indeed, several times it looked very much as though +they would never attain their goal, but might be sent back as prisoners +of war to Germany.</p> + +<p>Of course, their sympathies were mainly with the Allies, and +particularly after they had seen with their own eyes how the poor +Belgians, fighting heroically to defend their native land, were being +cowed by the seemingly limitless legions of the Kaiser.</p> + +<p>But in the end they reached Antwerp, and had about decided to make a +run down the coast to Boulogne, where they might take a steamer home, +when that fatal cable message upset their plans.</p> + +<p>Elmer and Rooster would not hear of the others accompanying them +home. Josh, too, was really wild to see more of the great war. So +finally Rod, finding that Hanky Panky seemed of the same mind, +consented to stay over for a week or two longer.</p> + +<p>Now that their two chums had left them the boys wandered about the +city on the Scheldt and tried to amuse themselves as best they could. +But they soon found that ordinary sights no longer availed to satisfy +them.</p> + +<p>“You see, the war fills the air wherever you go,” +explained Josh, to account for this seeming lack of interest. +“What does anybody want to go snooping into things that had to do +with battles of centuries ago, when the biggest war the world ever knew +is raging right now through Northern France and Belgium?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, with Great Britain dragged in, and perhaps Italy and +other countries to follow, not even excepting our own land,” +added Rod, seriously.</p> + +<p>“Why,” spoke up Hanky Panky, excitedly, +“everywhere you look you see signs of the war game right here in +Antwerp. Soldiers are marching through the streets to the cheers of the +people. Artillery is dashing this way and that. Armored cars can be +seen starting out to harry the enemy with their Maxims. And hardly an +hour of the day but half a dozen British or Belgian aeroplanes soar +above us, doing all kinds of stunts calculated to make your hair stand +on end.”</p> + +<p>“It’s the greatest thing that ever happened, barring +none,” declared the delighted Josh, looking as though he could +almost hug himself, such was his joy; “and let me tell you +we’re the lucky boys to be on the spot when history is being made +so fast.”</p> + +<p>“The party I’m to see for Mr. Amos Tucker,” +remarked Rod, “will be in the city to-night. I’ll get that +out of my system; and once I send the documents by registered post +I’m free for anything that crops up.”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah! then we’ll have a chance to climb aboard our +wheels again, and strike out for France!” said Josh. +“Here’s hoping we may run across a corner of the big fight +that’s taking place north of Paris. I’d be a happy fellow +if I could actually see those brave Frenchmen, backed up by the British +troops, meet the boastful Germans who believe they can clean up the +whole world.”</p> + +<p>Rod shrugged his shoulders, and made a wry face.</p> + +<p>“We’ve already seen something of a battle from a +distance, you remember, Josh,” he told the other, “and all +of us decided that it was simply <i>terrible</i>. For my part, while +I’d like to see the French in action I’m not going out of +my way to take chances. The way they fill the air with deadly missiles +from quick-firers and with bursting shrapnel gives you a cold +feeling.”</p> + +<p>“Rod,” said Hanky Panky, who somehow had not been taking +part in this talk, “do turn and watch that poor little woman over +there. She’s in a peck of trouble, I reckon, by the way she acts, +first looking at a paper she’s been reading, and then wiping her +eyes with her apron.”</p> + +<p>“You mean the one with the dog team, and the tall, +brass-mounted milk cans, don’t you, Hanky Panky?” asked +Josh quickly. “I saw her a while ago, and heard her speak to the +little child in wooden sabots that is tagging at her heels. It was pure +French she used, and I’d wager a cookey she isn’t a Belgian +at all. There are lots of people from northern France in Antwerp, you +know.”</p> + +<p>“Well, she’s having a hard time of it, some way or +other,” added Hanky Panky. “You can see her hug and kiss +the little girl, and then read her letter again. Now she looks around +as if wondering where she can find a friend. Say, Rod, you can speak +French right well; what’s to hinder our finding out what the +matter is? Everybody in Antwerp is too excited about the war to bother +over a little thing like a poor French woman’s +troubles.”</p> + +<p>Thus appealed to Rod laughed good-naturedly, and then led the way +straight toward the spot where the owner of the dog team stood. +Evidently she was on her rounds delivering fresh milk, when overtaken +by bad news.</p> + +<p>When Rod addressed her in her native tongue she looked up +appealingly. Evidently she must have liked the appearance of the three +frank-looking American boys, for she quickly commenced to talk volubly, +all the while shrugging her shoulders, and emphasizing her words with +gestures and face expressions.</p> + +<p>The other boys could see that she was comparatively young, and not +bad looking. As for the child, they were greatly smitten with her pink +cheeks and big black eyes, as well as the coy glances the little thing +gave them.</p> + +<p>Presently Rod was seen to be reading a letter she handed him, and +which she may have taken from the mail while on her milk route. Again +Rod conversed with her, greatly to the mystification of his comrades, +who thought he would never stop.</p> + +<p>Finally Rod turned toward them.</p> + +<p>“For goodness’ sake tell us what it all means, +Rod!” urged Hanky Panky.</p> + +<p>“Yes; has her landlord threatened to turn her out unless she +can pay the rent, and ought we put up our spare cash to help settle the +bill?” demanded Josh.</p> + +<p>“Oh! it’s a thousand times more serious than +that,” said Rod, which remark, of course, aroused the curiosity +of his chums more than ever.</p> + +<p>“Get some speed on then, Rod, and give us the gist of the +business,” said Hanky Panky appealingly; “of course +there’s a heap of trouble in the old city just now, but when a +case pokes right out in front of you it’s hard to pass by. If we +could help the little French woman and her pretty child, why, we ought +to wake up and do something.”</p> + +<p>“Wait till you hear how the thing stands before you get so +rash,” warned Rod, who knew only too well the hasty ways of his +two chums. “This little woman’s name is Jeanne +D’Aubrey. Her husband is a French reservist named Andre. He was +called to the colors as soon as the war broke out, leaving her here in +Antwerp with her little daughter, and a living to make from her few +cows.”</p> + +<p>“But what was the paper you read, Rod?” asked impatient +Josh.</p> + +<p>“I’m coming to that,” the other told him; +“it is a very important letter she has just received from a law +firm in Paris, informing herself and husband that an old uncle, Jasper, +has died some time since, leaving his estate to Andre on condition that +he sign a certain document within a given time. It now lacks just three +weeks of the limit, and unless his signature is properly placed there, +and witnessed by three reliable people, the property will go to another +nephew, one Jules Baggott by name, who has long hoped to inherit +it.”</p> + +<p>“Great Scott! that is tough, I should say!” ejaculated +Josh.</p> + +<p>“And her husband away at the French war front, perhaps shot +long before now in the bargain,” muttered Hanky Panky soberly; +“because we’ve heard that there’s been bloody +fighting all along the line between the French border and in front of +Paris, where General Von Kluck’s German army is already +pressing.”</p> + +<p>“You can’t wonder then that the poor little woman is +overcome with the terrible trouble that has fallen on her,” +explained Rod. “Once that document is properly signed and she +would be fixed for life, no matter what happened to her soldier +husband. But she hardly knows what to do. It is utterly out of the +question for her to try and find him; and she doesn’t know any +person reliable enough in Antwerp to trust them with the precious +papers. You see, this other cousin, Jules, is here in town, for she has +even had him call upon her lately; and she now believes he knows of his +uncle’s will, so that he might try to keep the messenger from +ever meeting Andre!”</p> + +<p>Rod paused just there. Perhaps he knew his auditors so well that he +really anticipated what the effect would be upon both Josh and Hanky +Panky. The pair looked at the French woman, who was observing them with +such an eager, hungry expression on her face. She wrung her hands +piteously just then, as though she saw the one chance to gain a little +fortune for herself and child slipping away for lack of a brave +champion who would undertake the task of finding her Andre.</p> + +<p>That was the finishing stroke. Josh had been hesitating, wondering +whether he ought to make a suggestion that, springing from his generous +heart, was already trembling on his lips.</p> + +<p>“Rod!” he exclaimed, with boyish animation.</p> + +<p>“Yes, what is it, Josh?” asked the other, encouragingly, +for just then the child had shot him a roguish, pathetic glance that +went straight to his heart.</p> + +<p>“Why, I was going to say we’ve managed to carry out a +lot of things before now that looked as hopeless as searching for a +needle in a haystack. Rod, we might stand a chance of finding this same +Andre, if you thought it was up to us to deliver the goods!”</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky uttered a snort as he expressed his opinion.</p> + +<p>“I move we undertake the mission,” he remarked eagerly; +“I’d never sleep decent again if we left this poor little +woman in the lurch after she’d told us her story. Rod, shut your +eyes and make it unanimous! The Motorcycle Boys in the saddle +again!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_2'></a>CHAPTER II.<br /><span +class='fss'>A CHANGE OF PLANS.</span></h2> + +<p>Rod’s hesitation was of brief duration. He saw that both his +comrades were fairly wild to go. Josh in particular seemed to look upon +this chance to see some more of the fighting taking place between the +hostile armies as arranged especially to suit his fancy.</p> + +<p>“All right, then,” said Rod finally, “let’s +see what’s to be done. If she can put certain facts in our +possession, so that we’d stand a chance of finding Andre in the +army of General Joffre, we might undertake the task. It’d be hard +to refuse, with that little darling of a girl in such great +need.”</p> + +<p>“Bully for you, Rod!” exclaimed Josh; “I knew +you’d come to time right handsomely. We’ll likely see +something of the fierce battles that are raging every day in northern +France as the Germans drive the Allies back mile after mile, aiming to +take Paris, and end the war with a rush!”</p> + +<p>Apparently Josh had been dreaming of something along these lines, +and the opportunity to gratify his ambition took him by storm.</p> + +<p>Rod again turned to the French woman and started to converse with +her once more. How her face did light up when she learned that these +brave American boys had decided to lend her their aid, and try to find +her absent soldier husband among the legions of patriots defending the +beloved Paris.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky and Josh could understand very little of what was said, +but by watching the expressive face and motions of Jeanne they were +able to translate much of her explanations.</p> + +<p>“She has told me where her humble home is,” explained +Rod finally, “and this very night we will visit her to hear +further particulars, and receive the document which was enclosed in the +letter from the French law firm in Paris.”</p> + +<p>“And then?” asked Josh breathlessly.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps to-morrow we can start away from here and head south, +to cross the border line, and enter France,” he was told.</p> + +<p>“But not to go as far as Boulogne, eh, Rod?” questioned +Hanky Panky.</p> + +<p>“No, for that would take us out of our way,” the other +continued. “After we get to Calais we will have to strike direct +for Paris; that is unless we learn that one of the numerous German +armies has cut across the road, blocking our way. In that event we will +have to shape our plans over again. But there’s no use crossing a +bridge until you come to it, so don’t let’s +worry.”</p> + +<p>He once more spoke to the little woman, whose face was now beaming +with gratitude. She seized the boy’s hand and actually kissed it +before Rod had a chance to snatch it away. The act made him flush with +confusion, especially since Josh was chuckling in his clumsy way. But +one thing was sure, Jeanne considered their crossing her path at the +time she needed a friend more than ever before in all her life as a +most fortunate thing.</p> + +<p>So the boys walked away.</p> + +<p>“Just to think what a wonderful change has come about inside +of half an hour,” remarked the delighted Josh. “We had it +all arranged for a little spin down the coast, and then embarking at +Boulogne for America. Now we’re planning to strike out to that +region where a million German soldiers are striking hard blows at the +lines of the Allies, and meaning to capture Paris. Why, I’m +tickled half to death at the idea of seeing some more thrilling +pictures of the Great World War.”</p> + +<p>Josh and Hanky Panky could talk of little else during the balance of +that day. Rod seemed very quiet, and it was evident that he foresaw +they would have dangerous work laid out for them, which might try their +boldness as few things had ever done before.</p> + +<p>“Listen,” he told the others at one time, when they were +discussing the possibilities of the future; “perhaps neither of +you happened to notice a man with a French look who stood by a stoop +further along the narrow street, and kept watching us all the time I +was talking to the woman. Since then it’s struck me that perhaps +he may have been the other cousin she spoke of, Jules Baggott, and that +he was guessing how the wind lay when he saw me read the paper, and +watched her kiss my hand.”</p> + +<p>“Whoop!” ejaculated the impulsive Josh immediately, +“that would mean trouble with a big T, wouldn’t it, +Rod?”</p> + +<p>“If he concluded that we were going to find her husband, +providing Andre hadn’t already been killed in the +fighting,” Rod went on to explain, “I should imagine this +Jules would go to some trouble to stop us, and get the paper away. You +can see what it would mean to him if we failed to make +connections.”</p> + +<p>Many times during the balance of that afternoon Josh and Hanky Panky +referred to the business which they were about to undertake. In fact it +seemed as though both boys enjoyed the idea of again drawing near the +fighting line, and witnessing some of the amazing events taking place +there in this modern war. History was being made every day, and the +thought of being actual witnesses of these grand undertakings thrilled +them as nothing else could have done.</p> + +<p>Frequently either one or the other imagined they were being +followed; and a dozen times some innocent citizen was suspected of +being the skulking Jules. If the French cousin of Andre actually had +them shadowed it was done so skilfully that none of the boys were any +the wiser.</p> + +<p>After supper that night they sallied forth. Rod took extra +precautions to dodge the main exit of the hotel at which they were +quartered; if a spy waited there to keep tabs on their movements he +meant the fellow should have his trouble for nothing.</p> + +<p>They found the home of the French woman. It was, of course, an +humble abode, but as neat as a pin. Rod again entered into a fervent +conversation, and from time to time stopped to explain to his chums +what the burden of the talk might be.</p> + +<p>In the end Jeanne entrusted him with the precious paper, which, once +signed by her husband, with the names of competent witnesses also +inscribed according to law, would mean a competency for herself and +child the balance of their lives, whether Andre ever came home from the +war or not.</p> + +<p>Rod was very cautious in making his way back to the hotel. He +avoided all dark streets, and warned his chums to keep a bright lookout +for skulking figures. Nothing out of the way happened, however, and +they reached their hotel in safety. For once Josh evinced little desire +to stop and watch some of the stirring scenes which were to be met with +in all the principal thoroughfares of Antwerp during those days and +nights when the shadow of the German mailed fist hung over the heads of +the dauntless Belgian nation.</p> + +<p>Down at the hotel Rod found the gentleman waiting for him with whom +Amos Tucker, far away in America, had business connections of vast +importance which he had entrusted to Rod to carry through.</p> + +<p>This was finally accomplished, and after Rod made sure that +everything had been completed in a satisfactory fashion, he entrusted +the papers to the mail to be carried duly to Mr. Tucker, guarded by +registry and every possible means against loss in transit.</p> + +<p>“There; I feel as if I had a big load off my shoulders,” +said the boy as he once more joined his two chums, who had spent the +hour talking over the immediate future, and what amazing things it +might have in store for them.</p> + +<p>All of them were tired, for they had been up early that August day, +and every hour had been crammed with excitement. Accordingly it was +decided that they had better retire without further delay, and get what +sleep they could.</p> + +<p>“There’s no telling what sort of a bed we may have +to-morrow night,” Rod warned the others; “so make the most +of it while you have a soft mattress under you. The ground is pretty +hard, sometimes, you know, because often we’ve tried it, and may +have to again.”</p> + +<p>Both the others only laughed, as though they were so well pleased +with the opportunity crossing their path so unexpectedly that they +could not find any fault, no matter how things turned.</p> + +<p>When another day dawned they busied themselves in getting breakfast, +settling their account, and then securing their motorcycles, which had +been well taken care of during their stay in Antwerp. Such valuable +wheels might have been commandeered by the authorities for use in the +army, only that Rod chanced to carry a few lines actually signed by +King Albert and which had been placed in his hands by the dauntless +Belgian monarch himself, which warned all concerned that nothing +belonging to the American boys was to be touched, as they had shown +their friendship for Belgium in numerous ways.</p> + +<p>Rod was careful enough to make sure that all of them carried a +plentiful supply of the necessary petrol, for he realized how difficult +it would likely be to secure any of this liquid fuel, since every +gallon was being seized for the use of the multitude of lorries and +cars employed for transportation purposes by the armies in the +field.</p> + +<p>It was about nine in the morning when they were ready to start. The +early September day was a fair one, though promising more or less heat +before noon came and went. Rod led the way, and they soon left the big +bustling city on the Scheldt behind them. A splendid road invited an +increase of speed, and presently they were booming along right +merrily.</p> + +<p>How delightfully cheery did the rapid clatter of the exhausts sound +to their ears, after having been deprived of this familiar company for +days at a stretch, since abandoning their machines at the home of a +woman market gardener, who had later on brought them to the city, +concealed under a load of produce.</p> + +<p>They kept as close together as safety allowed, with Rod as usual in +the lead. Well did the other two know they could always depend on him +to steer them aright. Rod carried a little map of the country with him. +Besides, he had studied it so thoroughly that in most cases he could +tell the lay of the land without consulting the chart.</p> + +<p>“This is the life!” called Hanky Panky, who brought up +the rear, squatted in his saddle something after the manner of a huge +toad; for Hanky had a peculiar “style” of his own, entirely +original, which he claimed to have as many good points as a horse +jockey’s method of riding on the neck of his mount.</p> + +<p>“Pity our two poor chums who had to set out for home so +early!” added Josh, who was in a sense fairly hugging himself on +account of the wonderful possibilities for excitement looming up above +the horizon just then.</p> + +<p>“Well, their machines went with them,” said Rod over his +shoulder, “and they say ‘where ignorance is bliss +’tis a folly to be wise.’ Right now they may be over in +England, pitying us for being left behind in the land of the Great +War.”</p> + +<p>“This is a hunky-dory road, all right!” ventured Hanky +Panky shortly afterward. “Why, we seem to be gliding along as +smoothly as if on a parlor floor. We could go twice as fast, if we +wanted to.”</p> + +<p>“No need of that,” said Rod, hearing the remark, which +was, however, intended only for Josh; “we’ll pass through +Ostend and Dunkirk, reaching Calais in short order. Then, like as not, +we’ll have to spend the rest of the day there, and to-night in +the bargain.”</p> + +<p>“Shucks! what’s the use of all that, Rod?” +demanded Josh, for he was fairly wild to get near the firing line +again, and witness more of those wonderful sights that had thrilled him +to the bone a short time back.</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to give an account of ourselves, most +likely, and get written permission to go into France,” he was +told.</p> + +<p>“Say, fellows,” called out Hanky Panky just then, +“there’s a car whirling along right now in a cloud of dust, +with two men aboard. Wouldn’t it be a joke on us if that was the +Jules Baggott the woman spoke of, and that he was chasing after us, +bent on making us give up the paper she entrusted to Rod +here?”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_3'></a>CHAPTER III.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE PURSUIT.</span></h2> + +<p>Of course when Hanky Panky made this astonishing statement both his +chums commenced to send anxious glances back along the road over which +they were spinning so grandly.</p> + +<p>“What d’ye think of it, Rod?” demanded Josh +quickly.</p> + +<p>“They act as if they meant to overtake us, all right,” +the boy in the van declared, without hesitation; “but I +couldn’t say for certain whether one of them is the scheming +Jules or not. You remember I only <i>thought</i> I had a glimpse of him +at the time we talked with Jeanne on the Antwerp street.”</p> + +<p>“Shall we let them come up, and have it out?” questioned +Josh belligerently, for Josh was something of a fighter in his way, and +always had a “chip on his shoulder.”</p> + +<p>“We are looking for no scrap, if it can be helped,” said +Rod; “so first of all we can try letting out a little more +speed.”</p> + +<p>“And if they follow suit, then what?” asked Hanky Panky, +with a vein of anxiety in his voice; for being in the rear he imagined +he would necessarily be the target for any stray leaden missiles that +might come that way.</p> + +<p>“In the first place we’ll feel pretty certain +they’re meaning to overtake us,” Rod called back, as he +increased his pace considerably, an easy thing to do, although he knew +the danger of going at headlong speed over an unknown road, where at +any minute they might rush upon a hay-wagon blocking the whole +thoroughfare, and concealed by some bend.</p> + +<p>“Well, they’ve let out another notch, all right!” +called Hanky Panky, from his position in the rear.</p> + +<p>“And believe me that’s some racer of a car they’re +running!” exploded Josh; “why, it can give us a run for our +money, try as we may to get away.”</p> + +<p>Rod had already discovered this, though saying nothing as yet. He +knew that it was not safe to put Hanky Panky to a severe test, for the +other was apt to get a little rattled, and while going at a mad pace +any sort of accident was likely to be serious.</p> + +<p>They continued to speed along at this merry clip for a brief time +longer. Then the rear guard reported that the pursuing car seemed to be +holding its own.</p> + +<p>“Hadn’t we ought to go faster, Rod?” he besought +the leader; “I know you’re only holding in on account of +me, but forget that, won’t you?”</p> + +<p>But Rod knew better than that. He was aware of his chum’s +failing, and dared not risk too much. There had been times in the past +when he allowed the limit of speed to be taken, but always with serious +misgivings.</p> + +<p>“Leave it to me, Hanky,” he called out encouragingly; +“I’ll fix up a game that will cook their goose for +them.”</p> + +<p>“Sure you will, Rod,” replied the other at the top of +his voice, for the trio of machines made considerable racket as they +pushed along in close formation.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the dust raised by their passage completely hid the +pursuing red car; then a little puff of wind would waft it away, so +that the motorcycle boys could easily see the object of their +concern.</p> + +<p>Past humble homes of the Belgian peasants they rushed. Ducks and +chickens and dogs had to get out of the way in great style in order to +avoid being run over. This was one of the things Rod had in mind when +deciding not to increase their speed any further; a squawking hen has +been the cause of a “spill” with many an unlucky +motorcyclist; and every one has noticed how persistently +“Biddy” will try to cross the road despite the peril, if +her home happens to be on the other side.</p> + +<p>Rod no longer entertained any doubts concerning the identity of +those who occupied the red racing car. One of them he felt positive +must be Jules Baggott, the unscrupulous cousin of Andre, who would +profit if the soldier should never live to sign the papers which were +mentioned in the will of the dead uncle.</p> + +<p>By this time Rod had his fighting blood up. Opposition always made +him the more determined to accomplish his ends, when his heart was back +of the undertaking.</p> + +<p>His active mind quickly grasped the situation, and a cleverly +arranged plan was formed that gave promise of success.</p> + +<p>“Josh, can you hear me?” he called out, not daring to +look back now because at the time they were negotiating several sharp +turns, and his attention was required at the front.</p> + +<p>“Easy thing!” sang out the one just behind him.</p> + +<p>“How about you, Hanky?” continued the leader.</p> + +<p>“I get you O. K., Rod; let her go!” came the reply in a +roar.</p> + +<p>“If we can only coax them to leave their car for a short +time,” explained Rod, “Josh might disable it in some way, +so the pursuit would come to an end!”</p> + +<p>“A bully scheme, Rod, and don’t you forget that you said +Josh was going to be Johnny on the spot!” the party in question +bellowed exultantly.</p> + +<p>“There’s a big house ahead of us,” continued Rod, +“for I’ve had several glimpses of the same, and we’ll +strike it shortly. I don’t know why I think we’ll find it +deserted, but it has that look to me. One end seems to have been burned +out. Well, that might be the place we’re looking for, to give our +pursuers the slip.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I see the house right now,” barked Josh; “and +sure enough it’s just as you said, with part of the roof +gone.”</p> + +<p>“It sets near the road, so we can rush around it,” +called out the leader. “Josh will go on ahead now and hide his +machine among the trees near the road. Hanky, you keep with me. Perhaps +we’ll enter the house, and pass out the back way, to speed on +again. Josh, you hurry back so when the men leave their car to see if +you’re inside the house you can get busy. Understand?”</p> + +<p>Both of the others called out that it was perfectly clear to them. +The abandoned mansion was now close at hand. Rod believed they must be +drawing near the outskirts of Ostend, the Belgian watering place, which +could not lie many miles beyond.</p> + +<p>It required a clever mind to arrange all the little details of such +a plan of campaign in a hurry. The fact that Rod was able to do so +stamped him the right kind of a leader. Still, neither of his +companions thought it strange, because they had known him to do +numerous similar things in times gone by.</p> + +<p>Josh managed to get ahead, and would thus have a brief time to hide +his machine alongside the road so as to steal back towards the house +before the car arrived, for it was still some little distance away.</p> + +<p>When the men in it saw only two boys riding off they would naturally +suspect that some accident had happened to the machine of the third +fellow, who possibly had taken up temporary quarters in the old house. +This was just what Rod wanted them to think; it would allow Josh the +chance he needed to disable the car in some way or other.</p> + +<p>Things moved along swiftly. Rod and Hanky Panky dashed up to the +front of the house and stopped. Doubtless the oncoming pursuers would +miss the clattering of the exhausts, and understand that they had +halted for some purpose or other.</p> + +<p>“They’ve slowed down some themselves, Rod!” cried +Hanky Panky, as he stood “at attention,” ready to jump on +his machine the instant Rod gave the word, so as to continue the mad +flight.</p> + +<p>The red car had come around the last bend, and was now in plain +sight. For a distance of at least two miles the road ran as straight as +a yard stick; so that the men could readily see that the third +motorcycle lad was not in sight ahead.</p> + +<p>“All right; it’s time we were off!” cried Rod +presently.</p> + +<p>The car had covered half the distance between the bend and the +deserted house, and they could plainly see the man sitting alongside +the chauffeur leaning forward, as though eagerly scrutinizing them. Rod +imagined he was a little taken aback by their halting, and was trying +to puzzle it out.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the popping of the exhausts announced that the two +motorcycles were once more in action. Both boys sprang into the saddle +and away they went down the dusty road. As they were in plain sight the +men could readily see that one of the trio was missing. And it would be +most natural to imagine that something had happened to his machine, so +that he must have taken temporary refuge in the abandoned house, while +his comrades continued their flight.</p> + +<p>What then?</p> + +<p>Would the man they believed to be the plotting Jules stop, and with +his assistant rush into the house to look for the missing boy? Much +depended on his actions, for if the chauffeur remained with the car, +Josh, lying in wait near by, might be utterly unable to accomplish the +design he had in view.</p> + +<p>Rod had high hopes. He could figure that Jules would want to make +sure the third American boy did not have the paper on his person, +before speeding after the two whom he could see going leisurely down +the road, as if inviting pursuit.</p> + +<p>As their pace was now less swift Rod was able to turn again and +again and look backward. Hanky Panky was doing the same, though his +machine did wabble more or less, and he had to be exceedingly careful +not to land in the ditch alongside the fine road.</p> + +<p>It was a moment of considerable suspense to both boys. They saw the +car approach the house, and noted with more or less interest that its +pace was lessening. That began to look as though the bait had taken, +and Jules meant to make sure of the “bird in the hand,” +before trying for those in the bush.</p> + +<p>“Rod, they’re stopping, as sure as you live!” +yelled Hanky Panky in great excitement just then.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and there they both jump out; steady, Hanky, don’t +lose your head!” warned the leader, noticing how the +other’s machine wavered.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_4'></a>CHAPTER IV.<br /><span +class='fss'>JOSH DOES HIS LITTLE TRICK.</span></h2> + +<p>Meanwhile Josh had carried out the preliminary part of his share in +the plot to the best of his ability. Rushing ahead of his chums he had +succeeded in concealing his motorcycle amidst the bushes skirting the +road, just a little distance beyond the house.</p> + +<p>His heart was beating like a triphammer as he turned, once this had +been done, to discover whether the men in the pursuing car had come in +sight so as to notice what he was doing.</p> + +<p>“Everything is lovely, and the goose hangs high!” Josh +muttered in apparent glee, when he found that this was not the +case.</p> + +<p>His two chums had by this time halted at the door of the house, and +it even looked as though they might be saying something to some one +inside. Of course Josh understood that this was part of the plan +intended to deceive the men.</p> + +<p>He was already making his way back toward the house, bending low so +that no one might see his shoulders above the bushes, which grew in +profusion just there, as if on purpose to further his designs.</p> + +<p>Then came the rapid pulsations of the engines, as Rod and Hanky +Panky got going again. The car must be in sight, coming swinging along, +with both men keenly observant of all that was taking place.</p> + +<p>Still Josh continued to creep forward. He wished to be as close to +the building as possible when the car stopped, as he felt sure would be +the case. Probably the men would not linger long, once they had rushed +inside and taken a look around. Not finding him there they would be +likely to “tumble to the game,” as Josh put it, and hasten +outside again in order to avoid any backset to their pursuit of the +shrewd American motorcycle boys.</p> + +<p>When the car did stop Josh was only a dozen paces away. The friendly +bushes allowed him to lie there unseen, while at the same time he could +catch glimpses of those in whom he had such great interest.</p> + +<p>“Shucks! I do believe the chauffeur is meaning to stick by the +car,” he whispered to himself indignantly, only to hastily add in +a gratified way: “No he isn’t either, for there he jumps +out after Jules, who is already bolting inside. Now’s my chance, +if ever I expect to get one! Here goes, then!”</p> + +<p>With the last words Josh was hurrying through the bushes as fast as +he could make time. Of course his pulses were thrilled with the sense +of responsibility that rested upon his shoulders. Would one of the men +come out unexpectedly, and catch him busy with the car? Josh hoped not; +at the same time he had his mind made up just what he meant to do under +such conditions.</p> + +<p>If either or both of his chums happened to be looking back just then +they must have seen him there, for he had by now attained his goal, and +was alongside the red racer.</p> + +<p>Josh flitted from one side of the car to the other. He seemed to be +working with all the vim of which he was capable, and every time he +made a movement it was accompanied by a strange sighing sound, as +though some restrained captive hailed freedom in a joyous fashion.</p> + +<p>After all Josh was not detained there more than a couple of minutes, +though it may have seemed much longer to the anxious lad, for his heart +beat so tumultuously that it really threatened to smother him.</p> + +<p>He could constantly hear the men inside the house moving hastily +about, and calling to one another in French. Evidently they were +wondering where the missing boy as well as his machine could be hidden. +They might at any instant begin to suspect that a clever trick had been +played upon them, and come rushing forth to protect their own car, upon +which the continuance of the pursuit depended wholly.</p> + +<p>At last Josh seemed to have finished his work, whatever it may have +been, for he turned away from the car and started to run. He took to +the road, meaning to reach the spot where his motorcycle lay hidden in +the bushes. Given just enough time to arrive and lay hands on the +precious machine Josh felt sure he could laugh at any effort on the +part of the men to overtake him.</p> + +<p>Just as he came close to the hiding place of the wheel he heard a +loud shout from the rear. This announced that his presence had been +discovered by one or both of the Frenchmen. Of course their first +thought would be to leap into the car and try to speed after him. Josh +chuckled with fiendish glee as he contemplated their disgust when they +found that no matter how hard they tried they could not coax the red +racer to make the first move.</p> + +<p>He could hear them roaring as he dragged his machine out on the +road. One look back was sufficient to show him how matters stood. Both +men were tumbling out of the stalled car, wild to make a hasty +examination in order to discover why it would not move an inch, though +the engine was throbbing away tumultuously all the while, just as they +had left it.</p> + +<p>“The crack I gave that self-starter rod bent it, and placed it +out of commission, all right,” Josh exclaimed, as he drew his +machine to the middle of the road, and deliberately prepared to follow +after his chums; “but that was only a beginning; the worst is yet +to come when they look around.”</p> + +<p>Louder came the angry shouts from the direction of the house. The +men must have learned the full nature of their troubles. Josh saw them +starting toward him as if under the impression that he would be silly +enough to await their coming.</p> + +<p>“Not for Joseph; not if he knows it!” he called out, as +he turned on the current, and immediately commenced to spin along the +roadway.</p> + +<p>There was a sudden spiteful crack from the rear, and Josh ducked his +head involuntarily as he heard some object whistle past close to his +ears.</p> + +<p>“Wow! they’re trying to wing me, for a fact!” he +whooped, at the same time bending low in his saddle, so as to present +as little body surface as possible to the aim of the one who was doing +the firing.</p> + +<p>Several more shots rang out, sounding like the popping of champagne +corks. Doubtless the marksman, no other than Jules himself, was more or +less excited, and although he might be a clever shot under ordinary +conditions, just then he failed to accomplish anything.</p> + +<p>So Josh rolled away, waving his hand derisively when he felt that he +was safe beyond pistol shot. The boy was trembling all over, though +hilarious concerning the wonderful success of the little plan which Rod +had conceived, and left to him to carry out.</p> + +<p>“You’ve got to have your eye-teeth cut when you run +afoul of the Big Five Motorcycle Boys, and don’t forget +that!” he shouted over his shoulder, as he sped along; although +of course the outwitted pursuers could hardly have caught the words, +and even if they did might not understand their import.</p> + +<p>Rod and Hanky Panky had halted half a mile further on, watching to +see what happened. It might be they meant to turn back, and come to the +assistance of their comrade, should Fate play a scurvy trick on Josh, +so that he fell into the hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p>When they saw him mounting and caught the familiar music of his +engine’s exhaust, the muffler being open, both Rod and Hanky +Panky felt like giving shouts of exultation, for they had already +discovered that the two men were having some difficulty with their car, +after Josh had “fiddled” with the same.</p> + +<p>Then came the shots, and of course they felt a new anxiety lest Josh +be brought to grief through this means.</p> + +<p>“Look at him leaning low over his handlebars, will you?” +cried Hanky Panky, lost in admiration over the smart way Josh was +accomplishing the trick, which perhaps he had seen riders in the Wild +West Show do when pursued by Indians of the plains.</p> + +<p>“It’s all right, and Josh has saved the day for +us!” exclaimed Rod, beaming with gratification. “Jules will +begin to wonder what sort of boys they raise over in the States, when +he finds out what happened.”</p> + +<p>“But what did Josh do to the car, Rod?”</p> + +<p>“You’ll have to ask him,” replied the other, +“though I suspect he put the starting gear out of commission to +begin with. Here he is, and grinning at a great rate.”</p> + +<p>The third rider slowed up as he approached the spot where they +awaited him. No danger of the two men starting their car, and swooping +down on the allies; if they commenced to run on foot toward Rod and his +chums it was only necessary to leap into their saddles and be off like +the wind.</p> + +<p>“It worked like fresh grease, Rod!” panted Josh, as he +threw himself down from his seat, and held one hand to his aching side, +for that boisterous laughter was weakening him more or less; “oh! +they fell into your little trap like innocents. It was like taking +candy from the baby to work them like I did.”</p> + +<p>“There they are, shaking their fists at us right now!” +burst out Hanky Panky, as he pointed along the road toward the deserted +house.</p> + +<p>“It’s about all they can do; when you come to think of +it!” grinned Josh.</p> + +<p>“We were getting cold feet when we heard them shooting, old +fellow; and I hope none of the lead so much as touched you! I saw the +dust fly up after nearly every shot, it seemed to me.”</p> + +<p>“I rather think the fellow meant to hit my wheel and disable +it,” explained the latest arrival; “but it isn’t so +easy to do a thing like that, when a motorcycle is speeding along at +the rate of a mile a minute. No matter what he aimed to do he missed +his guess, and I gave him the slip.”</p> + +<p>“Rod here says you must have jammed his self-starter so it +wouldn’t work when he tried it; how about that, Josh?” +asked Hanky Panky, who never would be satisfied until he had learned +all the particulars.</p> + +<p>“You just bet that was what I did the first thing,” the +other told him exultantly; “but I had another card up my sleeve, +too. You see they might hammer that back into shape again, and get a +move on; but I fixed it so they’ll not chase after us +to-day.”</p> + +<p>“What did you do, then?” demanded Hanky Panky.</p> + +<p>“I had my big knife all ready,” said Josh grimly, +“and I used it with all my might and main.”</p> + +<p>“On the tires, do you mean, Josh?”</p> + +<p>“Every one of them is sliced and slashed the worst way you +ever saw,” replied the other. “I never was guilty of doing +such a mean thing before in all my life; but it was absolutely +necessary if we meant to shut off pursuit. You ought to have heard the +air sizzling out after I jammed that big blade through, and ripped it +along! Whee! it was mighty exciting, because I half expected to see one +of the men come rushing out any old second, and chase after me down the +road. But I was lucky, and nothing like that happened.”</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky looked his deep admiration. He often wished Nature had +made him as smart as Josh, with that underlying streak of Yankee blood +in his veins. Hanky was willing to try to accomplish anything that came +his way; but being a bit clumsy in his actions there was always a +chance that he would bungle his job, and fail to attain the expected +results.</p> + +<p>He slapped the late actor in the stirring little drama heartily on +the back.</p> + +<p>“Good boy, Josh!” he went on to say; “you’re +all wool, and a yard wide. Why, even Rod here couldn’t have done +a whit better. There, see, the men are starting this way as if they +meant to make us get a move on.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! we’re willing to oblige Jules,” laughed Rod; +“especially since we’ve accomplished all we meant to do, +and their car is placed out of commission. Good-bye, Jules; if we meet +again before we’ve played this game out it will be where the +cannon are roaring, and the battle is on! Until that time, then, +adieu!”</p> + +<p>Immediately the trio started along the road leading to Ostend. Rod +had figured some time back that they would soon be across the border, +and traversing French soil. The last glimpse they had of the baffled +plotter he was standing in the road and still staring hard after the +vanishing Motorcycle Boys.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_5'></a>CHAPTER V.<br /><span +class='fss'>ON THE ROAD TO CALAIS.</span></h2> + +<p>“What’s this I see ahead there, boys? Looks like there +might be some other motorcycle fellows around these regions, though I +guess they’ve left their mounts behind.”</p> + +<p>It was Hanky Panky who said this. They had halted at a wayside +spring to refresh themselves, for the road was proving pretty +dusty.</p> + +<p>At noon the three boys had swung through Ostend on the Belgian +coast. The famous watering place did not look just the same as on other +summers, when tens of thousands visited it for the sport to be enjoyed +in the sea. True, it was swarming with people, but in the main soldiers +walked the sands, and there was a decidedly martial air to the place +generally given up to gaiety.</p> + +<p>The boys had, of course, been stopped quite frequently. With war in +the land this was only to be expected. Still the papers they carried +always won the day, and they were allowed to proceed. This could hardly +be wondered at when one of those little documents was written wholly by +King Albert himself, and contained an express desire that the bearer +and his friends should be given every possible courtesy by loyal +Belgians, as they had proved their friendship for the little kingdom to +the utmost.</p> + +<p>Then later on the motorcycle trio knew they were on French soil, for +they had been stopped by a patrol in the famous blue tunics of the +republican army. Once more had their passports been scanned, and after +a little consultation, in which Rod was able to mingle a few sentences, +he speaking French, they were saluted respectfully by the patrol, and +allowed to proceed.</p> + +<p>After that they had arrived at Dunkirk, where later on hundreds of +thousands of British soldiers were destined to be landed.</p> + +<p>Once through this city the boys headed on south, aiming to reach +Calais before evening came. So far nothing serious had hindered their +forward progress, and all of them felt light-hearted indeed.</p> + +<p>Then had come the halt at the cool wayside spring; and it was after +drinking their fill of the delightful water, thanks to a gourd some +kind person had supplied, that Hanky Panky announced his discovery.</p> + +<p>Josh took a look, and then burst out into a loud laugh.</p> + +<p>“Why, if you’re going to believe because a fellow wears +khaki he must own a motorcycle,” he told the other, +“you’ll have the whole country full of spinning machines. +Those are British soldiers, Hanky; Tommy Atkins, you know, come over to +France to give a helping hand to keep the Germans out of +Paris.”</p> + +<p>“Sure they are,” grinned the other; “as if we +didn’t spy a lot of the same up at Dunkirk when we slipped +through. I was only guying you, Josh. But we must be near Calais, +don’t you think, Rod?”</p> + +<p>“Only a few miles more and we’ll get there,” the +leader advised him. “Like as not there’s a regiment of +Britishers camped near by, ready to start off in the direction of Paris +when trains can be supplied.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! they’ll need all the hands they can muster to hold +back that army we saw passing through Brussels, I wager,” said +Josh.<a id='FNanchor_1'></a><a href='#Footnote_1' class='fnanchor'><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> + +<p>“Hundreds of thousands of Germans, if there was one,” +added Hanky Panky; “why, they passed on the dog-trot for hours +all that afternoon; and in the morning the drab-colored line was still +moving steadily through the city, headed south.”</p> + +<p>“There, those two men are going down the road now, in the same +direction we are,” Josh went on to say; “I’d like to +come up with them, and hear a few words in my own mother tongue. Let me +tell you I’m tired of listening to only German, Flemish and +French.”</p> + +<p>The two soldiers, hearing the splutter of the motorcycles behind +them, drew to one side of the road so as to allow the trio of boys to +pass. Instead of doing this the chums dismounted and saluted.</p> + +<p>“We’re three Americans boys who got caught in the whirl +of the war on the border of the Rhine country,” Rod hastened to +explain. “We’ve had a pretty warm experience getting +through Belgium with our machines, but by great good luck managed to do +so. Now we want to get to the front where the fighting is going on. +We’ve a good reason for wishing to do that, you see. Where is +your camp, may I ask, fellows?”</p> + +<p>The two young Britishers exchanged surprised looks. Evidently they +hardly knew whether to believe Rod or not, his story seemed so +remarkable. Still they must have been favorably impressed with his +looks, as nearly every person was, for presently they smiled broadly, +and insisted on shaking hands with each of the motorcycle boys.</p> + +<p>“Our camp is about a mile ahead, and alongside the +road,” one of them hastened to explain; “you will be held +up there, unless you sheer off on a little side road that lies just +beyond that batch of squatty trees.”</p> + +<p>Evidently this was intended as a gentle hint. Rod, however, only +laughed.</p> + +<p>“Thanks for the tip, my friend,” he said gaily; +“but we mean to spend the night in Calais, and will be only too +glad to meet your commanding officer. We have papers he will be pleased +to see; and there isn’t a general on French soil but who would +gladly let us pass on the recommendations we carry.”</p> + +<p>“When do you expect to start for the front?” asked Josh +just then, as with his companions he prepared to move on.</p> + +<p>“We have received notice that a train will be ready for us an +hour after sundown; and let me tell you we are highly pleased to know +it,” came the reply, accompanied with a good-natured smile.</p> + +<p>“What is the news from the front?” continued Josh +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“A tremendous battle is on before Paris,” replied the +Britisher. “Von Kluck has swung around from the northwest, and is +trying to envelope the city with his forces, while two other armies are +bearing down from the north and northeast. It will be all the French +can do to hold them back. Most of us expect that Paris will fall inside +of a few days. But we’re fair wild to get in the ruck, and strike +a blow at the Kaiser’s soldiers. He’s called the British a +contemptible little army, you must know.”</p> + +<p>“Here’s hoping that you do have that pleasure!” +called Josh as he turned and looked back over his shoulder, for the +three boys had started along the road; “and my dearest wish is +that I get on the ground before all the scrapping is over.”</p> + +<p>A short time afterwards and they arrived at the place where the +regiment of khaki-clad Britisher regulars was in a temporary camp. They +were awaiting the summons to take their train when it was made up, and +be whirled off to the scene of carnage, where tens of thousands of men +on both sides were fated to be killed and wounded before three more +suns had set.</p> + +<p>Rod expected to be held up, and therefore was not in the least +surprised when a patrol stepped into the road, motioning to the three +lads to halt. They were soon taken to the place where several officers +sat looking over a map of Paris and its environs, where they fully +expected to be in action before another twenty-four hours had +passed.</p> + +<p>The British officers eyed them with more or less wonder, and not a +little suspicion in the bargain, for they soon realized that the boys +were not English, as they had at first supposed; and ugly rumors +concerning clever German spies had already begun to pass current in the +ranks of the Allies.</p> + +<p>When Rod gave a brief account of all their adventures, from the time +they heard the first news of how war had been declared against Russia +and France by Germany, all of them were deeply interested. And they +scanned the wonderful paper bearing the signature of King Albert with +eager eyes, for already had the monarch of the dauntless little Belgian +nation become an heroic figure over across the Channel, on account of +his defiance to the Kaiser’s demand that he allow the German army +to march through neutral territory in order to swoop down on Paris.</p> + +<p>After a very pleasant ten minutes with the British officers the boys +passed on toward Calais, followed by the best of wishes.</p> + +<p>“No use talking,” Josh was heard to say, “blood is +thicker than water, after all. I’ve got some English and Scotch +and Irish blood in me, and that’s why my heart is with the cause +of the Allies. I suppose if I’d had German ancestors I’d be +just as much for their cause; but all the same I am not.”</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards they arrived in Calais, and put up at an inn +recommended by one of the officers as being decent and reasonable. +Calais was already in the throes of the war, for the streets were +crowded with marching soldiers; and artillery trains could be seen +moving this way and that, as they were being loaded on flat cars to be +taken to the front.</p> + +<p>The boys expected to pass the night there, getting such sleep as was +possible, considering the confusion that prevailed. In the morning, if +all were well, they could make an early start in the direction of +Paris, expecting to find splendid roads all of the way, and with +nothing to delay them, unless it were the fact that moving armies +clogged the thoroughfares so that a passage was impossible.</p> + +<p>After they had had their supper they wandered forth to look around a +little, because on account of meaning to get away so early they knew +there would be no opportunity to do this in the morning.</p> + +<p>All of them felt rather tired, however, and it was not long before +Hanky Panky voiced the general sentiment when he suggested that sleep +would fill the bill better than anything else he knew of.</p> + +<p>They had a room with two beds, and as Josh was a restless sleeper he +was given the single cot. It may have been about one or two in the +morning when Rod awoke, oppressed with the conviction that there was +something moving in the room, which suggestion sent a thrill through +his whole being, and aroused him thoroughly.</p> + +<hr class='fn' /> + +<div class='footnote'><a id='Footnote_1'></a><a +href='#FNanchor_1'><span class='label'>[1]</span></a> <p>See “The +Big Five Motorcycle Boys Under Fire.”</p> </div><!-- footnote --> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_6'></a>CHAPTER VI.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE FRETFUL ROAR OF BATTLE.</span></h2> + +<p>Rod held his breath and listened. Though his nerves were quivering +with excitement he could hold himself in check wonderfully well. Josh +was breathing heavily, while Hanky Panky lay quite still; somehow Rod +half suspected that the other might also have been aroused, and was, +like himself, listening with bated breath to find out what had caused +that slight noise close by.</p> + +<p>A thrill passed through Rod when something touched him. Then he +suddenly realised that it was his bed-fellow, Hanky Panky, wishing to +be reassured; and accordingly Rod gave him a slight nudge with his +elbow.</p> + +<p>Something moved again, and, on straining his vision, for the room +was fairly dark, Rod managed to discover what seemed to be the +bent-over figure of a man. He guessed instinctively that it was no +common thief who had managed to enter their chamber in this Calais inn +at the dead of night, meaning to steal money, or any other valuable he +could get his hands on.</p> + +<p>Jules must have managed to follow after them, and was also in the +French city by the sea, which later on the Kaiser became so wild to +possess in order to harass the coast of England twenty miles away that +he ordered mad charges on the part of his men, and thousands on +thousands were slaughtered without accomplishing any favorable +result.</p> + +<p>Rod did not mean to lie quietly there and allow this sneak-thief +time to rummage around. Of course the precious paper wanted by Jules +was securely hidden; but for all that it went against his grain to +allow such liberties.</p> + +<p>Managing to get his mouth close to the ear of Hanky Panky he +whispered:</p> + +<p>“Shout when I do, and jump out of bed!”</p> + +<p>The other gave a sign to the effect that he heard and understood; +although this consisted only of a nudge with his knee it was sufficient +to tell Rod the game was ready for touching off.</p> + +<p>When both of them started to yell the effect was weird, and must +have given poor, unsuspicious Josh the scare of his life; for he rolled +out of bed and commenced to thresh wildly about him, perhaps under the +impression that dreams were realities and his clothes actually on +fire.</p> + +<p>Rod had eyes only for the dusky figure of the unwelcome intruder. +The man made a headlong dive for the open window through which he +evidently must have entered the room of the inn. It was all of ten +feet, perhaps twelve, to the ground, and he went plunging through space +like a huge frog.</p> + +<p>They heard him strike heavily, though he managed to gain his feet, +and go limping away, groaning as he vanished in the darkness.</p> + +<p>Of course there was more or less excitement about the inn. People +could be heard calling out as they thrust their heads from the windows. +Some men who had been lying asleep in the wagon-yard near by came +hurrying up, asking if it was a fire.</p> + +<p>Rod explained to the landlord, who appeared, candle in hand; and as +no damage had been done the excitement soon quieted down. The boys, +however, decided to set a trap by means of a cord, that would warn them +if any one again attempted to enter their room by that exposed +window.</p> + +<p>Apparently the failure of his plan discouraged the schemer, for they +were not annoyed any further during the remainder of the night. With +the coming of morning they ate an early breakfast, settled their +reckoning with the French landlord, who insisted on apologizing +profusely for their being so rudely disturbed, just as if he was to +blame, and then once more mounted on their reliable motorcycles the +trio of boys started forth.</p> + +<p>It was a fine morning in early September. All Nature seemed smiling, +and it required quite a stretch of the imagination to realize that not +so very far away from this fair spot two million determined soldiers +were facing one another, bent on slaughter unparalleled. The Battle of +the Marne was even then opening, with the fate of fair Paris trembling +in the balance.</p> + +<p>One thing they soon noticed, which was that the road they were +following now seemed to keep even with a railway line, over which +trains were passing at a dizzy speed, all heading in the same +direction, toward Paris.</p> + +<p>Every time one of these was sighted the boys could see that the +passengers were wholly soldiers. Sometimes they wore the blue coats of +the French, with the beloved red trousers, which have been so dear to +the hearts of the fighting men of the republic from away back to the +time of Napoleon; then again the dull khaki of the British regulars +predominated. They occupied first-class carriages, freight vans, cattle +cars–anything sufficed so long as it allowed them to get closer +to where a chance for glory awaited them.</p> + +<p>All these things kept the boys in a constant condition of +expectancy. As the morning wore away and they continued to make good +headway Josh even found himself indulging in the hope that they would +reach the scene of activity before many hours had elapsed.</p> + +<p>Once, when they had halted at a wayside farmhouse to see if anything +in the shape of a lunch could be secured for love or money, he even +called the attention of his two mates to a faint rumbling far away in +the distance.</p> + +<p>“As sure as you live, fellows,” Josh went on to say +eagerly, “that must be made by some of those monster guns the +Germans are rolling along with them, meaning to batter down the forts +defending Paris, just like they did the steel-domed ones up at Liege +and Namur in Belgium, as we know happened.”</p> + +<p>Rod was not quite so positive about it. They had covered many miles, +because of good roads, and the few obstacles encountered, but he hardly +believed they could be so close to Paris as that.</p> + +<p>“I can see something low down ahead of us that may be +clouds,” Hanky Panky now asserted.</p> + +<p>“More’n likely that’s the smoke of the battle +that’s raging over yonder,” declared the positive Josh, who +always had to be wrestled with before he could be convinced that he was +wrong.</p> + +<p>“No matter which is the correct solution of the puzzle,” +laughed Rod, not wishing to take sides against either of his chums, +“we’re meaning to go ahead after we see if we can get some +grub at this little farmhouse.”</p> + +<p>Fortune played them a kind stroke, for the farmer’s wife, a +voluble little French woman, who had a husband and three sons in the +army, on learning that they were actually American boys, insisted on +their settling down while she cooked them a fine dinner.</p> + +<p>It turned out that Madame had herself spent several years in +America, and even then had relatives living in the French Quarter in +New York City. She asked them a multitude of questions, and was +especially anxious to learn if the great republic across the sea would +align itself with the Entente Allies, who were now, she insisted, +engaged in fighting the battles of the whole world for freedom from +military domination.</p> + +<p>Taken altogether, the boys quite enjoyed that hour at noon. They +learned considerable about things that interested them, especially the +lay of the land ahead, and where they might expect to come upon trouble +in meeting some of the troops engaged in the fighting.</p> + +<p>Josh was especially tickled when she assured them that the dull +throbbing sound they heard almost constantly was indeed the fretful +murmur of big guns. Being a French woman, and very sanguine with regard +to the valor of her countrymen, the farmer’s wife could already +in imagination see the beaten Germans fleeing in mad haste before the +invincible soldiers of the republic.</p> + +<p>In this humor then they once more started forth, feeling +considerably refreshed after that fine meal. Indeed, Rod had been +unable to make the little patriotic woman accept the three francs he +offered her; and watching his chance he had laid the money on the table +where she must later on find it.</p> + +<p>An hour later and the throbbing had grown much more perceptible, +showing that they must be rapidly drawing closer to where the vast +armies were marching and countermarching, with the field batteries in +almost constant action.</p> + +<p>They understood that several German armies were approaching Paris at +the same time, one coming from the north, another veering more to the +east, but the most dangerous of all, that commanded by the clever Von +Kluck, swinging around so as to come down on the devoted French capital +from the northwest.</p> + +<p>More than forty years had passed since another hostile army had laid +siege to Paris and taken the gay city after many months of desperate +fighting. Rod wondered whether history was going to be repeated now. He +felt sure that if once those Germans managed to get their terrible +forty-two centimetre guns busy, no fort was capable of standing up +under their frightful pounding.</p> + +<p>So the afternoon began to wear away, and all this while the motors +hummed cheerily, as they worked unceasingly, carrying the three bold +riders closer and closer to where the greatest battle of the age was +being fought to a finish.</p> + +<p>There was a sudden whoop from the rear, where Hanky Panky held his +place. When the others managed to glance around, almost afraid that +they would find him in the ditch alongside the road, with his machine a +wreck, they discovered Hanky pointing wildly overhead, while at the +same time he shouted:</p> + +<p>“Looks like old times, fellows, to see that aeroplane spinning +along up there half a mile high; and say, it’s sure a German +Taube in the bargain. How about that same, Rob; you ought to know what +they look like?”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_7'></a>CHAPTER VII.<br /><span +class='fss'>CLOSE TO THE FIRING LINE.</span></h2> + +<p>“You’re right about it, Hanky Panky!” announced +Rod, after he had taken a good look aloft, and recognized some of the +familiar features distinguishing the Taube aeroplanes used almost +exclusively at that early stage of the war by the German military +forces.</p> + +<p>“It’s snooping around getting information so’s to +help Von Kluck strike the Allies where they don’t expect him, +most likely!” the boy in the rear called out.</p> + +<p>“Mebbe not,” said Josh stoutly; “for all we know +old Von may have put his fingers in the trap laid by wily General +Joffre, and what he wants to do now is to find a way to draw out +again.”</p> + +<p>Whether Josh really believed all he said or not was an open +question, but at any rate it was in his heart to stand up staunchly for +the French and English, whatever came to pass. He had seen that vast +German horde overrun poor Belgium, and he was praying they might meet +an obstacle when they finally ran up against the whole Allied army, +standing before Paris, and determined to do or die there.</p> + +<p>They cast many a glance upward as they continued to move along. The +aeroplane did not seem to be disturbed, as far as they could make out. +If there were French birdmen in the vicinity they had other work cut +out for them besides chasing a hostile flier. Possibly they were over +the fighting armies, finding out valuable statistics for the use of the +French commanders, and which might affect the ultimate outcome of the +battle.</p> + +<p>All doubt concerning their being in the vicinity of the field of +gigantic operations was by this time removed. The roar of guns had kept +on growing more and more intense. Besides, it was easy for them to make +sure that what Hanky Panky had suggested as a threatening summer storm +cloud was in reality smoke from artillery and burning cottages along +the line of Von Kluck’s advance.</p> + +<p>Once they had to stop and get on one side of the road in order to +permit the passage of a convoy of motor lorries loaded with wounded +men. The boys noticed that some of these wore the khaki of British +soldiers, which seemed to prove that a portion of General +French’s little army from across the Channel must be valiantly +holding a part of the thin line against the furious rushes of the +disciplined German troops.</p> + +<p>The three boys took off their hats and waved them heartily as the +procession of trucks passed by. Some of the wounded answered them +lustily, showing that their spirit had not been in the least quenched +by their hard luck in getting in the way of hostile missiles.</p> + +<p>Josh was burning with a feverish desire to be moving again.</p> + +<p>“Why, judging from that,” he told the others excitedly, +as the last of the sad procession passed them by, heading possibly for +some French town where a hospital had beds ready against their coming, +“we must be almost in the riot by now. Listen to how the guns +keep up that whoop, will you? I’ll bet you they’re not +more’n five miles away from here! Rod, can’t we push right +along?”</p> + +<p>Rod, however, realized that they must now begin to exercise a great +deal of caution. No matter which side they happened to come upon, there +was a fair chance of the three boys being held up, and not permitted to +go any further.</p> + +<p>“Keep on the lookout for some hill or other elevation, where +we can get a good view of the neighborhood!” he told them, +remembering former occasions when they had adopted a similar method for +seeing operations.</p> + +<p>It was late in the day by now. They had come at a tremendous pace +over scores and scores of miles, since that start at six o’clock +in the morning. Along about two in the afternoon Josh had declared that +his cyclometer was marking the hundred-and-fifty mark since beginning +the day’s run, which was a pretty good spin, all things +considered.</p> + +<p>Thanks to the excellent French highways, and the fact that they had +met with no accident to detain them, this record could be hung up as +one of which any fellow might be proud.</p> + +<p>It would be utterly impossible to describe all they saw while on +that wonderful day’s run. Each of the boys had secured a little +French tri-color, and this flag they took pride in attaching to their +machines. It aroused the greatest enthusiasm all along the road. In +every town they passed through they were taken for some new type of +native soldiers mounted on motorcycles. That they did not carry any +guns may have occasioned more or less surprise; but then doubtless they +had other methods for destroying the rash invaders when the time came; +small but powerful bombs would take up little space in a knapsack, +every one knew.</p> + +<p>In the country sections where the neat French market gardens +predominated they had found the women working amidst the crops, and few +men in evidence. Of course those of a military age were already called +to the colors, and at that moment might be laying their lives down +cheerfully in defence of their beloved land; for their old hatred of +everything German had once more leaped to the surface as soon as war +was declared.</p> + +<p>Rod was trying to figure out what his course should be under the +circumstances. He knew how difficult it must prove for them to reach a +place where they could observe any of the desperate fighting. The best +they might expect would be to see some detached action, and possibly +learn where the French regiment might be found to which Andre +belonged.</p> + +<p>As they proceeded slowly along the road, after watching the +procession of motor lorries loaded with wounded wind past, all of them +were using their eyes to the best advantage.</p> + +<p>The country was hilly to the north of Paris, Rod knew, with many +roads crossing in every direction. At any time they might expect to +discover some movement of troops belonging to one of the armies +engaged.</p> + +<p>This came to pass shortly afterwards, and when they found that it +was a British regiment that was crossing a field on the double-quick, +with guns ready for business, the boys sent up a real American +cheer.</p> + +<p>“There, they’ve come to a halt, somehow or other!” +said Josh, “and listen to the fellows send back an answering +cheer, will you? Guess they must take us for some of their boys from +over the Channel. Here comes an officer on horseback to interview us, +Rod.”</p> + +<p>Great was the surprise of the British colonel to find that they were +not English boys at all, but cousins from the great republic across the +ocean. He asked many questions while his men rested before continuing +their movement, which was undoubtedly meant to carry out some purpose +or other.</p> + +<p>One startling piece of information he gave the three motorcycle +boys.</p> + +<p>“The Germans have shot their bolt, and are retreating!” +was what he declared in his hearty British way. “Von Kluck meant +to take Paris by surprise from the northwest, but he made a terrible +mistake and left his flank uncovered. It was threatened by our British +troops, as well as by a new army that came out of Paris, sent by +General Gallieni, the commander of the city. There was nothing to be +done but swing in a half circle past Paris without coming within cannon +shot of the forts. We are now about to strike with all our force, and +beat him back on the Marne. Paris is saved for the time +being!”</p> + +<p>This was the amazing news that thrilled the three boys through and +through. In their minds it meant that the German tide had already +reached its flood stage; and that from the hour Von Kluck changed his +plans with regard to attacking the forts defending Paris the campaign +of invasion was fated to meet with its Waterloo.</p> + +<p>Josh actually shouted aloud to show his glee, nor did the grim +British officer consider this any discourtesy. He himself was feeling +in much the same humor, for victory was already in the air for the +Allies, and he knew what that would mean for the future of the whole of +Europe.</p> + +<p>After a very pleasant and interesting chat the three boys again +mounted their machines, and set out. They had been warned by the +accommodating officer that they might run into a nest of the enemy at +almost any time now, for detachments of the Germans were raiding the +country, trying to inspire a reign of terror among the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>“If they can catch us,” the confident Josh had remarked +in his customary boastful fashion, “they’ll be welcome to +our mounts. All the same we don’t mean to let ourselves be taken +off our guard. To be made prisoners just now would upset all our lovely +plans, you see, Colonel. But it’s awful kind of you to give us +the tip, and make sure we appreciate it.”</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards Rod announced that there was something of a hill +ahead, and once they had managed to reach the crown they might find a +chance to take an observation that would prove profitable to them.</p> + +<p>“Drive ahead, then,” chirped Josh, always willing to do +anything that came along, especially when it promised fresh excitement; +possibly he was hoping that from the top of the low elevation they +would be able to see many stirring dramas connected with the great +battle that was now opening, and which must seal the fate of the French +capital, one way or the other.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to slow up first,” observed the +cautious leader; “because we don’t know what we may run on +at the top of that hill. It’d be rough on us to suddenly come +face to face with a whole battalion of Germans, advancing up the other +side, and reaching the crown just at the same time we did.”</p> + +<p>“Rod, you’re right there!” Josh was heard to call +out almost instantly; “look up where we’re heading, and +you’ll see the Germans have got there even before we +did!”</p> + +<p>All of them came to a sudden halt, and dropped off their motorcycles +in a desperate hurry.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_8'></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br /><span +class='fss'>OUT OF THE JAWS OF THE TRAP.</span></h2> + +<p>The summit of the low hill was not more than a quarter of a mile +away from the spot where Rod and his two chums had dismounted, to stare +aghast at what was transpiring before their eyes.</p> + +<p>The hill was almost devoid of trees near its top, and a minute +before they had taken note of the fact that the bushes stood out +against the sky-line with nothing to interfere with the vision of an +observer perched aloft. But now it seemed as though the whole hilltop +were alive with moving figures. The declining sun glinted from hundreds +of polished guns and bayonets. And clearly could the boys see that +these men were garbed in the dun-colored uniforms distinguishing the +Kaiser’s troops.</p> + +<p>“That settles our hash so far as getting a peek at the +fighting goes,” muttered Josh discontentedly, for he always gave +a cherished object up very lothfully.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I wouldn’t say that!” declared Hanky Panky; +“there are other ways of doing it, you can wager. That hill +yonder isn’t the only pebble on the beach. What’ll we do +now, Rod?”</p> + +<p>“Get out of this, and in a hurry, too,” snapped the +other instantly.</p> + +<p>“We certainly can’t keep on going forward, for a +fact,” admitted Josh, still filled with gloom and disappointment; +“those chaps’d gobble us up like fun, and it’d be +good-bye to our bully wheels.”</p> + +<p>“Course they’d take us for Britishers, from our khaki +uniforms,” admitted Hanky Panky; “and say, if they once got +their hands on us they’d snatch all our papers away in a hurry. +I’m counting on keeping that one our friend Albert gave us, to +show the boys over in old Garland when we get back home; because +they’ll never believe half we expect to tell ’em if we +don’t have <i>some</i> evidence to prove it.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! That isn’t the worst by a long shot,” +continued Josh. “Don’t you see our having those papers on +our precious persons would make it look like we might be spies, working +in the interest of Belgium and France? You just better believe we +don’t want to be nabbed by the Kaiser’s men, not if we know +what’s good for us, and I reckon we do.”</p> + +<p>“The worst is yet to come!” exclaimed Rod just then; +“look off there to the left and tell me what you see moving +across those fields toward the road back of us.”</p> + +<p>Hardly had he said this than loud outcries arose from his two +companions.</p> + +<p>“Why, Rod, they’re whole regiments of the Germans, and +they’re deploying so as to cut off our retreat, you see!” +cried Hanky Panky, in a near panic.</p> + +<p>“I don’t expect they’ve even noticed us as +yet,” Rod went on to say; “but all the same if ever they do +reach the road we’ll be caught like rats in a trap.”</p> + +<p>“Looks like we might be between two fires,” said Josh, +frowning savagely; “what can we do about it, Rod?”</p> + +<p>It was second nature for the other fellows to depend on their leader +whenever a knotty problem arose that needed solving. And seldom did Rod +disappoint their expectations. He came up smiling on the present +occasion.</p> + +<p>“Get turned around in a hurry!” he called out; +“we’ve one chance in three to slip past before they get +near the road. Are you both game to try for it?”</p> + +<p>“Sure!” bellowed Josh; “try anything once, is my +motto!”</p> + +<p>“I’ll go where you lead, Rod,” was the simple but +eloquent tribute which Hanky Panky paid the other; and Rod must have +felt deeply gratified to know he was able to inspire the hearts of his +chums with so much confidence.</p> + +<p>“Then let’s get busy!” was all he told them.</p> + +<p>The rattle of the machines’ exhausts instantly announced the +start. Rod led the way, with the others close behind him. He did not +dread the soldiers who were upon the hilltop, even though every +movement made by the fleeing motorcycle boys must be plainly seen by +their observing eyes; for the distance was too great for them to expect +to damage the mounts of the escaping enemy by any gunfire.</p> + +<p>It was the forces coming up on the double-quick to reach the road +over which the three boys had so lately passed that aroused Rod’s +greatest fears. He knew that with the speed of which the machines were +capable they could manage to sweep past before the troops reached the +road; but should the Germans open fire on them the result might be +disastrous indeed.</p> + +<p>Hoping for the best, and ready to accept the desperate chances, they +dashed along, every fellow bending low in his saddle from some instinct +of self-preservation. It was a serious time for them, and with set +teeth they hastened into the danger zone. Now they approached the place +where there would be the most peril from a volley fired by the oncoming +soldiers, who of course ere now had seen them, and perhaps judged that +they must be British scouts caught in a trap.</p> + +<p>Rod had changed his mind. He suddenly remembered that there was a +branch road leading off from the one they had come along. Of course it +was a blind move, because none of them could even give a guess where it +went to; but if they took it they might manage to slip out of the +dilemma into which the fortunes of war had thrown them.</p> + +<p>“Be ready to follow me when I turn into a side road!” he +called to the others.</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly they heard him, though they gave no answering shout. It +would have availed little, however, because just at that moment there +was a savage burst of firing back in the direction of the hill, and +many spent bullets dropped all around them, some even kicking up little +clouds of dust as they fell on the road.</p> + +<p>Rod turned in the saddle to see if there was any sign of his chums +having been struck. So far all seemed well, for they were coming right +along after him, and without any indication of having received even the +slightest damage.</p> + +<p>The forks of the road were now close at hand. Rod was never more +delighted in his life than to realize this, for once they turned into +this lesser thoroughfare he believed they would be protected by +friendly trees from the gaze of those on the hilltop.</p> + +<p>A dreadful crash gave him another chilly feeling. He understood that +it must be the explosion of a shrapnel shell, not more than fifty feet +behind them. The gunner may have been on the hill with the gathering +troops; but in calculating the distance he had failed to take into +consideration the speed which the escaping boys were making.</p> + +<p>Perhaps if given an opportunity to try a second shot he might be +able to correct this error of judgment, and the next shell would burst +directly over their heads.</p> + +<p>Rod almost held his breath. He felt as though so much depended on +the next twenty seconds of time, perhaps even the lives of his two +brave comrades, as well as his own.</p> + +<p>Then he arrived at the forks, and, making a detour, left the main +road to plunge into the smaller thoroughfare. Again Rod looked back to +assure himself that both of the other boys were as successful in +turning as he had been.</p> + +<p>Yes, there was Josh, safe and sound, and Hanky Panky, wabbling a bit +to be sure, but keeping a firm grip on his speeding machine had now +managed to accomplish the deal.</p> + +<p>Rod saw something suddenly explode on the road exactly where the +forks came. He knew full well it must be that second shrapnel shell, +and only for their sudden change of base, which the gunner had not +calculated on, it must have burst so near Hanky Panky that he might +have suffered seriously.</p> + +<p>The outlook was better, though it seemed as yet too early to count +on security. Rod kept a keen watch on what lay before him. He would not +have been greatly surprised to discover more of the invading hosts +appear in view at any second; for they were undoubtedly in the midst of +a turning movement that had to do with the great battle opening up. +When an army of between two and three hundred thousand men, like that +of Von Kluck, the German commander, attempts a gigantic movement, it +covers many miles of territory, Rod understood.</p> + +<p>After proceeding in this manner for several miles his hopes grew +stronger, and he actually felt as though there was a good chance for +them to elude the enemy. Josh was growling to himself, keenly +disappointed because they seemed to be running away from where +momentous things were taking place.</p> + +<p>The night was not far distant, and Rod had to bear this fact in +mind. Where were they to secure anything to eat in the midst of all +this turmoil and confusion? So far as a bed went they could do without, +nor would it be the first time such a thing had happened in their +eventful career.</p> + +<p>“Looks as if we might have outrun the Boches, Rod,” +called Josh, using a term he had heard some of the Frenchmen apply +toward the Germans, though no one seemed able to explain where it had +originated, or just what it meant, save that it was intended as a term +of derision, the same as “Yanks” and “Johnny +Rebs” passed current during the Civil War between the States.</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s all very well,” replied Rod, +“but it doesn’t cut any figure when we try to run across a +house where we’re going to get our suppers, and find a place to +sleep.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! we’re sure to come to some sort of French +farmer’s place sooner or later!” declared the confident +Josh; “and if they’re anything like the little woman who +took care of us this noon it’ll be a picnic.”</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later, as they were negotiating a bad section of the +road, Rod made an announcement that sent a wave of thanksgiving through +the hearts of his chums.</p> + +<p>“Farmhouse ahead half a mile or so,” was the burden of +his call; “I glimpsed it against that bright place in the sky. As +the sun’s already gone down we’ll have to take our chances, +and apply for lodging there.”</p> + +<p>“I’m with you, Rod!” called out Josh immediately, +while Hanky Panky added:</p> + +<p>“I only hope none of the enemy slip up in the night and gather +us in, that’s all.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_9'></a>CHAPTER IX.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE NIGHT ALARM.</span></h2> + +<p>Their arrival at the dooryard of the roadside farm was signalized by +a frantic clatter. Dogs barked, chickens squawked on their way to their +roosts, ducks quacked, and even a calf tethered to a stake in the rear +of the house set up a pitiful bleating, as if under the conviction that +the dreaded butcher’s cart had arrived, and the last hope of life +now hung by a slender thread.</p> + +<p>“One thing I’m glad to see,” announced Josh, as +they came to a halt amidst all this bustle and clamor.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” asked Hanky Panky, in duty +bound.</p> + +<p>“The terrible Germans have not come this way so far, +that’s sure,” remarked the observing one.</p> + +<p>“I’d like you to tell us just how you know that?” +demanded the other.</p> + +<p>“Shucks! open your eyes, and look around you, my friend. Would +it stand to reason that a bunch of hungry soldiers, raiding through an +enemy’s country, could pass by, and allow all this fat of the +land to exist? Ducks, and chickens, and pigs, and calves would have +gone to make up a German feast this night. And like as not the dogs +would have been shot in cold blood because being French they had dared +to bark at the uniforms of the Kaiser’s men.”</p> + +<p>“Guess you’re right there, Josh,” admitted Hanky +Panky, easily convinced when the evidence was there before his very +eyes.</p> + +<p>“Here are the good people of the house come to see +what’s broken loose to give their live stock such a scare,” +observed Rod just then.</p> + +<p>A woman with a tottering, silver-haired old man just behind her, +appeared around the corner of the low building. Possibly they had been +alarmed by hearing the splutter of the coming motorcycle +brigade’s machines, and hesitated about showing themselves. But +when Rod advanced toward them, making a courteous salute, and they saw +what a frank boyish face he had, somehow they lost all fear.</p> + +<p>Arrangements were soon made that assured the lads some sort of +entertainment. That they were not the terrible Germans was enough for +the good woman of the farm house. In her mind the whole world was +divided into two classes just then: enemies and friends; and all who +did not have German blood in their veins she looked upon as naturally +favoring the Allies.</p> + +<p>The old man became quite solicitous concerning the safety of the +splendid motorcycles. He even led the boys to where they might store +them for the night. This receptacle turned out to be a sort of dry cave +dug into the side of a mound. It was evidently a frost-proof receptacle +for the potatoes and other vegetables raised for winter use, and had a +good stout door, secured with a hasp.</p> + +<p>“There doesn’t seem to be any sign of a lock here, +boys,” announced Josh, after they had carefully deposited their +machines inside and closed the door.</p> + +<p>“Well,” replied Rod, “these people around here are +so honest themselves that they never dream of anybody ever stealing a +single thing. Chances are you’ll not find a lock or even a chain +or a bar in all the house.”</p> + +<p>“Sounds all very nice,” grumbled the suspicious Josh, +“but I’d sleep better, I’m thinking, if I knew the +machines were under lock and key.”</p> + +<p>“We could manage to make you a shake-down here in the potato +bin if so be you felt disposed that way,” suggested Hanky Panky +blandly; but somehow the idea did not appear to appeal strongly to the +other, for he snickered.</p> + +<p>“If the rest can stand it I oughtn’t to worry,” he +grunted, and thus dismissed the subject apparently from his mind.</p> + +<p>Later on they sat down to a pretty fine supper, which the good woman +prepared for them. The hungry boys were ready to declare that while +they had sampled all sorts of cookery since landing on European soil, +from English and German to Flemish, they really believed that the +French excelled all others when it came to getting up tasteful dishes +out of next to nothing.</p> + +<p>“No wonder they save so much money, and could pay off that +billion dollars the Germans exacted after the war of +Seventy-one,” said Josh confidentially.</p> + +<p>“They always say that a French family can live comfortably on +what an American family would waste,” added Hanky Panky; +“and for one I believe it.”</p> + +<p>Rod, of course, started in to do the talking, but it was soon +discovered that the woman could speak pretty fair English. Great was +the surprise of Josh and Hanky Panky when she told them she had lived +in the French Quarter of New York as long as three years, some time +back, before she was married.</p> + +<p>She proudly confessed that her two boys, as well as her husband, +were in the ranks of the republic’s patriotic army; and that even +though she might never again see them, it would be a sacrifice for the +land she loved with all her heart and soul; so that if the hated +Germans were only beaten, and France saved to posterity, she could +reconcile herself even to the loss of all she possessed in the wide +world.</p> + +<p>They sat up chatting until a reasonably late hour. Then, as the boys +were more or less tired after an exhausting day’s ride they asked +to be shown the apartment where they were to pass the night.</p> + +<p>It proved to be a room in a wing that had been recently added to the +old farmhouse, with evidences of not yet being suitably furnished. +Still, all they wanted was a place to throw themselves down and rest. +The night was warm, it being still summer, and little if any covers +would be needed.</p> + +<p>Here then they prepared to sleep. Each of them removed their outer +garments, as they had already done with regard to their leggings and +shoes.</p> + +<p>Josh poked his head out of a convenient open window to take an +observation. He grunted as if pleased to know that from that point it +was possible to see the mound of earth in which the potato cellar had +been located.</p> + +<p>A wide double bed occupied one corner of the room. The good woman of +the house had also fetched in a cot, which would serve admirably for +the odd traveler.</p> + +<p>“It looks good to me,” remarked Hanky Panky, after +testing the big bed, and finding that it felt reasonably soft. “I +reckon, Rod, we’ll let Josh take the cot, because you know +he’s such a kicker when he dreams that nobody likes to stand for +it.”</p> + +<p>“Only too glad of the chance to sleep alone,” chuckled +Josh, apparently in no wise feeling hurt by the insinuation.</p> + +<p>So it was easily arranged, and in less than ten minutes afterward +Rod, being the last one up, blew out the candle that had been given to +them, and sought his place in the big bed.</p> + +<p>If Josh chose to lie awake for any length of time turning over +matters in his active mind at least he did not make any sound +calculated to disturb his companions.</p> + +<p>Time passed on.</p> + +<p>Rob was in the midst of a delightful dream of the far-away home +across the sea when he felt some one gently shake him. As he instantly +opened his eyes it all came back to him again in a flash, and he knew +where he was; also that it must be Josh who was again trying to draw +his attention.</p> + +<p>“Hello! what’s up, Josh?” asked Rod quietly and +without a trace of excitement, whereas a good many boys, upon being so +suddenly aroused from a sound sleep would have sat up, trembling with +alarm, and demanding to know in quivering tones what had happened.</p> + +<p>“Something’s going on outside here that we ought to look +into,” whispered Josh.</p> + +<p>By this time Hanky Panky had been awakened, and heard the last +words.</p> + +<p>“Gee whiz! then the Germans have come after all!” he was +heard to mutter, as he started to feel around for his shoes.</p> + +<p>They hurried to the windows and looked out. Just how Josh had +happened to awaken he did not take the trouble to inform the others; +but they could see that something out of the common was occurring +outside. A couple of lights that might be lanterns seemed to be moving +this way and that, as though those who held the same were looking +around the outhouses belonging to the farm.</p> + +<p>“Get dressed, and in a hurry, too,” said Rob, after he +had watched these moving lights for a minute or so.</p> + +<p>“Then you think they must be the Germans come after us, do +you, Rob?” asked Hanky Panky tremulously, as he started to dress +as fast as he could in the semidarkness.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, but I mean to find out,” he was +told in low but incisive tones.</p> + +<p>They made all the haste possible. Rob was ready some little time +ahead of his comrades. This might be because he mastered his feelings +better than either of the others, or else on account of having his +possessions so carefully arranged before climbing into bed that he knew +exactly where to lay a hand on each and every article in the dark.</p> + +<p>Finally Josh, and then Hanky Panky announced that he was all ready +to issue forth. Josh doubtless was figuring in his mind just how they +might get the precious motorcycles out of the potato cellar unobserved, +and ride wildly away before the searching Germans suspected their +presence. Hanky Panky on his part would have been almost willing to +abandon the wheels rather than risk chances of falling into the hands +of the invaders; for he had an idea they might be treated as spies, and +dealt with in a summary fashion. The thought of being stood up against +a barn and riddled with cruel bullets was uppermost in the boy’s +mind.</p> + +<p>There was a door leading from the new wing of the farmhouse to the +outer air. Rod softly opened this now, and led the way forth, the +others trailing after him, confident that Rod would know what line of +action was best under the exciting conditions by which they were +confronted.</p> + +<p>The first natural thing for them to do was to peer carefully around, +in expectation of again locating the wandering lights. Then Josh +uttered a low gasp, as his fingers plucked at Rod’s sleeve.</p> + +<p>“Looky there, will you, Rod?” he whispered, intensely +excited; “they’ve run across the potato bin, and are going +to take a peep inside!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! my stars! it’s all up with our poor wheels +then!” Hanky Panky was heard to tell the others, though no one +seemed to pay the slightest attention to him.</p> + +<p>There was no doubt about the situation being grave. The lights had +by this time vanished within the vegetable cellar that had been built +underground for frost protection in the cold winters.</p> + +<p>“Come; let’s creep forward and see what’s +happening,” suggested Rod boldly, as though after all he began to +have slight hopes that it might not be quite as bad as they had been +thinking.</p> + +<p>As they advanced hurriedly they soon began to catch the sound of +several voices. Evidently the searchers had been amazed to discover +three such splendid motorcycles hidden away in a potato cellar on this +farm; this was hardly what they had been looking for when using their +lanterns so industriously.</p> + +<p>“Too bad, too bad it had to happen!” whimpered the +disconsolate Hanky Panky, for he had become so accustomed to spinning +along on his reliable machine that the prospect of using +“Shank’s mare” as a means of progressing did not +appeal to him at all.</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry!” Rod told him, “but listen +again.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the use?” complained the other, +“when I can’t understand a single word of what’s +said, because it’s French they’re using.”</p> + +<p>“French!” echoed Josh, a little louder than prudence +might have dictated, though in his new excitement he evidently did not +consider that; “why, then after all it isn’t the Germans +who’ve come snooping around looking for us.”</p> + +<p>“What are they saying, Rod?” asked Hanky Panky.</p> + +<p>“Asking each other who can be the owners of these wonderful +machines,” replied Rod, at the same time taking a step forward, +as though meaning to enter the potato cave.</p> + +<p>“Messieurs,” he said, “pardon me, but those +machines belong to us; and we are friends of France, we beg you to +believe.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_10'></a>CHAPTER X.<br /><span +class='fss'>MORE NEWS FROM THE FRONT.</span></h2> + +<p>Three men who wore the uniforms of French soldiers, one of whom was +evidently a lieutenant, looked hastily up when Rod entered the +vegetable cellar, and addressed them in the words we have given. The +ordinary soldiers carried guns, and these weapons they half raised, as +though wishing to be ready for any emergency.</p> + +<p>Of course, it was immediately manifest to the officer that these +three wideawake lads were not of the enemy. Like most other people he +at first suspected them to be English boys. That would mean they were +allies of the French; but nevertheless those splendid wheels were a +great temptation; and the Grand Army was in sore need of all such means +of rapid locomotion it could commandeer.</p> + +<p>“You are English, then?” he asked, politely, returning +Rod’s salute.</p> + +<p>“No, American, monsieur,” replied the boy, promptly; +“we were making a trip down the Rhine on our motorcycles when the +war broke out. We had just managed to get across the line into poor +Belgium when the Germans came. You can well understand that we have +seen much of what happened in that unfortunate country, for we were +compelled to go to Antwerp on business.”</p> + +<p>“But–this is France,” interrupted the lieutenant, +as though puzzled; “and here close to the firing line it is +peculiar that we find three American boys mounted on such wonderfully +fine motorcycles.”</p> + +<p>Rod smiled blandly.</p> + +<p>“You wonder how we managed to retain possession of them +through it all,” he went on to say; “but the secret lay in +a certain magical paper which we carry, and which you shall yourself be +permitted to examine.”</p> + +<p>With that he once more carefully extracted the document given to +them by the brave king of the Belgians, and which had proved to be +worth a thousand times its weight in gold.</p> + +<p>So the French lieutenant, by the light of the flickering lanterns, +also read the brief but forceful sentences penned by King Albert. He +was of course greatly impressed, as who would not have been, +remembering what a prominent figure the royal writer of the +“pass” had already become in the world war?</p> + +<p>“It is plain to be seen, young monsieur,” the officer +hastened to say as he very carefully folded the precious paper, and +with a bow returned it to the owner, “that you and your brave +companions have found occasion to lend a helping hand to the grand +cause for which all loyal Frenchmen are ready to shed their last drop +of blood. But I notice that here the writer speaks of <i>five</i> young +Americans, and I see but three.”</p> + +<p>“That is easily explained,” replied Rod; “two of +our chums were compelled to return hastily to America, having received +a cable message. They sailed from Antwerp for London, and by now are +far on the way across the Atlantic.”</p> + +<p>“But what possessed you three adventurous boys to wish to come +once more to the scene of battle and carnage? It is hardly a fit place +for lads of your age, I should think?”</p> + +<p>“But American boys are full of the spirit of adventure, +monsieur,” urged Rod; “and the opportunity would surely +never come to us again. Still, it was not merely curiosity that caused +us to decide to make this trip. We have come on an errand of mercy; to +assist one of your countrywomen who was in great trouble.”</p> + +<p>He thereupon hastily sketched the situation in which Jeanne +D’Aubrey was placed, with a chance of securing a competence could +her husband be communicated with, and allowed to sign the important +paper within the specified time limit.</p> + +<p>A Frenchman is always filled with a love for anything that borders +on the dramatic. He also has the greatest respect for such heroism as +these three boys were now exhibiting in undertaking the dangerous +mission for the sake of the poor woman at whose humble home they had +been temporary guests.</p> + +<p>Impulsively he stretched out his hand to Rod, and then to each of +the other two boys.</p> + +<p>“I am proud to meet you, young messieurs,” he announced; +“and while these magnificent mounts would be put to a glorious +use in the grand army that needs many such so badly, I could not have +the heart to deprive you of your property. On account of what you have +already done for the cause, and stand ready to aid any further attempt +if the occasion arises, here then we hand you back your beloved +motorcycles.”</p> + +<p>While Josh and Hanky Panky could not understand much that was +spoken, still it was possible for them to read the signs aright. Josh +grinned as though greatly tickled over their good luck; and Hanky on +his part doubtless felt like offering thanks because the searching +party had turned out to be friends instead of foes.</p> + +<p>When further conversation took place between Rod and the lieutenant +the boy was given to understand that the French had learned of the +presence of a German spy in that neighborhood, and several patrols were +searching every farmhouse and cottage within a radius of three miles, +as well as the patches of woods that lay between.</p> + +<p>After considerable more talking the lieutenant explained that as +there was more country which he and his detail had been directed to +search, he must linger no longer.</p> + +<p>When the Frenchmen had departed the boys once more sought their room +in the new wing of the farmhouse. They had hardly reached their +quarters than a timid knock on the door was heard, and the good woman +of the house appeared, to ask with more or less trepidation if they had +suffered any loss from the visit of her countrymen, whose uniforms she +must have recognized.</p> + +<p>Rod assured her that all was well with them, at which she seemed +particularly pleased, and vanished from the scene.</p> + +<p>“Well, after all it turned out to be a false alarm,” +ventured Hanky Panky, giving an exhibition of one of his fancy yawns; +and really no boy could excel him when it came to stretching his mouth +wide open, so Josh always declared.</p> + +<p>“But it might have been serious, all right,” asserted +the latter. “Our luck only caused them to be French instead of +German. It was what you might call a narrow squeak, Hanky Panky; and +only for my waking up when I did we’d have lost our property +anyway.”</p> + +<p>“We owe you our best thanks for your wakefulness, Josh,” +Rod told him.</p> + +<p>“Oh! that’s all right,” laughed the other; +“thanks to a bad dream I chanced to arouse myself, and caught the +flicker of some sort of moving light out there. So of course I just +tumbled out and made for the window. When I saw lanterns moving this +way and that I began to think we were going to be in the soup; so, +knowing you ought to be put in touch with the situation, I wakened you, +Rod.”</p> + +<p>“By the way,” Hanky Panky continued, “what was the +lieutenant telling you all the time he kept on talking, Rod?”</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” echoed Josh immediately; +“whatever it could have been it seemed to give him a whole lot of +pleasure to be able to inform you, for he was smiling like everything, +and I could see the pride sticking out of his face.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I was asking him for the latest news from the battle +front,” replied Rod, “and what he told me was great stuff, +to be sure. It seems that what we heard before was part of the +truth.”</p> + +<p>“You mean how the German General Von Kluck, swinging down to +attack Paris from the northwest, didn’t get within gunshot of the +outer forts before he found he had exposed his flank, and it was in +danger of being turned–was that it, Rod?” and Josh, who was +intensely interested in all military matters, eagerly waited to hear +the answer to his leading question.</p> + +<p>“Just what happened,” Rod explained. “You see, a +new army was hastily gotten together by General Gallieni, the Governor +of Paris, consisting for the most part of the regiments meant to defend +the city. This, assisted by the British forces, was threatening the +exposed flank of Von Kluck. If it struck hard it would throw his whole +army into confusion, and start a rout. So instead of attacking the +forts as he had intended, Von Kluck made a swift swing, and passed +Paris on the north.”</p> + +<p>“And what did Joffre do then?” asked Josh.</p> + +<p>“The whole French army had been held for just such an opening. +It was sent forward with impetuous speed to strike like an avalanche. +The lieutenant said that already the blow had started to fall, and that +there could be no doubt about the Germans being in retreat, heading +north again to positions they must have arranged for along the Aisne +River.”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah! that makes me sing for joy!” cried Josh, +exultantly; “then Paris isn’t going to fall like a ripe +plum into the hands of the <i>invincible</i> German army. They counted +without their host that time, I guess.”</p> + +<p>“Much of the praise for what has happened goes to Joffre +because he kept his army intact and refused to risk a general +engagement until he believed the time was ripe. When Von Kluck exposed +his flank, and that new army came out of Paris to threaten it, Joffre +knew the fatal hour was at hand. Then he struck home, and already they +are pushing the Germans back along the Marne with frightful +slaughter.”</p> + +<p>Josh was so pleased with hearing this wonderful news that he went +around and insisted on shaking hands with each of his chums.</p> + +<p>“Why, I’m nearly as tickled over it as if it was +Washington that had been spared from the hand of the despoiler,” +he went on to say, hilariously; “those Germans are learning +something, it seems to me. They believed their army couldn’t be +beaten, but by now their commanders know there are others just as brave +as Germans–French, British, Belgians, Russians, yes, and +Americans too among the lot. I’ll sure be able to sleep better +after hearing that glorious news, Rod.”</p> + +<p>Somehow they seemed to feel that their machines would not be +disturbed again during the balance of that particular night, so fraught +with big events for the people of imperiled France. All of them managed +to get to sleep again without much trouble, and really knew nothing +more until the sun shining in Rod’s face awoke him.</p> + +<p>They were soon dressed, and on entering the other part of the +farmhouse found that breakfast was already under way. Rod had to +explain a lot of things to the old Frenchman, who it seemed had not +been awakened by what had occurred in the night, but had heard +something of the event from his daughter.</p> + +<p>It was worth while to see how both of them smiled when they heard +about the sudden change of plans of the German general, and that even +then, when the big guns were once more commencing to speak in the +distance, it marked the retreat of the rash invaders who had expected +to take Paris as easily as they had battered down the defences of Liege +and Namur in Belgium, with their wonderful forty-two centimetre +cannon.</p> + +<p>The incident of the night, while at the time it had been quite +thrilling, was already relegated to the past. Rod and his chums had +really been through so much that was exciting during the time they +owned those motorcycles, that events of this type were only so many +reminiscences, once they had passed.</p> + +<p>They had a bountiful breakfast, and then prepared to mount for +another ride over the good roads lying north of the French capital.</p> + +<p>As usual Hanky Panky began to speculate on what they were fated to +see or experience during that day. Situated as they were, with warring +armies near by, anything seemed possible. Indeed, Hanky could not +venture to even give a guess as to what might come their way before the +setting of another sun.</p> + +<p>“I only hope we manage to get on the track of the regiment +that Andre belongs to,” he ventured to say as they made ready to +depart; “and that we find him still in the land of the living. +Once we get that paper signed and witnessed, Jeanne +D’Aubrey’s future is made secure, no matter what happens to +her husband afterwards; though we do hope he’ll live to go back +home, whole or crippled, as the fortunes of war decide. All ready here, +Rod, so give the word to get started!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_11'></a>CHAPTER XI.<br /><span +class='fss'>HELP FOR THE STRANDED ONE.</span></h2> + +<p>“I’m as thirsty as a fish out of water, Rod!” +called out Josh some time after they had started moving along the road; +“must have been that ham we had for breakfast which was some +salty, if fine. And unless I miss my guess there’s a roadside +spring ahead of us there. You can see that foot traveler taking a drink +right now.”</p> + +<p>Rod had of course already noticed this for himself. Possibly he +would have given the stop signal, even had Josh not pleaded with him to +do so.</p> + +<p>They pulled up close by and dismounted. The man at the spring +watched them with what seemed to be uncommon interest; but then that +was not so strange, considering what splendid machines they were +riding. A trio of such wheels must make almost any one take notice.</p> + +<p>Josh surveyed the other curiously as they approached him. It seemed +to the boy that he hardly looked like a native of the soil; for he wore +clothes far better than the average French farmer could afford; and +there was also something about his appearance that suggested his being +a foreigner.</p> + +<p>To the astonishment of the boys he immediately addressed them in +English.</p> + +<p>“Your motorcycles I see are American made,” he remarked; +“and from that fact I guess you must be like myself from the +other side of the ocean. It is strange that we should meet here in this +war-stricken country.”</p> + +<p>“Then you are an American, too?” asked Josh, before Rod +could say a word.</p> + +<p>“I am a naturalized citizen of your great and glorious +republic,” explained the man. “I was born in Switzerland, +but my people emigrated while I was a child. My name it is Oscar +William Tell.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! you don’t mean to tell me that you spring from the +original William Tell, the famous archer who defied the tyrant Gessler, +and shot the apple from the head of his own son?” cried Hanky +Panky, in delight.</p> + +<p>“So I have been told,” replied the other, modestly. +“But just now I am more concerned how I may get out of this +country of the fighting armies than what my dead and gone ancestors may +have been. I have been caught napping, as they say, and for days now +have been trying to reach Paris, where I hope to secure some funds, and +start back across the ocean to my far-away home.”</p> + +<p>The boys exchanged glances. Somehow, although the man had not as yet +mentioned such a thing plainly, they could read between the lines, and +understand that he was hinting about assistance.</p> + +<p>“We could supply you with the little money you may need to pay +for your food until you get into Paris,” said Rod, promptly.</p> + +<p>“That is indeed very kind of you,” continued the other, +eagerly, while his eyes fairly sparkled with satisfaction; “but +my greatest need is to be helped on my way a few miles. My feet are so +sore I can hardly walk; and I have been told that a short distance +ahead there is a railway line over which I might get transportation to +the French capital, which cannot be more than fifteen miles away at the +most.”</p> + +<p>Josh lost no time in offering to take him along. He had often +carried a passenger, and never had an accident thus far. Had it been +Hanky Panky now, or the still more clumsy Rooster, the undertaking +might have assumed a more serious aspect.</p> + +<p>“Sure, you are welcome to a seat with me,” he told the +other, promptly, right from the depths of his generous heart; +“that is, if you think you could hold on, and do the grand +balance act.”</p> + +<p>The man who claimed to be an American took him at his word so +eagerly that there was no chance for Josh to change his mind, even had +he wanted to do so.</p> + +<p>“I’ll accept that offer, my young friend, and with +thanks,” he announced. “Yes, I have been on a motorcycle +before now, so I trust you will not think I am endangering your safety. +And it will be a great help to me if I can stay with you for a short +time.”</p> + +<p>The boys each took turns in securing the needed drink, while Oscar +curiously examined their machines. Josh, once more a little suspicious, +kept an eye on the other while this was going on. It may have suddenly +occurred to him that since the man admitted a knowledge of riding on +one of the machines possibly he might be seized with a sudden mad +impulse to jump into the saddle and try to get away with a mount.</p> + +<p>Nothing of the kind happened, however, and Josh was doubtless a +little ashamed of his suspicions. At any rate he went to some pains to +let the other get seated behind him, as though to make amends for his +secret thoughts.</p> + +<p>Rod led the way again. So far as he could see there was nothing +strange about the plight of the said Oscar. Hundreds of American +tourists must have been caught stranded in strange lands when the war +broke so suddenly; and when they finally reached home they would have +all sorts of remarkable stories to tell concerning their experiences +and sufferings. Not all of them could have the great luck, like the +motorcycle boys, to carry magical documents signed by the king of the +heroic Belgians, and calling on all the Allies to favor the bearers as +far as was possible.</p> + +<p>They covered several miles of the road. The thunder of the guns grew +louder all the while, and Rod fully expected to come upon marching +regiments at any time, although the thoroughfare they were following +seemed to be singularly free from troops heading toward the scene of +the battle.</p> + +<p>There was no railway line in sight as yet, though they had covered +much more than the distance mentioned by Oscar Tell. But then he may +have been misinformed as to distances, which was always possible.</p> + +<p>In this fashion they came to a little rise which Rod chose, as +customary, to ride up slowly and carefully, not knowing what sort of a +surprise might await them at the top.</p> + +<p>It was while they were proceeding toward the crown of the hill that +Josh suddenly found his machine toppling over. He did not know of any +obstacle which he could have run across, for the road seemed absolutely +free from stones and such things; and even as he struggled desperately +to keep the heavy machine from smashing to the ground he felt a +suspicion flash through his brain that in some manner his passenger +might have been responsible for the unexpected catastrophe.</p> + +<p>Both of them fell off, but beyond the shock, and perhaps a few minor +scratches, Josh was not hurt. Indeed, boylike he immediately showed +much more concern over a possible injury to his motorcycle than he gave +any thought to himself.</p> + +<p>Rod heard the crash, as well as the exclamation of dismay springing +from Hanky Panky, who was put to some quick work in order to pull up in +time to avoid running the unfortunates down.</p> + +<p>Rod immediately reached the ground, and laying his machine down +hurried back.</p> + +<p>“Nothing serious, I hope, Josh?” he inquired, Hanky +Panky bustling around, while Oscar was hopping up and down, as though +he might have received a bruise on his leg that was painful to a +degree.</p> + +<p>Josh was frowning dreadfully. Truth to tell his suspicions were +growing stronger and stronger all the while; and he even believed the +man to whom he had extended the courtesies of the road had purposely +brought about the accident at such a particular moment when the fall +would be apt to prove less serious than when they were whizzing along +at twenty miles an hour.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know yet whether the machine is knocked out of +commission or not,” muttered Josh, disconsolately, as he +proceeded to hastily examine into matters; “but it would be +exasperating for us if that happened, just when we’re close to +the battle line, and want to get around so lively. Hang the luck, I +say!”</p> + +<p>He glared in the direction of the apparent cause of all the trouble; +but as Oscar was now raising his trouser leg, as if meaning to examine +into the state of his own injuries, of course the look was wasted so +far as he was concerned.</p> + +<p>Rod frowned also. Up to then he had not allowed himself to suspect +that the so-called Switzer-American could be other than he so frankly +claimed; but somehow it began to dawn upon Rod that there may have been +a method in his madness. What if it were all a part of a deep-laid +scheme calculated to delay them, for some dark purpose or other?</p> + +<p>The thought made him angry. Now that it was too late he felt that +they should have seen through the scheme of the other, when he asked to +be given a lift on his way. He had claimed boldly to have such sore +feet that he could hardly bear to stand his weight upon them; yet here +he was now dancing around as lightly as any one could.</p> + +<p>“But what object could he have in view?” Rod was asking +himself, even while continuing to keep a cautious eye on Oscar, though +he pretended to be tending over Josh, still examining his wheel.</p> + +<p>Like a flash it shot through Rod’s mind that this same Oscar +might be in league with the man who was devoting all his talents and +energies to the task of getting a certain paper out of their +possession–Jules Baggott. He had already shown himself to be +possessed of considerable skill at planning, and the story told by +Oscar may have all been made up out of whole cloth, just to cause them +delay, and give the plotter another opportunity to rob them.</p> + +<p>It was well that these thoughts should have raced through +Rod’s mind just then; for they caused him to take exact note of +what the stranger was doing. Josh chanced to be too busily engaged at +the time to observe anything; as for Hanky Panky, really he was not to +be depended on. And that his sudden suspicions were well founded Rod +presently had positive evidence.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_12'></a>CHAPTER XII.<br /><span +class='fss'>TURNING THE TABLES.</span></h2> + +<p>This was what happened!</p> + +<p>Oscar had for the time being ceased to remember his bruised leg, and +even his grunts had temporarily stopped, which would apparently +indicate that after all his injuries were not so serious as he had made +out.</p> + +<p>He was now industriously engaged in ridding his garments of some of +the dust which they had accumulated at the time he and Josh rolled over +in the road. To the surprise of Rod he even took out his handkerchief, +and used this to wipe the sleeves of his coat.</p> + +<p>Just then Rod, out of the tail of his eye, noticed the fellow give a +quick glance toward Josh and Hanky Panky, both of whom were bending +over the former’s machine, anxiously examining to ascertain if it +had really been much damaged.</p> + +<p>Instinctively Rod made out to be industriously looking at something +of interest in the near distance. He even shaded his eyes with one +hand, though at the same time he could manage to see Oscar.</p> + +<p>It paid him well in the bargain, for he noticed that while dusting +his coat as a dandy detesting all manner of dirt might, the said Oscar +also flirted that white handkerchief in a strange manner.</p> + +<p>Then it suddenly dawned upon Rod that the fellow was actually making +some sort of signal to an unknown party further off. He used his eyes +to advantage, for he immediately caught what seemed to be an answering +wave from a patch of trees possibly three hundred yards away, and along +the side of the rise!</p> + +<p>This complicated matters exceedingly. Oscar, then, was a fraud of +the first water. His story must be a tissue of lies from beginning to +end. Perhaps even his name had been assumed for a purpose, which was to +entrap the three American boys.</p> + +<p>Rod had to think very fast just then. A plan of campaign must be +arranged on the spur of the moment, fitted to cover the case. Of course +he could not more than give a guess as to what it all meant, except +that there was danger in the air for himself and chums.</p> + +<p>Could the pretended Swiss-American be in truth a German spy, bent on +taking them prisoner for some mysterious reason or other? Rod felt sure +this could not be, for he had failed to detect a sign of the Teutonic +guttural in the voice of the other. In fact, Rod was inclined to +suspect him of being of French origin, for when speaking he had all the +shrugs and grimaces which so often mark the natives of France, +especially when excited, and making explanations.</p> + +<p>The three comrades were almost unarmed. Knowing the constant peril +of capture that menaced them, should they chance to run upon a squad of +German soldiers, Rod had decided that it would be the height of folly +for them to carry firearms; for if found to be armed they were likely +to be considered in the light of guerrillas, since they belonged to +neither army as enlisted men.</p> + +<p>Of course the three of them would easily be able to overcome Oscar, +who did not appear to be very brawny in build. But if he had +accomplices near at hand even his capture might not prove sufficient to +stave off the danger.</p> + +<p>Rod conceived a better scheme than to simply overpower the suspect. +Why not make him a hostage for the good behavior of his associates? The +idea seized hold of the boy, and in that instant he determined to put +it into immediate practice.</p> + +<p>Oscar would be surprised to find that his cunning plot had been seen +through. In fact there would be others in the same fix, for Rod could +imagine the astonishment of Josh and Hanky Panky, possibly utterly +unsuspicious regarding the true course of events.</p> + +<p>It happened that Rod had in his pocket a little tool shaped not +unlike one of those modern automatic pistols that can be fired as fast +as the finger presses the trigger. He believed this would answer his +purpose admirably, and acting on the spur of the moment he immediately +drew it forth.</p> + +<p>Oscar was still very diligent with that handkerchief of his, +switching it to and fro, as though determined that not a speck of dust +should remain to mar the appearance of his garments. It would seem as +though Oscar must be an exquisite of the first water when on his native +heath; though Rod was more firmly convinced than ever that this was Gay +Paree rather than Cincinnati, Ohio, which he had so boldly claimed as +his home city.</p> + +<p>So Rod, sauntering toward the other in an apparently idle fashion, +suddenly came up behind him, and clapped the cold metal tool against +the nape of Oscar’s neck, causing a shudder to pass through the +other’s whole system.</p> + +<p>“Don’t try to make a move or you are a dead man!” +said Rod, sternly; “I’ll pull the trigger if you so much as +turn your head this way!”</p> + +<p>“Gee! whilikins!” exclaimed Josh, whirling about; while +Hanky Panky, taken completely by surprise, could only stand there and +stare as though he imagined Rod had suddenly taken leave of his senses, +for up to that moment Hanky had not entertained the slightest suspicion +toward the man they were helping on his way.</p> + +<p>Oscar apparently understood; at any rate he remained as motionless +as though carved out of stone. His face went white, and his eyes rolled +wildly in their sockets, but he knew better than to risk having his +poor brains blown out by an incautious movement.</p> + +<p>“Your game is up, my friend!” said Rod sternly. +“I’ve been watching you send a message to some one with +that handkerchief of yours. Don’t waste your breath to deny it. +You have been trying to lead us into a trap, perhaps for the sake of +helping your friend, Jules. Well, we are on to your game, and mean to +block it. Josh!”</p> + +<p>“On deck, Rod!” exclaimed the one addressed, cheerily, +with a wide grin decorating his face; for it amused him to see how +after all Rod had taken matters into his own hands, and turned the +tables on the scoundrel.</p> + +<p>“You’re getting to be a clever hand at playing the +frisking act, Josh,” continued the leader of the trio; +“suppose you look this chap over, and remove any deadly weapons +you may find. I’ll keep him still, dead or alive, while you do +it.”</p> + +<p>“I beg of you to be careful, young M’sieu!” gasped +Oscar, betraying his French origin in that unguarded moment; “I +assure you I am not thinking of offering resistance; and it might be +your finger it would slip, to my everlasting regret.”</p> + +<p>Josh lost no time in commencing work. As Rod had said, of late the +other had been having considerable experience at this sort of business, +and boasted of being quite an expert.</p> + +<p>“Whee! here’s a nasty looking gun, Rod!” he +speedily announced.</p> + +<p>“Hand it here, then, and I’ll take possession of +it,” the other told him; “then keep on feeling in every +pocket, Josh.”</p> + +<p>“Some papers, Rod–letters they look like,” came +another announcement presently.</p> + +<p>“Give them to me; when I have time I’d like to look them +over, and see if the hand of our friend Jules is back of this game. +Hello! what’s this. These letters are addressed to M. Armand +Marchant, Rue de Rivoli, Paris. Quite a difference between that name +and Oscar William Tell, eh? But I’m not surprised a whit. Keep on +looking, Josh, especially for more ugly guns.”</p> + +<p>Apparently, however, that one weapon was all the man +“toted,” for no more could be discovered.</p> + +<p>“All right, then,” said Rod when his chum proclaimed the +finish of his search; “I’ll change to his own revolver, +which I see is nicely loaded. It is more to be depended on than my own +tool,” with which remark he held the article in question before +the eyes of the prisoner, who turned fiery red with confusion and +anger, while Josh and Hanky Panky burst into peals of laughter at the +joke.</p> + +<p>“Now listen to me,” continued Rod, sternly again, +“you are to go with us over the rise here. Remember you are a +hostage for our safe conduct. If your friends attempt to attack us your +life will be forfeited the first thing. So I’d advise you not to +try and signal again, if you know what’s good for you.”</p> + +<p>“One thing I’m glad to tell you, Rod,” remarked +Josh; “which is that after all the damage to my machine +isn’t worth mentioning. I reckon he meant it to be put out of +commission, and even took chances of getting hurt himself so as to +accomplish it; but the Whitcomb luck stuck by me, all right, all right. +Do you think you can move your machine along and attend to him at the +same time, Rod?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! that’s easily fixed,” replied the other, +cheerily, “because Oscar is going to attend to the trundling act +for me. It’s the least he can do to make up for the bother +he’s given us. And his feet have gotten well in the bargain, just +as if a miracle had been wrought. Get busy, Oscar, and start pushing +uphill!”</p> + +<p>The man did not dare venture any protest. What was the use of his +trying to plead weariness or a bruised leg when they knew that he was a +fraud of the first water, and had, as Josh would say, “tumbled to +his game?”</p> + +<p>So he took hold of Rod’s heavy machine, and toiled manfully up +the ascent. As he went he cast numerous anxious glances to the right +and to the left; but Rod understood now that these were not in hopes of +seeing his confederates suddenly dash into view, since that would be +the signal for his own troubles to begin; rather was the man mentally +praying they would remain in hiding, having grasped the new state of +affairs, which could not be to their liking.</p> + +<p>They reached the crown of the low hill, but did not linger there, +for the position was too exposed. Once down to the level again Rod +began to consider dropping the pilot, as they had no further need of +his protecting services, with the road level and straight stretching +away for miles ahead.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_13'></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE FIELD HOSPITAL.</span></h2> + +<p>“Do we get into our saddles again now, Rod?” asked Josh, +as a halt was called.</p> + +<p>The other glanced around. So far as he could see there did not seem +to be any reason for delaying their departure further. Certainly any +persons who may have been in ambush on the hillside could not have +managed to get further along the road so as to waylay them.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you start the ball rolling, Josh; and Hanky will follow. +I’ll keep our new friend engaged until you get going, when +I’ll start after you both.”</p> + +<p>“Then you expect to leave Oscar here, do you, Rod?” +questioned Josh.</p> + +<p>“Oh! he’ll find assistance, if his sore feet get to +hurting him dreadfully again,” replied the leader, whimsically. +“But I’d advise him to sit down by the roadside, and not +attempt to bother me any. He knows how well his gun is loaded; and I +think I could hit that top button of his coat, even when on the move, +the first clip!”</p> + +<p>Oscar, as they would still have to call him for want of a better +name, shrugged his shoulders at hearing this declaration.</p> + +<p>“Believe me, young M’sieu, I do not mean to give you the +chance. I know when I have enough. Things have not gone to my liking at +all. And this is a very comfortable seat, I assure you.”</p> + +<p>He sat down and folded his hands while Josh started off, Hanky Panky +speedily following him, and calling back:</p> + +<p>“Don’t trust him too far, Rod, please; really, I hardly +like the look of his eye.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” laughed Rod, unconcernedly, +“Oscar can’t help his looks; but he knows enough to sit +tight sometimes, and this is one of them.”</p> + +<p>Rod moved his machine far enough away from the seated man to prevent +any possibility of the other playing him any treacherous trick. Then he +got himself ready to mount.</p> + +<p>Even as he started off, holding the weapon still in his right hand +so as to be in a position to use it on Oscar, he had a glimpse of the +fellow tumbling backward; and at the same instant his voice rang out in +loud shouts. Perhaps he was calling to his comrades, hoping to hasten +their arrival so that they might yet cut off the flight of the last +boy, who evidently had on his person the paper they were after.</p> + +<p>So Rod passed down the road, with the late prisoner still whooping +it up in the rear. Taking a fleeting look behind him, Rod could see +that Oscar had now managed to scramble to his feet, doubtless deeming +the danger point passed. He was wildly accentuating his extravagant +gestures by renewed shouting; and Rod even imagined he could catch some +movement further back, as though those who were being summoned might be +hurrying to the spot.</p> + +<p>Well, let them come. He and his two comrades could afford to laugh, +because the game had turned so nicely in their favor after all. And +then they were ahead one bulky revolver in the bargain.</p> + +<p>Rod was at first tempted to toss this weapon away, but on second +thoughts concluded to retain it for the present. That wily schemer +Jules Baggott might have yet another ambuscade prepared for them a +little further on, and such a tool was apt to come in handy in case of +a surprise.</p> + +<p>Although no mention has been made of the fact, because other +stirring events continued to face the boys, they knew that they must be +steadily drawing nearer the scene of warfare, because the roaring of +big guns became more and more insistent with every mile they +covered.</p> + +<p>It would not surprise Rod in the least should they come in sight of +some spirited action at almost any time now. Realizing that it was his +duty to be in the van at such a critical juncture, so as to occupy a +position to decide on their course of action, he gave the signal so +well known to the others, and which meant that they were to hold +up.</p> + +<p>They were several miles away from the spot where Oscar had been left +in the lurch, so no danger hung over their heads from that source. Rod +soon explained just why he had called the temporary halt; and then once +more the journey was resumed, this time in their regular order, with +Hanky Panky bringing up the rear.</p> + +<p>Rod knew they must be drawing near the bank of the Marne, which +river flowing from the east empties into the Seine. He had been given +to understand that it was along the banks of this river that the vast +German host had retreated after their bold plan for taking Paris had +been frustrated, and their flanks were threatened by the Allied +forces.</p> + +<p>Looking ahead when there came a more than usually fierce outburst of +cannonading, he believed he could see where the battle was progressing, +though the distance was still too great to make out which side manned +the guns that were being fired. It was just then that in turning a bend +of the road he suddenly came upon a most interesting sight, though at +the same time it struck his soul with a feeling akin to awe, and sent a +shiver through his frame.</p> + +<p>Evidently a field hospital had been established in a spot where it +was out of range of the German guns beyond. He saw numerous shelters of +canvas, with busy surgeons and attendants, both men and women nurses. +Along the roads, and across the level fields were hurrying ambulances +and vans of every description, each bearing its load of wounded picked +up along the front.</p> + +<p>Rod threw up his hand. It was the signal that he was about to stop, +and wanted to let his chums know so that they might be prepared to +follow suit.</p> + +<p>A few seconds later and they were at his side, gaping at the strange +picture now spread before them. Josh was going to have his dearest wish +realized, for they had undoubtedly now reached the battle line, and +could see some of the desperate charges and counter-charges attempted +on both sides.</p> + +<p>The Germans had evidently turned at bay in their great retreat, and +were seeking to hold back the pursuit of the furious French, whose +ardor was apt to carry them to desperate attempts to break that solid +line of green-gray.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky was almost holding his breath. He did not possess the +same disposition that Josh had, and all this dreadful suffering was apt +to fill him with horror. Still, he had a boy’s ordinary share of +curiosity, and might even be morbid enough to run so as to see an +injured man in a railway accident, even if he came near fainting +immediately afterwards.</p> + +<p>“It’s a French field hospital, isn’t it, +Rod?” asked Josh.</p> + +<p>“There’s no mistaking the tri-color flag that waves near +the one with the Red Cross,” replied the other, without the least +hesitation.</p> + +<p>“Oh! what a pity we lost our field glasses,” continued +Josh, disconsolately. “We could never have such a splendid chance +again to watch the play of a real battle like that going on over there; +and it’s a bit too far for the naked eye to get the full benefit +of it all. I’d give everything I own for binoculars right now. +Rod, don’t you think we might push on a little nearer the firing +line?”</p> + +<p>Rod shook his head in the negative.</p> + +<p>“The chances are we’d be rounded up in a hurry, and +forced to turn back,” he told the eager comrade. “As it is +I’m surprised we’ve been able to get as close as we have +right now. It’s a part of our luck, I guess. But I was thinking +that if we chose to go over to the field hospital perhaps after +we’d made friends with some of the doctors and attendants, helped +a little it might be, we’d find a chance to borrow a pair of +binoculars from some one.”</p> + +<p>“Bully for you, Rod; that sounds good to me!” exclaimed +Josh; while Hanky Panky gave a little gasp, and was heard to say almost +helplessly:</p> + +<p>“Oh! my stars, do we have to run smack into that hospital +business, when often the sight of blood gives me the creeps, and makes +my knees wobble?”</p> + +<p>“You can squat down right here, and stay if you want to, Hanky +Panky,” volunteered Josh; whereat the other seemed to make a +swift mental calculation, after which he shut his teeth firmly +together, and went on to say resolutely:</p> + +<p>“I’m game if you both are; besides, something might +happen to me here, if that miserable Jules and his crowd came along the +road back of us. Yes, I’ll go,” but it could easily be seen +that Hanky Panky was not taking any great pleasure in the outlook.</p> + +<p>They could use their machines for a short distance along the road; +then it became necessary for them to dismount, break down a fence, and +trundle the motorcycles across a field to where the temporary hospital +had been established, in touch with the battle lines.</p> + +<p>Motor vehicles were coming and going at speedy intervals. Rod +noticed that they all used another road, which evidently must be the +direct course to Paris, where the wounded heroes were being hurried +after their injuries had received first care; because that is usually +all a field hospital is intended to accomplish, staunching the flow of +blood, and in other ways holding the spark of life until operations can +be attempted further removed from the scene of action.</p> + +<p>Every one inside the limits of the place seemed to be desperately +busy. Men were rushing this way and that with stretchers, carrying +wounded soldiers back and forth. Vehicles were coming and going, and +these seemed of all descriptions, from the customary ambulance to big +lorries run with a motor; and all of them bore the sign of the Red +Cross on their sides, in order to protect them as much as possible from +the fire of the enemy.</p> + +<p>It was in this manner therefore that the three Motorcycle Boys found +themselves entering a new phase of their extraordinary adventures, and +one that would doubtless never be forgotten, even when they found +themselves once again safe in their distant homes.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_14'></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br /><span +class='fss'>WHERE THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE RAGED.</span></h2> + +<p>“Look, an aeroplane coming this way!” exclaimed Hanky +Panky, pointing upwards.</p> + +<p>“If you glance off yonder,” added Josh, +“you’ll see more than one of the same. They’re +hanging over the battle lines, and I guess sending signals back to tell +what the observer notes from his perch away up aloft.”</p> + +<p>“Just what they’re doing, Josh,” Rod went on to +say, as he stopped for a brief time to take a look in the direction +indicated.</p> + +<p>In fact, they could make out as many as half a dozen of the fliers, +some darting about as swift as swallows on the wing, others more +stationary, and evidently with the operators busily engaged +transmitting signals.</p> + +<p>“There, see that one dropping something white!” cried +Hanky Panky; “chances are he’s giving the gunners on his +side a tip, so they can get the range of the German battery, and put it +out of action with a volley.”</p> + +<p>“And there’s going to be something doing pretty soon, or +I miss my guess,” added Josh, excitedly; “because there +comes a pair of those Taube machines bent on giving the French ones +battle. Rod, we’re going to watch a fight in the sky, don’t +you see? Whee! but this <i>is</i> the life, take it from me. I never +dreamed I’d be so lucky as to be right on the lines when a big +battle was taking place.”</p> + +<p>The pair of Taube machines came swiftly along to engage the rival +aeroplanes that had been making so free with the secrets of the German +defences. Evidently the aviators had been ordered to put a stop to the +operations of the French pilots, no matter at what cost to +themselves.</p> + +<p>“They’re shooting at each other now!” cried Josh; +“you can see the puffs of smoke break out every second; and +it’s different from the bursting of shrapnel shells all around +them.”</p> + +<p>“Gee! whiz! but this is awfully exciting!” gasped Hanky +Panky, stretching his neck still more in order to follow the swift +evolutions of the rival air machines; “what if one of them has +the hard luck to get his motor smashed by a ball; or his gasoline tank +exploded?”</p> + +<p>“That’d be a bad thing for the men in the aeroplane, I +should say!” Josh informed him. “They must be all of half a +mile high, and a fall would flatten a poor chump out like a +pancake.”</p> + +<p>“There’s one of the Germans turning tail right now and +running away!” called out Hanky Panky; “and the +other–why, see how queer that machine is acting, will you? It +keeps turning around like a corkscrew, and seems to be dropping all the +while.”</p> + +<p>“A good reason, too,” snapped Josh. “French guns +proved superior to the Kaiser’s, for they did some damage. That +Taube is falling! Only for the skill of the two men aboard it’d +be coming down right now like the stick of a spent rocket, or a meteor +aiming to strike the earth.”</p> + +<p>All of them watched the erratic course of the disabled aeroplane +with the keenest interest. Indeed, the valiant pilot certainly deserved +a great deal of praise for the way in which he manipulated his charge. +At the same time the Taube was going to strike the earth with a severe +blow.</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t like to be aboard that poor craft, let me +tell you,” said Hanky Panky, as it neared the earth, not far back +of the French front; “the people in it are going to get broken +arms or legs, and the machine will be smashed in pieces.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! they’ll call themselves lucky if it ends at +that,” snorted Josh; “some men would have their necks or +backs broken; but these German aviators are a tough lot, I’ve +heard, and can stand a heap of pounding.”</p> + +<p>Even as they looked the wrecked Taube struck the ground. Some +soldiers had hastened in that direction, and were on the spot almost as +soon as the disabled German machine landed. They could be seen moving +about amidst the wreckage of the aeroplane. Then they appeared carrying +something in their midst.</p> + +<p>“They’ve picked up the occupants of the fallen +Taube,” said Rod, “and from the way they carry them the +poor chaps must be badly hurt. Yes, there they’ve stopped that +ambulance coming from the front, and are getting the wounded birdmen +aboard. The French admire bravery, even in a mortal foe, and you can be +sure that those gallant fellows will receive just as good care as if +they were their own men.”</p> + +<p>He again started to move forward. The field hospital was now close +at hand, and they could expect to be within its borders in a few +minutes more.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky nerved himself for the terrible ordeal he knew was +before him. Both the other lads also shut their lips firmly, so that +they might endure the gruesome sights without feeling faint; for they +were not accustomed to such things, and but boys after all.</p> + +<p>Some of those they met eyed them in wonder, doubtless at a loss to +know who the three youngsters were, and what brought them to the battle +lines. No one seemed to think of stopping them and asking questions; it +might be from lack of time.</p> + +<p>Whenever Rod noticed some officer near by he gave the regulation +salute, which may have induced the others to believe the boys actually +belonged to some branch of the service; though their khaki uniforms +would rather indicate a connection with the British army just then +co-operating with General Joffre.</p> + +<p>The boys had just succeeded in stacking their machines when an +opportunity came that allowed them to render assistance in carrying +several poor fellows into one of the tent shelters. A lorry had +arrived, and there did not seem to be any attendant on hand to help the +driver, who looked around in despair.</p> + +<p>“Come along, Josh, and lend a hand here!” exclaimed Rod, +equal to any emergency, as he sprang forward.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky started, but soon held back, unable to bear the sight of +the wounded men who were in the motor truck.</p> + +<p>The two boys succeeded in carrying three of them inside the shelter, +where they were placed as comfortably as possible, awaiting the time +when the bustling surgeon, engaged with other cases, could attend to +their hurts. One of them was in a very bad way, having been terribly +injured by a bursting shell. It pierced Rod’s sympathetic heart +just to look at his white, blood-specked face. But the black eyes were +still full of fire and animation; and when Rod held a dipper of cold +water to the lips of the soldier of the republic the other drank +greedily, and then thanked him in French.</p> + +<p>“It may be the last drink I shall ever want,” he told +Rod complacently, “but I rejoice to know I have lived to see the +day when a French army has made the German beast turn tail and run. My +father died before Paris many years ago, and I have prayed for this +glorious day to come. I am satisfied. I have done my duty to +France.”</p> + +<p>It made a powerful impression on both the boys. Such bravery and +devotion to country could hardly fail to do otherwise. Secretly they +hoped the valiant soldier might survive his terrible injuries, and live +to see the day when victory crowned the tri-color of France, which he +adored.</p> + +<p>The busy surgeon now found a chance to pay attention to the later +victims of German bullets and bursting shells and bombs. At the same +time he started a conversation with Rod, the latter being the only one +of the boys who could speak French.</p> + +<p>Presently Rod turned again to Josh to say:</p> + +<p>“Here’s a streak of luck for us, Josh. Just as soon as +he’s through with the case he’s now working on, the +gentleman, Dr. Gervaise, is going to loan us his binoculars. He also +says there is a slight elevation twenty yards back of this shelter, +from the top of which we can get a pretty fair view of the battle +lines. From what he tells me I figure we’ll be just in good time +to witness something that is going to take place before +long.”</p> + +<p>Of course this pleased Josh exceedingly, because it was a +field-glass he had been yearning for ever since they found themselves +within touch of the field of battle. He even tried to assist the +wearied army surgeon as best he might, for Josh had an abundance of +nerve, and could accustom himself to almost any sight if he had a +motive controlling his actions.</p> + +<p>Presently, armed with the Lemaire binoculars, Rod led the way out of +the temporary shelter under which the victims of the fierce fighting +could be shielded from the hot September sun while the principle of +“first aid to the injured” was being applied.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky was lingering near by, watching some of the interesting +sights, and evidently finding it a difficult thing to retain a firm +grip on himself. He greeted the reappearance of his chums with +eagerness. Perhaps he even hoped that they meant to quit the confines +of the field hospital, and depart to other regions. At sight of the +field-glasses which Rod waved at him Hanky understood, however, just +why they were hurrying toward that elevation close by; and he trotted +at their heels as an obedient little spaniel might have done.</p> + +<p>Once they reached the summit of the rise it was found that the +French surgeon had not overstated the fact when saying that a very good +view of the battle lines could be obtained from this point. Rod took a +look and then handed the glasses over to Josh, knowing how eager the +other was to see at close range what was going on over where the big +guns were thundering so fiercely–where also the French lay in +hiding, ready to again charge desperately upon the German trenches when +the word to advance was given. The ground between the hostile armies +was covered with the fallen. Josh shivered as he contemplated the +terrible spectacle. It would doubtless haunt him for many a day and +night to come. He looked everywhere, not even omitting to glance upward +so as to see what the flying birdmen might be doing; then he handed the +binoculars over to Hanky Panky, who received them eagerly, despite his +sensation of horror.</p> + +<p>When Hanky Panky leveled the glasses at the distant line of hastily +thrown up German trenches the first thing he saw was what seemed to be +an innumerable army of men in drab working feverishly to strengthen +their defences.</p> + +<p>Already they had tasted of the new-born French enthusiasm, and could +anticipate that much more of the same sort was bound to break loose. +Long years had those fiery Gauls been hugging to their hearts the +thought of revenge for the humiliation suffered away back in ’71, +when their beloved Paris echoed to the tramp of the victorious Teutonic +hosts.</p> + +<p>They began to believe the day had dawned at last when the shame of +their fathers could be wiped out, and the tables turned on the hated +foe.</p> + +<p>How Hanky Panky did turn from one point to another and +“soak” it all in, as Josh remarked aside to Rod, +impatiently waiting for a second chance to observe what was going on +over there beyond the windrows of the dead.</p> + +<p>It seemed as though Hanky Panky could not tear his eyes away from +the amazing sight which fairly fascinated him. As though held in the +grip of a nightmare the boy was staring and muttering to himself. +Sometimes his words signified wonder and awe; then again there was an +underlying vein of compassion in what Hanky Panky said; for his heart +was greatly touched by the sight of all this terrible misery. He could +see some of the forms on the late battlefield moving. He realized that +men in anguish must be calling out for a drink of cooling water so as +to quench their burning thirst. Others were doubtless suffering all +sorts of tortures from the wounds they had received.</p> + +<p>To be sure the hospital attendants were doing everything they could +to gather up the wounded. Men bearing the sacred Red Cross, from both +the French and the German sides, were moving about, searching for those +in whom life still remained. Vehicles could also be seen in places, +receiving some of these victims, while the men with stretchers stumbled +about carrying their groaning burdens to the rear.</p> + +<p>Yes, Hanky Panky would never forget what he saw that day, though he +lived to a ripe old age, for it was burned upon his memory +indelibly.</p> + +<p>Josh, getting impatient, was just about to demand the binoculars +when the other uttered a sudden cry that gave them a new thrill:</p> + +<p>“Oh! see what’s going to happen now, will you, +fellows?” was the burden of his announcement; +“there’s a new French army hurrying up to attack them on +the flank; and they’ve given the signal for a general advance. +Great snakes! but it’s going to be an <i>aw</i>ful sight when +they come to close grips!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_15'></a>CHAPTER XV.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE TAKING OF THE GERMAN TRENCHES.</span></h2> + +<p>That was too much for Josh to stand. He had been at the point of +rebellion before, and this was the “last straw that broke the +camel’s back.” He snatched the glasses from the trembling +hand of his comrade almost rudely, though perhaps Josh did not mean it +that way, only he was fearfully excited.</p> + +<p>Of course Rod could see something of what was transpiring, even +without the aid of the binoculars, though they were bound to be a great +help. He had immediately turned his gaze upon the spot indicated, and +discovered that what Hanky Panky called out was true.</p> + +<p>A great mass of men clad in the regulation French uniform came +rushing forward from the left quarter. Guns were fast starting up here, +there, everywhere, to rain a perfect hail of shells on the German line, +so as to prevent the defenders from springing forward to meet the new +attack.</p> + +<p>At the same time those Frenchmen lying concealed in front also +sprang to do their part of the work. The air was rent with shouts from +thousands of throats, though the tattoo of the guns became so insistent +that even this sounded faintly, as rain might on the roof between +thunder-claps.</p> + +<p>Riveted to the spot with the wonder of the spectacle, which they had +never dreamed would fall to their vision, the three boys stood there, +unable to speak a single word. Indeed, with all that frightful noise +going on speech was next door to folly, and they wisely held their +breath.</p> + +<p>The Germans had anticipated just such an assault, no doubt, for it +was along their flank that they had been so industriously throwing up +new entrenchments at the time Rod and his chums first sighted them.</p> + +<p>They had not been given sufficient time, however, to get more than +half prepared when the mighty blow fell. Those enthusiastic Frenchmen, +realizing that they had Von Kluck’s army finally on the run, did +not mean to lose any of their advantage by unnecessary delay. They +could not be held in, even had their officers wished to attempt such a +thing. Rod indeed was reminded of the impetuous charge of hounds, once +they were released from the leash.</p> + +<p>It was all very plain to Rod, who was a boy with a long head. He +knew that when the vast German host had advanced so steadily toward +Paris, sweeping everything out of their path with such apparent ease, +they had certainly brought along with them many great siege guns, with +which to batter down the forts defending the city.</p> + +<p>Some of these were the famous forty-two centimetre guns which had +proved at Liege and Namur that no modern fort could hold out against +the enormous weight of metal they were capable of dropping, almost +vertically, on the works, from a distance of many miles.</p> + +<p>Then when the sudden alteration came about in the plans of Von +Kluck, and his army turned aside from Paris so as to save its exposed +flank, the one thought in the mind of the general was to save those +wonderful guns, without which all his work would be for naught.</p> + +<p>It was for this purpose that these desperate rearguard actions were +being undertaken by the retreating Germans. Some of the big guns were +drawn by traction engines, and their progress even over good roads must +necessarily be very slow. To enable them to be transported to the +positions already prepared along the Aisne River, looking to a possible +retreat, the victorious French had to be kept at bay.</p> + +<p>So tens of thousands of Teutons must fall during those bitter days +in order that the Krupp guns might be saved to the cause. Manfully they +stood up to their task. There was not a sign of wavering as they met +the furious charge of the French, who seemed determined on thrusting +the enemy out of their newly made trenches at the point of the +bayonet.</p> + +<p>Josh, remembering how he had felt a brief time before, presently +gave a sigh and reluctantly handed the glasses over to Rod. The latter +gladly received them, and without a second’s delay proceeded to +glue his eyes to the smaller end.</p> + +<p>It was like a living picture of other battles that Rod remembered +seeing, done in colors; but the realization that this was the +<i>real</i> thing he now gazed on so entranced thrilled him again and +again.</p> + +<p>Backed by every gun that could be brought to bear upon the German +front, the living stream of blue and red-clad French soldiers, men of +the line, zouaves, chasseurs and all, plunged madly along. Little they +recked that many fell by the way under the storm of missiles that +belched from the hostile trenches; the lines closed over the gaps +almost mechanically, and only the figures that dotted the field after +their passage told of the terrible price with which the action was +accompanied.</p> + +<p>Now they were close up to the trenches, and some even leaping over +the redoubt, to grapple hand to hand with those who so desperately +defended it.</p> + +<p>Brave though they were, the French had been so decimated in their +mad rush that it seemed as though there could not be enough of them +left to overcome the resistance of the defenders of the works.</p> + +<p>It was while Rod was filled with this sense of anxiety that he +noticed something calculated to arouse new hope; for somehow he found +himself in sympathy with the French soldiers, perhaps because they had +been the under dog in the other war, when their fair country was +overrun by Bismarck’s armies.</p> + +<p>The wise French commander-in-chief, possibly General Joffre himself, +had seen to it that reserves were on hand to take up the fight after +the first line had hewn a way into the hostile trenches. Yes, there +they came along like a serried mass, or the waters bursting from a vast +reservoir after the dam has been broken.</p> + +<p>He saw the living wave strike the first embankment and pass over. He +knew what terrible work must be going on beyond that thrown-up earth, +for in bayonet work the French have ever been without a rival. He +pitied the Germans who were trying to hold the first line of trenches +so valiantly, for they would mostly be either killed, wounded, or taken +prisoner.</p> + +<p>The French guns still roared unceasingly, though that part of the +great Marne battle was already as good as won. Now their exploding +missiles were being hurled further on, so as to add to the perplexities +of the hurriedly retreating Germans, making for the next line of +trenches, which in turn would doubtless be just as stubbornly +defended.</p> + +<p>Josh it was now who used the glasses. As a rule Josh had always been +reckoned a generous fellow, sharing alike with his friends; but to-day +a spirit of greed possessed him. There was Hanky Panky, who really +shrank from such scenes as a battle–why bother paying any +attention to him when there was only a single pair of binoculars to go +around?</p> + +<p>Indeed, Hanky Panky made no further claim on the precious glasses; +evidently he had seen enough and more than enough as it was, to satisfy +his ambition. He was staring toward those figures dotting the new +field, and his lips kept moving as though he might be uttering words of +commiseration, though of course what he said could not be heard above +the universal clamor that continued with unabated vigor.</p> + +<p>Gradually, though, the racket began to slacken, as though word had +gone forth that the pursuit of the retiring foe must be temporarily +abandoned. Victory had perched on the banner of the defenders of the +soil; the lilies of France had swept proudly over the trenches of the +foe; still further back from the imperiled capital had the host of Von +Kluck been pushed, but all gained at a terrible cost.</p> + +<p>So the guns began to cease firing. New positions must now be taken +up so as to continue the good work. Everywhere the Germans would be +pressed back and back until possibly the ardent French believed they +would be forced to retreat to the Rhine.</p> + +<p>And now new features began to appear upon the field that had so +lately been the scene of a fearful engagement. Batches of dejected +looking prisoners were being convoyed to the rear, stout-looking young +fellows as a rule; for in the early months of the great war the German +army consisted of the pick of the whole empire, every soldier being an +almost perfect specimen of physical manhood. Later on, when havoc had +been made in their ranks by continuous engagements, younger and older +reserves would begin to make their appearance to fill the gaps.</p> + +<p>Then again did the French Red Cross attendants with their handy +stretchers begin to reap the harvest of the battle. Of Germans there +were none, for since their side had been compelled to retreat so +hastily most of their hospital corps had accompanied them, leaving to +the victors the double task of caring for the wounded of both +armies.</p> + +<p>When Rod, again with the glasses, saw how the French attendants did +not discriminate in favor of their own men, but took them just as they +came, a German even before a Frenchman, he realized the spirit of +brotherly love that really exists between the common people of all +countries, even though by force of circumstances they may be compelled +to face each other in deadly carnage for the faults of politicians or +kings.</p> + +<p>Well, it was all over now, but the binding up of wounds and the sad +burial of the many who had fallen. The invaders had been pushed still +further back, and their hopes of taking Paris received an apparently +fatal blow.</p> + +<p>“Josh, you can never again say that you haven’t seen a +real battle,” remarked Rod, as they made their way back toward +the shelter where the almost exhausted surgeon, aided by his +assistants, would now have to start in afresh with the incoming of +another batch of cases needing immediate attention.</p> + +<p>“I’m satisfied,” replied Josh in a suppressed +manner; “and between us both, Rod, I want to own up that I hope +I’ll never have another chance to look on such a terrible sight; +though remember, I wouldn’t have missed it for a whole +lot.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_16'></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br /><span +class='fss'>A SUDDEN SURPRISE.</span></h2> + +<p>Although the three lads had already performed an amount of labor +that would have considerably astonished their home folks, could they +have witnessed it, and filled them all with pride in the bargain, they +were not yet through, it seemed.</p> + +<p>“Here’s plenty more for us to do, fellows,” +suggested Rod, as they reached the canvas shelter tent, where the +procession of stretchers was beginning to arrive, each with its sad +burden.</p> + +<p>“I’m willing to help all I can,” said Hanky Panky, +trying to look as though he could stand anything after what he had +passed through.</p> + +<p>Indeed there was need of assistance. Two other field hospitals had +already been established not far away, since the subjects were many +times more numerous now that Germans as well as French were beginning +to be brought in for treatment. And a steady string of ambulances and +motor lorries would soon start to taking the wounded in the direction +of Paris, where they could be better attended to.</p> + +<p>So for at least two hours the three brave-hearted American boys +stood up to the work to which none of them were accustomed. They +certainly, in that space of time, earned the everlasting gratitude of +the nation whose sons they assisted in their time of need.</p> + +<p>Rod was interested in several Germans who had been taken prisoners, +slightly wounded. He entered into conversation with one of them, and +managed to learn more of the other side of the contention than he had +known before.</p> + +<p>Finally even the willing Josh was heard to declare that he had about +reached the limit of his endurance, while Hanky Panky looked ready to +drop.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to get away from here, Rod,” Josh was +saying; “after all we’re only boys, and this is a terrible +experience for us. Our chum is nearly done up; and as for myself I +admit that I’m getting shaky.”</p> + +<p>Rod himself had to confess that they ought to be making a move. The +worst of the bringing in of the wounded was over by now, and besides, +more attendants were on hand to look after things.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right, boys,” he assured his chums, +“we’ve done our level best to be of some help to our +friends, the French; and now it’s only fair we should start in +looking after our own affairs again.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve noticed you talking with a number of men besides +our surgeon friend, Rod; have you picked up any sort of information +that’d be of use to us?” demanded the other shrewdly, +guessing what their leader must have had in mind.</p> + +<p>“Something that may turn out to be worth while,” came +the reply.</p> + +<p>“Meaning you’ve struck a clue about the regiment to +which Andre belongs–is that what it is?” continued +Josh.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and of course it’ll be our object to run across +the same as soon as we can,” he was told; “because +it’s beginning to strike me that we ought to get away from this +war-stricken country. We’ve seen things that few boys ever could +run across–things that’ll haunt us for a long time, +I’m afraid.”</p> + +<p>“I’m glad to hear you say that, Rod,” remarked +Hanky Panky, white of face after his recent experiences; indeed, it was +mostly on account of this comrade that Rod had made up his mind not to +linger in that region an hour after their mission had been +accomplished.</p> + +<p>“There’s another thing I want to tell you, fellows, +which is a bit more cheerful, I’m glad to say,” continued +Rod. “Our supply of petrol is nearly exhausted, you must know, +and getting another lot at a time like this might prove a pretty tough +proposition.”</p> + +<p>“I was just thinking about that!” declared Josh, +“and had it on the tip of my tongue to ask you what we ought to +do about it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, fortunately it’s been made easy,” Rod +informed him; “our good friend, the army surgeon, has given me a +paper that will allow us to replenish our tanks at the general supply +station which I’ve already located. He said it was little enough +in recognition of the work we’ve been doing.”</p> + +<p>Both the other boys declared that it was a splendid thing, and +congratulated Rod on his forethought in looking out for the necessary +supplies. Without liquid fuel with which to drive their speedy +motorcycles they would find themselves in a “serious +pickle,” as Josh said; for every gallon in the whole country had +undoubtedly been seized by the military authorities–that is, what +little the Germans had not discovered and confiscated while passing +through.</p> + +<p>Accordingly their first labor was to proceed to the tank, present +the order given by the surgeon, who actually ruled the field hospital, +and the man in charge readily allowed them to refill their reservoirs +with the precious liquid.</p> + +<p>It was with a thankful heart that Hanky Panky finally turned his +back on the field hospital. He had passed through so many painful +experiences since striking that place he felt as though his nerves had +been badly rattled.</p> + +<p>After the late battle a strange calm seemed to have settled down +again. Doubtless both sides were replenishing their stock of ammunition +and getting in readiness for the next upheaval; for the French would +never cease to attack as long as they knew they had the enemy “on +the run,” and that it was French soil those detestable German +boots were still pressing.</p> + +<p>Rod had figured things out as best he could. The wearied army +surgeons had also been able to give him a few pointers that might prove +of value.</p> + +<p>As they progressed they could no longer say that they had the road +to themselves. A score of different sights were before their eyes much +of the time, consisting for the most part of vehicles bearing the +wounded heroes far to the rear; other empty ones hurrying forward to +secure their loads; detachments of sullen prisoners being taken under +guard to a detention camp; squads of French soldiers bent upon some +duty; here a belated regiment hastening forward, eager to be in at the +next furious engagement; peasants standing in the doorways of their +cottages watching all that went on, and laughing with the passersby, +because victory was in the air for France, and it mattered little that +they had lost all their live stock when the German hosts trooped by, if +only the “day” they had long prayed for had indeed +arrived.</p> + +<p>So the Motorcycle Boys had to pick their way along now; it could no +longer be said of them that they fairly “flew” over the +road. Besides the numerous obstructions in the shape of vehicles coming +and going, there were many ragged holes to be encountered, where mighty +shells had fallen and exploded, forming craters that had to be +carefully negotiated lest the riders meet with a serious +catastrophe.</p> + +<p>Besides this, all along the way they discovered such cast-off +material as the retreating German army had discarded in order to hasten +their march–broken caissons and guns that had been rendered +temporarily useless by reason of some accident; stocks of provisions +that could not be carried; cooking outfits that were the most complete +affairs the boys had ever seen; and many other things which could not +be safely carried off by an army that was being hourly harassed by a +fierce and unrelenting foe.</p> + +<p>The day had worn on while they were in the field hospital so that it +was now getting well along in the afternoon. Rod knew they would soon +have to be thinking of seeking some sort of shelter for the night. He +was more particular about this because clouds had come up, and there +seemed a chance that rain would follow, as often happens immediately +after a great battle has been fought in which there is much cannon +firing and consequent concussion of the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>At noon they had shared the meagre lunch of the noble French army +surgeon, who had conceived such an ardent admiration for the trio of +young Americans. Josh was already heard saying that he felt as hungry +as a tramp who had been walking the railroad ties from early morning; +and hoping that they would be lucky enough to soon strike a house where +a meal might be secured.</p> + +<p>This was what Rod had in mind when ahead of him he discovered signs +of a pretty little French village. His hopes mounted higher because +from the evidence before them it seemed plain that the retreating +Germans had somehow managed to pass around this small place, so that +there was a pretty good chance they would find a hospitable woman +there, who, after learning that they had been assisting in the field, +would be only too proud to cook them a meal, and it might be allow them +to sleep in her house.</p> + +<p>“I’d be willing to occupy a shed, or even a dog-kennel +so long as it didn’t have a French poodle occupant,” Hanky +Panky had solemnly said, when they talked this over at the last +crossroads, as they stopped a short time to confer upon their plan of +campaign.</p> + +<p>Their coming created quite a little furore in the village, for being +off the main road to Paris the good people here had as yet not learned +what wonderful success General Joffre was meeting with in his attempt +to force the stubborn enemy back toward the Rhine country.</p> + +<p>The boys were soon surrounded by a throng of women and children, +with a smattering of very old men. Apparently there was not a single +able-bodied man left in the place, every one having gone to join the +colors and defend the capital.</p> + +<p>Rod was kept busy telling some of the grand things that had happened +miles away, where the roll of the great guns had been sounding so long, +bringing terror to the faithful hearts of the good people. How they +shouted and even embraced each other as they learned what measure of +success was coming to their army. One and all they were now positive +that their wonderful commander would never give up the pursuit until he +actually dictated terms of peace before the walls of Berlin itself.</p> + +<p>When Rod modestly mentioned the fact that he and his two chums were +hungry they immediately received a dozen offers of accommodation and +supper. Every house in the village belonged to them, and they were at +liberty to ask for anything they wanted.</p> + +<p>Rod, however, used a little discretion. He did not in the first +place want to be separated from his chums, and this meant they must +choose some house capable of entertaining them all.</p> + +<p>In the end he selected for their hostess a middle-aged woman who +looked prosperous and capable of attending to their wants without +robbing herself. The three motorcycles were stacked in the yard close +by, where they continued to attract the attention of every boy, big or +small, in the village.</p> + +<p>Rod was not in the least afraid to leave them. He knew full well +that there was not any chance of the machines being tampered with; for +those French boys seemed well behaved. He wondered what would happen +over at his home town of Garland, where such fellows as Oscar Griffin, +Gid Collins and their like loved to play all manner of tricks and +practical jokes, regardless of other people’s feelings.</p> + +<p>Comfortably seated inside the house Rod and his chums awaited the +call to supper. They could get tantalizing whiffs of the food that was +being prepared for their consumption as the odors crept in from the +kitchen; and Josh several times privately declared he did not see how +he was going to stand that sort of thing much longer, for it was making +him fairly frantic, he was so ravenous.</p> + +<p>Rod was figuring on where the three motorcycles should be placed for +the night, and had already made up his mind to ask if they could be +brought into the house; because while the good people of the village +might all be as honest as the day, stragglers from the army were apt to +come along who might feel like helping themselves to a “good +thing” when they found it so convenient.</p> + +<p>It was just at this moment, when they were expecting to be called +into the dining-room to sit down at the bountiful feast provided, that, +without the least warning, a bombshell seemed to drop among them. +Shouts were heard without, and as the three boys sprang to their feet +they looked at each other in sudden anxiety.</p> + +<p>“What are they yelling about, Rod?” begged Hanky +Panky.</p> + +<p>“They say the Uhlans are coming down on us, and are already +close to the place!” was the startling declaration of the one who +understood French.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_17'></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br /><span +class='fss'>BEHIND THE BARRICADE.</span></h2> + +<p>“Such tough luck, and just when supper was going to be called, +too!” groaned Josh, though possibly he did not mean to be at all +humorous, but was only expressing the first natural feeling of bitter +disappointment that beset him.</p> + +<p>Rod realized that it was a time for quick thinking, and rapid action +as well. No matter if the raiding Uhlans proved to be only a small +detachment bent on striking terror to the hearts of the French, while +their main army was still retreating toward the Aisne, they would be in +numbers sufficient to awe the village, where only women and boys and +aged men were to be found.</p> + +<p>He also knew that the three fine motorcycles owned by himself and +chums would be either confiscated or destroyed by the German +cavalrymen. Uhlans have always been accredited with bold and reckless +deeds whenever engaged in warfare in the enemy’s country. They +would find incriminating papers, too, upon the boys, and might even +take it in their hands to treat them as spies.</p> + +<p>“Get busy, fellows; we must fetch our machines indoors and +close shop to keep the enemy out, if we can!” was what Rod +called, as he hastened to run from the room.</p> + +<p>Just then a bell tinkled somewhere near by, apparently to summon +them to the supper table; but much to the deep regret of Josh they were +hardly in a condition to respond to the alluring call.</p> + +<p>Each of them came staggering in, trundling a heavy machine. These +they stacked in a room, after which the outer door was shut and secured +in the best way possible, though not before a number of people had +crowded in with them.</p> + +<p>Out on the village street the greatest excitement prevailed. +Children cried, women called to one another as they hurried their +innocent charges homeward; even the stray dogs started barking again, +just as they had done when Rod and his friends hit the place with their +buzzing motorcycles.</p> + +<p>Above other sounds they could hear loud and heavy voices, as of men +bent on terrorizing the peaceful little community. Of course the words +they heard were German ones, showing that the speakers must indeed be +the dreaded Uhlans.</p> + +<p>They were undoubtedly galloping hither and thither, ransacking +houses in search of food or anything else worth carrying off. It might +be that presently some of them would even be found putting the torch to +any building that failed to meet with their approval, after a hasty +search.</p> + +<p>Rod suddenly remembered something just then. It struck him forcibly, +and the more he considered it the stronger did it seem to appeal to +him.</p> + +<p>He recollected that they had come upon a regiment of French zouaves +making a temporary bivouac alongside the road about two miles back. If +only they could be communicated with and informed of the presence of +the hated Uhlans in the little French village, he felt positive they +would not let the grass grow under their feet in hastening to the +rescue of the small terrorized community.</p> + +<p>But how could it be done? Rod would have given considerable for a +chance to use his speedy motorcycle in this work, but there was no use +thinking of such a thing, because it could never be carried out.</p> + +<p>Perhaps from the roof of the house he might manage to attract the +attention of some sentry at the camp, and by means of the Signal Corps +code, which he knew very well, communicate their sad condition to the +commander of the troops, and thus procure help for the frightened +villagers.</p> + +<p>“Stay here, and try to keep them out if they make an effort to +break in,” he told Josh. “I’m going up to the roof +and see if I can send a signal for help to that zouave regiment we +noticed camping by the roadside. Here, take this, Josh, and remember +that you’re defending women and children when you use +it.”</p> + +<p>“Bully for you!” cried Josh, as his hand closed upon the +revolver which had been taken from the fraudulent Oscar William +Tell.</p> + +<p>Rod hurried away, and ran upon the woman of the house close by. She +was looking greatly alarmed at the sudden coming of the enemy, but for +all that Rod believed she would prove true grit.</p> + +<p>“I want to get up on the roof if it’s possible,” +was what he said to her; “there is a regiment of French troops +camped not two miles away on the side of the hill, and if I could get +in touch with them they’d come to our help. Show me the way to +the trapdoor, if there is one.”</p> + +<p>She must have grasped his idea without trouble, for she immediately +started up the stairs. The confusion outside was growing worse than +ever, and served to spur the boy on to renewed exertions.</p> + +<p>The good woman of the house was soon pointing at the trap, and Rod +quickly had it open. As he clambered out on the roof he saw to his +satisfaction that it was situated on the side away from the village +street. In this fashion he believed he might be able to accomplish what +he had determined to attempt, at least without being interrupted by any +passing Uhlan lancers.</p> + +<p>One look in the direction of the hillside gave him cause for further +delight, since he found that he could easily see the camp of the tired +zouaves, who had marched many miles since sun-up in hopes of +participating in the day’s battle, only to arrive when the action +was all over.</p> + +<p>Rod immediately began to wave his handkerchief wildly, though +carrying out a certain program, and hoping to thus attract the +attention of some sentry who may have been posted on that side of the +camp.</p> + +<p>Almost immediately he realized that this was just what had been +accomplished, for he saw men running, and then a signal flag was waved +in reply to his frantic appeals.</p> + +<p>“What do you want to communicate?” was what he made out +to be fashioned through the regular wigwag work of the flag.</p> + +<p>“Village at mercy of Uhlans–come and help us at +once!”</p> + +<p>That was the message which Rod sent waving back. How glad he was at +that minute he had picked up his knowledge of Signal Corps work, and +could both send and receive so accurately.</p> + +<p>That the man in the zouave camp had grasped the meaning of his +dispatch Rod quickly understood, for almost immediately there was waved +back an answer calculated to reassure him:</p> + +<p>“Hold on! Relief coming! O. K.”</p> + +<p>All this of course took a little time in transmission. Seconds had +passed into minutes, and about the time he was through Rod realized +that things were getting pretty warm close by. In fact some of the +raiders had discovered that the most pretentious house in the entire +little village was barred against them. They had leaned from their +saddles and pounded heavily on the door. When no one opened up they had +given vent to their anger and even threatened to smash their way in, +doubtless promising all sorts of terrible things for the inmates if +forced to go to this trouble.</p> + +<p>Still there had been no response. Josh, who was in charge below, did +not mean to risk the loss of the precious motorcycles, as well as take +chances of being shot as a spy, just because those lordly Uhlan +cavalrymen demanded that he unbar the heavy door and let them +enter.</p> + +<p>The threatening voices, accompanied by louder blows, continued to +sound as Rod hastened downstairs again. He realized that they must do +everything possible to keep those rough raiders out until the French +zouaves had a chance to arrive on the field.</p> + +<p>There were several old men among those who, in the first excitement, +had sought refuge in the house that temporarily sheltered the young +Americans whom the simple French peasants and villagers considered real +heroes. Although far from sturdy in build, and with trembling, +half-palsied hands, these old chaps had proceeded to arm themselves as +best they could.</p> + +<p>One had found a big carving knife which he brandished as though it +were a sword, and he a captain leading a charge; a second was swinging +a cudgel, as though filled with a hope that it might yet be laid up +against a German head; while the last of the trio had taken down a gun +of the vintage of ’71, which, together with its glistening sabre +bayonet, had hung on the wall in memory of the good man of the house, +who doubtless made the right kind of use of it in other days.</p> + +<p>Altogether they presented quite a curious collection as they +gathered there by the door, and waited to see if the enemy would carry +out those loud threats to break in. Rod was reminded of accounts he had +read about the patchwork army gathered together by one Falstaff in +early English days, which consisted of the lame, the halt and the +blind. All the same, those old fellows had the right sort of spirit, +and acted as though quite willing to yield up their own lives in +defense of the village.</p> + +<p>Things were going from bad to worse outside. Smoke could easily be +detected now, as if to prove that those awful threats made by the +Uhlans were not idle ones; and that some cottage was already in +flames.</p> + +<p>Rod was almost counting the seconds. He found himself wondering +whether the oncoming zouaves could possibly reach there before the door +was broken from its hinges and the wolves without rush in to use their +heavy sabres against the defenders. How long could they hold the +aggressors in check? Those weak old men would be swept aside as though +they were pigmies; and what could he and his two chums do against half +a dozen big cavalrymen, bent on pillage?</p> + +<p>The very first thing Rod did do was to possess himself once more of +that revolver. He believed he could make better and more judicious use +of such a dangerous weapon than Josh might–Josh was so rash and +headstrong, once he found himself up against a dangerous situation.</p> + +<p>The door, being very heavy, was resisting the attack of the soldiers +successfully, though Rod did not plume himself on this account. He +feared there were many other ways by means of which the Uhlans could +accomplish their purpose and enter the house did they care to bother +about looking.</p> + +<p>Just then there arose a new cause for alarm. The good woman came +crying from the other part of the building. Rod heard what she said and +was able to understand, although the other two were left in the +dark.</p> + +<p>“What’s happened next, Rod?” demanded Josh, with +the air of a veteran; for Josh often affected to liken himself to those +old worthies who, when sorely beset, never asked about the number of +their foes, but where they could be found, so that they might attack +them hip and thigh.</p> + +<p>“She says they’ve set fire to the house, and that the +whole rear of the same is already blazing fiercely,” Rod +explained.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky’s face was a study. Of course it was not really +<i>fear</i> that gripped him so fiercely; but nevertheless the boy had +a peaked look about the eyes, and watched Rod eagerly, as though hoping +the other would eventually find some way of extricating them from this +new predicament.</p> + +<p>“Now here’s a pretty kettle of fish,” growled +Josh; “house afire, and we can’t even rush out to throw +water on the flames, just because there’s a lot of cowardly +skunks waiting to spit us like we were fowls. Whee! what’re we +going to do about it, Rod, tell me? I’ll sally out and try to +create a diversion, if you say the word.”</p> + +<p>Perhaps Josh honestly meant it, but Rod only laughed at him.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be silly, Josh,” was what the other said; +“you’d have about as much chance against those half-dozen +Uhlans as a baby might. All we can do is to hold tight, and hope the +zouaves will get along before it’s too late. But if they do try +to smash their way in we’re going to fight; hear that?”</p> + +<p>“You just bet we are; every time,” said Josh, who had +found a heavy poker and was swinging it around in a way that made poor +Hanky Panky duck every time it barely missed his devoted head.</p> + +<p>He had hardly finished saying those few expressive words than there +was an awful crash, and the front door, struck by some sort of +battering ram, seemed to be partly knocked from its hinges. The Uhlans +were apparently determined to enter; and the more opposition they met +the greater their desire seemed to become.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_18'></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE COMING OF THE ZOUAVES.</span></h2> + +<p>“Why don’t you give them a shot, Rod?” Hanky Panky +was heard calling just then, for apparently things had reached a +crisis, and he expected seeing one of the raiders come pushing through +the opening the next thing.</p> + +<p>Rod was only holding back so as to keep his fire to the last +extremity. The boy was pale, and his teeth were set, but there was a +blaze in his eyes that boded no good for the first Uhlan who ventured +to try to enter.</p> + +<p>Although the Motorcycle Boys in the start decided not to take sides +if such a thing could be avoided, they had found it impossible to +control their feelings in the matter. The cause of the Allies seemed to +be closer to American ideals than the militarist methods of the +Kaiser’s men; and by degrees Rod and his chums had come to +sympathize with the French and Belgians until finally ready to openly +declare that they were for them heart and soul.</p> + +<p>Rod hated the thought of shedding blood, even though his own life, +as well as those of his chums, seemed in deadly danger. Only as a very +last resort was Rod willing to use that weapon which had come into his +possession so strangely; and in his mind he had already determined to +only wound, if such a choice seemed possible.</p> + +<p>The Uhlans without were exultant over the success they had already +attained. To continue their work and presently smash the door +completely in, they drew back the ladder which they were using as a +battering ram.</p> + +<p>Rod saw his chance to look out through the vent. What he saw was not +of a reassuring nature. There were five stout men in the uniform of the +reckless rough riders belonging to the German army; and they were +swinging that heavy ladder in a way that showed what delight they +experienced in just such work of destruction.</p> + +<p>Rod did not class them as different from the soldiers of any army +raiding through the enemy’s country. In fact he was not bothering +his head just then making comparisons, for he had enough to do in +figuring how he might further delay the crisis so as to give the coming +zouaves a little more time in which to arrive.</p> + +<p>“I guess it’s got to be done!” the boy was +muttering to himself as he peeped through that narrow slit of an +opening and saw that the pack had about reached the end of their swing, +so that the forward rush was about to begin.</p> + +<p>It was easy enough to pick out the man who seemed to be the head and +brains of the bunch. He was of course in the van, and by his actions as +well as by his loudly shouted exclamations exerted a most important +influence on the others. In fact he served as the pilot of the little +group; when he gave the word they surged forward with whoops, meaning +this time to finish smashing that objectionable door.</p> + +<p>Why the Uhlans did not attempt to force an entrance through the rear +of the house, which was absolutely undefended, Rod never could tell. +Perhaps they were of the “one-idea” class of men, who, +having made up their minds to do a thing in a certain way, could not +deviate from the plan they had laid out.</p> + +<p>Rod saw his chance to break up that next assault if only his aim +were true. He thrust his weapon forward, finding plenty of room for his +purpose. While he did not claim to be much of a shot with such a clumsy +weapon as he now held, at the same time the boy knew considerable about +firearms in general, and that counted for a whole lot.</p> + +<p>Besides, the distance was ridiculously scant, and really Rod would +have been deeply mortified had he missed his aim under the +circumstances.</p> + +<p>He meant to wound the leader by shooting him in the leg, and with +that intention in view aimed low when pulling the trigger. The five +Uhlans had actually started on the run at the time, so that they might +strike the tottering door a tremendous blow, and complete matters with +one fell swoop, which would give them entrance to the house.</p> + +<p>Josh, who was peeping over Rod’s shoulder, gave a howl of +delight when through the little puff of smoke that followed the feeble +crack of the revolver he saw the big leader suddenly crumple up, and, +falling in a heap, bring every one of his companions down in a +struggling mass.</p> + +<p>“A great shot, Rod, a magnificent hit!” was the burden +of his shout; “pinked the whole five at a clip! Splendid work, +let me tell you, Rod! However did you manage to do it?”</p> + +<p>Apparently, Josh had allowed his enthusiasm to run away with his +better judgment, for he imagined that in some mysterious manner the +missile from Rod’s weapon had split in sections, and scattered +like a load of bird shot, bringing down victims by the wholesale.</p> + +<p>However that might be, Josh speedily realized his error, for a +number of the soldiers were already struggling to their feet. Only one +remained on the ground, and he was hugging his left leg as though in +sudden anguish, a fact that sent a qualm of regret through Rod’s +heart.</p> + +<p>He hoped they would draw off now, and give up the attempt for a +little time at least. True, there were five more charges in his gun, +and only four of the Uhlans, so that it seemed as though he might be +equal to the task of holding them in check, but one victim was enough +to satisfy him.</p> + +<p>“They’re going to try it again, Rod!” cried Josh, +shrilly.</p> + +<p>He was trembling violently with the excitement, and his face had +taken on the look of one wrought up to the fighting pitch. To tell the +truth, Josh had but a single regret just then, which was that he did +not possess the mate of the weapon his chum gripped in his hand.</p> + +<p>“And I’d never have bothered just peppering ’em in +their legs, either,” he afterwards affirmed, when talking matters +over with Hanky Panky; “they were meaning to get us, and if the +shoe happened to be on the other foot who would be to blame?”</p> + +<p>When Rod saw that the four men once more picked up the heavy ladder +and started to swing it forward he realized that it was up to him to +try again. By gradually reducing the number of their foes he must in +the end check their drive.</p> + +<p>So he coolly picked out the next victim. As before, it had to be one +of those in front, so as to bring confusion to the charge, as the rest +were bound to trip over him should he fall.</p> + +<p>All this while there arose from different quarters loud outcries and +shouts of laughter from the spoilers, filled with the mad desire to +inflict a reign of terror and frightfulness upon the natives. Shots +were also heard at intervals, women screamed, children shrieked, dogs +barked, and taken in all it was a combination of sounds never to be +forgotten by those who happened to be in the little French village.</p> + +<p>Well, Rod was just as successful with that second shot of his as he +had been on the former occasion. With the report of his weapon he could +see the man start, and give every evidence of being hard hit. He +managed to keep from falling, however, being sustained by his grip on +the ladder, as well as the impetus of his companions’ +advance.</p> + +<p>It might have altered things somewhat had Rod been given an +opportunity to discharge a third shot, this time selecting the other +fellow in the van; but before he could really grasp the immensity of +this idea it was too late.</p> + +<p>The heavy ladder struck the already weakened door, and such was the +force with which it was hurled forward that it tore the latter from its +hinges and sent it to the floor, the end of the ladder projecting +several feet into the room.</p> + +<p>Rod, seeing what was about to happen, had swept his two comrades +back so that none of them chanced to be struck by the falling door. +There was now a wide gap, and the three uninjured Uhlans might easily +rush through this. They would find, however, that the resistance of the +inmates did not end with the breaking in of the door; for there was Rod +holding himself in readiness to shoot again, Josh with his upraised +poker, Hanky Panky also in line with a club, and the old man who had +secured the revered gun that had hung on the wall since ’71, +waiting for this day, had its sword bayonet adjusted so as to pin the +first German who dared venture across that threshold.</p> + +<p>Fortunately there was no necessity for further action on the part of +the valiant defenders of the village home, for just at that moment +there arose a series of the wildest shouts Rod had ever heard. They +were shouting in unison, those zouaves, as they spread through the +village looking for Uhlans to spit upon their hungry bayonets. Hanky +Panky in times past had more than once ventured to make fun of certain +phrases which he had heard spoken in French; but he was now ready to +confess that there was no language on the face of the earth to be +compared with the French as falling from the bearded lips of men who +wore those baggy red trousers of the famous zouaves.</p> + +<p>“They’ve come, Rod, they’ve really got +here!” he cried, in a paroxysm of delight.</p> + +<p>Josh too was equally satisfied, though he should always deeply +regret that it had not fallen to his lot to strike <i>one</i> blow for +the cause, and that all the honors had gone to Rod.</p> + +<p>Rod, seeing that none of the Uhlans seemed disposed to renew the +attack, managed to look out; and the others were speedily at his +side.</p> + +<p>The danger, in so far as it related to the inmates of the village +houses, was past; but evidently it had only begun for the Uhlans. They +had mounted their already tired horses in hot haste, that is, all those +capable of doing so, and were trying to get out of the village, turning +and firing back at the French with reckless abandon as they went +galloping away.</p> + +<p>Rod saw one man trying to help another mount a prancing horse. He +had his arm about the wounded man and seemed to ignore his own danger +in the desire to fetch his comrade safely away.</p> + +<p>“That’s the fellow you pinked the first time!” +cried Josh, understandingly.</p> + +<p>Rod had already guessed as much. He hoped deep down in his heart +that the Uhlan would manage to regain his saddle and ride to safety, +for the boy did not want to feel that through any act of his the raider +might be finally brought down.</p> + +<p>Half a minute later and the two were galloping off. Once the injured +man sat in his saddle he seemed capable of taking care of himself, +though unless his wound were attended to shortly he must become too +weak from loss of blood to continue on his way, and would find it +necessary to allow himself to be taken prisoner by the French in order +to save his life.</p> + +<p>All around the active zouaves were running madly, and shouting in +their wild excitement. The Uhlans had not attempted to make any sort of +a stand, for they realized they were vastly outnumbered, and that it +was “safety first” with them.</p> + +<p>From the crackling of guns that continued for some time Rod felt +assured that all of the raiders who had so boldly entered the French +village could not have gone out of it again. Some there must be caught +in a trap, for it seemed that the first of the zouaves arriving had +started to encircle the place, with the idea of cutting off the retreat +of the pillagers when they took the alarm.</p> + +<p>Josh first of all insisted in shaking hands with each of his chums, +and then with the three valiant old men who had shown such grit. Rod, +more practical, knew that there was other work to be done.</p> + +<p>“Here, we must find buckets, and put out that fire before it +gets too big a headway!” he told both of his companions, upon +which they bestirred themselves; and some of the zouaves coming to +their assistance, they presently had the flames completely +smothered.</p> + +<p>Things began to assume a settled appearance in the village as the +sun sank low in the west, seen through the breaks in the clouds. There +was wailing in a few of the houses over the destruction that had been +wrought during the temporary occupation of the place by the enemy. +Luckily, however, no one of the inhabitants had been killed, or even +seriously injured. Two buildings were burned, several dogs shot because +they had dared bark at the invaders, a few slight wounds received; but +on the whole every one felt that they had good reason for +congratulating themselves on the fact that things were no worse. Other +French villages did not fare so well when overrun by the invaders.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_19'></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE ROAD OF VON KLUCK’S RETREAT.</span></h2> + +<p>After all the boys were not sorry for the experience. They had +witnessed some sights that they would never forget. Rod too could plume +himself on having done the right thing when he used his weapon twice +with telling effect.</p> + +<p>After the fire in the rear of the house had been effectually +extinguished the good woman appeared before them to announce that +supper was served; and she added her apologies because they might find +some of the dishes not quite so warm as they liked, “For,” +as she naïvely put it, “we had too much heat in another quarter; +and one never knows just how to manage when those terrible Uhlans are +around.”</p> + +<p>Certainly none of the three boys found anything to complain of. They +never remembered sitting down to a finer meal, when their appetites +were on edge, as just then happened to be the case.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky ate until Josh solemnly warned him that he would surely +founder unless he curbed that awful appetite of his. It might have been +noticed, however, that Josh was sitting there for some little time +after his comrades had left the table, and still “sampling” +the good things that tempted him.</p> + +<p>It was settled that since the three motorcycles were already in the +house they might as well remain there. Rod managed to fix the smashed +door so that it would close again, though a carpenter’s skill +would be required to place it in its former excellent condition.</p> + +<p>When they got through eating it was beginning to grow dusk. Josh +remarked that he guessed he would saunter out to stretch his legs, and +at the same time see the extent of damage inflicted by the brief +occupation of the village by the raiders.</p> + +<p>“They say those Uhlans can make a howling wilderness of a +Paradise quicker than any men on the face of the earth, once they set +out to do things,” Josh explained as he picked up his hat, +“and I’d like to find out if there’s any truth in the +yarn.”</p> + +<p>Rod told him to “mind his eye,” and not wander away, +since with the night coming on there could be no telling what danger +might not hover over his head.</p> + +<p>“For all we know some of those Germans may still be hanging +about,” added Hanky Panky, “and I’d really feel +better if Rod loaned you his gun.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, come! there’s no necessity of Josh going out at all +if he has to load himself down with deadly weapons like that,” +laughed Rod.</p> + +<p>Josh had his little outing, and returned in good time. He acted as +though he did not regret his determination, and Hanky Panky, knowing +from the signs that the other must have seen something worth while, +immediately set to work “pumping” him, being filled with +curiosity.</p> + +<p>“You ran across something while you were out, Josh, and +I’d thank you to open up and tell us about it,” he went on +to say. “Did the French chaps with the baggy red trousers and the +big yell manage to bring down any of the German raiders when they used +up so much powder and ball?”</p> + +<p>“I believe they did, for one woman who could talk some English +managed to tell me the zouaves took three prisoners back with them, and +in addition one fellow who would have to be buried, she said, because +he was dead.”</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky would have shivered at one time on hearing such gruesome +news, but after witnessing the terrible sights accompanying the battle +along the bank of the Marne he somehow seemed to think little of +it.</p> + +<p>“Was that <i>all</i> you saw or heard, Josh?” he +continued, bent on making the other confess to the limit.</p> + +<p>Josh grinned, showing that he had purposely acted so as to excite +the suspicion of this curious comrade. Having attained his end, he +consented to explain further.</p> + +<p>“Well, no, not quite all, Hanky,” he remarked calmly; +“I’m most sure I saw a man skulking around who showed a +whole lot of concern when I approached, and even hurried away. He +wasn’t an old man either, and let me tell you, Rod, he hid his +face from me in the bargain. Now, what do you think of that?”</p> + +<p>“Was it Jules, do you reckon?” asked Hanky Panky, as +quick as a flash; for somehow he could not imagine any other person +wishing to avoid meeting one of them.</p> + +<p>“I got the notion in my head,” admitted Josh, +“that it must be either him or else some party hitched up with +Jules. He acted in a way that made me sure of that.”</p> + +<p>“Huh!” Hanky Panky went on to say, with one of his odd +chuckles, “I’m only surprised, Josh, you didn’t step +right up to the fellow and ask him if he answered to the name of Jules +Baggott; also if he happened to know a woman called Jeanne +D’Aubrey. That’d be just like your way, Josh.”</p> + +<p>The other grinned affably as though he considered this one of the +highest compliments his chum could pay him.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, to tell you the truth, though I’m almost +ashamed to admit it,” he remarked, “I did want to chase +after him and say that very same thing; but, hang the luck, he was too +slippery for me. Besides, you see, it was getting dark; anyhow he +managed to leave me in the lurch. But it was one of that bunch, believe +me.”</p> + +<p>“Still after that paper, it seems, Rod,” said Hanky +Panky with a frown; “mebbe we’ll have a visitor again +to-night, just like happened in that inn over at Calais.”</p> + +<p>“If we do you can make up your mind he’ll have all his +trouble for his pains,” the other told him; “besides, +we’ll take precautions this time, and no sneak-thief can get into +the room when I’m on my guard without our knowing it.”</p> + +<p>The boys sat around for some little time afterwards. Rod entered +into a conversation with the woman of the house, for while he could +tell her many things concerning the state of affairs at the front, at +the same time there was always a possibility of his picking up a little +information that might come in handy later on.</p> + +<p>In good time they were shown to a room, where they proceeded to make +themselves comfortable. Rod, with some cord which he produced, set a +clever little trap. By this simple method of protection he fixed +matters so that should any one try to enter by way of the open windows +they would arouse the sleepers by pulling down three chairs which had +been piled up, and made fast to the cord.</p> + +<p>Whatever the plan of the plotter may have been, evidently entering +the room of the three American boys did not form a part of it, because +the night passed without any further alarm.</p> + +<p>“Guess he knew we had that gun we took from his man who played +the part of Oscar William Tell,” observed Hanky Panky in the +morning, when awakened by the rising sun they lay there and talked +matters over.</p> + +<p>“Well,” remarked Josh with a yawn, “by this time +Jules is beginning to understand that we don’t mean to handle him +with gloves if he runs afoul of us. While he may keep on trying as hard +as ever to get that paper in his hands, it’ll be through some +sneaky way, and not in a stand-up fight. Schemers like him seldom do +feel like facing the men they aim to beat. I’m keeping an eye out +for Jules; and say, if ever I do get a chance to give him my +compliments you listen to what he says about it; that’s +all.”</p> + +<p>The morning opened peacefully, though in the distance they could +already begin to hear the guns take up the same steady rhythm that +would grow louder and more insistent as the day grew older, until the +fierce rush of battle again held sway, and a million of Frenchmen +hurled themselves against an equal number of Germans in the endeavor to +push them back still further in their retreat from before Paris.</p> + +<p>The boys started out soon afterwards. Rod believed he knew about +where the regiment could be found to which Jeanne’s husband, +Andre, belonged. If fortune favored them, and they discovered the +French reservist still in the land of the living, doubtless it could +soon be arranged as they planned.</p> + +<p>As on the previous afternoon, they soon found themselves on the road +along which the retreating German army had passed. Everywhere they +could see marks of this flight, for such it really was, despite the +order with which the retrograde movement had been conducted. In places +the roadside was glutted with cast-off articles, such as had better be +disposed of if haste and mobility were to be considered.</p> + +<p>As a rule these had been rendered useless before being abandoned, in +order to prevent them from becoming valuable to the enemy. It was a +sight worth seeing; and no wonder such of the country people whom the +boys came upon, examining this “made in Germany” material, +had broad smiles on their faces, since it spoke eloquently of the near +panic that must have existed in the army of Von Kluck, before they +would thus abandon so much of their resources.</p> + +<p>A score of interesting things engaged their attention as they slowly +made their way along. Obstacles were frequently met with, but cleverly +avoided by these expert riders. Many times Rod called a temporary halt +in order to speak with some peasant who chanced to look more than +ordinarily intelligent, and, he imagined, able to give him +information.</p> + +<p>They also came upon various detachments of the French army. Some +were engaged in caring for wounded comrades who could not be taken to +the rear as yet on account of the glut of injured and the lack of +vehicles of transportation; though many such were to be seen on their +way to Paris with loads of groaning humanity.</p> + +<p>Then fresh artillery was to be found going to the front, the horses +snorting as though they already scented the battle smoke, the men +sitting there on gun carriage and caisson, grim and eager, though none +could say if he might be so fortunate as to see the sun set when that +dreadful day reached its close.</p> + +<p>Other big vans there were carrying fresh ammunition to the guns that +were so noisily punctuating the morning atmosphere with their clamor. +French powder and shot had never been sent forth on a mission more in +keeping with the hearts of the people. A million hands would willingly +toil day by day making fresh supplies, if only it could win for them +another such fight as this glorious victory over the German invaders on +the banks of the Marne.</p> + +<p>There came a time, however, when Rod was brought to a sudden stop +through other means than his own will. From either side of the road +arose men wearing the French uniform. Guns were brought to bear upon +the three riders, and a gruff voice ordered them to come to a halt and +surrender.</p> + +<p>Laughing at what they deemed something akin to a joke, they hastened +to comply.</p> + +<p>“We might as well go to their headquarters, as they are +ordering us to,” suggested Rod pleasantly; “it will serve +to break the monotony of our ride, and who knows what information we +may be able to pick up there.”</p> + +<p>He touched his breast pocket as he said this, and the other boys +knew that Rod did not in the least doubt the ability of those papers to +carry them through any little difficulty that might arise.</p> + +<p>Accordingly he turned to the grizzled French sergeant who seemed to +be in charge of the detail by which they had been taken prisoners, and +told him to lead the way to his commanding officer.</p> + +<p>Passing up the road they turned into what seemed to be a little-used +path. Each of the boys trundled his machine along, preferring to do +this rather than risk handing them over to the soldiers.</p> + +<p>Even Hanky Panky exhibited no sign of alarm. If in the beginning he +felt any such weakness it had been immediately set at rest by those +cheery words which Rod spoke. Of course they could quickly satisfy the +French commander of their standing; those magical documents would do +the trick and gain them new friends as well.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards they found themselves in what seemed to be a +temporary camp. A regiment of troops had been stationed here for some +strategical purpose, which was never explained to the boys. Under a +shelter tent several officers were conferring while they sipped their +coffee. The older man with the white imperial Rod knew to be a colonel +from his uniform. All of them eyed the trio with frowns, and somehow +Hanky Panky began to feel a little chill.</p> + +<p>Rod immediately courteously saluted the colonel and started to +speak.</p> + +<p>“Pardon me, Colonel, but may I ask why we have been waylaid +and taken in charge?”</p> + +<p>“It is very simple,” came the astounding answer in plain +English; “in times like this spies may be arrested, tried, and +executed all inside of an hour. And you three boys are accused of +having been known to send information to the enemy!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_20'></a>CHAPTER XX.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE ACCUSATION.</span></h2> + +<p>That startling accusation sobered even Josh, for the smile faded +from his face as he turned an anxious look upon Rod. To be taken for a +spy was a serious thing in these war times, when a short shrift often +followed such a charge.</p> + +<p>Rod did not lose his self-possession. At the same time a little +frown appeared on his usually placid face.</p> + +<p>“That is a serious thing you charge us with, my +Colonel,” he remarked. “We are three American boys who were +caught in the whirl of war. We finally found our way out of Belgium +with much difficulty. Two of our number started back home, having been +recalled by a message of importance.”</p> + +<p>“But Belgium is far away from Paris, and the banks of the +Marne, young M’sieu!” said the officer, with a touch of +satire in his cold voice, and a look toward a man dressed as a +civilian, who, Rod noticed, was intently watching them.</p> + +<p>“That is true, Monsieur le Colonel,” immediately replied +the boy, “and we can explain that easily. We met with a poor +French woman in Antwerp whose story enlisted our sympathies. She had +just come by a paper from a lawyer in Paris whereby her husband would +inherit quite a snug little fortune if he signed the same document +within a stated time. But as he had hastened to join his regiment when +war was declared she feared the opportunity would be forever lost. And, +my Colonel, we three boys, hoping also to see something of what was +going on along the French front, gave Jeanne D’Aubrey our promise +that we would try to find her Andre, so that the paper might be +signed.”</p> + +<p>The colonel appeared to be interested, also the other officers, for +they were all French, and as such could appreciate anything bordering +on chivalry. Nevertheless the commander shook his head a little +sadly.</p> + +<p>“That sounds very fine, young M’sieu,” he went on +to say, “but, alas! what are we to believe when this gentleman, +who is a fully accredited member of the French Secret Service, informs +us that he certainly saw you communicating with the enemy only last +night, and that there can be no doubt of your guilt?”</p> + +<p>At hearing this Hanky Panky uttered a low cry of alarm, while Josh +glared defiantly at the man in question, who was nodding his head as if +confirming all the colonel said.</p> + +<p>“Aha! I smell a rat,” Josh muttered, “and its name +is Jules, too! I can see his fine hand back of all this raw +deal.”</p> + +<p>Rod had to think fast. He, too, believed that the Secret Agent must +be in the employ of the schemer; but it might not be advisable to say +so as bluntly as Josh seemed capable of doing.</p> + +<p>“Keep still, Josh,” he said aside, “and let me do +all the talking necessary.” And then, addressing the commandant +again, he continued: “There surely must be some mistake about +this, Monsieur le Colonel. We spent the whole of last night sleeping in +a house in a small village where a regiment of brave zouaves routed a +force of Uhlans who had taken possession. The building in which we +found shelter was attacked, and we had the honor of assisting in its +defense. I myself shot two Uhlans in the leg with this same weapon, as +they were smashing in the front door, after firing the back of the +building. But the zouaves came up just in time, and cleared the field +of the enemy.”</p> + +<p>The colonel listened and looked hard at Rod. Evidently he had been +already favorably impressed with the frank face of the lad, and was +puzzled to know what to believe. He turned to the Secret Service agent +and exchanged several low sentences with him. The man seemed positive, +and apparently did his best to convince the officer that at least the +boys should be held, pending an examination.</p> + +<p>Once more Rod faced the colonel. He meant to play his trump cards +now, and convince the other that the charge made against them was +ridiculous, to say the least.</p> + +<p>Rapidly he started to recount some of the strange happenings that +had been their portion since crossing from German territory to that of +Belgium and taking up the race to reach Antwerp by dodging the invading +armies.</p> + +<p>The officers listened, and apparently all of them could understand +English, for they showed the greatest interest. Now and then two might +be seen exchanging meaning looks, as though coming to a mutual +understanding to the effect that this boy must be a modern Baron +Munchausen, judging from the remarkable stories he had at the tip of +his tongue.</p> + +<p>This was especially the case when Rod mentioned that they had +actually been invited into the presence of King Albert, who had thanked +them personally.</p> + +<p>“It is all very interesting, young M’sieu,” said +the commandant, when Rod paused for breath; “but naturally we +would be better pleased if you could show us some proof that these +wonderful things have come your way. So grave an accusation may not be +brushed aside, you understand, with a wave of the hand. And I am sure +you will only too gladly oblige us in this case.”</p> + +<p>He smiled when saying this; so too did the younger officers, for +they could not believe that the boy was carrying anything with him +calculated to substantiate his remarkable story.</p> + +<p>Judge then of their amazement when Rod coolly produced certain +documents which he kept wrapped in oilskin, located in a deep pocket of +his coat.</p> + +<p>“Be kind enough, my Colonel,” Rod said composedly, +“to observe that not only is this paper signed by the gallant +king of the Belgians, but that indeed he himself wrote every word it +contains. And I have still other proofs to show you in turn, if you +would still be convinced that our story is every word of it +true.”</p> + +<p>There was a tense silence; several pairs of eyes were glued on that +document which Rod meant to have framed if ever he were lucky enough to +get it safely home with him. It would be a badge of honor to which he +and his chums might proudly point when speaking of their remarkable +adventures in the Land of the Great War.</p> + +<p>The manner of the colonel had changed when finally he looked up. +Admiration spoke in the glance of his sparkling eyes. Here, then, were +brave American boys who had indeed done something worthy of +commendation by one whose name was already on the lips of every loyal +Frenchman; because the stubborn defense of his native soil by King +Albert and his little army had caused the delay in the plans of the +German host that really saved Paris from capture.</p> + +<p>“It is only right that I should beg your pardon, young +M’sieu,” he hastened to say, with deep feeling his voice; +“there is no mistaking the meaning of this recommendation, which +rings true. You are the friends of Belgium, and also of France. There +is little that you could ask within my power to grant that I would +refuse you. And if you will do me the honor to shake hands with me I +shall be proud to press the palm that King Albert has held.”</p> + +<p>Well, the thing had not been so hard to accomplish after all. Still +Rod realized that the Secret Agent of the French Government must have +sold himself to Jules for a price, knowing at the time he was going to +put the lives of innocent boys in peril; and Rod did not feel +positively safe yet.</p> + +<p>The man, however, saw that, so far as he was concerned, he had put +his foot in a hole and had better beat a hasty retreat while there was +yet time.</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly he himself had been impressed by the display of a +document of such great value, and realized that those who had the +sincere friendship of the ruler of the Belgians were not to be treated +harshly with impunity.</p> + +<p>As Josh afterwards remarked, the man immediately commenced to +“hedge”; that is, he hastened to “square +himself” with the French colonel, who was now glancing curiously, +perhaps a bit suspiciously, toward him.</p> + +<p>“Apparently I have been mistaken in supposing that it was +these brave young messieurs who were sending secret messages to the +enemy,” he went on to say glibly, “and I hasten to offer +them my most sincere apologies and regrets that through me they have +been put to such needless trouble. I hereby withdraw my charge and +trust that you will forget it has ever been made, Monsieur le +Colonel.”</p> + +<p>This was said in French, which Rod alone of the three boys could +fully understand, but Josh guessed the tenor of the remarks from the +shrugs accompanying them.</p> + +<p>“He’s eating his words, Hanky, don’t you +see?” he observed behind his hand to his other chum. “Some +people know enough to get in out of the rain when the deluge comes. +Jules has wasted some more hard cash, seems like.”</p> + +<p>Now Rod understood that he could make it pretty hard for the Secret +Service man of the French Government if he chose to tell what he knew +about Jules, and the profit that would accrue to the schemer could he +prevent Andre from signing that paper on time. He did not think it good +policy, however, to mention the matter. It would only serve to anger +the man, and could not bring them any particular benefit.</p> + +<p>Accordingly Rod only shot him a suggestive look that doubtless the +other could easily analyze. It meant that the boys were not disposed to +be vindictive–that in fact they were ready to take it for granted +he did not know the true condition of affairs when he entered into his +agreement with the crafty Jules; and hence they were going to let the +matter drop.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the man might feel a spark of gratitude and appreciation for +this kindly and generous spirit; the future would show that, Rod +thought.</p> + +<p>As the colonel had been so much interested in their story, Rod +considered it only fair that he relate a few more circumstances +connected with their past. He also gladly showed him the paper given +him by the surgeon at the field hospital, telling how the American boys +had worked like beavers in assisting him take care of the numerous +cases he had been compelled to handle with such inadequate facilities +at his command. Yes, there were still other documents which Rod allowed +them to glance over, after which he smilingly remarked:</p> + +<p>“I suppose now, M. le Colonel, there will be no necessity for +taking us out before a file of your soldiers and blindfolding our eyes +while they perform their melancholy duty?”</p> + +<p>The officer for answer threw his arms around Rod and gave him a +demonstration of excitable French admiration by kissing him on both +cheeks.</p> + +<p>“If I had a son,” he said fervently, “which, alas! +Heaven has not allowed me to retain in this world, I should be proud +indeed were he built in your image, my brave young American. And when +you go back to your splendid country tell them, will you not, wherever +you go, that France sees her duty by the world, and will not flinch, no +matter what the cost. When this war is over there will never be a +despotic military power again. The victory on the Marne has settled all +that, though it may take years for Germany to recognize the +fiat.”</p> + +<p>The three boys parted from the worthy colonel with mutual +expressions of esteem. They would often recall his fine martial +appearance, with his strong face and its white imperial, trimmed after +the style of the later Napoleon.</p> + +<p>Even Hanky Panky could laugh now, once they were on the road +again.</p> + +<p>“That agent of the Government saw he had put his foot in it, +after you flashed the King Albert message before them,” he +remarked as they rode slowly along as near to forming a bunch as was +safe for motorcyclists.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and I reckon he felt pretty cheap when he had to own up +about making a mistake,” added Josh. “You don’t +believe for a single minute, do you, Rod, that he really saw anybody +trying to send signals to the enemy? It was all a set-up game, +wasn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“No question about it,” he was told by the other, Rod +being in the van, as usual, “but it was another experience for +us, you know. And besides, I managed to pick up a little information +that helps out.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean with regard to the regiment we’re on the +track of?” questioned Hanky Panky eagerly, for to tell the honest +truth he was hoping that the end of the trail was near at hand, when +they could follow their other chums across the sea to their far-distant +homes.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Rod over his shoulder, “it’s +ahead of us, and we ought to reach it some time to-day; but the chances +are we’ll find it neck deep in action, because it forms a part of +that army thrown forward to do the worrying of the German rearguard +to-day. Let us hope if one man in that regiment survives the battle it +may be Andre.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_21'></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE HAUNTED WELL.</span></h2> + +<p>The boys did not attempt to do much of this sort of talking as they +moved along the road. Many reasons united to make conversation a +weariness to the flesh when carried on under the prevailing +conditions.</p> + +<p>In the first place they had to keep a certain distance apart, which +would in itself necessitate shouting. Then the rumble of cannon was +growing steadily heavier the further they advanced, deadening most +other sounds pretty much all the time. Last of all there were those +gaps in the road, springing up most unexpectedly, where enemy shells +had struck in the endeavor to destroy as many of the pursuing French +troops as possible.</p> + +<p>Both armies had traversed the region through which Rod and his +friends were making their tedious way. It can well be understood that +the marks of their late progress abounded on all sides.</p> + +<p>Even where no particular action had occurred a thousand reminders of +the human flood of men that had so lately passed through were to be +discovered on every side. Often Hanky Panky’s heart seemed to +feel a chill hand rest upon it as he marked the inevitable evidences of +“man’s inhumanity to man.” Cottages were burned or +ruined in some way or other; once beautiful gardens trampled out of all +recognition; outbuildings torn down to make campfires for the marching +hosts–in fact the land looked as though a hurricane might have +recently swept across it, leaving scars that it would take a long time +indeed to heal.</p> + +<p>Here, there, and everywhere they could see groups of the forlorn +inhabitants wandering about. Some stood and stared at the ruins of +their recent homes; others guarded the little they had saved; while +still more were on the roadside looking toward the region of the north, +from whence came all those portentous rumblings and angry roarings.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky, however, was astonished to discover very few solemn +faces among the peasants of the Marne country. At first this amazed +him, but presently he figured out what it meant.</p> + +<p>They had in many cases lost the accumulated savings of years, even +their humble homes; but in spite of this they could take off their caps +and shout in almost savage glee as the three Motorcycle Boys rode +past.</p> + +<p>Why, to be sure, the Great Day had come, of which they had some of +them dreamed full forty years and more; when the German legions, like a +plague of locusts, had once more descended upon devoted Paris, only to +be brought to a standstill by the glorious army of the republic. And +even now those furious guns told how Von Kluck, who had made such +wonderful boasts of what he meant to do, was in full retreat bordering +on a panic.</p> + +<p>That was why temporary sufferings were all forgotten. For France +these honest sons and daughters would make much greater sacrifices, and +think little of it. So Hanky Panky felt ready to take off his hat to +every one of them who gave the three riders a cheer or a salute in +passing by.</p> + +<p>Few animals save dogs and cats could be seen. Evidently the Germans +had tried to make a clean sweep of the forty miles and more they +covered like a vast fan, in falling back to the prepared positions +along the Aisne. Those horses or cows that had been saved from the +general slaughter or seizure must have been artfully secreted +somewhere, so that they escaped the keen search. As for chickens, not a +solitary rooster’s crow had the boys heard since early dawn; for +fowls of every description are first looked after by the soldier +marching through a hostile country.</p> + +<p>Long caravans of supplies were crawling over other roads, all +heading for the front and coming from the direction of Paris. No wonder +that every thoroughfare must be crowded with vehicles of +transportation, when a million Frenchmen in arms had to be fed daily, +not to mention the enormous quantities of ammunition that must be +expended between the rising and the setting of every sun.</p> + +<p>The more Rod saw of this the greater grew his admiration for the +genius of the men whose brains had to command all these thousands of +details looking to the provisioning of such a vast host. It was an +experience the educational value of which could never be fully +estimated; and often would the boy ponder over the problems that must +have confronted those who were responsible for the solution of +them.</p> + +<p>They had numerous little adventures by the way, though as a rule +these were in the line of narrow escapes from nasty spills, on account +of ruts in the road. Rod frequently gave warning when he reached an +especially bad stretch of ground, for he was well aware of the failings +of his two chums–Josh with his impetuous ways, and Hanky Panky +rather apt to be careless as well as clumsy.</p> + +<p>One thing in particular Rod noticed, and this was that as they +proceeded the sounds ahead of them kept on growing louder. Evidently +then they were coming up on that part of the Marne country where the +last rearguard action was being fiercely contested.</p> + +<p>Von Kluck and his proud army must be continually finding themselves +pushed further and further away from the beautiful city in which they +had fully expected to be encamped ere this; though they grimly +contested every mile they gave up, bound to sacrifice as few of their +heavy guns as possible.</p> + +<p>Another thing staggered the boys when they came to think of it. +During the Civil War in their own country some of the greatest battles +then known to history were fought, and the numbers on both sides did +not really amount to more than two hundred thousand men. Here there +were more than as many million grappling in deadly earnest, supplied +with the most wonderful of modern death-dealing weapons, with engineers +highly educated along the lines of utilizing these engines of wholesale +destruction.</p> + +<p>No wonder then the dead and wounded were as the leaves of the forest +when the wind of late October tears them from their hold upon the +branches and scatters them in windrows behind the logs and stumps and +in fence corners.</p> + +<p>Rod had some reason to believe that if they were allowed to proceed +forward on this particular day they would presently reach the regiment +in which Andre, sought so earnestly in the interest of his family, had +an humble part. He was determined that should fortune favor them and +the object of their search be accomplished he would listen no longer to +the pleadings of Josh, but strike for Paris, so as to get away from +this war-blasted country as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>It was beginning to pall upon Rod. After all he was only a boy, and +had never been accustomed to such terrible sights as of late were being +continually thrust before him. Nature has its limits, and Rod believed +he was now very close to the end of his endurance.</p> + +<p>“As it is, what we’ve run across will haunt us the rest +of our lives,” he was telling himself as he led the way along the +difficult road; “and for one I’m longing to wake up again, +and find myself wandering by the peaceful waters of the river bordering +Garland in the far-distant States. And here’s hoping that this +may turn out to be our very last day in the track of the battling +armies.”</p> + +<p>The dust was thick in places, partly on account of the season of the +year, and then again because of the unwonted use to which that +particular thoroughfare had been put of late. When several hundred +thousand feet have tramped along in almost endless procession, and then +innumerable vehicles of every known description, not to mention heavy +artillery, some of it drawn by traction engines, some by horses, +passing back and forth, it can easily be understood that the best of +roads must be well nigh wrecked.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky had coughed a number of times, as though his throat was +beginning to clog up with all this dust, and he found himself in danger +of choking. When no attention was paid at first to these plain symptoms +he coughed louder than ever, and with such evident distress that Rod +guessed what he wanted.</p> + +<p>“All right, Hanky,” he shouted back, “wait till we +come to a well, or a spring of some sort, and we’ll drop off to +wash it down.”</p> + +<p>After that Hanky Panky quieted considerably, his main object having +been accomplished. As he rode along the boy kept watching ahead, hoping +that it would not be long before they sighted some oasis in the desert +where a sparkling rill ran, or the thrice welcome sweep of an +old-fashioned well told of water to be had for the trouble of raising +the same.</p> + +<p>“I see one, Rod!” he presently called at the top of his +voice, which was quite husky from the accumulation of dust; +“there’s a well in that place we’re coming to, and I +hope you keep your word, because I’m nearly perishing for a +drink.”</p> + +<p>“Same here,” said Josh, thinking to relieve the +other’s mind, because that would make two in favor of a stop, and +majority always ruled with the Motorcycle Boys.</p> + +<p>It happened just then that the road was next to deserted, though +again just the reverse might be the case. The well sweep could no +longer be seen, but Hanky Panky had marked the spot in his mind, and +was not to be cheated because a knoll hid the well from the road, so it +was only visible in that one quarter.</p> + +<p>Rod drew up. A gate stood before him that was now in ruins, showing +that the invaders had been there. They pushed their heavy machines +past, and followed the lane leading over the knoll, to find a cottage +in ruins, having been burned to the very ground.</p> + +<p>It was a sad sight, and filled the boys with distress; but by this +time they were naturally becoming a little hardened to such spectacles +of warfare, and could view them without the same sensation of anger and +disgust toward the aggressors that had filled their hearts at an +earlier date.</p> + +<p>For some reason or other the Germans had chosen to apply the torch +to this isolated cottage. Perhaps some party had been keenly +disappointed at finding it totally deserted, with not even a stray +chicken left to satisfy their longing for a supper.</p> + +<p>Rod gave one hasty glance around. Then he heaved a satisfied sigh, +for he had been a little afraid lest he discover some evidence of foul +work there. Such did not happen to be the case; the owner of the +cottage instead of staying and arousing the passions of the invaders by +firing at them in secret, had wisely departed to unknown regions before +their coming, taking warning in time.</p> + +<p>So the trio of boys hastened to the well as soon as they could +dispose of their wheels. It would do them no harm to idle away ten +minutes here, and drink their fill of the sparkling liquid which +doubtless lay in those shadowy depths.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky reached it first of all, Josh not appearing to be in a +humor to force himself to the van. In fact Josh seemed to be amused at +something, for he had one of those smirks on his face which marked it +whenever he watched Hanky Panky’s evidence of greed.</p> + +<p>“I don’t seem to be able to quite see down <i>all</i> +the way, Rod,” the other was saying when his comrades joined him; +“but I dropped a pebble in, and could plainly hear a good splash; +so there’s plenty of the stuff down there.”</p> + +<p>“I only hope it’s all right,” remarked Josh, +shortly afterwards, when they had managed to draw up a dripping bucket +of cold water.</p> + +<p>That caused Hanky Panky to hesitate, for he had a gourd in his hand, +and was about to dip in.</p> + +<p>“Now what in the wide world do you mean by saying that, +I’d like to know, Josh; you’re always trying to drop a fly +in the ointment, seems to me. What could there be wrong with this +water?” he demanded, filling the gourd as he spoke.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I don’t know,” drawled the other, wickedly, +“but if it happened that some of those ugly-tempered Germans +chose to drop a little poison in the well it’d be a tough thing +for the French who drank later, and mebbe make ’em sick in the +bargain.”</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky turned pale, and allowed the gourd to spill; whereupon +Josh coolly took it out of his hand, dipped into the bucket, and +commenced drinking.</p> + +<p>“If it doesn’t kill <i>me</i>, why then it’s safe, +you see. I’m always willing to be the tester for the crowd, you +know. Tastes all right, though, and as cold as anything. Whew! Rod, you +have a dip, since Hanky feels nervous about it, won’t +you?”</p> + +<p>Rod thereupon laughed, accepted the rude drinking cup from the +joker, filled it from the dripping bucket, and offered it to the third +member of the group.</p> + +<p>“Don’t mind what he says, Hanky; you know Josh loves to +have his little joke; and I believe he still feels that he owes you one +on account of the trick you played on him this morning.”</p> + +<p>“Then you really don’t believe they did poison it, +Rod?” asked the other.</p> + +<p>“That isn’t the German way of doing things, as far as I +know,” Rod told him; at which assurance Hanky Panky swallowed his +fears, and drained the gourd.</p> + +<p>“Might as well be hung for a whole sheep as a lamb!” he +declared, once more dipping into the bucket; “but no matter if +it’s my last drink or not, I’m going to say this is as fine +water as any I ever drank over in our own dear country. So here +goes.”</p> + +<p>Rod in turn took a drink, and was ready to pronounce it excellent. +Indeed, after their dusty ride of the morning nothing could have been +one-half so refreshing as that draught of ice-cold water from the well +with the old-fashioned sweep.</p> + +<p>“If we’re meaning to rest up a little bit,” +remarked Hanky Panky, shrewdly, “we might as well stay right +here. Then just before we start off again it’ll be another swig +all around. I’d like to carry a canteen of that same water along +with me, so I could wet my whistle as I rode.”</p> + +<p>“That would be your undoing, I’m afraid,” laughed +Rod, picturing the other uptilting the said canteen every few minutes, +in spite of the wretched condition of the road and the necessity for +cautious riding.</p> + +<p>“I wonder whatever became of the people who lived here?” +remarked Josh, presently, as he shifted his position for some reason or +other, and sat with his face close to the curb of the well.</p> + +<p>“Oh! they must have lit out long before the Germans +arrived,” Hanky said, confidently; “I hope now you +don’t believe they were actually killed, and buried somewhere +around here, do you, Josh? You are the worst hand to imagine terrible +things I ever knew.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t say anything like that, did I?” demanded +Josh; “but it must have been on your mind. Listen! what was +that?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t hear anything,” said Hanky Panky, +looking worried all the same; “what did it sound like, +Josh?”</p> + +<p>Instead of answering, Josh held his hand up to indicate that if the +other stopped talking he too might catch the sound. And as they +listened what seemed to be a long-drawn groan came up from the depths +of the well from which they had just been drinking!</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_22'></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br /><span +class='fss'>AT THE FORD OF THE RIVER MARNE.</span></h2> + +<p>“Oh! did you hear that?” exclaimed Hanky Panky, all +excitement; “it was a sure-enough moan. Rod, Josh, there’s +been some poor fellow down there all this while; and we never dreamed +of it when we pulled that bucket of water up!”</p> + +<p>Saying this Hanky Panky leaned far over the edge of the well curb, +and attempted to see into the murky depths. Rod cast a quick look in +the direction of Josh, who gave him a sly wink, but kept a straight +face.</p> + +<p>“I can’t see anything, for a fact,” complained +Hanky Panky in great distress; “but it was a groan, I’m +sure–there it goes again, and worse than before. Oh! Rod, do you +believe some poor chap tried to hide in the well when he saw all those +awful Germans coming, and hasn’t been strong enough to climb up +again since?”</p> + +<p>“Why, that might be possible, of course,” replied Rod, +“though just how he could stay down there this long is more than +I can understand.”</p> + +<p>“What do you say, Josh?” demanded the sympathetic +one.</p> + +<p>“Oh! me?” remarked Josh, with a shrug of his shoulders, +and not even offering to change his position; “if you asked me +straight off the handle now I’d say that it might be only the +wind sighing through the trees, or something like that. Don’t +stand to reason that anybody could be down there in that +well.”</p> + +<p>When Hanky Panky met with opposition he always became more positive; +possibly the sly Josh knew this full well, and allowed the fact to +govern his actions.</p> + +<p>“But we all heard the groans, didn’t we?” demanded +Hanky Panky; “and I guess I know one when it hits my ears. There +certainly is some one down there. Listen to that, will you; isn’t +it just fierce the way he keeps going on, though?”</p> + +<p>Indeed, the sounds had once more commenced to well up from the dark +depths, and in a most agonizing fashion too. Even Rod felt a thrill, +although he could give a pretty good guess concerning the nature of the +poor unfortunate who was the contributing cause for those dismal +groans.</p> + +<p>“No use talking, fellows!” declared Hanky Panky +presently, after they had listened again to the suggestive sounds that +seemed to spell human misery; “I just can’t stand this any +longer. Something’s got to be done, that’s what. I’ve +a good notion to slip down the rope myself, and find out what it +means.”</p> + +<p>“But that’d be going a whole lot, just to satisfy your +curiosity, wouldn’t it?” asked Josh, cunningly, for he knew +that he was taking just the course to further aggravate the +other’s intention to act.</p> + +<p>“Well, you don’t seem to care much what happens to a +poor chap who’s made a fool of himself, and got caught down in a +well; but I do,” asserted Hanky Panky, proudly. “I +don’t think I could ever sleep decent again if I had the nerve to +ride away from here, and never even try to get him out.”</p> + +<p>He deliberately started to remove his coat, showing that his mind +was made up. Rod looked at Josh, but received in turn a pleading +glance, as though the other begged to be let alone, and turn his trick. +The chance to “get one” on Hanky Panky was too good to be +lost, Josh evidently believed.</p> + +<p>So those amazing groans continued to well up out of the depths, +increasing in pathos if anything as they proceeded.</p> + +<p>“Take care not to slip, Hanky,” advised Rod, “or +we’ll have the job of drying a chum out before we can go on our +way.”</p> + +<p>“And say, that well water’s awful cold in the +bargain,” remarked Josh, carelessly; “keep a tight hold on +the rope. We’ll look after this end, and when you say the word +pull you out.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly the determined one started to lower himself into the +haunted well, showing a most commendable spirit, Rod thought. It was +really too bad to allow the joking Josh to play this trick on so +gallant a fellow; but possibly there would be no harm done in the end, +and at least it served to break the terrible monotony of seeing sad +sights on the road through the devastated country.</p> + +<p>Presently the shaking of the rope ceased, and the voice of the +explorer came up from the depths.</p> + +<p>“This is certainly a queer deal I’m getting,” he +said, complainingly.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter now?” asked Josh, +tantalizingly.</p> + +<p>“Why, I tell you there’s nothing down here,” +replied Hanky Panky. “My eyes have got used to the dark, and I +can see perfectly well. All around me is the stone of the well, the +water is just under my feet, but high or low I can’t see a single +sign of anybody.”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I tell you so?” asked Josh, laughing +harshly; “the old well must be a haunted one, I reckon. If that +was really a groan we heard it was given by a ghost, or a goblin, and +not a living being.”</p> + +<p>“Hey! that’s enough, Josh! Get me up out of here quick, +I tell you!” called Hanky Panky, shaking the rope vigorously; +“you promised you would, remember!”</p> + +<p>Josh was chuckling at a great rate; nevertheless when Rod signalled +to him he condescended to lend a hand, and between the two of them they +speedily had Hanky Panky up safely, none the worse for his experiment, +but looking deeply puzzled.</p> + +<p>“That’s the queerest thing I’ve run across for +many a day,” he was saying; “but you notice that it +doesn’t come any more now, since I went down. Oh! thunder! I +spoke too soon, didn’t I?”</p> + +<p>The sounds had indeed started in again with even more vigor than +before. Hanky Panky, catching what seemed like a chuckle, suddenly +turned on Josh.</p> + +<p>“I’ve tumbled to your silly game at last, Josh,” +he said, pointing a finger at the other in a stern fashion; +“somehow I clean forgot how you used to be such a smarty at +throwing your voice, and aimed some day to be a regular ventriloquist +on the stage. Well, you <i>did</i> fool me all right, I own up; and I +had my climb down into the old well for nothing. Hope you’re +satisfied now. Let’s take another drink all around, and then get +along.”</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky was one of those good-natured fellows who could laugh at +a clever joke even when himself the victim; so that he did not bear any +grudge for the way in which Josh had deluded him.</p> + +<p>“But I’m glad anyhow that I didn’t lose my grip, +and drop into the water,” he went on to say; “because it +was terribly cold down there.”</p> + +<p>“All’s well that ends well!” croaked Josh, with a +happy grin, for he believed he had once more cleared the slate in the +account with his fun-loving comrade.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards they left the ruined place and once more started +along the road. Again they came upon scenes of desolation, with +clusters of natives standing by the ruins of their late possessions, to +wave an encouraging hand as the three boys sped past. Doubtless many of +them believed Rod and his mates must belong to some section of the +brave French army, for their khaki uniforms seemed to proclaim this. +And every little helped when the gigantic task of turning the invaders +out of France was considered, even the assistance of a trio of +half-grown lads.</p> + +<p>If things kept up as they were now going Rod confidently believed +they would be close to the battle line again inside of two hours. The +roar of the guns announced that severe fighting was going on not many +miles distant.</p> + +<p>They were making only slow progress at this time, so many obstacles +impeded their way. Numerous stops were also made so that Rod could +exchange a few sentences with some of the people they came upon, so as +to pick up information that might prove of advantage to strangers in a +section of country new to them.</p> + +<p>There was no time when right and left they could not see a myriad of +interesting things. Most of them pertained to warfare–marching +troops; strings of prisoners being led to the rear; broken caissons and +abandoned guns; wrecked bicycles, and even motorcycles cast aside when +of no further service to the retreating Germans; cooking outfits that +had been wonderful contrivances before being utterly smashed on their +late owners finding they could not be taken along; and other things too +numerous to mention.</p> + +<p>Rod himself was of the opinion that the enterprising peasants might +manage to partly indemnify themselves for their losses by taking +possession of some of the various things abandoned, and renewing their +usefulness.</p> + +<p>It was now getting well on toward noon. Hanky Panky had even been +heard to call out that he felt hungry, though Rod could see little hope +of appeasing their appetites in that country, so thoroughly cleaned out +by the enemy.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there came an outburst of heavy firing close at hand. It +was so furious that the three boys involuntarily stopped short, and +huddled together to compare notes, so that they might decide upon the +safest course for them to pursue.</p> + +<p>Smoke began to climb upwards above the trees not more than a mile +away, where Rod had reason to believe the Marne River ran.</p> + +<p>“That’s where the fight is going on, Rod, you can +see!” shouted Josh, eagerly, pointing as he spoke; “look at +the French batteries wheeling into position, would you? They mean to +give the Germans a lot of pounding, looks like. I wonder what it all +means; can you give a guess, Rod?”</p> + +<p>Rod could, and lost no time in advancing his opinion.</p> + +<p>“From what I heard when I talked with that last bunch of +natives,” he called out, for the racket was growing more +deafening with every minute’s passage, “there’s a +ford to the river right about that place. Now like as not the Germans +have determined to dispute the passage of the crossing, and left a big +force there to hold Joffre’s men in check. The battle for that +ford is now starting up, and it will be a pretty stiff fight unless all +signs fail.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_23'></a>CHAPTER XXIII.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE THUNDER OF OPPOSING BATTERIES.</span></h2> + +<p>Standing there they used their eyes to the best advantage, though +none of them felt fully satisfied with their position. Josh looked +enviously at a spot only a short distance away. It was something of a +small elevation, and he felt positive that if only they could manage to +reach it their chances of seeing all that went on would be immeasurably +enhanced.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Rod was saying, loud enough for the others to +hear him, “I’m afraid, too, his regiment is going to be in +the thick of that desperate battle for the possession of the ford +across the Marne.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean Andre?” demanded Hanky Panky, +instantly.</p> + +<p>“Just who I meant,” came the reply.</p> + +<p>The others knew that as Rod spoke French, and had talked with a +number of people as well as soldiers on the road, he must be primed +with information such as had not fallen to their lot. Hence it never +occurred to either of them to question the accuracy of anything he +might say.</p> + +<p>“That would be too bad for all of us,” remarked Josh, +“if anything happened to Andre, just when we got within +stone’s-throw of him. But Rod, do we have to stay right here, and +do our looking?”</p> + +<p>“What makes you ask that, Josh?”</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, there’s a whole lot better place over +yonder, if only we could reach it; but I’m afraid lugging our +machines over the rough ground would be too big a job.”</p> + +<p>At that Rod took a glance, and of course saw the advantages to be +attained by a shift in their position.</p> + +<p>“It might be done,” he told the anxious Josh, “if +we cared to try and conceal our wheels somewhere near by, and walked or +ran over to the rise.”</p> + +<p>“Would that be safe?” asked Hanky Panky, fearful lest +they after all lose their mounts, and be compelled to walk, or depend +on getting an occasional lift from some vehicle going in the direction +of Paris.</p> + +<p>“Reasonably so, I think,” admitted the leader.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by his tone Josh began to cast about in the hope of +discovering a hiding place that would stand the test. This he speedily +succeeded in doing, for Josh had sharp eyes, and could see things in a +flash that it would take another a long time in finding out.</p> + +<p>So they made haste to hide the trio of motorcycles in the shrubbery, +hoping no one might by accident force a way through just at that +particular point, and discover what had been left there.</p> + +<p>“Now let’s whoop it up for the rise!” suggested +the eager Josh, for the sound of the battle had grown so insistent that +he was fairly wild to see everything going on.</p> + +<p>They all ran in a bunch, for Rod held Josh in, so that Hanky Panky +might not be left too far behind. When they arrived at the place picked +out for their station they found that, just as Josh had guessed, it was +admirably fitted for their purpose.</p> + +<p>Brief though the time had been taken up with this strategic maneuver +the fight had evidently progressed beyond the preliminary artillery +duel. True, the guns on either side of the Marne were thundering +fearfully, and every time a battery sent out its winged messengers of +death the very earth seemed to tremble under the boyish trio, who +crouched there, and gazed with their hearts fluttering in their breasts +like those of frightened birds when held in the hand.</p> + +<p>The Germans had left quite a strong detachment of their forces +behind to defend that particular ford, which evidently assumed an +important position in the eyes of the commander. The Marne could not be +crossed with heavy artillery in all that section without the building +of a bridge to replace those destroyed by the retreating Teutons, which +would take a certain measure of time to execute.</p> + +<p>But it was possible to get the guns across here at the ford, for +that was what the Germans themselves had done. And a crossing here in +force would mean that the pursuing columns of the French must creep +that much closer to the precious big guns which the Germans were doing +everything in their power to save from capture.</p> + +<p>A thousand men might be sacrificed in this endeavor, but what of +that? Human material could be replaced readily enough, but it took +months to build up one of those magnificent forty-two centimetre +mortars with which they meant to batter down the defences of Paris, and +win the war.</p> + +<p>At the moment the three boys reached their point of observation +things were rapidly drawing near a crisis. The French troops were +undoubtedly getting wild to be let loose upon the waiting enemy; only +their commander knew that the chances were as two to one they would not +be able to get across the river so long as that one battery in +particular commanded the ford. Its shells were able to sweep over every +yard of the crossing, and could cut down those who were wading +desperately through the waist-deep water, as though they were helpless +flies.</p> + +<p>“What are they waiting for, do you think, Rod?” asked +Josh, between the roars of the opposing guns.</p> + +<p>“The French leader hates to sacrifice so many of his brave men +while that battery is in a position to sweep the ford,” replied +the other, without hesitation, showing that he had grasped the +situation even in that brief time.</p> + +<p>“Well, tell me how he expects to get rid of the same?” +continued Josh, though he had to place his lips close to Rod’s +ear, and fairly bellow his words in order to make himself heard, such +was the increasing din close by.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he keeps hoping that some of his own guns will be +able to locate the German battery among the bushes there, and disable +it,” said Rod.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky pulled at his sleeve. When Rod turned his head he found +the other pointing excitedly upwards, and upon casting his own eyes in +that quarter Rod instantly knew what his chum meant.</p> + +<p>“Two French aeroplanes going up, sure enough!” he +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Mebbe they mean to try and drop bombs on the battery, +so’s to destroy it!” suggested Josh, whose attention had +also been drawn to the new feature in the lively drama taking place +before them.</p> + +<p>Rod nodded his head to signify that the idea struck him as worth +while. Even had he attempted to speak just then his effort would have +been pretty much wasted, for the din had become something terrible. A +thousand French soldiers were cheering, even while being held in check +by their officers; they made Rod think of hounds restrained by the +leash, and loudly bewailing their inability to jump forward. He could +easily imagine with what frantic zeal those men would leap ahead and +into the waters of the Marne when the time came.</p> + +<p>Up higher and higher soared the twin aeroplanes, climbing in +eccentric spirals.</p> + +<p>Evidently the daring birdmen intended to attain a certain height +where they might feel reasonably safe from the shrapnel sent after them +from antiaircraft guns manned by the Germans; when they would try their +luck in dropping the bombs they undoubtedly carried with them, in hopes +of making a lucky shot.</p> + +<p>“It’s going to come soon, I guess!” ventured Josh, +when a brief lull in all the firing allowed him a chance to get in a +few words.</p> + +<p>“Yep,” added Hanky Panky, who was getting a stiff neck +with looking up so long; “right now you can see that +they’re sailing around like they might be looking for a good +place to hover. But they’d better take care, because that +shrapnel is bursting just below them, and some time a shell might hit +home.”</p> + +<p>A loud whoop from Josh instantly followed these words.</p> + +<p>“There, one let go a bomb, as sure as you live!” he +shouted; “look and see where it hits!”</p> + +<p>Quickly following came a report, and the boys could see the earth +fly in showers.</p> + +<p>“Not by a jugful!” whooped Hanky Panky, also carried +away with the excitement of the moment; “they’ll have to +aim better than that if they expect to knock the German battery out of +business.”</p> + +<p>The second airman tried his hand, and while possibly he managed to +do a little better than the first the result was also disappointing. +Evidently they were at too great a height to be able to strike a small +mark like the hidden battery. At that early stage in the war which had +been sprung so suddenly on France, her aviators had not as yet become +proficient in this sort of shooting; later on when they had been given +much practice, the result was bound to be quite different.</p> + +<p>When the birdmen had exhausted all their bombs and made no +impression on the dangerous battery they were compelled to desist and +circle around. Evidently it was the intention of the air scouts while +aloft to learn all they could connected with the disposition of the +German forces. This information would prove valuable to the French +commander, whether able to win the coveted ford or not.</p> + +<p>“Will they give up trying to cross over now?” asked +Hanky Panky, after it was seen that the efforts of the circling +birdmen, much more than half a mile aloft, had not met with any sort of +success.</p> + +<p>“That isn’t the usual French way of fighting, if all +I’ve heard and seen of them cuts any figure in the game!” +Josh exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Rod, too, seemed to be of the same opinion.</p> + +<p>“I think they must be getting ready to make a mad effort to +rush the ford,” he went on to say; “you notice that their +guns are silent just now; but that’s done so they can burst out +with a more terrible bombardment than ever, under cover of which the +attack will be started.”</p> + +<p>“But why all this row over just one contemptible little +ford?” asked Hanky Panky innocently.</p> + +<p>Josh snorted at hearing this.</p> + +<p>“Why, can’t you see what it means to both sides to +control a crossing where the artillery can get over without building a +bridge?” he demanded. “To hold up the French here the +Germans would be willing to sacrifice thousands of their best men, +because it would save their big guns now on the way north. There, +it’s coming, I do believe.”</p> + +<p>None of them heard the last words spoken by Josh, and for a very +good reason. Every gun the French had within a mile of the ford began +to bellow in concert, and the ground shook under the concussion. Across +on the other side they could see the shells bursting everywhere. It +seemed as though they sought out each place where they suspected +hostile batteries or columns of troops might lie in hiding, thus fairly +raking the entire vicinity.</p> + +<p>This was “preparing the ground for the seed,” as army +men would put it. When this fierce “spraying” was well +under way no doubt the order that had been awaited so long and +impatiently by the concealed French soldiers was to be given; when they +would start toward the bank of the river and strike into the shallow +water, breasting their way across if possible.</p> + +<p>The three boys fairly held their breath with awe, knowing what was +coming next. Hanky Panky crouched there shivering like one who had the +“shakes,” yet wholly unable to drag his horrified eyes away +from the grim spectacle of war that was passing before him. Josh, on +the other hand, had arisen to his feet, knowing that there was little +or no chance of his being noticed and fired at, unless indeed some +German gunner conceived the idea that they were a group of French +officers observing the progress of the battle from an eminence.</p> + +<p>This dreadful “spraying” with fire had gone on for some +little time now when Rod saw signs that told him the expected event was +coming. He could not have made his chums hear, no matter how he +shouted, and so he contented himself with clutching each of them, Hanky +Panky by the arm and Josh by the calf of his leg. They knew what he +meant by this action, too, even though not a word was uttered.</p> + +<p>The violent gunfire was being kept up, but from several points there +suddenly burst into view living streams of French soldiers racing madly +for the ford, and every man apparently wild to be the first to attempt +the deadly crossing.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_24'></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br /><span +class='fss'>A FRENCH HERO.</span></h2> + +<p>“Can they ever do it?”</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly this was what was filling the heart and brain of each of +those boys as they watched the living stream of French rapidly draw +nearer the river ford commanded by that destructive German battery, and +which thus far they had not been able to reach and silence with their +own guns and aeroplane attacks.</p> + +<p>The time between the uprising of these troops and their reaching the +shallow water of the ford was of very brief duration. Undoubtedly the +French had crept up just as close as the nature of the ground would +permit them to go unseen.</p> + +<p>Still to those anxious hearts on the little rise it must have seemed +dreadfully long, owing to the strain they were laboring under. As yet +the Germans had held their fire, for not a man of the attacking force +had fallen save when they stumbled, only to rise again.</p> + +<p>Possibly Hanky Panky may even have deluded himself with the hope +that when it came to a pinch the Germans had deemed it best to give up +their desperate intention of defending the ford to the last gasp. Josh +knew better, because he understood the holdfast nature of the Teutons +better than did his chums. And he was mentally figuring on just when +the bitter blast would break forth that was going to mow down those +valiant men with the red trousers and the blue tunics rushing pell-mell +forward with such ringing huzzas.</p> + +<p>At least the men separated as they ran, doubtless following the +instructions of their officers. This was bound to be of advantage to +them, since the fire of the enemy could not cut them down as ripe grain +falls before the scythe of the reaper or the revolving knives of the +modern mowing machine.</p> + +<p>“Some may manage to get across anyhow!” Josh was telling +himself, as though seeking comfort.</p> + +<p>Now the first of the French had reached the bank. They leaped +impetuously into the water and hastened to start across. As they +advanced of course they waded deeper, and their pace lessened. Was this +just what those cool, calculating German gunners were waiting for? Rod +expected to hear the first crash at any second now. How his heart went +out to those gallant fellows splashing through the river at the +disputed ford. He felt as though he must shut his eyes so as not to see +what was fated to occur; but for the life of him he could not. Some +power beyond his control forced him to continue to crouch there and +stare with all his might and main, as though he must omit no small +detail of the amazing picture.</p> + +<p>The ford was now fairly alive with moving figures, all pushing +hurriedly toward the other shore, where not a German could be seen. The +bushes in that quarter lay there as unassuming as though every one did +not conceal a foe with ready rifle waiting for the order to come to +pour in a terrific fire.</p> + +<p>That was the picture Rod would often recall in days to come. It was +stamped on his memory in imperishable colors–the bright sunlight, +the hovering clouds of billowy powder smoke, the gay uniforms of the +charging Frenchmen, the sombre, oppressive silence hovering over the +opposite bank of the river–all these things had a part in the +never-to-be-forgotten scene.</p> + +<p>Then it seemed as though some volcano, long held in check, must have +burst the confines of Nature in a mighty convulsion. From several +points there came the thunderous discharge of batteries, while a +thousand rifles added their sharper notes to the dreadful chorus.</p> + +<p>And the men in the river, what of them?</p> + +<p>Scores could be seen to throw up their arms and disappear, the +current doubtless bearing them away. Others were forced to turn and +start back to the shore they had so recently left, having been wounded +more or less severely. Gaps appeared in the various groups, showing +what terrible carnage those guns in the leading German battery had +already executed.</p> + +<p>Still the forward movement had not been as yet effectually stopped. +Those who were thus far uninjured kept pushing ahead, even though they +must realize that it was into the very jaws of death they advanced. And +Rod found himself filled with sincere admiration for the bravery they +exhibited. He had read of similar things many times, but seeing with +his own eyes an exhibition of such wonderful valor was an entirely +different matter.</p> + +<p>Oh! how he hoped and prayed that in the end some of those Frenchmen +might manage to reach the other shore which they aspired to gain. But +when the German guns continued to roar and send torrents of iron hail +into the ranks of the adventurous French it began to look very much as +though not a single man might be able to accomplish the passage of the +disputed ford.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky could stand it no longer. He rolled over and hid his +face, while thrusting the forefinger of each hand as deeply into his +ears as he could, evidently with the hope of shutting out all that +dreadful noise.</p> + +<p>Not so Josh, who, though very white, and trembling with excitement, +still continued to stand there, drinking it all in eagerly, as one +might something that was fairly intoxicating his senses.</p> + +<p>The war drama did not last long. Under that murderous fire the +French soldiers in the water fairly melted away. Some managed to return +safely to the side of the stream held by their comrades, but by far the +larger number seemed to have vanished. Further down the river they +could be seen, some of them struggling in the water, with others +floating along significantly still.</p> + +<p>The firing had almost ceased by now, because there was no further +need of wasting precious ammunition on the part of the provident +Germans. The charge of the impetuous French had been stopped, and if +they still meant to carry the ford they must gather what was left of +their force for a second attempt.</p> + +<p>Still, while that one battery covered the crossing it seemed madness +for them to risk the annihilation of their men in another effort.</p> + +<p>“It was a fluke, after all!” Josh was calling out in +bitter disappointment; “they never had a chance to get over while +that awful battery covered the ford. Oh! how I wish a part of them at +least had managed to get across. Look, Rod, as I live, one lone +Frenchman did succeed in crossing. You can see him crawling along in +the scrub there, his red breeches betraying his every movement. Just a +single one of all that brave lot, and he’ll be either killed +right away or made a prisoner, like as not!”</p> + +<p>Somehow both boys found themselves compelled to watch the progress +of the crawling Frenchman. He seemed only a grain of sand on the +seashore compared with the mighty forces employed on both sides, and +yet at that particular moment he occupied the centre of the stage in +their minds. Without knowing why this should be so they continued to +follow his movements with their eyes.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly Josh broke out again. He could make himself heard +because there was little if any desultory firing now; the Germans were +satisfied with the execution already accomplished, while the mortified +French held their fire until further plans could be settled upon.</p> + +<p>“Rod, what do you reckon that madman means to try and +do?” he asked excitedly; “see how he keeps on creeping +straight along toward where that battery is hidden behind some sort of +barricade. Honest to goodness, now, I believe he means to tackle the +entire business all by himself; just like a Frenchman for desperate +bravery. He must be crazy to think he can do anything unaided, +Rod.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be too sure of that, Josh,” the other told +him immediately; “unless I miss my guess that man has got some +project he’s meaning to put through, come what will.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! now I see what you mean, Rod; yes, as sure as anything +he’s carrying something in his hand, and I do believe it must be +a bomb that he’s meaning to throw over the barricade on to that +battery! It’s a great scheme, Rod, but with not one chance in ten +to succeed.”</p> + +<p>With strained eyes they watched the creeping figure with the +telltale red trousers that added so greatly to his peril. Shortly +afterwards Josh broke out again in what might be called a lament.</p> + +<p>“Too bad, too bad, Rod, they’ve glimpsed him at last, +just as I was afraid they’d be doing. You can see some of their +sharpshooters further back are sending a rain of balls in that +direction, for they make little puffs of dust fly up everywhere they +strike. He’s bound to be hit in a jiffy now. Oh! see that, would +you?”</p> + +<p>There could be no question but that one or more of the plunging +bullets had reached their intended mark, for the creeping soldier had +rolled over as if in agony.</p> + +<p>“He’s done for, poor chap, just as I expected!” +cried the sympathizing Josh, while even Hanky Panky once more dared to +lift his head and look; but almost immediately afterwards Josh changed +his tune from despair to one of new hope–“no, he was only +badly injured that time, and not killed, you see, because now +he’s going on again. Oh! I take off my hat to that gallant man! +There never lived a braver chap, never; and now I do hope he’ll +get close enough up to fire that bomb he’s carrying along with +him on to that battery.”</p> + +<p>Perhaps the marksmen who were amusing themselves in trying to pick +another foeman off did not realize what the French soldier really meant +to do. Had they grasped the full situation a volley would surely have +finished his career, and left his self-appointed mission +unfulfilled.</p> + +<p>Josh kept tabs of his movements. He even knew when again the +crawling figure gave signs of having been struck once more by some of +that leaden hail. This he could tell from the way in which the heroic +fellow writhed as in pain.</p> + +<p>“But, Rod, they just <i>can’t</i> keel him over, +don’t you see!” cried the admiring Josh, clapping his hands +in his excitement; “twice now they’ve hit him, but he +won’t give up the game. Why, he has to drag that left leg after +him all the while, showing where he’s been hit. Oh! what +wouldn’t I give for a chance to help him out; but it’s no +use; he’s just got to do it by himself!”</p> + +<p>The seconds went on. Perhaps other eyes were following the slow and +painful progress of that lone French hero as he crawled along foot by +foot, suffering dreadfully no doubt with every movement, yet never for +a minute dismayed. Perhaps the eyes of the French commander-in-chief +may have been glued on him through his powerful glasses; and realizing +what the success of the daring soldier’s mission might mean for a +second assault on the defenders of the ford, his heart would begin to +pick up renewed hope the closer the private crept to the battery.</p> + +<p>There could be no question as to the unflinching spirit that dwelt +in the breast of that particular soldier. Rod remembered many things he +had read in ancient history, but somehow they all paled into +insignificance when with his own eyes he saw this wonderful exhibition +of valor unparalleled. The heroic defense of the Pass of Thermopylæ; +the swimming of the Hellespont by Leander, yes, and other instances +made famous in the annals of history had once struck the boy as wonders +in their way, but somehow seeing things was a great deal more +impressive than reading about similar happenings.</p> + +<p>By now the French adventurer had managed to get close up to the +place where the terrible offending battery was hidden. Doubtless he +could see much better than the boys at a distance, and knew where it +would be possible to throw his bomb so as to accomplish the maximum of +damage.</p> + +<p>“He’s nearly there, Rod, and oh! I’m scared almost +out of my seven senses for fear they’ll get him before he can +give that thing a whirl over. There, see, he’s trying to get up +on his knees now, though it’s a hard thing for him to do, because +he’s so weak from loss of blood, I reckon. Bully boy! now +you’re going to take a fling, and here’s wishing you the +greatest of luck!”</p> + +<p>The brave soldier had indeed managed to raise himself part way and +with all his reserve strength hurl the bomb he carried over to where +the battery lay concealed.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_25'></a>CHAPTER XXV.<br /><span +class='fss'>THE WINNING OF THE RIVER FORD.</span></h2> + +<p>Immediately there came a loud crash as the bomb exploded. The +exhausted French soldier had no further strength to sustain him, for +the boys saw him fall over as though he may have died in the climax of +his success.</p> + +<p>Then came the clear, piercing note of a bugle, like a clarion call. +It was undoubtedly the signal for another attempt to force a passage of +the river, so essential to the success of the French pursuit of the +retiring German armies.</p> + +<p>Again did a host of active figures leap into sight from the coverts +where until now they had lain concealed awaiting the success or failure +of the first action. These were no doubt the reserves intended to be +thrown into the breach after some of the others had managed to get +safely across and engaged the enemy forces. Now they were taking the +initiative in pushing across the ford.</p> + +<p>As the others had done these men also scattered when charging, so +that no great collective damage might be wrought when the foe started +to fire. They were speedily at the water’s edge, and it was then +that they anticipated meeting with that sudden avalanche of flame and +smoke, and the roaring sound of many guns.</p> + +<p>Somehow it did not come in the volume expected; in fact, while +rifles and quick-firing guns started to take their toll the one +offensive battery remained singularly silent.</p> + +<p>Rod and Josh did not need to be told that the bold Frenchman must in +some way have succeeded in disabling all the units of that battery when +he hurled his bomb over the redoubt. Perhaps that terrific crash may +have been an ammunition supply exploding and scattering the guns right +and left.</p> + +<p>No matter what the cause the battery was as still as death, a fact +that must have filled the anxious heart of the French +commander-in-chief with a fierce joy; for its presence there intact +promised to make all his work of no avail, despite the unrivaled valor +of his men.</p> + +<p>This time the story was to be quite different, it seemed. Some of +the leaders in that mad rush were already almost over, and here, there, +everywhere they were trying to shoot back as they found a chance to +glimpse an enemy hidden amidst the bushes on the bank of the river.</p> + +<p>Josh could hardly contain himself. He jumped up and down “like +a flea,” as Hanky Panky afterwards explained it in his peculiar +fashion. Indeed, to hear Josh letting out shrieks and cries one would +have imagined the whole battle of the Marne ford had been staged for +his particular benefit, and that he was enjoying the lively scene with +all his heart.</p> + +<p>Now some of the Frenchmen were crawling up the bank. They found +shelter, such as it was, and immediately began to make good use of +their guns, aiming so as to cut down those who were rattling the +quick-firing weapons not far away.</p> + +<p>More and more came up out of the depths, some of them wounded it was +true, but with undiminished ardor hurrying on. With the climax of their +ambition at hand and an opportunity for a fight at close quarters with +the hated enemy granted to them, why should they mind such a small +thing as a bullet in the shoulder, or it might be a leg that dragged as +they walked?</p> + +<p>The fire and enthusiasm that filled their hearts prevented them from +falling out of the line. Some in fact would not know they had been +injured until it was all over but the cheering, and a weakness began to +overcome them, with the excitement on which they had been living having +passed away.</p> + +<p>Josh was waving his hat wildly now. Despite the noise and confusion +he shouted out his views. In so doing he gave the “escape +valve” something to do, and likely enough worked no harm.</p> + +<p>“And to think it’s all owing to the work of that one +brave fellow!” was the burden of his outcries.</p> + +<p>“I’m taking off my hat to <i>him</i> right now. I salute +him, living or dead! His family will be proud of him when they learn +what a grand thing he really did. Talk to me about the Cross of the +Legion of Honor; why, that man ought to be made a general–if he +lives!”</p> + +<p>The Germans had by no means given up, even when they realized that +after all the French had won the passage of the ford. They had been +given the task of defending the crossing with their lives, and showed +the customary German disregard for death in staying after all was +lost.</p> + +<p>But more and more French were getting over now. They came from every +quarter, all filled with ardor and a desire to get in the fight over +there. The guns too were being brought closer to the river, so that the +retreating Germans might be shelled warmly as they left the scene of +their stubborn combat.</p> + +<p>How they splashed across that shallow place in the stream Rod would +never forget. Some, getting off the main ford, found themselves in +water breast-high; others actually had to swim for it, holding their +guns above their heads so that they might not get wet and refuse to +continue the good work of chasing off the Germans.</p> + +<p>It was an inspiring sight–of course only to those who favored +the French, for to the enemy it must have proven a most discouraging +one–to see those men wild to cross to where the engagement was +being fought to a finish. Each one, as soon as he could set foot on +solid ground, lost no time in starting up the bank and adding his quota +to the force of the assailants.</p> + +<p>And not one single shot had come from that important battery which, +more than any other contributing cause, had brought about the first +disaster to the French. There could be no question but what that one +unknown private soldier, perhaps now dead, had saved the day for his +side.</p> + +<p>Luckily none of the Germans seemed to have paid any attention to the +little assemblage of three figures in faded khaki on that slight rise +of ground. At least no annoying shell had fallen near them, nor did the +boys at any time catch the irritating whine of a whimpering leaden +missile hastening past close to their ears. All of which pleased Rod +very much, for he certainly felt no desire to mingle in such terrible +scenes as had been spread before them of late.</p> + +<p>Well, the end was in sight, for when the French field batteries +began to let go it could be easily guessed that they were sending their +compliments after that remnant of the enemy now sullenly retreating, +and always with faces toward the foe.</p> + +<p>Then came the shrill blast of bugles. This undoubtedly told the +French soldiers that victory had fallen to their portion, and that the +winning of the Marne ford was an accomplished fact.</p> + +<p>Loud arose the huzzas of the survivors. Succor for the injured would +quickly follow, since no pursuit was expected to be organized. The work +to which they had been assigned was now accomplished, and against +difficulties that might have frustrated all their efforts only for the +one gallant man who made victory possible.</p> + +<p>Rod and his chums cheered with the rest. They seemed somehow to feel +that their hearts beat in full sympathy for those Frenchmen who were +standing up in defense of their native land.</p> + +<p>Josh, more demonstrative than either of his companions, went so far +as to actually throw his arms around Hanky Panky and give him such a +bear-like hug that the other’s eyes almost popped from his head +and his breath came in gasps.</p> + +<p>“Let up on that sort of business, can’t you, +Josh!” he managed to cry indignantly as he broke away from the +other’s detaining clutch; “what do you take me for anyway? +Must think you’re doing one of the new fangled fox-trot +hesitation dances. I’ve got feelings, I’d have you know; +and my ribs are brittle bones in the bargain, not hoop-iron. Go hunt up +a tree if you must exercise yourself on something. I object!”</p> + +<p>Standing there on the rise of ground they could see the first of the +French light batteries crossing the ford, the horses prancing, but +forced to drag the guns through the shallow water. Later on heavier +artillery would also be coming up to follow the fleeing German army, +when the full importance of this ford would be better understood. No +wonder the tactics of delay upon which the Germans were working had +forced them to defend such a spot to the limit.</p> + +<p>“What are we going to do next, Rod?” asked Josh, when +they had stood and watched these events taking place for some little +time.</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to hold off until they get things in +ship-shape again,” replied the other; “you see there are +the wounded to attend to, the dead to gather and bury, it may be, as +well as a lot of other matters to be looked after. They’ll be in +no hurry to chase after the enemy, I imagine. Their one object was to +carry this crossing, and that they’ve done.”</p> + +<p>“But at a terrible cost to them,” sighed Hanky Panky, as +he saw the injured being carried to a central point, where doubtless +the field surgeons would be on hand, ready to give them first +attention; besides, there had been scores upon scores carried down the +river whose fate could only be guessed at.</p> + +<p>“That’s always what war means, I’m afraid,” +remarked Rod, not that he himself was getting hardened by seeing such +sights, but because he had a broader vision than Hanky Panky, and could +anticipate what would follow when two hostile forces came in contact at +close quarters.</p> + +<p>“If that was Andre’s regiment that went in at the +first,” observed Josh gloomily, “I’m mighty much +afraid we’re going to have all our trouble for our pains; because +they were almost wiped out. Andre is pretty sure to have been among +those who were in the water when that battery got in its heavy work, +and–well, the current carried away many a gallant fellow, never +to give him up again.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! it’s hardly as bad as that, Josh,” +remonstrated Rod; “a good many managed to get back again, either +wounded or whole. If we’re lucky we may find Andre among that +lot. We’ll hope to, anyway; and our business will then soon be +over.”</p> + +<p>“Well, for one I hope and pray we’re able to turn our +backs on this thing before another sun sets,” said Hanky Panky, +with such a sad look on his face that Rod was quite sorry they had been +tempted to follow up this adventure.</p> + +<p>Still, they had risked their lives in a good cause, and if only that +little French woman Jeanne and her family could be provided for in the +future, despite the schemings of Jules Baggott, he for one would not +feel tempted to complain on account of perils undergone and risks +taken.</p> + +<p>“Most of the French have crossed over by now, you notice, +Rod,” observed Josh, when some time had crept past, and he could +hardly restrain his customary impatience any longer.</p> + +<p>“And that means you think we should be getting a move on +too?” laughed the other, trying to raise the drooping spirits of +Hanky Panky by an assumption of levity which truth to tell Rod was +himself far from feeling.</p> + +<p>“Well, it seems like we must make the crossing some way or +other, and while one of those gun caissons we see coming along is going +to get over why not find out if they’d let us climb aboard? +It’ll save us from getting our feet wet even if it did nothing +else.”</p> + +<p>“That isn’t a bad idea, Josh,” commented Rod, +“and it might be just as well to try it out. These Frenchmen are +pretty accommodating, and they’ll like as not take us for British +boys, as has happened so many times before.”</p> + +<p>Another troop accompanied by a battery had come up and was starting +to reach the northern side of the Marne, so as to presently continue +the chase after the retreating enemy. It was to the ammunition caissons +belonging to this battery that Josh had referred.</p> + +<p>The boys hurried forward now. No one thought to question their right +to be present. Perhaps this was because of their looks, or the khaki +suits they wore, which would be taken for British uniforms. Indeed, +quite a number of those who were seated on gun carriage or ammunition +chest waved to them in the hearty and friendly fashion known to +soldiers after a victory has thrilled their blood, making them +light-hearted and gay.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_26'></a>CHAPTER XXVI.<br /><span +class='fss'>JOSH MAKES A DISCOVERY.</span></h2> + +<p>Rod soon fixed the transportation part of it, just as his confident +chums felt sure he would be able to do. He quickly selected a certain +outfit that had stopped on the border of the ford for a minute or so, +while a loose portion of the harness was tightened.</p> + +<p>Entering into conversation with the sergeant, who seemed to be in +authority, Rod explained in a measure who they were and how they came +to be loose on the battle lines at such a time as this.</p> + +<p>Then he made his request, and with such simplicity, accompanied by a +winning smile, that the dapper Frenchman could not have refused his +modest request even had his heart not warmed toward these young friends +of France from across the sea.</p> + +<p>“We must get over the river, because it is necessary that we +find Andre D’Aubrey if he is yet alive,” Rod had gone on to +say ingenuously; “and since it would be unpleasant for us to +continue our ride if we were soaked to the waist, perhaps M’sieu +le Sergeant would permit us to climb up with him on the caisson, and +accompany him over the ford?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, it would be a pleasure to have you along with +me,” hastily replied the non-commissioned officer of the battery, +“and as the harness is now repaired, make yourselves at home +here, if you can find a lodgment where your feet will be out of the +reach of the water.”</p> + +<p>Gladly then did the trio of lads accept of his friendly offer. Trust +them for finding a perch where they would be beyond the reach of the +river, unless the soldier astride one of the horses managed to lose the +shallow line of the ford and stray into the depths.</p> + +<p>Luckily this did not happen. The water did come close to their feet +so that Hanky Panky was impelled to draw himself up into something of a +knot in the fear of getting wet; but the worst was over, so that +presently the gun caisson emerged from the Marne, and the boys were +able to jump down.</p> + +<p>Rod looked about him. It was indeed a stirring picture taken in all, +for everywhere the French had occupied the ground so tenaciously +defended by the German rearguard.</p> + +<p>Hundreds of soldiers were moving this way and that, with the +officers gathering as if for a council of war.</p> + +<p>Other batteries could be seen coming on the gallop toward the +captured ford, as though the birdmen aloft may have sent the signal +along to tell them that now the coast was clear they could make the +passage in safety. Some of these were heavier guns than any the boys +had as yet seen, showing that the French were hurrying all their +available resources forward in order to strike the enemy hard while yet +in retreat.</p> + +<p>“Now what, Rod?” asked Josh.</p> + +<p>“We’ll look around a bit so as to get our +bearings,” he was told. “It’s true we came here on a +mission, but perhaps it might be wise not to bother the +commander-in-chief in too big a hurry. He’s certainly got his +hands full as it is, and can’t be worried with our private +affairs.”</p> + +<p>“I guess that’s about so, Rod,” agreed Hanky +Panky. “To us Andre’s business may seem mighty important, +but why should a general waste a precious minute of his time with any +one’s affairs, when he’s got to map out his movements, with +a beaten but still fighting foe ahead?”</p> + +<p>“Look there, fellows!” exclaimed Josh just then; +“unless I miss my guess that must be the hero of the battle +they’re fetching in right now.”</p> + +<p>“See how the men take their caps off, will you?” said +Hanky Panky reverently; “I’d feel like doing the same +myself if he came near me, because it was his work that really made the +passage of the ford possible. They all know it too, and just now they +fairly worship that lucky chap.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I hope it doesn’t mean he’s dead!” +exclaimed Josh with a tinge of deep regret in his voice; +“that’d be too everlasting bad, you know, after he’d +won his promotion, and the cross these Frenchmen prize so +much.”</p> + +<p>“No, he is still alive, because I saw him wave his hand feebly +just then when he passed that group of cheering soldiers,” said +Rod quickly.</p> + +<p>“Bully for that!” exploded Josh exultantly; +“somehow or other I just seem to be taking a personal interest in +that brave chap, as if he might be a friend of mine, though of course I +wouldn’t know him from Adam. But a thousand pair of eyes saw what +he did, and the army of France knows how to honor such a hero. We must +find out his name before we leave here, Rod, that’s +sure.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll not forget to ask it!” declared the other +positively, “because we’ll want to write it down in our +log. Whatever his name turns out to be it’s bound to go down to +posterity as belonging to one of the heroes of the Battle of the +Marne.”</p> + +<p>“There,” continued Hanky Panky, “see, the general +is going over himself to see the wounded man now. Why, even he takes +off his military cap. It must be a proud time for the man who threw +that bomb and wrecked the German battery. He not only won the ford for +his side, but like as not saved the lives of scores of his +comrades.”</p> + +<p>Rod was considering his plan of campaign.</p> + +<p>“You can see that some of the officers are gathering under +that shed yonder,” he went on to explain. “I reckon they +mean to hold their council of war there, because it looks like the best +shelter around. I wouldn’t be surprised if the German forces had +the same places for headquarters before their retreat, because I can +see a table there and some camp chairs.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and then, too, it seems to be out of range of the +batteries that were on the other side of the river; sort of protected +as it were,” Josh observed, for he was quick to notice such +things.</p> + +<p>“All right,” Rod wound up by saying; “our plan is +to hang around until the war council breaks up, and then try to find a +chance to speak with the commander-in-chief. All we want to do is to +show him who and what we are, and then ask about Andre. He may not have +the time to bother with it himself, but I hope he will put us in charge +of some subordinate officer who can tell us what we want to know, as +well as take us to Andre, if so be the poor fellow still +lives.”</p> + +<p>While waiting they strolled around the immediate vicinity, being +considerably interested in all that was going on.</p> + +<p>Josh in particular seemed disposed not to lose anything. He moved +this way and that, now watching the labors of a string of men dragging +at a rope by means of which they were helping the horses attached to a +heavy gun pull the same up out of the river; and a little later even +observing the field surgeon and his assistants binding up the grievous +wounds of scores of poor fellows who had been more or less injured in +the battle.</p> + +<p>Rod was seated on a stump and thinking seriously of their own +affairs when he suddenly became aware of the fact that his two chums +were hurrying toward him. He could also see that they looked both +excited and grave, as though something had happened to alarm them.</p> + +<p>Of course the first thing that came into Rod’s mind was bad +news; he feared that in some way they might have learned about the fate +of Andre, and were now hurrying to tell him all their efforts had been +in vain, for the husband of poor Jeanne could never sign his name to +the paper they carried.</p> + +<p>“Is he dead, then?” was the way he addressed them as +they came panting up.</p> + +<p>“Oh! it isn’t about Andre, Rod!” gasped Hanky +Panky.</p> + +<p>“What then?” questioned the other, at the same time +giving a sigh of relief, for he had feared the worst.</p> + +<p>“It’s something Josh here hit on, that’s given us +both a bad shock; he’ll tell you, Rod,” continued the +other, who was trembling visibly.</p> + +<p>“It’s just this way, you see,” Josh spoke up. +“There’s a German soldier hiding close by, a wild-looking +chap in the bargain. Whee! but he’s got staring eyes, and he +makes me think of a crazy man.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! he must be one of their wounded,” said Rod; +“when they pulled out in such a big hurry they couldn’t +take all with them, and some had to be abandoned. This fellow in hiding +that you’ve run across must be hurt in the legs, and +couldn’t get away with the rest.”</p> + +<p>Josh shook his head with a vim.</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, Rod, but I don’t think you’ve hit the +real secret,” he went on to say. “This man has stayed here +<i>for a purpose</i>, and he’s about ready to lose his own life, +I’d say, so as to carry it out. I really and truly believe he +must have a screw loose in the upper story.”</p> + +<p>“Go on,” said Rod, seeing that Josh evidently knew more +than he had as yet explained.</p> + +<p>“I just noticed him by the merest accident,” explained +the other. “He’s hiding in a hole in the ground. I happened +to see him lift his head, and noticed that he wore the dark green +uniform of a German soldier. Then I discovered something else, Rod, +that gave me a cold feeling, and made the chills run down my +back.”</p> + +<p>“Go on, and hurry, too!” advised Rod.</p> + +<p>“It was a wire, Rod, a wire that seemed to come up out of the +ground, and disappear by the side of a tree. It headed straight for the +shelter that used to be the headquarters of the German staff, and where +the French officers are gathering right now, waiting for the general to +join them.”</p> + +<p>“A wire, did you say, Josh?” demanded Rod, starting up, +and looking white.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and ten chances to one there’s a mine, planted +under headquarters, which he means to explode so as to blow up the +French staff, general and all.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_27'></a>CHAPTER XXVII.<br /><span +class='fss'>WONDERFUL NEWS.</span></h2> + +<p>“If what you suspect is true, Josh,” said Rod hurriedly, +“we must do something to baffle the terrible game he is bent on +playing. Can you lead us to the place where the man is hiding, and is +it possible to get close to him without his knowing about our being +there?”</p> + +<p>“Sure thing, Rod; why, I could have jumped down on his back if +I’d wanted to; but I just moved away as slick as you +please.”</p> + +<p>On second thoughts, however, Rod changed his plan. What he had +contemplated trying seemed too risky; for if the man learned that his +plot was discovered he might touch the key and explode the mine before +the boys could master him, even though all the staff including the +general himself had not gathered as yet under the Headquarters +shelter.</p> + +<p>“I’ll try and get in touch with the officers before the +council is called,” he told his comrades, and immediately started +off.</p> + +<p>It was an object with Rod to hasten his steps, and yet at the same +time try not to arouse any suspicion. If he were detained on the way +precious seconds would be lost, and after all he might fail to save the +French officers from a dreadful fate at the hands of a crazy German +soldier.</p> + +<p>Arriving close to the shelter of which mention has been made, Rod +boldly singled out a man who he fancied would be apt to listen to +him.</p> + +<p>“Pardon, Monsieur,” he said hastily, “but by +accident myself and friends have just learned that there is a scheme +afoot to blow up this shelter while you and your brave fellow officers +are in conference. Even now a madman lies hidden close by, his finger +on a battery, and ready to close the circuit in haste. I am come to +give you warning. Please do not exhibit any alarm, but arrange it so +that every one may spring away from this place when you give the +word!”</p> + +<p>The officer stared hard at him, as indeed he had good reason to. The +information was certainly of a thrilling nature, and well calculated to +arouse a chill in the region of his heart.</p> + +<p>Again that frank and fearless face of Rod convinced his listener of +the truth of his story, even though it seemed so remarkable and +monstrous. The officer turned to his four companions and said something +to them in a low but positive tone. From their startled looks it was +soon evident that they chose to take the warning most seriously.</p> + +<p>All at once he uttered a loud cry. It was the signal agreed upon, +for every man proceeded to leap away from the shelter and make haste to +place as many yards as possible between Headquarters and his own +person. Rod had taken care to be on his way before this, since his +object had already been accomplished.</p> + +<p>If any of those French officers had felt disposed to doubt the truth +of the astounding story that had been brought to them by the American +boy they found immediate cause to change their minds. Hardly had the +last of them succeeded in leaving the shelter than there came a heavy +shock, and up into the air arose the fragments of the cover under which +they had just been gathered.</p> + +<p>Had they remained where they were ten seconds before not one of them +would have likely escaped death or severe bodily injuries.</p> + +<p>A loud shout from Josh just then called attention to a running +figure. The hidden conspirator, seeing that his mad scheme had proven a +failure, must have crept forth from his hiding place, and was hoping to +escape in the general confusion. But his uniform betrayed him, and +presently guns began to sound, until finally they saw him curl up on +the ground.</p> + +<p>It was later on found that he had only been wounded, and he was +brought in, foaming at the mouth. There could be no doubt regarding his +condition, for even a tyro might see that he was crazy, perhaps from a +wound received in the head in some earlier stage of the great +battle.</p> + +<p>It was not believed that German officers would connive at such a +dastardly scheme as trying to blow up a shelter under which the French +staff had gathered for consultation; and in the end it was put down as +only the plot of one who was wholly irresponsible.</p> + +<p>Of course the three American boys were thanked most heartily by the +officers whose lives they had saved. It promised to turn out to be one +of the best things that could have happened for them; and, as Josh +remarked, their old luck seemed to be working at full speed.</p> + +<p>They were soon summoned into the presence of the general, who, with +his staff gathered about him, publicly thanked Rod and his chums for +their recent act. He shook their hands with considerable feeling, as +became an effusive Frenchman whose life was not only valuable to +himself and his beloved country in time of need, but also to the wife +and children who awaited news of his labors at home, and daily prayed +for his safety.</p> + +<p>While they stood there the madman was brought past, screaming and +carrying on in a frightful manner. He must have been connected with the +Engineer or Signal Corps of the enemy forces, to have the knowledge of +explosives that he did, as well as the ability to lay his wires so as +not to attract attention.</p> + +<p>The boys could admire any deed of daring that was meant to further +the cause of a soldier’s heart; but to plot to blow up a whole +staff in such a treacherous way was something that could only originate +in a disordered mind, and filled them with horror.</p> + +<p>“Now tell me who you are, and what brings you here at such a +time, when France is bleeding from ten thousand wounds, and Paris has +only been saved as through a miracle?”</p> + +<p>It was, of course, the general who asked this. He was looking into +the expressive face of Rod while speaking, and perhaps unconsciously +saying to himself that if his oldest boy ever grew up to be such a +manly looking young fellow as this American cousin he would be +contented; for that was usually the way Rod impressed those whom he +met.</p> + +<p>Rod was just about to answer and explain as briefly as possible, for +he knew how valuable time must be with this brave officer, when +something interrupted him.</p> + +<p>A number of men were passing and carrying a stretcher upon which lay +one of their number. Rod guessed that this must be the hero of the +battle when he saw every officer make a salute that could only stand +for his appreciation toward valor beyond all parallel.</p> + +<p>“That’s the man who threw the bomb that saved the +ford!” said Josh to Hanky Panky, as the little procession drew +near.</p> + +<p>Evidently the wounded man had received attention at the hands of the +field surgeon, and was now about to be placed in an ambulance and taken +to Paris with an escort of honor to guard him. Nothing could be too +good for him in the opinion of those who had observed his daring +deed.</p> + +<p>The general laid his hand on Rod’s arm.</p> + +<p>“Come,” he said kindly, “it seems that you too +witnessed the wonderful feat performed by this hero of heroes. Perhaps +you would be glad to say you had taken his hand when you return to your +native country. I am pleased to say he will undoubtedly live to receive +the honors that a grateful France is ready to shower on his +head.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Monsieur le General,” said Rod warmly; +“I speak for my comrades as well when I say we would esteem it an +honor to meet him; and we also hope and pray he may live to see victory +come to France.”</p> + +<p>Accompanying the general, they advanced toward the party with the +stretcher. The attendants had halted at a signal from the +commander-in-chief, and set their burden down. Rod saw the face of the +man who had dared all to save his fellows. Somehow it seemed to him +that somewhere or other he must have met him before, although for the +life of him Rod could not imagine how that could be.</p> + +<p>“This, then, is the one man whose act made the taking of the +ford possible,” said the French general; “and when you +remember what this day you have witnessed, always place high on the +roll of fame the honored name of Andre D’Aubrey, to whom we who +have fought the battle for the ford owe all our success!”</p> + +<p>“What! <i>our</i> Andre, and a hero of heroes at that!” +cried Josh, able to grasp the amazing fact, even if much that the +general had said was as Greek to him; “now what do you think of +that, Hanky Panky?”</p> + +<p>As for the party in question, he could only stare and shake his head +as though utterly unable to understand what it meant.</p> + +<p>Rod suddenly remembered why the face of the man on the stretcher had +seemed so familiar. When Jeanne told him all about her troubles he had +been looking at the small boy who accompanied her on her milk route +with the dog team; and it was Andre’s son whose face was in his +mind when he stared at the father, for the lad was certainly “a +chip off the old block.”</p> + +<p>Things could hardly have turned out better for the three Motorcycle +Boys. Why, not only would Andre have witnesses when he signed the +document, but high honors awaited him after he had recovered from his +wounds. Jeanne in her far-distant, humble home in Antwerp must soon +hear great tidings that would bring her much joy.</p> + +<p>No wonder then that Rod hastened to pour out the story in his best +French.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> <h2><a id='link_28'></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.<br /><span +class='fss'>CONCLUSION.</span></h2> + +<p>When the main facts of the story had been told the impulsive and +gallant French general insisted that the paper be signed, with him and +members of his staff as witnesses. He also declared that he would see +to it that the family of Andre should be brought on to Paris with as +little delay as possible; because it was expected that sooner or later +the Germans would decide to take Antwerp.</p> + +<p>All this filled Rod and his chums with the greatest of pleasure. The +wounded man was looking exceedingly happy, for the news he had just +received concerning his loved ones filled him with more delight than +even the prospect of receiving great military honors, and possibly +being made a captain on account of his recent feat.</p> + +<p>Nor was this all, it seemed. While Rod was relating his story he had +noticed that a man who was not in uniform had approached, and seemed to +be listening intently. Thinking that he might be some one who desired +to make a report to the general, Rod had paid little attention to this +unknown party. Judge of his astonishment and delight as well when the +other pushed forward, making a respectful salute to the +commander-in-chief, and announced his identity.</p> + +<p>“Behold in me the villain of the piece,” he remarked +grimly; “I am Jules Baggott, the cousin who plotted to keep Andre +from receiving the inheritance our uncle had planned to give him. With +shame I confess it now, but, my general, never again would I be guilty +of conspiring against a member of my family who has won for it and for +France such imperishable renown. I, too, saw what Andre did, and even +though I had the power to destroy that paper at this minute I would +scorn to do so. Here and now I beg his forgiveness. His wife and family +have reason to be proud of him, even as we are.”</p> + +<p>Rod never knew whether Jules meant all he said. He did not +altogether like the man’s looks; but his words were fair enough, +and he acted as though for once in his life he was thoroughly ashamed +of himself.</p> + +<p>It turned out that Jules could not serve as a soldier on account of +lacking the sight in one of his eyes; so there was really nothing to +his discredit in his absence from the army. In reality he had become a +member of the Secret Service, and doubtless would find a means in that +capacity to do his part in the long war that faced France.</p> + +<p>Of course the general could not give them any more of his valuable +time. He did shake hands all around again at parting, and assured Rod +that he would take a personal interest in seeing that Andre and his +family were speedily reunited in Paris. With that the boys believed +they had good reason to feel satisfied; and that they could +conscientiously give over their adventurous and perilous journey to the +battle front where the two rival armies were fighting so desperately +day after day.</p> + +<p>Hanky Panky in particular displayed considerable delight at the +prospect of once more turning their faces toward home. He had, to tell +the truth, become weary of all these pictures of savage warfare, and +yearned to again gaze upon peaceful scenes such as the country beyond +the sea held in store for them. Faces of his boyhood friends were +appearing before him in his dreams every single night, and too the +loved ones left behind had never seemed one half so precious as +now.</p> + +<p>“This fighting business may be all very well for those who +like it,” Hanky Panky was saying as they prepared to cross the +ford again, this time on the ambulance that would take Andre, as well +as several other wounded men, to the hospitals of Paris, “but +I’m not much of a hand at that game. Baseball and football are +the limit of my scrapping abilities. This thing of standing up before a +quick-firing battery, and getting punched all full of holes, +doesn’t appeal to me at all, though Josh here seems to never get +enough of watching men shoot each other down.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! say, don’t make me out to be a regular +<i>savage</i>,” remonstrated Josh, in turn; “I feel just as +bad as the next one to see a man get hurt; but my folks came of a line +of soldiers, I guess, because some of ’em fought in the +Revolutionary War; so it must be in my blood to want to see stirring +sights all the time. Now, I wouldn’t be caught attending a bull +fight, or even watching two roosters scrap, because that makes me sick; +but when men are standing up and sacrificing their lives for love of +their country it somehow just thrills me to the marrow, and I never can +drag myself away. But all the same I confess I’ll be glad to get +back home again. There are plenty of ways to get excitement without +being on the battle line.”</p> + +<p>They took a last look around them, wishing to carry away a full +remembrance of the scene at the captured ford. How often would every +item of that never-to-be-forgotten engagement come back to haunt them +in memory, as time passed, and they found themselves amidst other +surroundings. In the bellowing of the thunder they might start up in +bed to again fancy themselves listening to the roar of the guns on both +sides of the Marne; in imagination to see the valiant French as they +splashed through the breast-high waters, seeking to reach the bank +where the grim Germans held the fort, and poured such a merciless fire +upon them.</p> + +<p>So they crossed the river again, dryshod, and hastened to where they +had secreted their precious motorcycles. According to Rod they would +possibly be able to make the French capital before night had fully set +in; but even though delayed on the road this could easily be +accomplished on the morrow.</p> + +<p>Then, after getting a little rest, they would strike out for Havre +or Boulogne, and take passage across on the first boat that could give +them any sort of accommodations; for in the rush of American tourists +to get home people were even willing to sleep in the steerage in order +to quit the inhospitable shores of Europe in flames.</p> + +<p>“Take your last look back, fellows,” said Rod, after +they had said good-bye to Andre and recovered their machines.</p> + +<p>They stood on a slight eminence from which they could see the river +and the French forces beyond. Apparently the council of war had been of +brief duration, and must have settled on starting in pursuit of the +fleeing German rearguard, for already the troops were in motion, with +batteries hastening along the road taken by the enemy.</p> + +<p>“Good luck to you all!” said Josh, waving his hat toward +the Frenchmen, whom they had come to regard highly; “and +here’s wishing that when the end of the war comes it will bring +glory to France; for her noble sons deserve everything that is good. +And now, Rod, say the word, and we’ll make our getaway from +here.”</p> + +<p>“Then here goes!” called out the leader, as he straddled +his machine and started his engine.</p> + +<p>With a succession of popping reports he was off, Hanky Panky quickly +following suit, and Josh bringing up the rear. Thus they started toward +Paris, with high hopes of getting to the French capital before long, +and then continuing their journey to the coast.</p> + +<p>Whether they succeeded in escaping any more thrilling perils or not +while in the country of the Great War does not concern us just now; all +that can be left to another story at some future date. They had played +a manly part in taking up the cause of the poor little woman in +Antwerp, and believed they would never be sorry on account of having +decided to search for Andre on the battle line before Paris.</p> + +<p class='tac mt20 mb40'>THE END.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='tac fs14 mt20 mb10'>The Big Five Motorcycle Boys Series</p> + +<p class='tac mb10'>By RALPH MARLOW</p> + +<p class='tac fss mb20'>Price, 40 Cents per Volume, Postpaid</p> + +<p class='tiz'>It is doubtful whether a more entertaining lot of +boys ever before appeared in a story than the “Big +Five,” who figure in the pages of these volumes. From +cover to cover the reader will be thrilled and delighted +with the accounts of their many adventures.</p> + +<table summary='booklist'><tr><td> +<p class='tin'>THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS ON THE BATTLE LINE;<br />or, With the Allies in France.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS AT THE FRONT;<br />or, Carrying Dispatches Through Belgium.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS UNDER FIRE;<br />or, With the Allies in the War Zone.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS’ SWIFT ROAD CHASE;<br />or, Surprising the Bank Robbers.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS ON FLORIDA TRAILS;<br />or, Adventures Among the Saw Palmetto Crackers.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS IN TENNESSEE WILDS;<br />or, The Secret of Walnut Ridge.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS THROUGH BY WIRELESS;<br />or, A Strange Message from the Air.</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='tac fs14 mt20 mb10'>The Boy Chums Series</p> + +<p class='tac mb10'>By WILMER M. ELY</p> + +<p class='tac fss mb20'>Price, 40 Cents per Volume, Postpaid</p> + +<p class='tiz'>In this series of remarkable stories are described the +adventures of two boys in the great swamps of interior +Florida, among the cays off the Florida coast, and +through the Bahama Islands. These are real, live boys, +and their experiences are worth following.</p> + +<table summary='booklist'><tr><td> +<p class='tin'>THE BOY CHUMS IN MYSTERY LAND;<br />or, Charlie West and Walter Hazard among the Mexicans.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BOY CHUMS ON INDIAN RIVER;<br />or, The Boy Partners of the Schooner “Orphan.”</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BOY CHUMS ON HAUNTED ISLAND;<br />or, Hunting for Pearls in the Bahama Islands.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BOY CHUMS IN THE FOREST;<br />or, Hunting for Plume Birds in the Florida Everglades.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BOY CHUMS’<br />PERILOUS CRUISE; or, Searching for Wreckage on the Florida Coast.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BOY CHUMS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO;<br />or, A Dangerous Cruise with the Greek Spongers.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BOY CHUMS CRUISING IN FLORIDA WATERS;<br />or, The Perils and Dangers of the Fishing Fleet.</p> +<p class='tin'>THE BOY CHUMS IN THE FLORIDA JUNGLE;<br />or, Charlie West and Walter Hazard with the Seminole Indians.</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='tac fs14 mt20 mb10'>The Boy Scouts Series</p> + +<p class='tac mb10'>By HERBERT CARTER</p> + +<p class='tac fss mb20'>Price, 40 Cents per Volume, Postpaid</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS ON WAR TRAILS IN BELGIUM; <span +class='bold'>or, Caught Between the Hostile Armies.</span> In this +volume we follow the thrilling adventures of the boys in the midst of +the exciting struggle abroad.</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS DOWN IN DIXIE; <span class='bold'>or, The +Strange Secret of Alligator Swamp.</span> Startling experiences awaited +the comrades when they visited the Southland. But their knowledge of +woodcraft enabled them to overcome all difficulties.</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA. A story of +Burgoyne’s defeat in 1777.</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS’ FIRST CAMP FIRE; <span +class='bold'>or, Scouting with the Silver Fox Patrol.</span> This book +brims over with woods lore and the thrilling adventure that befell the +Boy Scouts during their vacation in the wilderness.</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; <span class='bold'>or, +Marooned Among the Moonshiners.</span> This story tells of the strange +and mysterious adventures that happened to the Patrol in their trip +among the moonshiners of North Carolina.</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL; <span class='bold'>or, +Scouting through the Big Game Country.</span> The story recites the +adventures of the members of the Silver Fox Patrol with wild animals of +the forest trails and the desperate men who had sought a refuge in this +lonely country.</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS; <span +class='bold'>or, The New Test for the Silver Fox Patrol.</span> Thad +and his chums have a wonderful experience when they are employed by the +State of Maine to act as Fire Wardens.</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; <span +class='bold'>or, The Search for the Lost Tenderfoot.</span> A serious +calamity threatens the Silver Fox Patrol. How apparent disaster is +bravely met and overcome by Thad and his friends, forms the main theme +of the story.</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; <span class='bold'>or, +The Secret of the Hidden Silver Mine.</span> The boys’ tour takes +them into the wildest region of the great Rocky Mountains and here they +meet with many strange adventures.</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS ON STURGEON ISLAND; <span +class='bold'>or, Marooned Among the Game Fish Poachers.</span> Thad +Brewster and his comrades find themselves in the predicament that +confronted old Robinson Crusoe; only it is on the Great Lakes that they +are wrecked instead of the salty sea.</p> + +<p class='tin'>THE BOY SCOUTS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA; <span +class='bold'>or, The Silver Fox Patrol Caught in a Flood.</span> The +boys of the Silver Fox Patrol, after successfully braving a terrific +flood, become entangled in a mystery that carries them through many +exciting adventures.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='tac fs14 mt20 mb10'>Our Young Aeroplane Scouts Series</p> + +<p class='tac mb10 fss'>(Registered in the United States Patent Office)</p> + +<p class='tac mb10'>By HORACE PORTER</p> + +<p class='tac fss mb20'>Price, 40 Cents per Volume, Postpaid</p> + +<p class='tiz'>A series of stories of two American boy aviators in the +great European war zone. The fascinating life in midair +is thrillingly described. The boys have many exciting +adventures, and the narratives of their numerous +escapes make up a series of wonderfully interesting +stories.</p> + +<table summary='booklist'><tr><td> +<p class='tin'>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ENGLAND;<br />or, Twin Stars in the London Sky Patrol.</p> +<p class='tin'>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ITALY;<br />or, Flying with the War Eagles of the Alps.</p> +<p class='tin'>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM;<br />or, Saving the Fortunes of the Trouvilles.</p> +<p class='tin'>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN GERMANY;<br />or, Winning the Iron Cross.</p> +<p class='tin'>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN RUSSIA;<br />or, Lost on the Frozen Steppes.</p> +<p class='tin'>OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN TURKEY;<br />or, Bringing the Light to Yusef.</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS ON THE BATTLE LINE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 30969-h.txt or 30969-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/9/6/30969">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/9/6/30969</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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