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- float: left; - margin-right: 1em } - -.align-right { clear: right; - float: right; - margin-left: 1em } - -.align-center { margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto } - -div.shrinkwrap { display: table; } - -/* SECTIONS */ - -body { margin: 5% 10% 5% 10% } - -/* compact list items containing just one p */ -li p.pfirst { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0 } - -.first { margin-top: 0 !important; - text-indent: 0 !important } -.last { margin-bottom: 0 !important } - -span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } -img.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; max-width: 25% } -span.dropspan { font-variant: small-caps } - -.no-page-break { page-break-before: avoid !important } - -/* PAGINATION */ - -.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.lineno { position: absolute; left: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.lineno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.toc-pageref { float: right } - -@media screen { - .coverpage, .frontispiece, .titlepage, .verso, .dedication, .plainpage - { margin: 10% 0; } - - div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage - { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } - - .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } -} - -@media print { - div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } - div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } - - .vfill { margin-top: 20% } - h2.title { margin-top: 20% } -} - -/* DIV */ -pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } - -</style> -<title>THE BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE</title> -<meta name="PG.Rights" content="Public Domain" /> -<meta name="PG.Title" content="The Boy Scouts to the Rescue" /> -<meta name="PG.Producer" content="Al Haines" /> -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<meta name="DC.Creator" content="George Durston" /> -<meta name="DC.Created" content="1921" /> -<meta name="PG.Id" content="45202" /> -<meta name="PG.Released" content="2014-03-24" /> -<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> -<meta name="DC.Title" content="The Boy Scouts to the Rescue" /> - -<link href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" rel="schema.DCTERMS" /> -<link href="http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators" rel="schema.MARCREL" /> -<meta content="The Boy Scouts to the Rescue" name="DCTERMS.title" /> -<meta content="scouts.rst" name="DCTERMS.source" /> -<meta content="en" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC4646" name="DCTERMS.language" /> -<meta content="2014-03-24T22:10:51.665060+00:00" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.modified" /> -<meta content="Project Gutenberg" name="DCTERMS.publisher" /> -<meta content="Public Domain in the USA." name="DCTERMS.rights" /> -<link href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45202" rel="DCTERMS.isFormatOf" /> -<meta content="George Durston" name="DCTERMS.creator" /> -<meta content="2014-03-24" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.created" /> -<meta content="width=device-width" name="viewport" /> -<meta content="EpubMaker 0.3.20 by Marcello Perathoner <webmaster@gutenberg.org>" name="generator" /> -</head> -<body> -<div class="document" id="the-boy-scouts-to-the-rescue"> -<h1 class="center document-title level-1 pfirst title"><span class="x-large">THE BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE</span></h1> - -<!-- this is the default PG-RST stylesheet --> -<!-- figure and image styles for non-image formats --> -<!-- default transition --> -<!-- default attribution --> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="clearpage"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="align-None container language-en pgheader" id="pg-header" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>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 </span><a class="reference internal" href="#project-gutenberg-license">Project Gutenberg License</a><span> -included with this eBook or online at -</span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a><span>.</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-None container" id="pg-machine-header"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>Title: The Boy Scouts to the Rescue -<br /> -<br />Author: George Durston -<br /> -<br />Release Date: March 24, 2014 [EBook #45202] -<br /> -<br />Language: English -<br /> -<br />Character set encoding: UTF-8</span></p> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-start-line"><span>*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>THE BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> -</div> -<div class="align-None container coverpage"> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 74%" id="figure-19"> -<img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Cover art" src="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Cover art</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container frontispiece"> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 78%" id="figure-20"> -<span id="they-sent-the-message-quickly-accurately"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="They sent the message quickly, accurately." src="images/img-front.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">They sent the message quickly, accurately.</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container titlepage"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="x-large">THE BOY SCOUTS -<br />TO THE RESCUE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">By -<br />GEORGE DURSTON</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY -<br />Chicago — AKRON, OHIO — New York</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="small">Made in U. S. A.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container verso"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="small">Copyright, MCMXXI -<br />By -<br />The Saalfield Publishing Co.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="from-shell-crater-to-first-aid"><span class="bold x-large">THE BOY SCOUTS -<br />TO THE RESCUE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center largebold pfirst"><span>CHAPTER I</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">FROM SHELL CRATER TO FIRST AID</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>There were three figures lying in the bottom -of the great shell crater that yawned close to the -German line. It had been made by a French shell, -so a great mound of dirt had been cast up on the -side next the enemy. One of the bodies in the -close group lay in the stiff, distorted attitude in -which a sudden and horrible death had frozen him. -The second lay quite limp, unseeing, uncaring—the -attitude of a man desperately hurt. Only the -third, rather small and slender, lay curled up much -as a vigilant cat might, trying to give the impression -of sleep or death, but with every faculty and -nerve like live wires. His eyes were open, and -with every ounce of force in him he was listening, -plotting and planning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Under the thick mud the uniforms worn by the -different men were indistinguishable. The -coating was a thick, slimy, even gray. The figure -whose alert, piercing eyes studied his surroundings -so carefully shivered steadily. He was -chilled to the bone. As it grew darker, he rolled -slowly over on his back, and for a while studied the -edge of the crater as its rough edges showed dark -against the sky. All seemed well. Not a head, -not a bayonet, could cut that jagged line without -his knowing it. The Huns would not make a -sortie now. Exhausted themselves, they were -depending on the exhaustion of the French for a -short, unspoken truce of a few hours.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The living figure in the crater rolled over and -on hands and knees crept to the body nearest him. -He felt over it carefully. The face, drained of -blood, was ghastly cold in the steady, fine rain -that beat on it; but there was life in that still body. -If he could only get help!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He laid the head back on its slimy resting place -and crawled carefully to the top of the crater next -the French trenches. He must get help! Otherwise -the Lieutenant would die. The wet ground -gave with him, but he persisted and with a mighty -effort raised his face over the edge. Then with a -stifled cry he dropped back. Another face, dim -and strange in the darkness, was there. It met -him eye to eye, not three inches from his face.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The cold, drizzling rain fell steadily into the -sodden trench chilling the soldiers who crouched -and huddled against the streaming sides of the -shelter, if shelter it could be called. The trench -was very close to the enemy. An almost constant -succession of flares sent up by the Germans lit -the racked and tattered landscape. In the fitful -light it looked unreal, impossible.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Torn fields, shattered trees, ploughed fields -everywhere, with yawning shell craters on every side.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The expanse of ground between the lines was -made terrible by the shell craters. Day was -ending, and in the dim, yellow half light the uneven, -edges of the deep and ragged holes threw narrow, -black shadows that seemed to gash the riven fields. -Above, a couple of French airships circled. The -German planes had disappeared, and the Frenchmen -flew in widening circles above the enemies' -lines. The roar of the guns had diminished to an -occasional popping, with once in a while a -bellowing roar as some iron giant launched its terrible -missile. All day the Huns had hammered at the -stubborn line; all day the French, with their -American allies, had hammered in return. It had -commenced, this big battle, at daybreak; all day had -it raged without lull or pause, now from the -trenches, now frightful conflicts in the open. -Now, as though both sides acknowledged exhaustion -though not defeat, a lull had come. The men -in the trenches, almost delirious with fatigue, -dropped in the mud and water and slept. Red -Cross bearers came splashing along with their -burdens. Men wounded to the death whimpered -pitifully and babbled of home, or bore their agony -in stony silence. Out somewhere in No-Man's-Land, -the terrible stretch lying between the two -lines, out there in the gathering darkness, a clear, -high tenor voice commenced to sing:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"We're going home, we're going home,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>We're going home to-morrow."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Clear and sweet the voice sounded. Another -flare went up; then a German gun commenced to -drop shells in the direction of the voice. It was -as though they would gladly waste a dozen shells -on the chance of stilling that sweet singer. The -voice went on, growing gradually weaker, but lifting -true, sweet notes until there came a little break -and—stillness. A last venomous shot whined -toward the spot where the singer lay, his young -voice hushed forever.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The darkness deepened, and the flares, increasing -in number, gave the place an unreal, ghastly -light, like some gigantic and unending nightmare. -Something that could not be possible, </span><em class="italics">must</em><span> -not be possible, but which was to go on and on -and on endlessly, relentlessly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At last it was black night.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A sergeant made his way along the trench, -slipping and sliding through the mud and ooze. He -gave commands in muffled whispers, and a number -of the exhausted men turned and followed him -when he returned to the outlet of the trench. -Lying so close to the border of No-Man's-Land, -across which it was possible for an occasional -spy to invade their trench, the greatest care was -taken in every possible way to discover and check -such invasion. When there was no firing to cover -the sound, the men talked in whispers when they -talked at all, which was seldom. The bitter -business of war had seemed to strip from them all -desire to talk.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were moving stealthily along when a slight -figure bounded into the trench and slid and -tumbled to the bottom. He hurried back and forth -the length of the trench, then plunged like a human -ferret into the small, twisted tunnel that led down -and down twenty feet or more underground to the -rest house, a scooped-out chamber of clay where -there was actual safety unless—unless the tunnel -caved! Looking in on the group of wounded and -exhausted men who occupied the space, he spoke -a name. No one answered. The men paid no -attention. They were wholly wrapped up in their -own misery. He climbed once more into the -trench, then, glancing round to see if he was -observed, he scrambled lightly up the side and in -another moment was over the top and, flat on -the ground, was wriggling a cautious, -snake-like way across the horrors of No-Man's-Land.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His heart beat heavily; it seemed as though it -could be heard twenty feet away. He was bent -on a fearful and almost impossible errand; an -errand that might cost him his life. And life was -sweet to the boy who proceeded to work his way -across the terrible stretch of No-Man's-Land.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had no reason for going, no plan; simply -something told him the direction to take in his -strange quest. Every time a flare burst against -the murky sky he dropped flat on his face and, -assuming some strained, distorted position, lay -motionless until the light died out once more. -This happened every two minutes or so. It took -endless patience to work his way forward. He -was impelled to hurry, to take the chance of -continuing his course even under the bright light of -the flares. But he knew that it would be death to -him and possible death to the one he sought. As -he wormed his way forward he turned slowly to -the right. Stronger and stronger he felt the -strange certainty that never failed to tell him that -he was right. He was approaching the person -whom he sought.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The feeling of coming success buoyed him and -gave him courage. He scarcely dared to breathe. -Slower and slower he crawled, worming his way -along, over and around the horrors in his path. -The moments seemed like hours, the hours like -days. Finally he came to a huge shell crater. He -approached its edge and looked over as a flare, -brighter than usual, lit the desolation of -No-Man's-Land. And as he looked, a face, mud covered, -bruised yet familiar, looked into his. So close -were the two faces that they nearly touched. Just -for an instant the face in the deep ditch drew -back; then two voices, whispering in a low tone, -said, "Hello!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fellow in the crater sagged wearily against -the steep incline of the side of the pit. He looked -at the other and sighed a sigh of unutterable relief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gee, I thought you would never come!" he said -in a low tone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Keep still!" whispered the other, taking the -boy below him by the collar and scarcely breathing -the words aloud. "Are you hurt?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not a scratch!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, take a hand and come along out. This is -no place for us; and you have some tall explaining -to do to the General!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We have to take the Lieutenant with us," said -the boy in the crater.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What Lieutenant?" demanded the other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lieutenant Bogardus. The General sent me -after him. That's why I am here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What ails him?" demanded the boy on the ledge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All shot up," said the other. "Darned if I -know how badly. He is unconscious but was alive -the last time I felt of him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boy on top turned cautiously around and -slid, feet first, into the slippery, oozy pit. He -followed to the side of the unconscious man, and -as the next flare illumined the sky he ran a hand -delicately over the tattered body. He shook his -head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not much hope, I should say," he whispered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It doesn't matter," declared the other; "we -have got to get him back to our lines."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right!" said the other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Together they lifted and pulled the limp body -to the level of the ground, and then as carefully as -they could they lifted it and, stumbling and -swaying and falling, they made their way back. They -could not wait for caution; the flares went up -unheeded. A sharpshooter near the enemy's line -discovered the strange, shambling group and -commenced peppering at it as each flare brought them -into view. The bullets whined over and around -them. One cut its way through the sleeve of one -boy, but did not touch the skin beneath. They felt -no fear. The man whom they were carrying was -thin and rather small, but his limp body weighed -cruelly on their young muscles. With set teeth -and streaming faces they kept on in their flight. -At last when their breath cut them like knives -and their knees almost refused to support them, -they reached the safety of their own line and, -laying their burden down on the edge of the trench, -they slipped down and in a moment were -surrounded by helpers. The wounded man was -hustled into the nearest shelter and given first aid, -while a quick little corporal scrambled off and was -back almost at once with stretcher bearers and a -canvas litter. The two boys accompanied the -wounded man back to the First Aid Station, an -underground, roughly boarded chamber where -desperate looking men worked silently at their task of -keeping life in the tattered forms brought in to -them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While they labored over the still form just -brought in, the boys dropped wearily down on the -wet ground outside the first aid room, and looked -at each other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A pale glow from the first aid room below them -shone upward on their white faces. They were -caked with mud and grime but even through that -mask a marvelous resemblance could be seen. -Feature for feature, line for line, they were alike. -Even their gestures were alike. As they sat -staring at each other, they looked like some queer, -repeated design; a double boy smirched and hollow-eyed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They stared steadily at each other, then the boy -on the ledge cleared his throat and spoke, still -in the guardedly low tone that gets to be a habit -with the men in the trenches.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Porky, old sport," he said, affectionately -patting the other's soggy knee, "you gave me a -nice little old jolt this time for fair! How in the -name of time did you get out there in that shell -crater? Gosh, if it wasn't for my hunches I dunno -where you would be when you pull off these -stunts!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's the matter with </span><em class="italics">my</em><span> hunches?" demanded -the boy called Porky. "I don't see but -what I have about as many as you have. I was -waitin' for you. Knew you would hunt me up if -I gave you time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gave me </span><em class="italics">time</em><span>!" exclaimed the boy addressed. -"Gave me </span><em class="italics">time</em><span>! I hustled out there as soon as I -commenced to feel you wanted me. Honest, I -don't see how people who are not twins ever get -along. But I tell you they are laying for you at -headquarters. The General is mad; just plain -honest-to-goodness mad at you. I don't see why -you had to pull off this and get us in all -wrong." He leaned forward and whispered. "There is -something doing up there—something big; and I -think we are in on it. I don't know just how, but I -heard enough to let me know that much. Perhaps -you have queered it by cutting up this caper. -Honest, Porky, what possessed you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Possessed me?" exploded Porky. "Possessed -me! Why, all I did was what I was </span><em class="italics">told</em><span> to do!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"According to the General, you were sent on -an errand that should have taken you half an hour. -Instead you stay all day and I have to come dig -you out of a shell crater about fifty feet from the -German line. That's a peach of a way to do!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, hold up a minute!" said Porky. "Just -you hold on! Of course I was sent on an errand! -Know what it was? I was told to go get Lieutenant -Bogardus and fetch him over to the General's -headquarters. Well, I'm bringing him, ain't I? I -have got him this far, anyhow. I am doing the -best I can. I wish you could have seen me -chasing that loon all over the place. I'm all in! I -tell you, Beany, I have had some time! It makes -me sore, too. I might have brought in a prisoner -all by myself if I hadn't had to fool with the -Lieutenant. Go down and see what they are doing, -will you, please? I'm dog tired, and I've got to -get a move on and report to the General as soon as -I know whether Bogardus can go along up there -with me. I bet he can't; and I was told to bring -him back with me!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He leaned back and shut his eyes while Beany -slid down to the first aid room. A glance showed -him the condition of the unfortunate Lieutenant, -and he hurried back to his brother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He won't go anywhere with you </span><em class="italics">this</em><span> evening," -he said with the unconcern of those who are used to -terrible scenes and fearful wounds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's get on, then," said his brother, rising -stiffly and moving off in the darkness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The other followed, and without further -conversation they wound their way through the ruined -streets of a devastated village where unsightly -heaps of stones and mortar marked the site of -pleasant homes. Stumbling along over the -shell-ploughed, uneven ground, they walked for perhaps -a mile until they turned into what had been a -magnificent private estate. Nothing but cracked and -crumbling posts were left of the splendid gateway. -They passed onward through the ruins of a -wonderful old park where they were twice stopped by -vigilant sentries who demanded the countersign -and turned a flashlight on their muddy faces. -Turning and twisting, they followed the path up to -the ruined castle which stood on a little rise of -ground.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the door, a high carved portal hanging and -swaying on one hinge, they were stopped by -another soldier, who recognized them, saluted, and -stepped aside. They were not delayed again. -Through what had once been a magnificent -entrance hall they went, turned down one passage -after another, sometimes finding themselves in -unroofed and utterly wrecked portions of the great -building. At last they were in a narrow, covered -hallway, at the end of which was a door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The hall was quite dark; they could just see to -make their way along. As they approached the -door at the end, the form of a man stooping -against the panels slipped aside and seemed to -disappear into space. There was no turn, no -further passage down which he could have gone. -One moment he was outlined against the white -surface; the next he had vanished.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys stopped involuntarily and turned to -each other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you see that?" said Porky. "Or am I -getting batty?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where did he go!" said Beany quickly for answer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They slowly approached the door. There was -a little L in the passage at the end but no outlet, -no doorway. The walls, heavily faced with -ancient oak, had no opening.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What was he doing?" said Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Listening, I should say," said his brother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They looked the door over carefully, and -listened with keen ears pressed against it. Not a -murmur could be heard through its heavy surface. -It was queer. Behind that door was the council -room and private office of General Pershing. No -one without proper credentials was ever allowed -to enter the passageway leading to it. Yet both -boys had seen the stooping figure, and both boys -had seen it apparently vanish into space.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come on in," said Porky at last. "I have got -to make my report."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You go on," said Beany. "I don't have to -report anything, and I want to look into this a -little. It looks mighty queer to me. Where do -you suppose that guy went?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Search me!" said Porky. "I know where </span><em class="italics">this</em><span> -guy will go if I don't get on something dry and -have a chance for a little sleep. Go ahead, prowl -around and see what you can find."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He knocked, using a peculiar shuffling rap on the -white panel. The door was instantly opened by -a soldier and Porky stepped into the presence of -the Commanding General.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-panel-in-the-wall"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER II</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE PANEL IN THE WALL</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>A pair of piercing yet kindly eyes were fixed on -Porky as he came to attention and awaited -permission to approach the huge table at which sat -General Pershing and several members of his -staff. Porky was conscious of something serious -in the air. The faces that looked up as he -entered were serious, and some of them frowning. -Colonel Bright threw him a glance, then continued -his restless tramp up and down the further end -of the large apartment. Only General Pershing -seemed wholly at ease. He beckoned the boy. -Porky came and stood opposite the General, the -width of the table between them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your report," said the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky breathed more freely. He was to be -given a chance to explain his tardy arrival, at least, -before being reprimanded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I report, sir, that I brought Lieutenant Bogardus -as far as the First Aid Station in trench D," -he said. "He is unconscious and could not come -here. They think he will not die."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is unconscious," repeated the General, -while Colonel Bright stopped his steady stride and -stared at the boy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir," said Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you find him at the wireless station?" -asked the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sir," said Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where then?" snapped the officer with seeming -impatience.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In a shell crater, sir, just outside the German -lines," said the boy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General started to his feet, then settled -back in his chair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Make your report," he said quietly. "Make -it unofficially, in your own way. I can follow it -better."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir," said Porky, saluting again. He was -so tired that he swayed, and involuntarily he -caught at the edge of the table. The keen eyes -watching him noticed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A chair!" he demanded, and some one shoved -a seat toward Porky, who gratefully sank into it. -He passed a weary, shaking hand across his brow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is a pity to make you tell your story now," -said the General kindly. "I am sorry. When -you have finished you shall have a rest for a few -days. But time means everything just now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't mind, sir," said Porky. Some one offered -him a cup of hot tea and he drank it greedily. -It revived him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm awfully obliged, General, sir," he said -gratefully. "I guess I can tell the story clearer -if I tell it sort of plain and fast.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I went away from here, and went straight to -the wireless station where you told me. I found -the men all working over the instrument. One of -the pins had come loose and had fallen out. They -couldn't find it anywhere, and they were having a -great fuss.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The planes were trying to communicate with -them, and signaling them to answer. One plane -came so low we could see that they were crazy to -say something. We didn't find out what they -wanted, at least I didn't, because I started on after -Lieutenant Bogardus. He had left the station -just before I got there. I kept after him all -afternoon. It seemed like every place he went, I got -there just after he had gone on. He had that -bunch of papers you gave him, General, and was -leaving them all around at the different sectors -and with the different officers you had had them -addressed to. He certainly was a busy chap. I -never </span><em class="italics">could</em><span> catch up with him. I guess I walked -a million miles. It was fierce, too. Wherever I -went, I found trouble. Just one of those days, -you know, General."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know," said the General, smiling strangely.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, just before dark I was up in that -opening between the trenches, just beyond the next -village, you know, where the church used to stand. -Somebody had told me that Lieutenant Bogardus -had been seen walking that way, and it struck me -that perhaps he had a few hours' leave, and was -just roaming around for a rest. But I knew I had -to collar him, so I went on looking, and pretty soon -I saw somebody way ahead sort of going along -among the tree trunks, as though he didn't care -much to see anybody. He had on our uniform, -and I had a hunch it was Lieutenant Bogardus. -So I followed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He went on to a rise of ground, and before I -could get close enough to see who it was, he -whipped out a little bit of a pistol that made a -funny little pop when it went off, and he shot it -off; all the shots it held, I guess. He made a sort -of code of it like a telegraph. Right off there was -a couple of little pops in the same sort of voice, -from over by the Germans. I thought it came -from a tree over there. Anyhow, the man I was -following looked around, didn't see anybody, and -started right across in the open. Well, sir, that -was pretty queer, it seemed to me! </span><em class="italics">Some</em><span> one in -our uniform walking around out there and it made -me forget all about Lieutenant Bogardus, and I -commenced to follow. Only I got down and -crawled. It was getting darker, but I could see -perfectly plain. Then I guess somebody saw us, -or a plane reported, or something. Anyhow, all -at once both sides commenced to shoot. Well I -thought I was a gone goose, sir. They hit -everything but me, I should say. Then the Germans -commenced to throw smoke bombs, and I nearly -lost my man. But I hurried and most caught up -to him, when I saw a German captain come sneaking -along, and I guessed I would wait before I -spoke to Lieutenant Bogardus, if it </span><em class="italics">was</em><span> him. Of -course I was sure I was on the wrong trail by this -time, but I thought as long as I was there I had -better see what was doing, and look for -Lieutenant Bogardus when I got back. I knew -something pretty important was up, because those -men wouldn't risk moseying around right in -daylight almost. Gee, I didn't feel as big as -anything!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And in a minute I felt smaller than ever -because a shell the size of a church came along from -our lines, and </span><em class="italics">bing</em><span>! I was all dirt, and cut up -with little stones, and when I could look around, -there ahead was a big shell crater. I ran over -and looked in. There was a bayonet lying there -right on the edge, and I grabbed it. I don't know -why, except you know how you feel about having -a stick or something to hold and I was pretty glad -I did afterwards. The man I had followed was -lying there in the shell crater, on his back. I -could see he was hurt pretty bad. A flare went -up, and I saw it was Bogardus. He looked -pretty bad. But what got my alleys, General, -was that the German was beside him, and he -was going through his pockets just like lightning. -The German had a broken leg himself, but I didn't -know that. Well, I let out a yell that was some -yell, and I jumped down, bayonet and all, right -on the German's neck. I was so mad I didn't -think what I did. And I guess I sort of twisted -his neck or something, because he crumpled right -up, and I thought I had killed him. So I tried to -straighten Bogardus out, and I put the papers that -the Germ had back in his pocket, and what to do -next I didn't know.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And all at once I felt something behind me, -and it was the other man. He had come to, and -was trying to get his revolver out of his pocket. -Gee, he looked at me ugly! I said as polite as -I could, 'You cut that out!' but he got it loose, and -shot at me, and he just </span><em class="italics">did</em><span> miss me and that was -all. And then he tried again, and I had to do -something quick, so I just took that bayonet—just -took that bayonet—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right," said the General. "All in the -day's work, my boy. Go on!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky swallowed hard a couple of times.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, there I was with Bogardus, and your -orders to have him report to you; and he was not -in any condition to report to </span><em class="italics">anybody</em><span>. So I had -to wait until my brother could come and help me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How did he know where you were?" demanded -the General in astonishment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He always knows," said Porky. "We are -twins, and we always know when the other is in -trouble of any sort. So I knew he would find me, -and I just sat tight, and I did get a little -worried, but I knew he would come, and he did."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky chuckled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And when he looked at me over the edge of that -crater, I most threw a fit. I was looking for him -so hard that it scared me when I saw him. Anyhow, -there he was, and it was dark pretty soon, and -we brought Bogardus back."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You carried him?" asked the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir. He is pretty thin," said Porky simply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What became of the German?" asked the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Back there in the shell crater," said Porky, -frowning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder if he had any valuable papers on -him," mused the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know, sir," said Porky, beginning to -fish in his pockets. "I thought of that, so I just -went through him and took everything he had." He -commenced to lay things out on the table in -little piles. The men watched him with interest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The collection was well worth while. Several -official letters, some maps, a number of orders, and -some codes. There was also a packet of blank -paper that Porky put carefully aside. The -General leaned over and picked it up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing here," he said, tossing it down.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky picked it up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know, sir," he said. "We had something -like this at home awhile ago. We came near -missing out on it, too. If you will excuse me!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He leaned over and held the first page near the -heat of the candle. On the instant the sheet was -covered with fine writing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General gave a muttered exclamation and -leaned back in his chair. "What next?" he -demanded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's about all," said Porky. "Bogardus is -in hospital by now, I suppose, and I'm sorry it took -me so long. I certainly did seem to miss him all -around. I'm real sorry, sir. Next time you give -me anything to do, I will try to do better."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That would be impossible," said the General. -"Just a moment, my boy, while I make a note or -two, and then you can be relieved from all duty for -forty-eight hours. You have earned a rest. We -will have to go through these papers and plans -carefully before we can decide anything for your -future reference. Just sit there while I write."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He turned to his desk and, pulling a sheet of -paper toward him, commenced covering it with his -strong, distinctive handwriting. Porky, in the -big chair opposite, watched him for a little, then -he rested his head on his hand and commenced to -think of all the events of the long, gruelling, -wearisome day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And presently he did not think at all; just -listened to the steady scratch, scratch, scratch of the -General's pen and the steady tramp, tramp, tramp -of the Colonel as he softly paced up and down the -length of the somber room. And presently -that sound died away. Porky was asleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany, left to himself in the hall, went cautiously -and with noiseless touch over every portion of the -oak paneling. He could not find a joint or crack -that looked like a secret door or hidden entrance. -Then he examined the floor. It too appeared -solid. But Beany had one of his hunches. It -</span><em class="italics">looked</em><span> solid but he felt that it </span><em class="italics">wasn't</em><span> solid. -The man he had seen was not a ghost. He -was certainly too solid to disappear into thin air. -He had come from somewhere, and he had gone -somewhere. Benny made up his mind that he -would find out if it took all night. He stood -thinking. Then he whistled in an offhand manner, and -walked loudly down the hall to the turn. Round -the turn he went, until well out of sight. Then -Beany tried a trick of his boyhood days. He knew -from experience that any one watching for any -one else always fixes his eyes about where they -expect to see the face appear, never lower than that.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Beany, dropping flat on the floor, worked his -way back to the corner, flattened himself out to his -flattest, and with face against the tiles waited -patiently, his eyes fixed on the distant doorway. -The hallway was lighted with a small and feeble -kerosene lamp set high on a bracket. It gave a -dim light, but Beany could see the door distinctly -and the high wainscot on either side.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He stared at it steadily—so steadily and so long -that when at last a narrow panel in the woodwork -slid noiselessly over and a face looked out into the -hall, Beany did not start; he did not feel -surprised. All he was conscious of was a sort of -triumph. He wanted to sing out for his own benefit, -"I told you so."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The face staring from the panel looked straight -down the hall, as Beany had known it would. A -pair of bright, ferrety eyes stared at the turn, -but not once did they drop to the floor where -Beany's bright eyes watched every move. Beany -had to smile, it was so funny. The unknown -person leaned from the panel and watched four feet -above Beany's face, while in plain sight on the -floor Beany lay motionless and unnoticed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He watched while the person (he could not tell -at first whether it was a man or woman) looked -and listened. Then as if assured that the coast -was clear, the man, (for it was a man), stepped -out of the dark slit in the wall, carefully closed the -panel, and once more stood listening at the door. -He listened intently, then stooped, and bending in -a comfortable position on one knee, looked fixedly -through the great old-fashioned keyhole.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany watched breathlessly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a long time—it seemed days to Beany—the -man held his stooping position. Beany wished he -too could see what was going on inside that door. -He was sure, however, that it was nothing more -exciting than Porky's account of his chase after -Bogardus; and as Porky was an aggravatingly -low talker, he was pretty sure the man at the -keyhole would not be able to hear very much. Just -the same, Beany knew that here was something -serious and threatening. The man listened and -looked so intently that Beany seriously thought of -trying to creep up behind him, give the alarm, -grab him and hang on, trusting to luck that the -door would be opened soon enough to prevent the -man from killing him. It was a crazy idea and -Beany banished it. It was well that he did, for at -that moment the panel, which had been left partly -opened, slid wide and a second man appeared. He -was a tall man, apparently in uniform. What his -uniform was, Beany could not see. It was closely -covered with a long, closely-buttoned linen coat -and a nondescript cap covered his head. He -tapped the man at the keyhole sharply, and the -fellow straightened to a stiff salute. Beany could -not help admiring their utter coolness in the face -of discovery. At any moment the door might -open; at any moment some one might come down -the hall. Of course in that case, reflected our -self-appointed sleuth, they would walk over his legs, -and stop to make a fuss, during which the two men -would pop into the wall again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then while Beany watched, there followed a -violent, soundless discussion between the two. One -and then the other stooped to the keyhole. Then -the second man noiselessly stepped back into -the hole in the wall and closed the panel after him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By this time Beany was so excited that he had -no conception of time. It seemed a long while -before he saw the man at the door turn his head -and look at the panel. Then at last Beany saw -what he so wanted to see—the secret of its -opening. The man's hand sought something in the -upper left corner, Beany could not see in the poor -light just what it was, but the man pressed hard, -swinging considerable weight against it, and the -panel slid smoothly back. Another figure -appeared. It was a little, stooped woman. She had -a worn broom in her hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany recognized her at once as the deaf and -dumb peasant woman who pottered around the -offices brushing up and doing what odd jobs they -could make her understand about.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the present moment, however, she was anything -but deaf and dumb. She seized the man at -the door by the shoulder and shook him violently, -whispering a stream of comment in his ear. She -waved her broom threateningly, with an eye on -the door meanwhile. Beany wondered what she -would do if any one </span><em class="italics">did</em><span> come out.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He felt sure she would manage to carry off the -situation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Whatever she said was badly received by the -man. He pulled back and shook his head violently. -She stamped her old foot noiselessly. He -still rebelled, but she insisted in a continuous rush -of whispered words, while Beany felt his mouth -sag open and his eyes bulge with amazement. -Even in the midst of his surprise he could not help -wondering just what personal remarks he and -Porky had made about her on a dozen different -occasions in the few weeks that they had been -there. However, there was </span><em class="italics">one</em><span> happy thought. -He and his brother had spoken in English, a tongue -that must as a matter of course have meant -nothing to her ignorant old ears.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany was not to learn for a long while that the -old, stooped, ugly peasant, looking so typically -French and so pitifully silent and stupid, had once -been a famous German actress, as well as one of -the most brilliantly educated women of her time. -Once there had been a day when her parlors in -Berlin had been filled with the most renowned -and high-born men and women in the world. Not -only members of the highest circles of Germany, -but representatives from every other country. -To be asked to the home of Madame Z—— was the -dream of every young diplomat, writer, artist and -court favorite.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Yet now, perfectly disguised, stooped, bent, and -old, clad in rags, she stood clutching in one hand a -coarse home-made broom, while with the other -she kept a tight grip on the shoulder of the -rebellious man beside her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At last he nodded, and she turned and shoved -him before her into the passage in the wall, -following close behind and closing the panel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany was alone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He leaped to his feet and tiptoed down to the -door, a cautious eye on the panel. He lifted a -hand to knock on the door, then paused, and in -his turn applied an eye to the keyhole. It was a -huge old keyhole, made in the days when keys were -large enough to almost take the places of trench -billies. He could see most of the room. The -General sat writing at the desk. Across in an -armchair Porky leaned on the table, sound asleep. -There had been nothing for the spies to see this -time, at any rate. Then a wild thought came into -Beany's head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He did not wait to consider it. It was a crazy -thought, but to Beany in his excited state it was a -sane idea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He approached the panel, felt carefully in the -upper corner, pressed a dozen carvings and then, -just as he despaired, felt the heavy wood give -under his touch. He pushed the trap open and -without a moment's hesitation entered and closed -the door behind him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The passage was pitch dark.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="marking-time"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER III</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">MARKING TIME</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Sitting at his great carved table, once part of -the fittings of a glorious old library and now a -desk littered with official papers and maps, in the -room of one of the greatest commanders in the -world, the General finished the paper he was filling -out with so much care, and lifted his eyes to the -boy sitting so silently across the table. Then a -smile lighted the General's tired eyes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Asleep!" he said. "Brave lad, he is worn -out! Can't we manage to get him off to bed -without waking him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He pointed to a room opening off the one they -were in. "There is an extra cot in my room," -said the General. "A couple of you take him in -there." He beckoned his orderly. '"Get him -undressed and cover him well. Let him sleep as long -as he may."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So it came about that this was done; and in the -General's own room, Porky, like the healthy boy -that he was, slept and slept and slept. He did not -dream of the past hard hours. He did not think -of home, the pleasant house so far away where the -dear father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, -lived their busy, helpful lives, trying not to let -each other know just how they longed for the two -splendid boys they had given to their country. -But like others who had given their all, each knew -just how the other felt, and so tried by countless -little unaccustomed acts of tenderness to help each -other along. Nor did Porky dream of the other -boys, or the famous swimming hole. There were -no nightmares of school; no visions of Professor -Wilcox bearing a sheaf of examination papers. -Porky just slept and slept!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Night passed, breaking into such a wild and -storm-tossed morning that it was scarcely light at -all. There was a lull in the fighting that day and, -except for the sound of distant guns booming at -close intervals, the place was silent enough. The -office work went on quietly. A couple of typewriters -clacked busily. It might almost have been -an office on Broadway. The General sat long at -his desk, then mounted and rode off, accompanied -by his orderlies.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Colonel Bright, after scribbling a note which he -addressed to "the Potter boys" and left on the -desk, also took his horse and went clattering away -toward Paris.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Noon came. Still Porky slept, but at about two -o'clock he was awakened by the most faithful of all -the alarm clocks that a boy can have. He was -hungry, he was frightfully hungry, and his eyes came -open with a pop as he rose to his elbow and tried -to place himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he recognized his surroundings, he -bounded to his feet in a moment, and after some -prodigious stretching, hurried into his clothes, -which he found nicely dried and on a stool by his -cot. There was a table by the cot, and on it a -good breakfast; cold, of course, but it was food, -and there was plenty of it. What more can a -fellow ask?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he went out into the office expecting to -find the group he had left the night before, there -were only a couple of Captains, strangers to him, -officers who had just been transferred. Porky, -found the note from Colonel Bright.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It said simply:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Boys</em><span>:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"General Pershing has gone away for a conference. -I am off on almost the same errand, in -another direction. When you wake up, Porky, -you are to do as you like for forty-eight hours. -It is a leave given you on account of your good -work yesterday. I have not seen Beany at all -to-day. I enclose a pass that will take you wherever -you want to go within the lines. Don't go to the -outer trenches. Better take time to write some -letters home. We are in for some hot work here. -I don't mind telling you that there is a leak -somewhere. Keep your eyes and ears open.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>"Your friend,</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><span>"COLONEL BRIGHT."</span></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Porky folded the note and put it deep down in -his pocket. Then he turned to look at the two -officers. One of them was running the typewriter -like a veteran; the other, with a puckered brow, -was stabbing the keys with his middle fingers. He -was making awful work of it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky watched him for a while, then he went -over and saluted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I would be glad to write to your dictation, sir," -he said. "That is, if it is nothing personal."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I should say not!" said the officer. "I -am Captain Dowd, and this is a letter to a -military journal back home. They wrote me some -time ago for some dope, and I jotted down -something then. It is on scraps of paper, and they -couldn't read it as it is now written. I wanted -to put it in shape, and then add something of our -later experiences. Do you think you can do it, -and do you want to take the trouble?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir," said Porky heartily. "I just woke -up, and there is nothing for me to do until my -brother blows in. There is no use for me to go -after him, because he knows where I am. I can -write it for you in no time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's fine!" said the Captain in a relieved -tone. "At the rate I can work that old machine, -the war will be over about the time I finish; and -that's not hurrying the war any too much either. -I have a page done. You may go on from where I -left off if you will."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky sat down and the Captain drew up a -chair, and lighted a cigarette while he scanned -the soiled, ragged sheets of paper in his hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here we are," he said. "Fire away!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We are now getting the finishing touches to -our training, and you can rest assured that it is of -the most finished description, and we are ready -to get into the big fight at any time. Our -regiment, one of the first over, was inspected by -General Pershing the other day, and we feel that he -was fully satisfied with it. We have been told so -at any rate. Our regiment has learned the French -open order drills which is by sections instead of -squads. We have also had any amount of rifle -shooting and certainly know how to shoot. Then, -besides, we have had practice in throwing live -hand-grenades until our arms ached, but the use -of this deadly bomb is of the utmost importance -for close fighting as one grenade properly thrown -among the enemy is liable to wipe out a hundred -men. Besides this, we have been taught to shoot -hand-grenades and automatic rifles, and do about -everything that is infernal in warfare. Our -regiment and many of the others have all been -supplied with steel helmets, which have been dubbed -'tin lizzies.' They are not so very comfortable -to wear, but they have proved extremely valuable, -just the same, and have saved many lives and -more bad head wounds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We understand that the gas we are to greet -the Germans with is a better article than their -own. We surely do hope it is. We have had -trench work galore, with dugouts and wire -entanglements, some of them close on the enemy's front, -and others in our own training area. We have -marched about ten miles to the trenches, relieving -other battalions about three A.M. and holding the -trench until about six P.M. next day. At that time -we are relieved by another battalion and get back -to our billet about ten P.M. and by that time, what -with trench work and the tramp of twenty miles, -oh how precious we do find sleep!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When we are within our training area, we do -everything exactly as it is done on the firing line, -including the guard work, which is divided into -two reliefs, and everybody turns out at dawn, -which is the usual time the enemy makes his raids, -and we must be on the alert.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We have had long marches, battalion, regimental -and divisional maneuvers, and we always -march with full pack and a gas mask slung over -each shoulder."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Captain laid down his papers and rolled -another cigarette. Porky rested his hands on the -desk.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They have some new kind of mask, haven't -they?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes; haven't you seen them!" asked the Captain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sir," said Porky. "I just heard them -talking about them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are similar to the old ones, but I believe -they last longer," said the Captain. "They have -a filter can for the air that is strapped at your belt -Then there is the usual tube to your mouth. There -is a rubber cap that sets over the front teeth and -fits close to the gums, with little rubber dew -hickeys to bite on so you won't lose it out. There are -automatic rubber lips that close tight if you try to -breathe in any outside air, but open for the air -from the filter can."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Once more he picked up his papers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Our gas masks and our rifles we consider our -best friends and never lose them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps some data regarding the numerous -details of the military life we have to meet here -may be of interest, and I will give you some of it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Stringent orders have been given to all organization -commanders that they will be held strictly -responsible for any dirty or rusty arms and -equipment found among their men, and they must also -see that their men are clean-shaven and that their -billets are clean and orderly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A number of men who have disregarded -orders have been seriously injured while riding on -the top of cars. The French tunnels are very -low, and the men have been knocked off. Other -men, through carelessness, have fallen out of the -cars. The failure to assemble organizations at -the time set before the departure of trains has -resulted in the leaving of a number of men behind, -and the provost guards have had the job of -rounding the men up and forwarding them to their -command.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Even in France the destination of the detachment -must be kept absolutely secret throughout the -journey. No matter how long or how short the -journey turns out to be, the preparations are the -same. Organizations must entrain with two days' -field rations on the person of each man, two days' -travel rations for each man in the car with men, -and ten days' field rations in the baggage car.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The field train of the organization entraining, -must accompany it, with all its wagons loaded for -the field, especially with the cooking utensils, water -cans, paulins, three days' field rations for each -man, together with two days' field rations for each -animal.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The French town major points out the training -area and no other area can be used. Distances to -other posts will generally be found on posts on the -side of the road, shown in kilometers. A -kilometer is five-eighths of a mile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All time commences at naught, and ends at -twenty-four. Thus, for instance six P.M. would be -eighteen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's what gets my goat!" said Porky, -stopping to fix the ribbon. "It does make the longest -day, even after you get the hang of things, so you -know whether you are in to-day, or some time next -week."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It would seem something that way," said the -Captain, laughing. He continued to read from -his paper.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All troops proceeding to the front will have -issued to them a small quantity of firewood with -which to cook one meal on detraining. In the area -of concentration a supply train will be forwarded -each day to the rail head, from which supplies -will be carried to the troops by the wagons of -the train. All arrangements for the movements -of troops and supplies by rail are made by the -railway transport officer at the base port."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gee, some busy officer!" commented Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll say so," said the Captain, and went on -reading.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"French military trains are made up as follows: -One passenger car (first- or second-class, or -mixed), thirty box cars, or third-class cars; -seventeen flat or gondola cars; two caboose; total, fifty. -Third-class cars are not provided for troops. -They will carry eight men to a compartment. Box -cars are usually provided for the troops. They -will hold from thirty-two to forty men. -Sometimes seats are provided, sometimes straw to lie -on. Spaces at each end of the car are to be left -clear for rifles, travel rations, and accouterments, -the rifles being secured by a temporary rack made -with screw rings and a strap for same. The horse -cars hold eight horses in two rows of four, facing -each other. The central space between doors is -used for saddles and harness, forage, water cans -and buckets, as well as the two men who travel in -each car. Flat cars usually accommodate one, but -sometimes two, wagons."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Captain folded up the paper.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is that all?" asked Porky. "It sounds mighty -interesting."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I would like to add something more, if you -don't mind writing it," said, the Captain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course not," said Porky. "I'm mighty -glad to do it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thanks," said the Captain. "It is certainly -a relief to me." He leaned back in his chair, -stared up at the ceiling, and commenced to dictate.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The pages sent under this cover were jotted -down by me some time ago. I can not give you the -exact date, and up to the present time have not -had the opportunity to put my notes in readable -order or to get them mailed. We are now doing -very interesting work at the front, living -underground. We have very comfortable and well -ventilated quarters, and are sleeping in bunks, on -clean bed sacks filled with clean straw. The only -objection is the rats, of which there are great -numbers, but we have a cat and two dogs. The cat is -a crackajack. I don't know how many rats he -averages a day—would be afraid to say, in fact—but -he is on the job all the time, and is wearing -himself thin over it. The two dogs, small and of -no known breed, run the cat a close second.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have never seen the boys happier than they -are now. They feel as if they were really doing -something worth while. I have heard the German -shells and have seen German territory, and it -certainly puts pep into a fellow, but as yet I can't -say I've been scared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This place has seen some very heavy fighting, -and the ground is covered with all sorts of debris. -For many square miles there is not a single tree -to be seen which has not been hit and killed. The -ground is torn up to such an extent that there is -no grass to be seen, and the only way I can describe -it is to say that it looks like the ocean on a very -rough day. The shell holes run into each other, -and are often ten or twelve feet deep and thirty -feet across. This place, which was once a French -village, has been taken from the Germans, and the -ground is covered with unexploded shells, -hand-grenades, German helmets, old rifles, and all sorts -of things that would make wonderful souvenirs -if we could only get them home. In every little -village around here, there is not a house or tree -standing. I am writing in a room in the wing of -what was once a magnificent old castle. It was -evidently saved from destruction by the Germans, -who wished it for the accommodation of their -higher officers. We are using it for that same -purpose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One of the most interesting things here is to -watch the airplanes, both ours and the Germans. -They are very hard to hit, and they usually don't -pay much attention to the firing, but we watch the -little bursts of white smoke from the French shells, -and the black smoke from the Germans. I have -often seen twenty-five or thirty little puffs of -smoke at the same time around one machine, but -have never seen one hit. The other day a -German came over in a cloud while other German -planes attracted the attention of our guns.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He went right up to one of our observation -balloons and fired his machine gun into the -balloon, setting it on fire. The two men, an -American and a Frenchman, came down in a parachute. -They said they didn't mind it. Perhaps they -didn't, but both were about as pale as they could -be. I watched the whole performance. To-day -we sent up another observation balloon with -exactly the same result, except that the balloon didn't -burn, but both men jumped out, coming down in -two parachutes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was exciting and a very pretty sight to see -the white silk parachutes open up and glisten in -the sun. Both landed safely, and wanted to go -up again immediately, but could not, owing to the -damaged balloon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is some firing going on most of the time, -even when there is no pitched battle, and our guns -shake the dugout a bit, but we are supposed to be -safe here underground and, anyway, the Boche -shells don't seem to come this way, though we -often hear them. By the way, our machine guns -drove the Boche planes off this afternoon, and the -balloon was pulled down safely.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Another day, if I remain unhurt, which I have -every intention of doing, I will give you further -details of the life and work. As I said in the -beginning, the men are well and happy. Strange as -it may seem, there is much less illness than there -in the training camps at home. I can't make -this out unless the men as a general rule reach -here greatly benefited by the sea voyage. Certainly -the work is much harder, the conditions no -better, and I guess 'sunny France' is an invention -of the poets. However that may be, our splendid -fellows are fit and fine, trim, and hard. We are -going to win!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Captain leaned over and clapped Porky on -the shoulder. "Kid, you're a brick!" he said. -"That's all, and thank you a thousand times. It -ought to hold 'em for a while, don't you think?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should say it was some letter," said Porky. -"And you are perfectly welcome." He rose and -looked at his wrist watch, frowning as he did so. -"Most night again," he said. "Seventeen o'clock -by their queer old way of counting. It's mighty -funny where my brother is." He walked restlessly -to the window and with unseeing eyes stared -hard at the ragged uptorn world outside.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="where-was-porky"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER IV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">WHERE WAS PORKY?</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Where </span><em class="italics">was</em><span> Beany?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany himself, trussed up neatly with many -cords and wearing a scientific gag which made -speech or yells impossible, yet which did not hurt -him very much, would have been glad to have been -able to answer that question.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Where was Beany? Beany didn't know where -Beany was, and also he felt a natural and lively -curiosity as to where Beany was </span><em class="italics">going</em><span> to be in -the near future.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had entered the passage in the wall on the -spur of the moment; he had acted without counting -the possible cost or the probable consequences.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Usually the boys acted together; if possible, they -always left some clue for the other to follow. -Hence they had hitherto come out of some pretty -dark and serious scrapes with whole skins and a -desire for further adventures. But this time -Porky, in the General's office, Porky, sound asleep -with his head on the General's desk, could not -know that his twin brother was faring forth alone -on a desperate adventure. If he had known at the -moment what was happening, if any warning could -have pierced his sleep-drugged brain, well, this -story would not have been written.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany popped into the secret passage and slid -the panel shut behind him with a careless -backward-reaching hand. His eyes and his thoughts -were on the pitchy dark before him. He thought -with a sense of relief that he had a tiny flashlight -in his pocket, but whether it would flash when -required to do so was quite another matter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany was bitter on the subject of flashlights, -knowing well how apt they are to respond to every -touch when not required particularly to do so, -and having learned by sad experience that it was -when the festive burglar was </span><em class="italics">in the room</em><span>, the pet -kitten </span><em class="italics">down the well</em><span>, or the diamond </span><em class="italics">in the crack</em><span> -that they would not flash at all. So he merely felt -of the pocket where the flash reposed, and stood -silent, back against the panel, waiting to accustom -those marvelous eyes of his to the dense darkness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany Potter had a gift given to few—eyesight -that served him almost equally well by day or by -night. There was scarcely a limit to his strange -focus. And at night, like members of the cat -family, he was able to make out not only forms, but in -many cases features and colors as well.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he had become used to the pitch blackness -of the tunnel, he discovered that he was in an -arched stone passage just wide enough for one -person to walk without brushing the sides. It wound -forward on an incline, and ten feet from where -Beany stood turned a corner. Still forgetful of -danger, he ran noiselessly forward and gained the -turn, where he stood listening. There was not a -sound to guide or warn him, so he went on, scarcely -breathing. His footsteps made not the slightest -sound, and he could feel that there was something -soft and deadening under his feet, either fine sand -or bran, or something of that nature, that had -been spread for the purpose of stifling the sound -of passing steps. Now he could clearly hear -voices above, and decided that he was near or -right under the room where the General had his -office and held all his staff meetings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany stopped at once and commenced tracing -the sound. After a little he found the source. At -one side of the passage a common funnel was set -in the wall. Beany placed his ear to the funnel -and was startled by the clearness with which he -was able to distinguish sounds in the General's -office. He could hear the scratching of the pen as -the General wrote, the steady tramp, tramp of -Colonel Bright as he paced the room. Even the -steady breathing of his sleeping brother was -plainly audible.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany seized the edge of the funnel and was -about to tear it loose but decided that it was better -to leave it apparently untouched. So he rammed -his handkerchief tightly down the neck of the -funnel, and chuckled to note that the sounds from the -room were suddenly silenced. If any one should -come behind him and try to listen, they would get -one good big surprise, but no information, for the -handkerchief was packed well out of sight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This done, Beany turned and, smiling over his -precious information, started back, when a sound, -a far distant sound, rooted him to the spot. It -was a woman crying in a low stifled tone. "Oh, -oh, oh!" cried the voice with choking sobs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then another voice spoke, and a sneering, low -laugh floated back to Beany. The sobbing voice -cried out again in English.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, don't! Oh, please! Oh, I can't tell you -because I don't know! Don't hurt him! Don't -hurt him!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany forgot that he was alone, unarmed, a -boy. He forgot the dark passage; he forgot -caution. Afterwards he wondered why he did not -think to call up the funnel for the help he needed. -He just turned and, trusting to his wonderful eyes -to take him safely over the black unknown path, -he ran swiftly in the direction of the voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Around a corner, down a short, straight passage, -around another corner, then through a low, -narrow door that swung half way open, Beany -shot into a large room or cavern. He did not -stop to see where he was, but continued his chase -across the space. There was another door -beyond. A light shone through this door and Beany -headed for it. From within the choked sobbing -continued. Half way he smashed into something—a -piece of heavy furniture of some sort. He -rebounded as if from a blow, and staggered. Before -he could get his balance again, a form appeared -against the light in the door ahead and another -form seemed to take shape from the dark bulk of -the piece of furniture he had stumbled against. -He was seized in a pair of steel-muscled arms, a -heavy cloth was thrown over him and rolled tightly -around him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the instant he was made helpless, powerless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He heard rapid orders. Through the thick -cloth he could see a dim glimmer of light. He was -laid down on a couch of some sort, and tied, hands -and feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then and only then was the heavy cloth removed, -and Beany, blinking in the glare of half -a dozen electric lanterns, stared at the group -around him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was lying on a great bed that was occupying -the middle of the room. It seemed a funny place -for a bed, but later Beany noticed that the -moisture was thick on the walls and was dripping down -the corners. The middle was about the only dry -place. The covers had been luxurious—soft and -silken comfortables padded with feathers, and -delicate blankets, but they were soiled and torn -by careless spurs. At the foot of the bed, staring -at him with amazement in her face, was the old -scrubwoman. It was evident that she recognized -him. She had seen him often enough, Beany -reflected. He returned her look and nodded. A -big man, the one in the duster, standing close at -Beany's side, noted the nod and rasped out a -remark, directing it at the old woman. She did -not condescend to notice him. Two other men -were there. From the inner room the sobbing -continued. Beany scowled. He fixed his eyes on -the old woman.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Somebody is being hurt," he remarked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No one spoke. Beany did not take his eyes -from the woman's face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know you can hear," he informed her, "and -I bet my hat you speak English! I wish you would -talk and tell me who is getting hurt. I can't do -any harm just at present."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The woman continued to stare at him for a -moment, then bared her toothless gums in a -cackling laugh. She nodded quite gaily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, you can't do much harm either now or -later, my little sparrow-hawk."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She spoke in clear, perfect English, with only -the slightest accent to betray her German blood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I liked you two boys, up above. You were -always agreeable to the poor old deaf and dumb -woman. No sneers, no jokes about her, always -nice and pleasant. Two nice boys! Made just -alike, and such fonny names—Peany and Borky; -so fonny!" She laughed again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man in the duster commenced to swear in -German. Beany knew it was swearing, and -recognized it as German.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old woman raised her hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Calm yourself, Excellency!" she said, with the -air of royalty. "There is no need for excitement. -Why should I not say what I please to this foolish -child who has made such a great mistake; ah, such -a great mistake?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It iss his last!" snarled the man in the duster, -breaking into English. "His last; his last!" he -kept repeating.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Calm yourself," said the old woman, frowning. -"We know that; it is all so easy; why do you -annoy yourself? I am only sorry that it is one of -those nice boys. Such pleasant, </span><em class="italics">polite</em><span> boys! The -other will feel the lonesomeness very much; is it -not so, my little sparrow-hawk?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She smiled in the boy's face. Then she came -to the side of the bed, and with a not ungentle -hand arranged him in a more comfortable position. -Then she touched the man in the duster, -whom she called Excellency, and together they -went into the farthest corner of the big room and -whispered for a long time, while the two other -men stood motionless beside the bed and watched -Beany as closely as though they thought he might -float off through the ceiling. Presently, as though -they had come to a decision, Excellency returned, -the old woman, whom he called Madame, at his -side. They too stood and looked long at the boy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How did you get here?" asked Madame finally.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Through the panel," said Beany, who knew -there was no use keeping back anything they could -so easily find out for themselves.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old woman started to ask another question -when the low sobbing in the other room was -accented by a moan. With a glance at Beany's -cords, the group beside him all went out of sight -through the open doorway. In a few moments -there was silence, with the sound of heavy breathing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Drugged!" guessed Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently the two men returned. They took -Beany from the bed, and sat him down in a chair, -binding his legs tightly and, after searching him -for a pistol, released his arms. A cord cunningly -wrapped around his waist held him firmly in his -seat. Beany was glad to have his hands free.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Hours passed. Beany felt cramped and was -furiously hungry. His brain milled round and -round in a ceaseless effort to find some way out of -the situation. He did not feel proud of this last -exploit. He had acted rashly and without the -least glimmer of caution. He knew well that he -was doomed. There was no possible finish but -death, and if it could be a swift death without -torture, it would only be on account of the ray of -friendship that Madame felt for the two youngsters -who had respected her infirmities and age.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany was against a blank wall. Knowing -that he had no possible chance of escape, Madame -climbed up on the bed, the three men disappeared -in the inner room, and finally, to his amazement, -Beany too dozed off, although he could not help -thinking that it was not at all the thing to do -under the circumstances.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he woke, he was dazed and stiff. His -legs, strapped tightly to the chair, felt asleep. -Madame, fully dressed, as she had lain down hours -before, sat blinking on the side of the bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well! Wie befinden sie sich?" she said, -grinning at the prisoner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany accepted the friendly tone, although he -did not understand the words.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Morning!" he offered in return.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madame clapped her wrinkled hands sharply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man who had stared through the keyhole appeared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Coffee!" said Madame abruptly. It was a command.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man saluted and withdrew, to return with -a tray and a. steaming cup. Madame sat sipping -the boiling draft, gazing at the boy meanwhile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is really too bad," she said finally, in her -careful, clear English. "Such a boyish, </span><em class="italics">silly</em><span> -thing to do! And you see how it is. You are such -a nice boy; I do hate to let them kill you, yet you -cannot go back; you must see that. However, you -shall have an easy way. I shall assert my -authority. You look surprised. Do you think it strange -that so old a woman, so </span><em class="italics">frightful</em><span> an old woman, -should still have authority? Even so, I have -plenty of it. I am powerful. If I chose, I could -call the Emperor cousin. What do you say to that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She seemed to expect an answer. Beany did -not know what to say, but after a pause in which -she stared at him unwinkingly, he managed to -retort, "Some dope!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Indeed, yes!" said Madame, to whom the -slang was Greek. "Indeed, yes! Well, your -coming has spoiled nothing but your own life. We -have the information that we want, we have two -prisoners who are most valuable. The others will -go on to-day, while I, the cousin of an emperor, -will for the time continue to wait on those pigs of -officers upstairs. Deaf and dumb!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She laughed silently, with queer little cackles. -Then setting down the empty cup, she went into -the inner room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany sat thinking the big thoughts that come -at hours so filled with doom. Yet somehow it did -not seem possible to him that he was to be snuffed -out so soon; he, Beany Potter! He looked at his -wrist watch. The crystal was broken but the -watch was still running. Beany started to wind it, -then stopped. What would be the use?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, it may as well go as long as I do," he -reflected, and finished winding it. It sounded loud -as thunder in the quiet room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He commenced to think of his brother with all -his might. His spirit called to him over and over. -He thought again of the time and remembered that -although he had looked at his watch, he had not -noticed the time at all.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Once more he looked. To his amazement it was noon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany commenced idly feeling through his pockets. -If he could only find some way of communicating -with Porky before it was too late! All at -once his fingers closed on an object that he knew. -His face lighted..... If there was any way—Oh, -if there was </span><em class="italics">any</em><span> way!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Beany's clean boy soul went down upon -its knees, while Beany, lashed to the chair, closed -his eyes and prayed. Earnestly, humbly he -prayed for help; and then, feeling that he had -done all he could in the way of asking, opened his -eyes and set his whole mind on Porky. He kept -his hand in his pocket closed on the object he had -chanced on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently the two men came back, untied the -cords that bound Beany to the massive chair, tied -his hands behind his back, untied his ankles and -led him into the inner room. Beany flashed a -curious glance around it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The room was not dark, like the room he had -just left. It was well lighted by grated windows -overgrown outside with heavy underbrush. -Beany guessed that they were away from the -ruined castle itself and somewhere out on the -grounds. There was more furniture, and another -bed like the one in the room that he had just left.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On this tumbled couch lay a form closely covered -with a blanket.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dead, whoever he is," said Beany to himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Facing him was a straight chair and in it, bound -and gagged, was a young man in the uniform of -the French army. He was trussed up until -movement of any sort seemed impossible. Most of -his face was covered with the cloths that formed -the gag, but over the bandages a pair of sharp, -intelligent eyes flashed a message to Beany. He -had been buffeted and racked, threatened with all -the horrors imaginable and subjected to some of -them, but from out those eyes looked a spirit that -blows could never break and death itself could -never quell. Beany returned the look with a long -gaze. He underwent a new agony. Not only was -he unable, through his foolhardy action, to save his -own life, but here was another as well that he could -not save. For he knew that the youth before him -must be doomed. His gaze roved to the bed. -There was something strangely graceful and soft -about the outlines of the form under the comfortable. -He felt his hair prickle on his head. All -at once he knew. It was a girl! It had been </span><em class="italics">her</em><span> -voice he had heard sobbing. As he looked, he -hoped and prayed that she was indeed dead. He -stifled a groan.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madame gave an order. He was once more -fastened securely in a chair and the old woman -came beside him and offered him a paper and pencil.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may write a note to that twin brother of -yours," she said. "We are through with this -underground hole. It is damp, anyway. I do not -need any further help. But you shall write and -tell your brother where to look for you. I will -see that he gets it in good season. Not to-day, -nor yet to-morrow. Little boys in these war-times -must be taught not to meddle. Write what you will."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany took the pencil obediently, and wrote:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Open panel at right of office door by pressing -upper left-hand carving. Send some one else to -look for me. Love to Mother and Father. -Good-by.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>"BEANY."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Madame took the brief note and read it. "That -is short, but it will do," she said. Then she turned -to the others. "As soon as it is dark take your -prisoners to the foot of the garden. There will be -a French car there. The girl, as you know, is to -be taken unharmed. Go to our own base. We -will make her speak when we get her there. You -know what to do with this other."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She picked up a broom and grinned down at -Beany. "I am going up to see what they are -doing above. Don't you wish you had had the sense -not to meddle?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As she passed him Beany strained forward -against his bonds and caught her by the dress. -He clasped her knees in his agony.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Please, </span><em class="italics">please</em><span>, Madame!" he cried. "</span><em class="italics">Please</em><span> -don't let them kill me! I promise that I won't -tell!" His voice went up in a cry that was almost -a whine. The old woman broke away from him -in disgust.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bah! You are all alike! live, live, live -always! Why don't you learn to die, you Americans! -That is what we have got to teach you!" She -struck him smartly across the face, and moved -to the door with a backward look of command.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Be ready when I return," she said. "In the -meantime </span><em class="italics">not a sound</em><span>!" She grinned at Porky. -"I will see you once more, young man," she -chuckled, and left the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the door hid her from view, Beany drew a -long breath. He seemed strangely excited and -relieved. Once more he consulted his watch. It -would be at least an hour before dark. There was -a fighting chance. Death or life? Life or death? -His fate was trembling in the balance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Where was Porky?</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="to-the-rescue"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER V</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">TO THE RESCUE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Porky was getting worried. It was growing -late, and there was no sign of Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He asked a couple of the aides when they came -in if they had seen anything of his brother, but no -one had any news for him. Porky looked into the -narrow hall at intervals, and twice he went out -and wandered around the grounds that surrounded -the castle. But nothing of Beany!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Finally he returned to the office, and took up his -station at the window where he could see far down -what had been the drive. The office was in a room -in what had been the wing, and jutted out into -the space now soiled and useless, which had once -been a lovely, widespread garden of lawns and -flowers, but which now looked worse than any -ploughed field.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Something kept pulling at Porky's heart. He -knew the feeling, had had it often; and it told him, -as it always did, that his twin brother, whom he -loved so well, was in trouble and needed him. -Usually he felt something that impelled him to go -in a certain direction in search of Beany; -something, a </span><em class="italics">force</em><span> directing him—he never could tell -just what it was. But he always obeyed it, and so -did Beany, to whom the same feelings came. But -now Porky sat irresolutely at the window, baffled -and worried. He felt anchored to the spot, yet -knew in his heart that his brother's need was -great. Every time he got to his feet and started -out of the room, something pulled him back. -Finally in despair, he settled down and stared with -unseeing eyes into the growing darkness of the -ruined gardens.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His heart beat heavily. His mind and soul -called his brother, demanding an answer from the -silence and the night. The officers and aides who -had been in the room left it, and Porky was alone. -Presently, as the waiting grew almost more than -the boy could endure, a slight sound caused him to -turn around. It was the old scrubwoman, broom -in hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hullo!" said Porky, and turned back to the -window. He was too badly worried to be polite.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hay-loo!" said the old cracked voice in broken -English. Porky looked around again. She was -standing at his side, smiling at him, a queer -grinning leer not at all pleasant. Porky felt an insane -desire to ask her if that was the best she could do. -But he did not. He simply stared at her, at the -wrinkled face and bright, twinkling, keen eyes. -Porky felt that those eyes were almost too keen, -almost too intelligent for that old peasant woman.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They looked steadily at each other, Porky -wondering more and more at the expression on the -old mask of a face. She was little, bent and -feeble; she scarcely came to tall Porky's shoulder; -yet to the sensitive, worried boy as he gazed -at her there came a feeling of something wicked, -powerful, and threatening. There seemed to the -alert senses of the boy that there was a knowing -twinkle in the old eyes when she looked -questioningly around the room, and said, "Your -brodder. Ware iss he?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know," said Porky slowly. "You -didn't see him outside, did you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I dit not see heem outsite; me, I have seen -nozzing outsite."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She smiled and wagged her old head, looked -piercingly at Porky again, and turned away. -Porky watched her squat old bent figure, then -drew his breath sharply as something caught his -eye! It was something caught on one of the -ample folds of her ragged skirt, something that -glittered! All the blood in Porky's body seemed to -make a mad rush to his head, then ebbed back to -his heart. He started toward the old woman, then -stopped and thought, staring at the object on her -skirt. He knew it well. The old woman stooped -to pick up something and the object on her skirt -swung free and glittered in the uncertain light. -Porky drew a sharp breath as he recognized his -brother's message. For a message he knew it to -be. The little glittering object was a leather fob -strap. At the end dangled a swimming medal that -Beany had won long ago. He had always carried -it as a pocket piece, and in some way it had -accompanied him on the Great Adventure. It had never -been out of Beany's pocket.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Yet there it was, hanging to a fold of the old -woman's tattered dress swinging and glittering! -Evidently she did not know that it was there.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky, suddenly alert, started to his feet and -took an impulsive step toward the old woman. -Then, before she had time to notice his action, he -stopped. He could not remove the dangling medal -without letting her know that something was up, -and his only move was to watch her when she left -the room. Somewhere, Beany was in trouble! -Porky realized that the message of the medal was -a desperate, last resort. A million to one shot, he -told himself anxiously; but it had reached him, and -while he lived there was hope for Beany. He -studied the old scrubwoman with a new -understanding. She no longer appeared harmless, -stupid and ignorant. The keen twinkle in her old -eyes; what had it meant? The seemingly simple -and innocent question, "Your brodder. Ware iss -he?" was just to sound him, the boy decided. He -knew, all at once, that she knew all about Beany. -To follow her was to find his brother, alive, or -... Porky could not say the rest even to his own -soul. He </span><em class="italics">would</em><span> follow her! He would </span><em class="italics">find</em><span> the -brother whom he loved better than his own life! -His blood boiled when he thought of the condition -he might find that dear one in, and he set his jaw -in a way that promised desperate things.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Old Elise went pottering around the room, -unconscious of the glittering eyes bent steadfastly -on her, and ignorant of the glittering trifle -fastened to her dress. Porky felt that he would gladly -barter years of his life to know how it came to be -there, but he clung to the happiest reason that he -could think up: Beany himself had in some way -fastened it on the old woman. Porky decided to -obey the summons as he imagined them to have -been sent. By hook or crook, he would follow the -old woman, sly and crafty as he now believed her -to be. By hook or crook, he would find his brother. -Starting towards the old woman, he waited until -she stooped over the General's table, wiping off -the papers with a careful, shaking old hand. -Porky, suspicious of everything now, fancied that -she swiftly read the words on the uppermost -pages, but he was busy with deft fingers -unfastening the fob from the tattered skirt. He slipped -it in his pocket, picked up a pencil and pad from -the table, and once more sat down by the window. -A few minutes later, while the old woman still -pottered around, Porky rose and idly left the room, -whistling as he did so. He unconsciously -repeated Beany's performance in the dusky hall. -He went to the turn, and dropping on one knee, -bent a steady gaze on the door he had just closed. -He was rewarded in a moment by a sight of the -old woman. She came out of the General's office, -softly closing the door behind her, and commenced -feeling over the secret panel. It opened, and she -entered, closing it as she went, but not before -Porky was beside it, his eye on the spot he had -seen her old fingers press. He waited for what -seemed to him an eternity, then pressed the carved -ornament of old oak. It gave, and the opening -panel disclosed the passage in the wall down -which Beany had so recklessly followed his quarry.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky was cautious, yet determined. Noiselessly -he trailed the old spy until they reached the -great chamber where the big bed was. Not once -did she look behind. It did not occur to her that -she could possibly be watched or followed. She -had grown careless. She did not even mind the -fact that she had left the heavy door swinging ajar -behind her. Why, indeed, should she? Was not -the door in the panel too cunningly contrived for -any one to find, except perhaps that Boy Scout -who now sat fettered in his chair waiting his end? -His brother ... bah! She had left him above. -She crossed the room, and stooped to reach a shawl -she had thrown on the high bed. As she bent, -something light and strong and cat-like leaped -upon her seizing her wrinkled throat in a vise-like -grip. She could not scream. In a second the -curtain of the bed was wrapped over her, fold on -fold. She struggled furiously, but to no avail. She was -nearly smothered. Porky didn't much care. He -worked in a frenzy of haste. He pulled down the -thick cords that had been used to pull the bed -curtains open and shut, and tied his human bundle -securely. Then with a cautious thought he shoved -her under the high bed, and made for the inner room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was silent. A single candle burned on the -table. Beany sat in his chair. He was bound and -gagged. As Porky sped across the room he saw -the diabolical contrivance hanging above the boy's -head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A massive blade with a heavily weighted handle -hung directly over the boy, point down. The cord -which held the weapon passed through a pulley -to another pulley, and from there to the table. -There it was fastened to a short stick that was -strapped to the alarm key of a common alarm -clock. As Porky's quick glance took in the whole -scene, the little alarm clock gave the cluck that -precedes the striking of the alarm. Porky made a -dash across the room, as the alarm commenced to -sound and, seizing his brother's chair, swung him -aside as the whirling alarm key tightened the cord. -One after another, with deadly swiftness, the cords -tightened until a quick pull on the smallest cord of -all, a mere thread, snapped it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The heavy blade seemed for a moment to balance -in air, then it dropped down and buried its -razor point six inches deep in the old floor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not until then did Porky slash the cords which -bound his brother, and as Beany shook himself -free, with many faces to ease his tired jaw where -the gag had pressed it, Porky dropped limply into -a chair and mopped his brow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The sword of Damocles!" was all he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't know the gent," said Beany huskily. -"Did some guy play this trick on him! If he felt -as nervous as I did before you came, I feel good -and sorry for him. Gosh, I have been sitting all -trussed up there for about a year! Let's get out -of this!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No special hurry," said Porky wearily. He -could not recover at once from the shock, but -Beany was chipper as a cricket.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I don't know," he said, "I have not -grown so fond of this little old dungeon that I want -to reside here long. Besides, perhaps you don't -know the old lady who sweeps upstairs as well as -I do. She is apt to be up to almost any trick."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not if the Court knows himself, and he thinks -he does," said Porky positively. "I left her -under the bed in the other room with about a mile of -flossy curtain cord twined around her. She is safe -enough. We will go up and report this little -affair, and get a couple of men to come down and -take her to the General. She is a hard character. -A spy, in fact."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I guess I know that!" said Beany, rising and -rubbing his stiff legs and arms. "I have a lot -more to report than you have. Let's be off!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Together they hurried into the first chamber, -and made for the door leading into the passage. -Porky, in passing, looked under the bed. Then -with a gasp he looked again and, dropping on one -knee, seized a bundle of ragged clothing and a -tangle of crimson curtain cords.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He looked at them, turning them over and over. -Then he shook them. Then he looked under the -great high bed again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What ails you?" demanded Beany impatiently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She's—she's gone!" said Porky feebly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old woman had vanished.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="death-close-behind"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">DEATH CLOSE BEHIND</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Cut for the passage!" cried Porky as he -realized that his quarry had escaped and knew that her -release meant fresh dangers for them. Instinctively -he held on to the bundle in his hands, and -with Beany at his heels raced through the door and -up the narrow passage that led to the secret door -in the panel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They found it closed tight. Furiously the boys -shook and tugged at the heavy handle which was -wont to turn and release the sliding panel. It -did not budge. They shook and banged.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's no good," said Porky finally, as they -paused, gasping and out of breath. "We are -trapped!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Some one will hear us if we bang long enough," -said Beany, kicking at the secret door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not so you would know it," said his brother -bitterly. "You can't hear a sound. That -paneling is six inches thick along here. Made so on -purpose, I suppose. We had better go down and -try to get out by the passage that leads into the -garden."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They turned and hurried back, retracing their -steps through the passage and the two underground -rooms. As Beany passed the great sword, -he dragged it from its upright position in the floor -and took it with him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I guess this belongs to me as much as to any -one," he said grimly. "I'll take it home to Pop."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he, spoke, the candles on the table shook in -a sudden draft and went out.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's about the last straw!" said Porky, -falling over a chair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gimme your hand!" said Beany. "I know -where the passage is and it is short, because I -counted the number of steps they took before I -heard the outside door open and smelled the -outside air. I know it opens into the castle garden -because I heard them talking about going out that -way. Oh, I have a long story to tell you, Porky, -but it will have to wait until we are well out of this. -I don't feel any too happy yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He clasped his brother's hand in his with a -sudden close pressure. Porky returned it, and laid -an affectionate arm around his brother's shoulder -as together they went cautiously toward the -passage leading to the garden.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They found it easily; Beany had used his eyes -to good advantage. Feeling carefully as they -went, they reached the end where a massive, rough -door barred their way.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky drew a box of safety matches from his -pocket, and by their feeble light they examined -the heavy barrier. There was no sign of a latch or -keyhole, but the door was securely fastened on -the other side.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were trapped!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, what do you know about that!" muttered -Beany, scowling. He felt slowly along the -crack of the closely set door and pressed the -barred surface, but it did not give under his -touch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky flipped a match out of his fingers as it -burned him, and the boys stood motionless in the -darkness, wondering what to do next. Beany -leaned on the hilt of the long sword; Porky traced -figure eights on the wall beside him with the tip or -the scorched finger that had held the match.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany leaned over and tapped his shoulder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's the noise back there?" he whispered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Didn't hear anything," answered Porky after -a breathless pause of listening.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I certainly heard something," declared Beany. -"Let's pussyfoot back and see if we can find out -what it was. I </span><em class="italics">know</em><span> I heard something. Perhaps -our dear friend the old dame is somewhere -around."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There was nothing for her to hide in or behind," -said Porky. "The bed was the only piece -of furniture large enough and, besides, I feel sure -she skipped out the other passage. What would -she come back for? She must have known that we -were here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is mighty little she </span><em class="italics">doesn't</em><span> know if any -one should ask you," answered Beany. "Oh, just -wait until I have a chance to tell you the whole -yarn! Only it is not finished yet. There were a -couple of prisoners in the room I was in, a young -fellow in uniform and a girl. They must have -carried them into the garden when they turned my -chair around so I could look toward the way you -came in. I heard them scuffling about."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, let's go take a look," said Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They silently retraced their steps back to the -great chamber where the bed stood. Carefully, -with their backs to the wall, they lighted a couple -of candles they had taken from the table. The -room was empty, but with the keen trained -sensitiveness of young animals, they sensed danger.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I bet it is the bed," said Porky as though -answering a question. "Let's look it over."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany, holding the candles, stood by as Porky -carefully removed the tumbled and tattered -fragments which had once been satin and down -coverlets fit for queens to dream under. He cautiously -lifted the top feather bed in his arms and laid it on -the floor. Beany gave a gasp and, reaching -forward, almost flung himself on a black object which -rolled down into a depression in the under bed. -He fumbled with it, then stood erect, his face -glistening with a cold sweat. He pointed to the object -in silence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky stooped over it. It was a time bomb, -large enough and vicious enough to wreck the -entire wing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's funny," said Porky. "You turned the -trick that time but it does seem they are taking a -lot of bother just to get rid of us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, you're crazy!" said Beany. "What's -over this room? The General's office, of course! -That was the trick. They had us in here, and -after she got away, the old woman came back and -set that thing where she thought we would never -think to look for it. I think she heard us in the -passage that goes to the garden, and thought we -would stay there fussing with that outside door. -If this thing went off, of course it would wreck this -room, and even if we were not killed by falling -stones, we would be trapped in there like a couple -of rats. Well, it will never harm any one now, but -we have got to get out of here somehow or other."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Both boys were unnerved and shaken They -stood looking at each other. They knew that it -must be very late, but overhead they could hear -the muffled tramp of booted feet in the General's -office. They stood gazing at the oak paneled -ceiling. A big square directly over the high bed was -sagging, and it was there that they could hear the -sounds from above. Porky commenced to study -the situation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The bed was a four poster, hundreds of years -old. When the castle had been shelled, it had been -brought down from some upper room of state.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The high, massive posts, beautifully carved, -supported a great roof of heavily carved black oak.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here," said Porky. "Can't we shin up -on top and beat on the floor with the hilt of that -sword?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What good would that do?" demanded -Beany. "They wouldn't know where to find us. -I don't believe we could make enough racket -anyhow so they would pay any attention to it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky thought a moment, then to Beany's -disgust he commenced to caper around in a manner -that Beany thought little befitted their serious -position. He knew that when the explosion failed -to occur, some one would be sent back by the -master spy, and Beany could not doubt that that would -mean a quick death for them both.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What ails you?" he demanded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just this," said Porky. "We will rap out a -call for help in the code—the Morse code. Half -the fellows in that office understand it. If there -is any one there at all, they will catch on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Honest, Porky—" said Beany, then he -stopped. He certainly was proud of Porky but -decided not to tell him so.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky chuckled. He knew what his brother was -thinking. "Some little nut, eh?" he asked, -patting his own head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell better after you have tried it," growled -Beany, shinning up the post nearest him. Porky -started after him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wait!" said Beany. "We will have to have a -chair. You can't reach high enough."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was difficult to get one of the massive carved -chairs aloft. They had to tear the bedding into -ropes and pull it up in that way; but once on -the top, Porky shinned hastily up and mounted -it. He was rather quicker at telegraphy than Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He wrapped his handkerchief around the blade -of the long sword, so he could grasp it, and beat -heavily on the paneled ceiling. Then he shook his -head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Listen to that!" he complained. "That loose -panel will have to come down. You couldn't hear -that little clack a foot away. Steady me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He handed the sword to Beany and, springing -up, clutched the loose sagging edge of woodwork -in his lean, muscular hands. It sprung up and -down under his weight, but did not give.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Grab my feet and pull!" he ordered over his -shoulder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany obeyed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a sharp tussle but the old, centuries -old wood was not proof against the fresh young -strength measured against it. It suddenly gave -way and a couple of yards fell with a clatter and -cloud of dust, hurling the boys flat on the top of -the bed canopy, which swayed in an alarming manner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They shoved the paneling over the edge, and -stood up. Once more their candles were out, but -Porky lit a match and soon the little flame made a -light about them. Beany kicked something with -his toe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's that?" he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't know," said Porky, rubbing his hands -together. "There's a couple more of them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't bother with that junk! Bundles of rags, -I suppose. We have got to get out of here. You -don't know what those spies will be up to next."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Beany, always curious, ripped a hole in the -side of the rough, pouch in his hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's full of gold money," he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My word!" said Porky, looking down from -the chair. "Scoop 'em all into your pockets, for -the love of Mike!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pockets!" said Beany scornfully. "There's -a couple of </span><em class="italics">quarts</em><span> of stuff in these three bags!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He slipped out of his blouse and, tying the -sleeves together, made a sort of bag in which he -carefully placed the sacks. Then he stepped -carefully across their swaying platform and steadied -the chair on which his brother stood with the -sword hilt thrust between the huge rafters against -the floor above.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The tramping in the room overhead sounded -quite clear now that the paneling was gone. It -annoyed Porky, who was trying the best he knew to -make his pounding heard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why don't the geezers sit down?" he complained. -And as though in answer, there was a -sudden silence above.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It won't be so funny if they have all gone -away," said Beany, listening intently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You bet it won't!" said Porky, beating still -harder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are all there," said Beany. "If they -had gone out, we would have heard the steps all -turning in the direction of the door, which is over -there behind you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, here goes!" said Porky, pausing a moment -to rest. "I am going to give the wireless -call for help."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then while both boys almost stopped breathing, -Porky slowly and distinctly tapped out the thrilling -summons that turns great ships out of their -courses to race across leagues of angry sea to help -the perishing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"S.O.S! S.O.S!" Over and over, carefully, -slowly Porky rapped, pausing now and then to -listen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No go!" said Beany despondently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wait," whispered Porky; "they are stirring -up there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Once more he rapped out his message, and gave -a groan of relief as faintly but distinctly a spurred -heel on the floor above beat the answer:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We hear. Where are you? Who speaks?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As rapidly as he dared Porky, who was an expert -in the code, explained their position, gave the -necessary directions for opening the secret door -in the panel, received an "All right!" from above, -and the boys, leaving the chair standing in its -lofty position, slid down the bed post, Beany still -clinging stubbornly to the sword.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they stood for a moment beside the great -bed, a gust of fresh air entered the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The garden door!" Beany hissed in his brother's -ear. "They are coming! Run for it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys turned and raced for the passage -leading to the upper hall. As they ran Porky -stumbled against a chair. It went over with a crash. -They turned as they hurried through the door -leading into the passage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Behind them, just perceptible to their eyes now -accustomed to the darkness, three forms came -running in relentless pursuit. One form reached -them just as they turned into the passage. Beany -paused in his flight and blindly hurled the heavy -sword full at his pursuer, then slammed the door -and followed Porky, now several yards ahead of -him. Death was close behind.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-iron-box"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE IRON BOX</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>There was no need for silence now. The boys -heard a stumble as though someone had crashed -over some obstruction. The door behind them -was flung open. Swift feet pursued them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hope the door's open!" gasped Porky, as he -ran fleetly on up the uneven, winding passage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the office above there had been an anxious -period. Two members of a staff, even though -they are only boys, cannot disappear as though -the earth had swallowed them without a -suspicion of foul play. When General Pershing -received the report, he at once sent couriers and -scouts to every station where the boys might -have gone. On being questioned, the sentries -one and all declared that the two boys had not -been seen outside of the building. This resulted -in a combing out of every cranny that could -possibly hold a boy alive or dead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The hours dragged on. There was a continual -passing to and fro for hours until at last there -seemed to be absolutely nothing more to do until -morning. The tired staff threw themselves into -the office chairs, while the General, at the -typewriter, commenced a letter. Out of respect to -him, there was a complete silence in the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On and on clicked the typewriter while the -waiting men dozed or smoked or thought of home.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's that?" said one of them suddenly, -listening intently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General stopped writing and looked at the -speaker.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's what?" questioned a captain, frowning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That tapping," said the first speaker. -"Sounds like </span><em class="italics">code</em><span>."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have been asleep," said the captain, grinning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hear it," said the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a general gathering up of forces, -as the whole room tried to place the faint, -monotonous tapping.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The call for help!" said the first speaker -triumphantly. "I </span><em class="italics">knew</em><span> I heard it. The code is my -native language almost. It sounds as though some -one was calling from below the floor."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Send an answer, Lieutenant Reed!" ordered -the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The young officer obeyed, while his hearers -listened breathlessly. Tap-tap went the spurred -heel, dash and dot, dash and dot in many -combinations.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The reply followed swiftly. The Lieutenant, -rather pale, turned to the General. "It's the -boys!" he reported. "They are together, in a -closed chamber,—a dungeon, I take it—right -below us. They are in danger. Don't say what. -Something about spies and dynamite. Want help -instantly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How?" asked the General</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's a secret door in the oak panel in the -hall. They gave directions for opening it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Go at once, six of you—you six nearest the -door!" The officers designated rose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Rush!" said Lieutenant Reed crisply. For -the moment he was in command. He alone -knew how to open the panel. They hurried -outside, where Reed felt swiftly but carefully in the -place described by Porky. Twice he went over the -heavy carving, pushing here and there unavailingly. -Then without a sound the secret door -opened and before any one could enter the passage -that yawned in inky blackness before them, there -was a rush of running feet and the two boys, -carrying Beany's coat between them, bolted into the -hall. Porky made a motion for silence, and listened.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no sound.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Somebody chased us!" he panted. "Somebody -was close behind us in the dark!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Men?" asked an officer in an excited whisper.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky wanted to say "No, sir, </span><em class="italics">rabbits</em><span>!" but he -knew that every one felt nervous and edgy and, -besides, he did not want to be disrespectful to the -officer who had spoken.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They came in through the other door," he -said. "A door at the other end of the passage -that is on the other side of the two big rooms down -below there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's go down," said one of the men, loosening -his revolver.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Please don't try it!" begged Beany. "We -could never get down without light and then they -would have the drop on us. It's no use now. -Besides, they could go out of that outside door -without the least trouble after they had shot us all up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The kid is right," said Lieutenant Reed. "He -knows how the land lies down there. Come up to -the General, boys, and make a report. He will -tell us what he wants done."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sliding the panel shut, the Lieutenant called a -guard and, leaving the hallway patrolled by a -couple of stalwart Americans, the group surrounding -the two boys entered the office and saluted the -General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>General Pershing bent his serious, keen gaze on -the boys, then a bright, sudden smile lighted the -strong, handsome face that had grown sad and still -in the troubled, anxious months at the front.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Always up to something, boys," he said. -"Well, your friend the Colonel warned me how -it would be. Now suppose you tell me all about it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany with a sigh of relief lifted his blouse and -deposited it on the table. It struck the surface -with a clank and as he pulled the cloth away a -regular flood of gold pieces covered the papers where -the General had been writing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Part of the story, sir," said Beany. And -then talking together, or taking turns, as the spirit -moved them, the boys pieced out the account of -their adventures. The part that Beany kept -harking back to was the presence of the prisoners in -the big room. He described carefully and -accurately the appearance of the young soldier and -told as well as he could about the limp, unconscious -girl who had been carried out into the dark garden. -Beany shuddered as he spoke.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am sure the girl was dead, sir. She laid -there for hours, I guess, and she never moved at -all, never batted an eyelash. And she was white.... -I never saw anybody so white. It was as -though all her blood had been drained out of her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Was she wounded?" asked the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She must have been, sir," answered Beany. -"I saw blood, just a little of it running down her -wrist under her sleeve. She had nice clothes on, -and I had a hunch all the time that I ought to know -who she was; but I couldn't tell. Wish we knew -what they did with them. When it comes light, -General, I can show you just where the door is. I -am sure I know where it opens."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is light now," said the General, pointing -to the window. Every one looked. Sure enough, -the whole sky was a mass of pale gold and pink and -greenish blue, as lovely and soft and joyous as -though the distant rumble of the big guns was not -shaking the casement as they spoke. It was -light; morning had come.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General ordered coffee and rolls and -insisted on both boys eating something. They were -tired and heavy eyed but excited at the thought -of unraveling perhaps a little more of the mystery -of the past night.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When at last the General dismissed them with -a few terse orders, they sped ahead of their escort -through the silent garden, fearless and curious -and unconscious of the careful marksmen who -followed, protecting each foot of their advance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany had spoken the truth. With the sureness -of a young hound he took his way through a -wilderness of stones and bricks and beams and -plaster through the tangled, torn old garden, and -round to a spot marked by what seemed to be a -clump of dense bushes like low growing lilacs. -Approaching this, Beany parted the branches and -peered in. Then he drew back with a cry of -horror.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look!" he whispered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was indeed the ambush set over the outside -entrance to the dungeons. Down in the depths of -the hole that yawned under the encircling bushes -something was tumbled in a pitiful, distorted heap. -Eagerly a half dozen men leaped down and with -careful hands straightened out the two forms lying -in the bloody ooze. One after the other they were -lifted to the surface.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man was quite dead but the girl still lived, -though breathing feebly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Placing her on an improvised stretcher, a couple -of the men hurried away with her to the hospital -while a couple more knelt beside the dead boy -and searched carefully through his torn and -blood-stained clothing for papers, letters—anything that -could be used as clues to his identity. There was -not a scrap left to guide them. The young officer's -pockets had been turned inside out. Even the -hems in his tunic and breeches had been slit and -the soles had been torn from his shoes. If there -had been papers of any sort secreted about him, -they were gone—carried away by the ruthless -hands that had slain him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Leaving a guard beside the body, the others -leaped boldly into the shallow pit and lifted the -heavy bar which held the massive nail-studded -oaken door. It opened inward, and Beany led -the way through the passage into the chamber -where he had sat bound, gagged and waiting for -the relentless hands of the clock to reach the -moment of his doom. He showed the device, and -then, lighting the stubs of candles, they went into -the inner room. The dungeons were dark as -midnight, even in the clear morning light.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A careful search was made of the rooms. They -stamped on the floors, rapped on the walls with -pistol butts, ripped up the silken covers and the thick -mattresses, but found nothing. The men finally -stopped their search, and gathered in a group -around the massive table. Beany, sitting on the -edge of the table, jounced up and down and thought -that he had never seen a piece of furniture quite so -solid. He took out a penknife and tried to whittle -the edge but the keen blade scarcely made an -impression on the ironwood seasoned for ages. -Porky, watching his brother, listened to the -conversation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Somewhere down here there is a hiding place -for papers or money, or perhaps both," said one -of the officers, a keen-faced, thoughtful man, -studying the room as he could see it in the flickering -light of the two candles which, now burned down -to the merest stubs, afforded a dim, uncertain -light.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We have given it a pretty thorough combing -over," said another officer, frowning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can't help it," stubbornly answered the other. -"It is in just such places as this where valuable -secrets are often hidden."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What about the dynamite?" demanded some -one else. "It does not seem as though they would -hide anything of any value to themselves in a spot -that they were willing to blow up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A bomb that size would not have wrecked this -room. Did you notice the thickness of the walls?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The talk went on while Beany whittled and pried -away industriously at the table edge. He found -a crack in the wood and pried his knife blade into -that. The blade entered in a tantalizing manner, -slipped smoothly along, then struck metal. -Beany pushed. Porky, who was watching, came -closer and peered down the crack. Beany pushed -harder, pushed as hard as he could, and suddenly -felt himself flung off the table as the big top flew -up and hurled him aside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Powerful springs had opened the two heavy -slabs of oak that formed the table. Two pieces -now stood open like a pair of doors and within lay -a long, flat box which completely filled the space. -The box was of iron, heavily barred and padlocked. -Four soldiers pried it from its place and, -escorted by the whole party, it was carried to -General Pershing, still working at his desk.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Once more the boys had unearthed a mystery.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-cellar-s-secret"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE CELLAR'S SECRET</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Porky and Beany were too tired to care what -happened next and, taking quick advantage of a -brief smile and nod of dismissal from the General, -they made their way to their quarters and -soon were as sound asleep as though they were -lying on the softest down. They slept and slept, -losing all track of time, and by the General's -orders were undisturbed. When they finally woke, -really wide awake, they found that a whole day and -a night had passed since the early dawn when they -had staggered off to bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They woke at the same instant, as was their -habit, and sitting bolt upright, stared unblinkingly -at the young officer sitting at the window writing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Morning, Lieutenant," said Porky, rubbing -his eyes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's the time, sir?" said Beany, looking -curiously at his wrist watch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yours stopped too?" asked Porky. "Mine -has. Funny!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not so very funny," said Lieutenant Parker, -closing his writing tablet. "You have been asleep -since yesterday morning, and I imagine the -watches ran down."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yesterday morning!" gasped Porky. "Why -didn't some one call us?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"General's orders," said the Lieutenant. He -laughed, "Gee, I wish he would order me to bed -for a week. You can bet I would go!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, it makes me mad to sleep like this," said -Porky in irritation. "What all have we missed, -anyhow?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing much," said the Lieutenant. "The -biggest drive of the war is on and to-morrow -General Pershing with his staff will make the trip -along the front line trenches. I hope he counts me -in on that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You liked to be in the trenches, didn't you?" -asked Porky, stooping to lace his puttees.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are right I did," said Lieutenant Parker, -wrinkling his smooth young forehead. "I came -over to fight, and it was just my luck to get this -measly scratch on my head, and blamed if they -didn't put me here in this office doing paper work!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, you got to give your skull time to get -well, haven't you?" asked Beany. "It was -cracked, wasn't it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, just a piece scooped out of it," said the -Lieutenant in a bored tone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys grinned. Lieutenant Parker was one -of the best friends they had, and they had learned -that nothing teased him like being quizzed about -the deep, palpitating scar that creased his dark -head, the truth being that he had received the -wound in an encounter that had won him the -coveted French war cross with the palms. Porky -and Beany considered modesty in others little less -than a sin. They were always so thirsty for tales -of blood and glory that they could not see why -any one should hesitate to tell every possible -detail of any adventure. It happened, strangely -enough, that they did not apply the same rule to -their own conduct. To get details out of the -Potter twins was, as their own father said, like -drawing nails out of a green oak board, accompanied -by screeches of protest. The boys had had the -Lieutenant's story, however, and they harked back -to the news of the day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am going on that hike," said Porky, standing -up and stamping himself comfortably into his -clothes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So'm I," said his brother, likewise stamping.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Try for something else, kid," said the -Lieutenant. "You can't get in on this. It is strictly -staff."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Watch me!" said young Porky, the cocksure. -He hurried to the door and disappeared, while -Beany, a trifle slower in his dressing, roared, -"Wait for me!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A muttered response of some sort was the only -satisfaction given.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany grinned. "He is always so sudden!" -he complained, addressing the Lieutenant.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Might as well stay here until he comes back. -I never like to butt in on Porky's talky-talks. He -most generally knows what he wants to say, and -he don't need any help in getting it out of his -system. I certainly hope we can go with the -General. You are always yelling about that old silver -plate you have on your topknot. Look at us: -seems like we just can't get into a trench. Honest -Injun, I'm so sick of this old chateau—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I never did see such a pair!" said Lieutenant -Parker. "Didn't you have enough of an adventure -the other night to last you two or three days?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was going on, when Porky burst into the -room. He threw up his hat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Better, much better than I ever hoped," he -crowed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hand it out!" demanded Beany anxiously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, I was going to give the General a great -line of talk, and I didn't have a chance to do a -thing but salute. He was talking to a French -officer and the minute he went out, the General just -said, 'All right to-day, young man?' I said, 'Yes, -sir,' and he said, 'No time to talk! Report in the -courtyard to-morrow morning five-thirty, field -equipment, for special duty with my staff.'</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I saluted again and turned to come out, and -the General said, 'Potter, this is in the way of a -reward for that little affair in the dungeons,' and -I said, 'Thank you, sir, but the pleasure was all -ours, sir,' and he said, 'No, not quite all; -because some of the papers you unearthed </span><em class="italics">WILL -HELP TO TURN THE TIDE</em><span>.' How's that, old -Beans, </span><em class="italics">will help to turn the tide</em><span>. Gosh! you did -it with your little penknife, didn't you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, never mind that," said Beany, wriggling. -"Don't you know anything about this trip to-morrow?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nary word," said Porky, "but why should we -worry? Main fact is clear, we are going to be -among those present."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys spent a restless day getting their -traveling equipment in order and taking it apart again -to put it together in some way they fancied would -make an eighth of an inch difference in some of its -dimensions. They strutted a little perhaps. It -was truly a wonderful thing to go with General -Pershing on a trip of that sort. They marveled -at their good luck.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That good luck had hinged entirely on their -ability to keep their own counsel. That desire some -have to tell all they know, a lot that they guess, -and a few things that they fear, did not exist in the -Potter twins. They could keep a secret without -being told to, and that's some test. Whatever -they overheard was safe. When they saw things -that were not intended for their eyes, they ignored -them, or made an effort to forget all about them. -This high sense of what was honorable and right -was noticed immediately by the General as well as -by others whom they met daily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So they spent the long day patting each other -on the back, and wondering at their great good -fortune.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They kept closely to the rooms frequented by the -officers. As Porky pointed out to his brother, -there was one old lady at least who was not -wasting any love on them, and they didn't want to give -her a chance to turn a key on them and spoil all -their fun. They had at least gained a little -caution, but how very little the trip was going to -show.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was barely five next morning when Porky and -Beany, like two shadows, slipped from their -quarters and went silently down to the courtyard. -Several automobiles stood ready, heavily guarded, -and a couple of mechanics were busily tightening -nuts and testing various parts of the machinery. -No one spoke. The boys crossed the open space, -and in accordance with an agreement made -previously, sat down back to back on a ledge of the -broken fountain. They were taking no risks of -surprise or attack from the rear. Silently the -minutes passed. The steady tramp of the sentries -and the grating of metal on metal as the mechanics -worked quietly on the cars made so little sound -that distant noises were loud and acute.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The guns of the enemy had been silent for -twelve hours. Even Porky and Beany sensed -something big and terrible in the air.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Want to bet something!" asked Porky, poking -his brother with a backhand jab in the ribs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He never found out whether Beany was game -to bet or not for the door of the chateau opened -and a group of officers came out. General Pershing -led the group. The boys leaped to salute, the -sentries stopped and presented arms. Even the -mechanics straightened to their feet. There was -perfect quiet, however, and five minutes later they -started away full speed in the darkness. On and -on they went, passing first through a country -which showed very little of the effects of war. It -was a sort of spur that had escaped the enemy's -assaults in the beginning of the struggle, and -which, since the arrival of millions of Americans, -had been lying too far behind the lines to suffer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sun rose: it was day. They stopped in the -shelter of a dense grove and breakfasted on the -provisions put up for them by the cooks back at -headquarters. While they ate the drivers of the -cars watched the clear morning skies for airplanes. -The sandwiches and coffee, boiling hot in big -thermos bottles, tasted good to the hungry boys, -although they were eaten in silence, and in silence -the journey was continued. Now they commenced -to see signs of the frightful struggle. First great -shell craters, then trees uprooted or hacked down, -and village after village lying a mere mass of -wreckage. There were worse things too; sad -reminders that made the boys turn pale with horror.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The stop for dinner was made the occasion of a -careful examination of all the parts of the cars, -as any accident in the next few miles might be -most dangerous and disastrous. One of the aides -announced to the several groups of officers that a -start would not be made under two hours so the -boys wandered about, looking at the ruined -landscape and picking up here and there sad little -mementoes of friend and foe. Buttons, scraps of -jewelry, mostly cheap rings that girls might have -worn and given to their departing sweethearts. -There were dozens of crushed and stained pictures -too, so many that the boys did not bother to pick -them up after the first dozen or so. Pinned to one -picture of a chubby child was a little sock. Across -the back of the picture was written, "A year old -to-day. My son. Wish I could see him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gosh," said Beany, "I sure do hope he didn't -get his! Perhaps this just fell out of his pocket."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why didn't he sign it?" demanded the practical Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I suppose he didn't have a hunch we -would want his address," said Beany. "I'm -going to keep this and send it back home to one of -the papers. They will be glad to copy the picture -of the fat little geezer, and p'raps it will get back -to his folks."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys wandered on. Coming from a country -rich in magnificent old maples and elms, the ruin, -so cowardly and so ruthless, of the great trees -seemed one of the most terrible aspects of the war. -Not only were they torn by shells, but mile after -mile stood dead and dying from the effects of the -gas attacks of the enemy. The gas seemed to be -as fatal to the trees as it was to human beings. -Not only had the leaves curled up and fallen, but -the trunks themselves were blackened and dead -looking. It was like a country in a nightmare, -everything in the way of buildings flat on the -ground, literally not one stone left on another. -The dead and dying trees, leafless and twisted, let -the sunshine down upon it all with scarce a shadow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys reached the site of what had evidently -once been a fine farm. It was a total ruin. They -went clambering over the loose heaped-up stones -of what had once been a fine old dwelling, and sat -down for a moment on a flat block that had made -the broad and generous doorstep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gee, this must have been an old place," said -Porky. "See the way the edge of this stone is -worn—and it is granite at that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look at the size of it, too," said Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They sat studying the stone when a faint feeble -wail was heard. They looked at each other, -startled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Aw, gee, there's a kitten shut up some place," -said Beany, jumping up. "Let's find it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure we will," said Porky, "but we can't take -it along. I don't suppose General Pershing would -want to add a cat to his traveling party."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It sounded most dead," said Porky. "Kitty, -kitty! Here, kitty," he called in his most -persuasive, voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Another little cry answered him and gave them -the direction. "It's the cellar," said both boys -together, and with one accord they seized a couple -of stout timbers and commenced to pry away part -of the wreckage in what seemed the likeliest -entrance to the pitch black: hollow under the bent -and broken floor timbers, on which still rested -masses of stone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly, in response to their efforts, a huge -stone, mate to the one they had been sitting on, -tipped sidewise and slowly slid down into the -darkness, followed by a shaft of light.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a sharp cry from below, and the boys -looked at each other, a sort of horror on each face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's no kitten!" gasped Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For answer Porky slid feet first in the wake -of the big stone, landed on it, and stepped off into -a gloomy chamber now feebly lighted from above. -In a moment his eyes were accustomed to the dim -light, and he stepped aside, making way for Beany, -who came helter-skeltering down behind him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>What they saw was a room that had been used -as a store-room for the farmhouse. By some trick -of fate the falling walls, while they had made a -tight prison of it, had spared the most of the -shelves of provisions, and rows of preserves and -tins of fruit still stood safely in their places.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A thin, emaciated figure lay in the corner on a -pile of dirt over which a cloak had been spread. -The sunken eyes fixed themselves on the two boys, -but there was no recognition in their glassy depths. -What looked like two little piles of rags were -huddled close, and as the boys came nearer, the dying -woman, for it was a woman and she was close to -death, clutched them convulsively. The bundles -stirred, and a couple of small heads were raised. -Two children, tousled and covered with dirt, lifted -frightened eyes and clung frantically to the -prostrate figure.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky crossed swiftly and dropped on his knees -by the dying woman. Very gently he slipped an -arm under her heavy head and lifted her a little -on his strong young arm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Get a move on!" he flung at Beany, and that -young man scrambled up the pile of debris where -the big stone had fallen and instantly disappeared. -Porky, left alone with the woman and the two -terrified children, who tried frantically to burrow out -of sight under the mother's nerveless arm, could -think of nothing better to do than clasp the woman -closely to him in an effort to give her some of his -own heat and vitality. She seemed already stone -cold.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Almost at once Beany returned with some of the -officers. They came down and with tender hands -lifted the sufferer out of the chilly dampness of -the cellar, and laid her on a pile of coats and -cushions. Some one carefully fed her a few drops of -the hot coffee still left in the thermos bottles. It -was very evident, however, that her moments were -numbered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One of the French officers in the party knelt -beside her. Softly, tenderly, pityingly, he spoke -to her in her native tongue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The weary eyes opened, and rested on his face.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-vexing-problem"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER IX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A VEXING PROBLEM</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The boys, who had attained a good working -knowledge of the French language, listened -breathlessly. The gentle questions of the officer were -easy to follow, but without pressing too close to -the sad group they were unable to hear the -whispered, broken replies of the woman. That the -story was a sad one, one of the uncounted -tragedies of the invasion of a cruel and heartless -enemy, they could easily guess by the break in the -French officer's voice and the unashamed and -manly tears that filled his eyes. Slowly, -painfully she told her story, the two tiny children -clutching her closely the while. Fainter and -fainter grew the feeble voice. Porky and Beany -knew instinctively that they were standing in the -presence of death; not the glorious and gallant -passing that the soldier finds on the battlefield, but -the coming of release from a long and undeserved -agony. As the little group watched, one bloodless -hand reached up and drew the thin shawl away -from her breast. There was a wound there; a -cruel death wound that she had stanched as best -she could and had covered from the eyes of the two -babies. As though her story was all ended, the -pitiful eyes fixed themselves on the face of the -officer who held her. Rapidly he made the sign -of the cross, then with his hand held high, he spoke -to the dying woman. It was enough. A smile of -peace lighted the worn face, one long look she bent -on the two children, and turning her head as if for -protection toward the blue tunic against which -she rested, she closed her eyes, sighed, and was -still.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Reverently laying down his burden, the officer -rose to his feet. And while the group stood with -bared heads, he told the story as he had just heard it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The dead woman's name was Marie Duval. For -two hundred years her people had lived in simple -ease and comfort on the well tilled farm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In rapid, thrilling sentences, he sketched the -story of their happy, blameless lives, through -Marie's innocent childhood, her girlhood, and up to -the time of her meeting with young Pierre Duval. -Pierre had a good farm of his own down the valley, -and there they lived in simple happiness and -prosperity. Three children were born, the two little -creatures crouching before them and one a little -older, now dead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the war broke out, Pierre put on his -uniform and went away. For a while, like other -heroic women, she tilled the little farm until one -night when a small scouting party of Huns swept -down, burning and destroying all that lay in their -path. She escaped with her children under cover -of the darkness and made her way back to her -father's house. For a long time they escaped the -tide of war, and lived on and on from day to day, -the old, old father and mother and the young -mother waiting for news from Pierre. It came at -last.... He was dead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then," said the French officer, "then her heart -seemed to die too, but she knew that she must live -for the sake of the little ones. Already she could -see that the agony and terror of it all was killing -the aged parents. Four sons were fighting, and -one by one they followed Pierre to death.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nearer and nearer came the German lines until -one awful day a horde of heartless warriors -swept over them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sirs, you know the rest," said the French officer, -his fine face twitching with emotion. "It is -the same old story, the old man ruthlessly tortured -and killed, his old wife kept alive just long enough -to see him die. The oldest grandchild was with -her. He too was tortured while his mother, hidden -and imprisoned in a portion of the cellar under -the smoking ruins of the farmhouse, heard his -childish screams of agony.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She tried frantically to free herself from the -ruins. A soldier saw her, brought the fainting -child almost within reach of her hand and killed -him. Then with the same weapon he made a savage -thrust for her heart, but could only reach close -enough to inflict a deep wound. Then making sure -that she could not escape from the cellar, he rode -away after his troop. She became unconscious, -and for days the two little children must have -lived on the vegetables stored about them. When -she regained consciousness she found strength to -drag herself to the shelves where the family -provisions were stored. All that was not spoiled -she fed to the children, but they were without -water save for the rainwater that dripped down -upon them. She felt herself growing steadily -weaker as the untended wound grew worse. The -whole neighborhood seemed abandoned, and their -feeble cries brought no help. The children pined, -and suffering as they were from shock, soon gave -way to the cold dampness and insufficient food.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Marie herself lived solely through her -determination not to leave the two helpless babies to -their fate. She prayed that they might die first, -and she was glad to note their failing strength, so -fearful was she of leaving them alone to a -horrible, lingering death.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She herself grew so weak that much of the time -she lay almost unconscious with the little ones -huddled against her. She commenced to see -visions. Pierre came and comforted her and -promised that she should soon be free to be with him. -The little martyred son clasped her in his loving -little arms, assuring her that he no longer suffered. -The old mother and father sat beside her and told -her to be brave and patient. But with all her -courage she felt that her end was near. She could -not endure much longer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The French officer bowed his head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then came deliverance," he said softly, "deliverance -from all her pain and anguish. She has -been released. She is with Pierre!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One of the officers stepped forward and tenderly -covered the still figure with his cloak. He took -the younger child in his arms, but it screamed -and struggled while the other one fought off the -friendly hands stretched down to it. The French -officer spoke to them pleadingly, but they only -stared stupidly at him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are almost done for," said one of the -officers. "We have got to get them away from -here and right away." He made another effort -to take the older child but the little fellow fought -with the fury of a little wildcat. One after another -tried in vain to get hold of the terrified little -fellow, who grew more and more frightened.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky and Beany, standing modestly in the rear -of the group, watched the proceedings with -growing uneasiness. Finally Porky stepped forwards, -saluting as he did so.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will you please let us try?" he asked, and -taking a worried nod from the Captain for answer, -he sat down beside the dead mother, and for a -long time, as it seemed to the watching group, -stared idly ahead, without so much as a glance at -the trembling children.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he turned, nodded as though he had just -noticed them, and taking a cake of chocolate from -his pocket, bit off a piece and then broke off a small -corner for each child. It was only a taste, but as -the delicious morsel melted on their tongues, they -crept to Porky like a couple of starved kittens. -He showed them the rest of the chocolate and -hitched off a few feet. Beany came after. The -children followed, and Porky broke off another -small bit for each. Some one brought water from -the cars for them to drink and in fifteen minutes -the thing was done. Porky and Beany, each with -a little skeleton in their arms, wandered well away -from the spot where unaccustomed hands were -awkwardly digging a grave for the dead young mother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This," said Porky, as the child in his arms -sagged on his shoulder and seemed to sleep, "this -is the worst thing yet!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You bet!" said Beany dismally. "Say, did -you see me cry back there? I did!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, what of it?" demanded Porky. "Didn't -everybody? I'd like to know how they could help it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wasn't looking," said Beany. "Oh, gosh, -they didn't have to do things like this."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who, the Huns?" asked his brother. "Why, -it's all like this and a million times worse!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I wish I was grown up," mourned Beany. -"To think we can't do much of anything! I want -to get even! I want to look some of those fellows -in the face!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's your idea? Want to tell him what -you think?" Porky laughed unpleasantly, as he -shifted the weight of the child. "What's worrying -me now is what is going to be done with these -poor little kids. Isn't the one you have a pretty -little thing? Even all the dirt and hunger can't -hide her looks. I suppose they will have to go -into some asylum!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't see why," said Beany suddenly. "Do -you remember Mom and Pop said they wished if -we brought them anything from across, it would be -something good and worth while? They didn't -want German helmets and junk like that. What -do you suppose they would say to a couple of -dandy little kids like these?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"For the love of the board of health!" said his -brother solemnly. "It's a great thought, sonny, -but do you suppose Mom </span><em class="italics">wants</em><span> to start in bringing -up another lot of children! You know if she -ever started, she would make a good job of it; you -know how thorough she always is."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, she is thorough, all right!" grinned -Mom's son. "Look at us!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She did the best she could with us, anyhow," -retorted Mom's other son solemnly, "and I think, -no, I </span><em class="italics">know</em><span> she would be tickled to death to do -something as real and important as taking these -two little chaps to bring up. And we could help -support them if we had to, later."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's silly," said Porky. "You know Dad -has made a lot of money. And he could afford -to bring up six of them if he wanted to."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, all </span><em class="italics">he</em><span> ever wants is what Mom wants," -said Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I guess that's so too," said Porky, "but -perhaps some of those officers will have some other -plans for them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He looked down at the child on his arm. Already -he felt a tenderness for the starved, sickly -little creature who had trusted him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One apiece," he said, looking at Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One's a girl, though," said Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky wanted to be fair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's so," he said. "Well, we can draw -straws to see which has to take her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Straws nothing!" said Beany. "She came to -me, so she is mine. Darned if I know what to do -with a girl, though! Can't teach her to play ball -or marbles, and besides that she can't be a Boy -Scout."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, she can be a girl one. You know they -have 'em, and if she can't play ball she can learn -to swim and dive and ride and shoot, and it will -be pretty handy to have her round the house when -it comes to buttons and things. Mother must get -tired sewing for three of us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wonder how long it takes 'em to grow up to -button size," said Beany, studying the tiny bundle -in his arms.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't know," said Porky. He looked anxiously -at his brother. His generosity in accepting -the care of the little girl worried him. He had to -watch Beany, who was always more than generous -and self-sacrificing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why can't we both have both kids?" he asked. -"I don't want you to be stung with a girl all the -time. It isn't fair."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Stuck with a girl!" said Beany. "Why, -Porky, I </span><em class="italics">like</em><span> it! I never could see why when any -one has a baby, everybody says, 'Gee, it's a boy! -Isn't that bully!' or else 'Huh, it's a girl, too -bad!' I never could see it. Course when they get </span><em class="italics">our</em><span> -size they mostly are silly pills, but if </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> have a hand -in bringing up </span><em class="italics">this</em><span> girl, why, you just watch her, -that's all! I bet when she's fifteen she won't look -cross-eyed at a boy. I bet she knocks their blocks -off! She is going to have some sense!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Looks as though you mean to make a scrapper -of her," laughed Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, she has got to grow up just as much like -Mom as she can."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Mom likes boys all right," was Porky's reminder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, but I bet when she was young she never -googled at 'em or passed notes or accidentally sat -down in the same seat with them or any of that. -She isn't that kind. You can </span><em class="italics">see</em><span> she isn't." And -Beany, whose wavy hair and clear blue eyes had -already caused him to suffer, nodded his head -vigorously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Go ahead!" said Porky, "I think it's great -having an assortment, only I didn't want you to -feel as though you had the worst end of the -bargain."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not a bit of it!" said Beany. "Not a bit, and -I'll lend you my girl to look at or play with -whenever you want."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Much obliged," said Porky, "but I can't help -thinking it might be a good plan to break the news -to somebody."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your kidlet is asleep, so he won't notice. Suppose -you go back there and see what they are doing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can see from here," said Porky with a slight -shudder. "They are sort of boarding up a place -to put the youngster's mother. They have no way -of getting a casket or even a box for her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It will be fixed all right," said Beany. "The -Captain does everything all right. He will fix -it just as well as ever he can. I'd like to go over -and see just what they are doing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Better not; you might wake the baby, and we -don't want her to see her mother again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, anyhow, one thing is settled. The pair -is ours," said Porky with a sigh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are ours if we can have them," said his -brother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You watch me!" said Porky grimly.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="deciding-destinies"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER X</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">DECIDING DESTINIES</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Tired of carrying the children about, the two -boys sat down on a bench beside what had once -been a large barn. The destructive fire started -by the invaders had apparently been checked by -a heavy rainfall as the half burned structures and -charred timbers testified. There was still a chance -to rebuild and save enough from the wreckage to -enable the owners to start their lives afresh. But -alas, of those owners but two were left—the two -tiny, terrified, war-racked creatures in the arms of -the two Boy Scouts. While their little charges -slept, the boys continued their talk in a low tone. -Their arms, unaccustomed to such burdens, were -tired and stiff by the time one of the officers left -the distant group and approached them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why don't you lay the poor little cubs down -somewhere?" he asked, looking round vainly for -a fit place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No place to put 'em, sir," said Porky, "and -every time we start to move them, they clutch us -and start to scream. As long as we sort of keep -'em hugged up tight, they sleep."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's awful—awful!" said the officer. "I wish -I knew what to do with them now. There's not -an asylum of any sort, not a place fit to leave them -within miles and miles, and what's to become of -them </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> don't know. Every orphan asylum in -France is crowded."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, that's all right," said Porky. "We don't -intend they shall go to any asylum. Our mother -has adopted them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your what?" asked the captain after a -prolonged stare.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Our mother," repeated Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your mother has </span><em class="italics">WHAT</em><span>?" said the captain. -"Just repeat it all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Our mother has adopted them," said Porky -patiently and distinctly. The captain pushed back -his cap and stared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where is your mother?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Home," said Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"New York state," added Beany. "She -wanted something to remember the war by, so we -are going to take her these. She didn't want any -German helmets or anything of that sort. She -said she didn't want ever to be reminded of -helmets, so we will take her these instead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, good heavens!" said the officer. "You -ought not do anything like that! She would have -to bring them up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's all right, too," said Porky. "Mom has -had experience. She has had us, and one of these -is a girl. Girls ought to be easier than boys."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, she won't mind and, anyhow, we are going -to do all the hard work ourselves. Teaching -them swimming and baseball and all that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The girl will like that," said the officer dryly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Course she will!" said Beany, looking proudly -down at the future baseballess.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's like this," said Porky. "Our people -always trust us, and we know it will be all right. I -do hope you can fix it for us, Captain."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It would be a wonderful thing for those poor -little orphans," mused the Captain. "But how -would you get them home?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's easy," said Porky. "Our time is up -pretty soon. You see we were only allowed a -limited stay. That was the agreement when we came, -and we can take the kids over with us. Won't you -</span><em class="italics">please</em><span> get General Pershing to fix it up for us? -There will be some woman on board to tell us what -they ought to eat, and when to put 'em to bed and -all that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It would be a wonderful thing," said the Captain -again. "If you are sure about your mother. -It's a good deal to wish off on her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Feel in my left pocket," said Porky. "Feel -that letter? Now take it out and read it. It's all -right. She wouldn't mind, and I'm proud of -mother's letters."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Captain drew out the letter which was much -thumbed and soiled, and read:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>"</span><em class="italics">My own dear boys</em><span>:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"It was good to hear from you both again after -the long time between letters. A whole month, in -which we received not so much as a post card. -But something told me that you were safe and -well, so I did not worry. You know, dears, I am -not the worrying kind when it comes to that. -Your dad, who boasts continually that he never -worries over </span><em class="italics">any</em><span>thing, does all the fussing for the -whole family, but as long as he doesn't know it, -and we never tell him, why, I suppose it is all -right.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wrote you a long letter yesterday, telling -you all the news of the neighborhood, and this is -only a note to acknowledge your letter at once -because in my letter I said that we had not heard -in a long time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, dears, it will not be very many weeks -now before we will hope to see our boys again. I -am counting the very days. I wonder what souvenir -of the war you will bring me. It will be something -I will love to have, I know, and not a horrid -helmet or anything of that sort. Of course the -thing I would like best you can't possibly bring -me, and that is a house full of those poor pitiful -little Belgian refugees. When I think of our big -house, this splendid home we have built since you -went away, when I think that soon it will be -finished, and we will be in it, just we four, I can -scarcely bear it. So </span><em class="italics">many</em><span> little children homeless!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, some day, boys, we must manage to do -something for some of those suffering little ones. -I know of no other way in which to thank God -for our two boys and our many, many blessings. -Your father is prospering more and more in his -business, and we both feel that we must all four -unite in doing for those less fortunate than we.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"However, I know I can't hope for a couple of -Belgians just at present. After the war, we will -go and collect a few!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Take care of yourselves always for the sake of -the two who love you so well.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils whitespace-pre-line"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>"Your always loving</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><span>"MOTHER."</span></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Well, I declare!" said the Captain as he -finished the clearly written page.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Doesn't that about fix it?" asked Porky -triumphantly. "Of course these are French, but I -guess she won't mind that. They couldn't be -worse off in the way of parents or more destitute, -no matter </span><em class="italics">what</em><span> they were."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother will be in her glory," Beany cut in. -"I hope they don't get fat before we get them -home."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should say not! The thinner, the better as -far as mother is concerned. She snaked a private -right out of the camp hospital last summer and -took him home. He had had pneumonia and -looked like a sick sparrow. Mother fed him and -nursed him and he gained seventeen pounds in -three weeks."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, it does beat all!" said the Captain. "Of -course, you understand there may be some reason -that will make it impossible for you to take these -children out of the country."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All I can say is, there hadn't </span><em class="italics">better</em><span> be," said -Porky, thrusting out his square jaw. "Think I -want to give up my kid after it came to me and I -lugged it around for an hour?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And do you suppose I want anybody but -mother and me to bring up this girl?" said Beany, -awkwardly hugging the sleeping mite in his arms -closer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Besides," said Porky, "what about mother! -It's up to us to bring her what she likes best, and -you read that letter. What she wants is </span><em class="italics">orphans</em><span>, -and she's </span><em class="italics">got</em><span> to </span><em class="italics">have</em><span> 'em if we </span><em class="italics">steal</em><span> 'em! So long -as we are around, mother has got to have what she -wants."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should think that nearly settled it," said the -officer. He laughed but there was a queer gleam -in his eyes that looked suspiciously like tears. "I -am going to report this to the General now," he -said. "Of course we cannot take the children with -us, and some way must be found of sending them -back to headquarters. I don't see just how it is to -be done, as it would be a pity to make you go back -with them when this trip is only beginning and -be a wonderful thing for you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, we hate to lose the trip," said Porky -wistfully. "I don't suppose two other Boy Scouts -in the whole world ever had such a chance and we -sort of earned it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Stay here," said the Captain, "and I will be -back presently."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He walked away, and the two boys, holding the -two children, sat quietly on the old bench planning -in low tones for the future.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This girl is going to be a peach," said Beany -proudly. "See the way her hair crinkles up? -She is rank dirty, but you wait till mother gets -her cleaned up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My word!" said Porky. "She's got to be -washed before </span><em class="italics">that</em><span>! Why, they have to have a -bath right off as soon as we get hold of a nurse or -some woman who understands enough about kids -to do it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, it's an awful job," said Beany. "All the -soap gets in their eyes and nose, and there's the -mischief to pay. And I want an expert to wash -this kid. It makes their eyes red to get soap in -'em, and I don't want hers spoiled."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wonder what their names are," said Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, they are named all right. I suppose we -didn't get 'em soon enough to attend to that, but -we can call 'em what we like. Don't you know -how it is with a registered dog? Don't you -remember the two collies Skippy Fields has, one -named Knocklayde King Ben and the other Nut -Brown Maiden, and Skippy's folks called 'em -Benny and Nutty. I bet they each have about -thirteen names apiece, but while I'm bringing her -up, this girl's going to be called Peggy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And this is Bill," said Porky without the least -hesitation. "Bill. Just </span><em class="italics">Bill</em><span> so you can yell at -him good and easy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They went on planning while behind them, over -the soft, uneven ground the staff approached -unheard and stood watching the little group.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently, still unheard and unnoticed by the -boys, they turned away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And there are those," said General Pershing -solemnly, "who do not believe that a special -Providence watches over children! The boys </span><em class="italics">shall</em><span> -take those two orphans home to that good mother -of theirs, if it takes an Act of Congress. You -say," he continued, talking to the French officer in -his own musical tongue, "you say that poor woman -said that all her people were gone?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All dead, all lost in this war," answered the -Frenchman.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, if this was only in a movie show," said -the great General, "we would presently see a car -headed for the rear, coming around that bend -ahead, and we would be able to—well, I declare," -he exclaimed, as one of the officers laughed and -pointed. "That's positively </span><em class="italics">too</em><span> much!" as the -group laughed with him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A large car </span><em class="italics">was</em><span> coming along around the bend, -it </span><em class="italics">was</em><span> headed for the rear, and in the tonneau sat -a couple of nurses in their snug caps and dark -capes!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General himself halted it, and in a few -words explained the situation. A couple of the -officers, accompanied by the nurses, went over to -the boys and at once the children, still sleeping -the heavy sleep of exhaustion, were transferred to -arms more accustomed to holding them, and carried -back to the car. Almost before they realized -it, the car was off and Porky turned to the General, -saluting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Out with it, young man," said the kindly -General, smiling down into the eager and troubled -face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We will get 'em back, won't we, sir?" he asked. -"They can't work some game on us, so we will -lose 'em?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We lost a pup that way once," said Beany -dolefully, also coming to salute.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, you won't lose your orphans," the General -promised. "I wish I could see your mother's -face when your little party appears."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, we will write you what she says if you will -let us, sir," Porky volunteered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She will be crazy over Bill and Peggy," added -Beany, looking fondly after the car vanishing with -their new possessions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Beel ant Pekky!" groaned the Frenchman.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wee, Mussoo, we have named them already," -said Porky proudly. "We know they have some -other names, kind of names, they were registered -under, but that kid has to have </span><em class="italics">something</em><span> easy -to yell at him when he makes a home run, and -Beany picked on Peggy right off."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That about settles it," laughed the General. -"We must be off if we reach our first sector by -nightfall."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="whispers-in-the-night"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">WHISPERS IN THE NIGHT</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was nine o'clock when they reached the first -post of observation in their journey, an outpost -on the top of a densely wooded hill where they -were to remain as long as the General wished to -stay. It was a splendid post of observation. A -vast battle-torn valley stretched below them for -miles and miles. From their vantage point they -could see it brilliantly lighted at short intervals -by the flares of the enemy. The flares lit the -trenches—black, ragged gashes running along the -earth—and beyond, where the awful desolation of -No-Man's-Land stretched, peopled only with its -dead. Seen with field glasses, the plain drew near -and they could see the torn surface and the -tumbled groups here and there. A great battle had -been fought and both sides were resting. Rest -was absolutely necessary. The Allies had -advanced three miles, pushing back a foe that -stubbornly contested every step of the way. The -Germans had brought vast numbers of reserves into -action but even then the whirlwind tactics and -savage rushes of their oversea foe had driven them -back rod by rod.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky and Beany looked on and trembled with -excitement. There ahead, hidden in the darkness, -were the Huns. There were the barbarians who -had shown a civilized world how men can slip back -into worse than savagery. Wasted lands, ruined -homes, orphaned and mutilated little children, -butchered old people. All the unspeakable -horrors of war trooped through the boys' minds, a -hideous train of ghosts, as they looked across the -valley. Ahead lay the heartless and ruthless -killers, wolves that had come to worry and tear the -sheep, but behind in the darkness, the boys knew -with a thrill, every possible mode of transportation -was swiftly bringing up the reserve American -troops, thousands and thousands of them; men in -their prime and beardless boys grim, determined, -yet light-hearted, ready to fight as only Americans -can fight. Men from the farms, farms in the east -where fifty well-tilled acres was a fine homestead; -farmers from that great and spacious west where -a man called miles of land his own. Professional -men, clerks, divinity students, adventurers, all -welded by this great need into a common likeness. -Eager for life, yet fearlessly ready to die if need -be, a mighty army was on its way, was drawing -nearer and nearer to the tired troops below. -Overhead an adventurous plane or two hummed in -the darkness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And we can't help!" said Porky mournfully. -"Not a thing we can do, not a thing!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, well, we are doing all we can," said Beany. -"I don't just see what </span><em class="italics">more</em><span> we can do. We can't -help our age."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, but if we are not told just </span><em class="italics">where</em><span> to stay, -and </span><em class="italics">where</em><span> to go, I mean to take a little stroll -around to-night," said Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys went over to the General, who stood -looking across the valley and saluted. He looked, -and gravely returned the salute.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-night, boys," he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-night, sir," said the boys, and then as an -afterthought, "May we walk around a bit, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General was busy studying the vast field -below him as the flashes of light revealed it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, if you don't get lost," he said absently, -"and be on hand at eight to-morrow morning. I -may be ready to go on then."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir," said both boys cheerfully. What -luck! The General certainly didn't know what he -was getting himself into.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The whole night to ourselves, and no bounds, -and only we mustn't get lost!" chuckled Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Peach pie!" murmured Beany. "Let's be -off! Where will we go first?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Down there," said Porky, waving a hand -widely over the valley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's where I thought. But we can't get -into any scrape on account of the General. You -know he wasn't thinking about us at all when he -spoke, and, besides, there would be an awful fuss -if we got into any trouble. It would be good-by -to our little trip. We would be sent back quicker -than they sent Bill and Peggy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who wants to get into any scrape?" said -Porky. "All I want to do is to see—to see—well, -to see just what I </span><em class="italics">can</em><span> do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, come on," said Beany mournfully. "I -bet we are in for some fun, because when we look -for things we generally find 'em."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What hurts me," said Porky, "is not carrying -weapons of any sort. It's a good safe rule for -the Boy Scouts, but I'd be glad of some little -thing like a sling shot or a putty blower."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't need anything," said Beany, "I've got -the neatest thing you ever </span><em class="italics">did</em><span> see." Quite -suddenly he drew something from his hip pocket and -shoved it under his brother's nose. Porky -side-stepped.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ha!" said Beany. "It works!" He showed -Porky his weapon. It was a monkey wrench from -the auto tool chest. In his hand it looked like a -revolver.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pretty neat," said Porky. "Is there another -one in the box?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I saw another," said Beany. "I don't -see any harm in this. Any one might carry a -monkey wrench," and replaced it carefully in his -pocket.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure thing," said Porky, making for the car, -followed by his brother. "Didn't the Reverend -Hannibal Butts get up to preach one Sunday, and -dig for a clean handky to wipe his face with and -come up with a bunch of waste and use it before -he saw what he was doing?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I remember that," said Beany. "I thought -I'd die! And so did everybody else. It 'most -broke up the meeting."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, when you flashed that monkey wrench I -thought it was a revolver sure enough. But it -was only an innocent little wrench, and here is the -mate to it!" He pocketed the tool, and slipping -cautiously out of sight of the group of officers, -they went scrambling noiselessly down the steep -trail into the valley. Reaching the foot of the -hill, they struck cautiously out toward the -entanglements, dropping on their faces whenever a flare -went up. Presently Beany, a little in the rear, -pulled his brother's leg. Porky stopped, and -waited for Beany to wriggle up. He muttered, -"What?" but did not turn his face. He knew too -well that a face turned upwards in the darkness -can be seen by an observant watcher overhead in -some prowling plane.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Men whispering over toward the right," said -Beany of the marvelous ears.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No business for any one to be there," said -Porky, listening intently. "We are well on our -side yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's over there on that little hillock," said -Beany positively, "and I think they are whispering -in German."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, they </span><em class="italics">can't</em><span> be, Bean," said Porky. "We -are away inside our lines, and we wouldn't have -men out there and, besides, they wouldn't be -whispering German or anything else. When our men -are supposed to keep still, they </span><em class="italics">keep still</em><span>!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can't help it," said Beany. "They are whispering -in German."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right," said Porky, reluctantly turning -toward the spot indicated by Beany. "We'll go -over and see what it is, and if there are any -Germans holed up around here, we'll sick on a few -troops."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They did not stand up again, but slowly and -with the greatest caution approached a small -hillock that stood slightly away from the steeper -hills. It was not wooded enough to afford any -shelter, nor was it high enough to be a good spot -for a gun. For that or for some other reason, -the enemy had failed to shell it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the side toward the Allies a pile of high -boulders was tumbled. The rest was grass -grown. Beany, whispering softly in his brother's -ear, insisted that the voices came from this -place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then they are underground," whispered -Porky in his turn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Slowly, ever so slowly they crept up to the little -hill and lay in the darkness, listening. Certainly -through the grass and stones of the mound came -the muffled sound of cautious voices. If they had -been speaking English, it is probable that even -Beany's wizard ears would not have caught the -sound. But the harsh guttural German, even -when whispered, seemed to carry far.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't see how you heard 'em," breathed -Porky. "It's hard enough to believe now. What -do you suppose it all means!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Search me!" Beany breathed in return.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What they doing over on our side?" wondered -Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's a good place all right," said Beany against -his brother's ear as they lay close to the grass.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were silent for a while, when the -unbelievable happened. It was so amazing, so -stunning, that both boys at first could not believe that -they heard aright. They heard a sound like a -windlass or crank turning, a few clods tumbled -down on them, and a voice once more whispered -hoarsely three words:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gee, it's hot!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Gee, it's hot!</em><span>" said the German voice and the -simple words seemed to the astounded boys to -ring across the valley! On the contrary, they -were spoken in a low whisper.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Another voice replied. "He won't like it if you -speak English, you know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can't help it," said the first speaker. "We -are two to one anyhow, and I am tired of talking -that lingo. I'm a good German all right, but I -wasn't brought up to </span><em class="italics">speak</em><span> German and it comes -hard. And this is the hottest place I ever did get -in. I don't like it. Do you know what will -happen about to-morrow? I'll tell you. We will find -ourselves miles behind the Allies' lines, and then -what do you propose to do, Peter?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bosh!" said the man called Peter. "You -think because a handful of Americans are here -that the tide has turned. Be careful what you -think. I tell you </span><em class="italics">no</em><span>. What can a few hundred -of these fellows do against the perfect, trained -millions of the Fatherland?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You don't know them," said Fritz.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I do," said the man Peter. "Now let me -tell you. For years I was in England; sent there -to study those foolish bull-headed people and to -create all the unrest I could. It was </span><em class="italics">so</em><span> easy. I -saw these Americans there, crazy, loud-mouthed, -boasting, always boasting. They talked fight, -they told wild tales about the bad men of their -west, always boasting. So I tried them. I am a -big man, Fritz, and strong; I was not afraid of a -little fight, me, myself. I tried them. I slurred -their government, sneered at their president, -laughed at their institutions. What think you? -They laughed. They </span><em class="italics">laughed</em><span>! Quite as if I said -the most kindly things. I said, 'What I say is -true, is it not?' and they said, 'Perhaps, but it is -so funny!' That is what they said, '</span><em class="italics">so funny</em><span>!' -They should have slain me where I stood."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They don't care what you say or what the -rest of the world says," whispered Fritz. "They -are too big. Their country is too big. When they -fight.... Wait until you have seen them fight! -They fight with grunts and gasps and bared teeth. -They do not need trenches, they will go over the -top with a shout. You will see, friend Peter. -They are back there in the darkness now. I feel -them!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A few of them, only a few," said Peter. -"This little castle of sod and stone is getting on -your nerves, my friend. Look you! Do you -think the Highest would deceive us? Never, -never! There is nothing to this talk of the -Americans coming over here. To be sure, they have -declared war, but what of it? They are no good. -They have no army. All their boasted possessions, -all their harbors, all their wealth, yet they -have no army. No army! That shows how -inefficient they are. Never fear, my Fritz. Not a -hundred thousand will reach this soil. I have it -from our commanding officer himself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then here's hoping for a quick release from -this hole," said Fritz bitterly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To-morrow," said Peter; "to-morrow our -hosts will sweep across this valley, and we will -be with our own again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I hope for some release. It's the hardest -duty I have ever been given."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But think how we have been able to guide our -guns, talking as we can to the airplanes through -the clever arrangement of our three little trees on -top of our delightful little hill." He laughed. -"How clever it all is! And no one will ever -suspect!" He paused again to chuckle, and Porky -quite suddenly shoved a sharp elbow into Beany's ribs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'm sick of it," said Fritz still in his low, -hoarse whisper, and seemed to move away from -the side of the hill where he had been standing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys with the greatest caution wriggled away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now what do you think of </span><em class="italics">that</em><span>?" said Porky -when they were in a position where they could talk -in safety. "</span><em class="italics">What do you think of that?</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Anyhow," said Beany, "they aren't spies. -I'm sort of fed up on spies. I can stand for most -anything else."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, they are not spies. I can't make out just -what their little game is. It's important, though; -you can see that. And we have got to stop it somehow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That ought to be easy enough. Just go back -and get the bunch and a few soldiers, and take 'em."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's the time, anyhow?" asked Porky. He -answered his own question by fishing his wrist -watch out of his pocket. He had put it there for -fear the luminous dial might be seen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only eleven," he said. "Plenty of time." He -sat staring into the darkness. There were -very few flares now, although the night was usually -kept bright with them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wonder why that is," Porky said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Something to do with our little mud house, -don't you think so?" said Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I do," answered his brother, "I wish -I could make it out. Give us time, give us time!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, come on! I want to get some one on. -the job," said Beany. "I feel fidgety."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sit still," said Porky. "I want to think."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What you got in your head now?" said Beany. -His voice sounded anxious.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We are going to take those men prisoners with -our own little wrenches and just by our two -selves."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Three of them?" gasped Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Three of them!" said Porky. "Come on!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="taking-three-prisoners"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">TAKING THREE PRISONERS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Come nothing!" said Beany slangily. "You -stay right here until we can talk this thing over, -and make some sort of a plan. I don't propose -to go into something we can't get out of."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," said Porky, "the only plan I have is -so crazy that I'm sort of afraid to tell you about it. -But it would certainly be sort of nifty to take those -men ourselves instead of running back to the -bunch for help. It would kind of put a little gilt -on things and would be something to tell Bill and -Peggy about when they grow up a little."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany was impressed. "I hadn't thought of -that," he said. "Looks like we haven't much to -tell them about, nothing but the submarine and the -secret passage and that sort of thing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And the spies back home," added Porky. -"No, we ought to wind up with something else. -Beside, if I don't get hold of a Hun or two after -what we saw and heard back at the Duval farm, -I don't think I'll ever live."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'm with you," agreed Beany. "Now -let's plan. We sure have got to get a prisoner -or two our own selves. What's next?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For twenty minutes the boys, heads close together, -whispered rapidly. Then they rose and -went noiselessly toward the false hillock.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The last hundred yards they crept, lying flat -and motionless whenever a flare lit the sky. They -were not frequent, however, and the boys made -good progress. When they reached the mound, -Porky, who was the best climber, crept to the top. -He used the most infinite caution, and there was -not a sound to betray his slow, sure progress. -Gaining the top, he found what he had expected to -find. A sodded opening, like a double trap door, -operated from the inside, was slightly opened for -air. So cleverly was it arranged with small -bushes and grass growing on the trap doors, that -it would have been impossible to detect it. Porky -felt cautiously about the edges. Then he listened. -From below came an unmistakable sound—the -noise of a couple of men snoring. The sound was -so muffled by the thick steel walls, the earth and -stones and sod outside them, that they were able -to sleep without fear of detection. Porky shook -his head admiringly. He was forced to acknowledge -that the ingenuity of the foe seemed to know -no bounds. Again he tried the trap doors. They -were balanced to a hair and moved upward at his -touch. He felt in his pocket, arranged something -in either hand, then swung the doors both upward.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It would be untrue to say that a flash of doubt -did not pass over the reckless boy at that instant. -He thought of the General and of the way in which -that great man trusted them to do their part in -keeping out of trouble. He had surmised that -there were three men below. There was room -for a dozen. He had taken it for granted that he -and Beany could pull off a stunt that instead -might end in their immediate death or worse. But -there he was, perched on the top, the heavy trap -doors swinging wide, and below in the dense -darkness the sound of men snoring. Porky took time -to listen. There were snores from two, that was -clear, and still another man talked and muttered -fretfully in his sleep. Porky could hear no others.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He took a long breath, leaned over the opening, -and turned a flashlight below.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As though electrified; three big men sat up and -blinked in the glare of the flashlight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two of the men cried, "Kamarad!" and instantly -held up their hands. The third said -calmly, "Thank the Lord! I surrender!" and -stood up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not so fast!" said Porky in his deepest tones. -He fiddled with the button on his flashlight. The -light wavered. Porky kept his face to the men -and called back over his shoulder:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sergeant, something's wrong with my flash. -Send up another!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir!" answered Beany as gruffly as -possible from below. He waited a moment, then -scrambling up passed his flash to his brother. -Porky put his in his pocket, and bent the light on -the men below. An ax stood in one corner with -a coil of rope. In another corner was a rough -table loaded with strange instruments that Porky -did not understand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Turn out your pockets!" he commanded, and -three revolvers were tossed up, one after the -other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"See that rope?" demanded Porky, pointing his -flash directly at the man who had spoken English. -"You tell those other fellows to tie you up quick, -and tell them to make a good job of it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I surrender," said the man Fritz. "Please -don't tie me up, sir!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You hear!" said Porky grimly. He called -back over his shoulder. "Forward ten paces, Sergeant!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir," said Beany, and Porky almost -giggled as he heard his brother scuffling violently -around trying to sound like a squad. But he -dared not look away from the men below, who were -hastily tying up the man called Fritz. They did -a good job, eager to make good with the unseen -and most unexpected captors. If the officer above -with the boyish voice wanted Fritz tied up, tied up -he would be so he could not move. When they -finished, the bulky form looked like a mummy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is that a door in the side?" Porky demanded -of Fritz.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir," said Fritz.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky waited a little. The worst was coming now.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell those men to open that door, and step outside, -and if they value their lives, to keep their -hands up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Fritz spoke rapidly in German. What he said -was, "These are Americans, you fools! The -officer says to step outside, and keep your hands up. -You had better do it, if you want to live. They -would rather shoot than eat. I know them! -Obey, no matter what they tell you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he had finished, one of the men, lowering -one hand and keeping the other well up in the -air, pressed a long lever and a narrow door -opened, dislodging a little shower of stones and -earth as it moved outward.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Vorwarts zwei!" cried Porky, making a wild -stab at German.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was understood however. Fear makes men -quick, and the two walked briskly out and stood -side by side. One of them had stepped through -a loop of the rope, and it came trailing after him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tie those men's hands and tie them together. -Sergeant," said Porky. He watched, cold with -a fright he would never have felt for himself, while -Beany, keeping as much out of the light as possible, -tied the men, and sawed off the end of the rope.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Close the door!" demanded Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany did so.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't leave me here, sir," cried the man below -suddenly. "If the Germans find that we have -allowed this spot to be discovered, they will shoot -me. If the enemy comes I shall be shot. I will -come quietly. I am glad to surrender."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's all right," growled Porky. "You are -safe for a while. I am leaving a guard here. We -want a few English-speaking prisoners, so you are -quite safe for a while."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One of those men outside speaks English -also," cried Fritz.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right," said Porky. "I advise you to keep -still. Sergeant, detail a guard for this place with -orders to shoot him at the first outcry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir," said Beany. He retreated under -cover of the darkness, thoughtfully going around -the corner of the mound as a flare brightened -the sky, and he remembered, in the nick of time, -that it wouldn't do to let the two men, carefully -bound as they were, see him roaring directions at -an imaginary squad. He returned in a minute and -saluted, although his form was only a darker -shadow in the darkness of the night.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Above, Porky closed the trap doors, and as he -did so, cut the ropes by which they were opened -and closed. Not even with his teeth could the -trussed up prisoner below open them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany had already shut the door in the side and -wedged it with a broken piece of gun-carriage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come with me, Sergeant," said Porky, for the -benefit of the English-speaking prisoner. "Vorwarts!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a strange group that gave the password -a half hour later and advanced to the General's -tent. The tent, hidden from observation by -blankets and thick masses of boughs, was brightly -lighted. General Pershing seemed to scorn sleep. -Surrounded by his staff and a group of officers -from the lines below, he sat puzzling over the -reports they had made. Information was steadily -leaking across. Every move they made was -reported correctly. Only that very night as soon -as it was definitely decided that no attack would -be made, the flares from the enemy's lines almost -ceased and their guns were silenced, as though -they were glad to be assured of a few hours of -peace. The positions of the American guns, no -matter how cleverly camouflaged, were speedily -discovered and gun fire trained on them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The thing had assumed a very serious look. -Losses were piling up. The General listened in -worried and puzzled silence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was at this moment that the flap of the tent -was suddenly opened, and two Germans, their -hands tightly bound, stumbled blinkingly into the -light. Behind them stood the two boys. There -was a moment of surprised silence broken by -the older prisoner, as he accustomed his eyes to -the light. He glanced about the group, then his -eyes rested curiously on his captors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A look of fury and amazement crossed his face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Kinder, kleine kinder!" he muttered scornfully.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The other man was silent.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>General Pershing gave a sigh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Those twins again!" he said. The boys -saluted. "Where shall we leave these, sir?" said -Porky respectfully. "We left another back -there." He waved into space. </span><em class="italics">Back there</em><span> might -have been anywhere on the continent, as far as -his direction showed. "It's sort of a queer place, -sir, and we would like some one to see it, because -we can't tell what it's all for, and we don't know -that we could make the other fellow tell. He -speaks English."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Rapidly the General gave the necessary orders. -The two men were led off a short distance and -placed under close guard. An escort, with a -couple of captains and an expert electrician, was -named for the boys, and without a question from -the General, who knew how to bide his time, the -little party filed out of the tent and went back down -the trail.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When they were out of hearing, the General -laughed and spoke.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I often wonder," he said, "how those two boys -pass the time in their own home. I don't mind -trying to run an army, but running those twins -is a bigger task than I like to tackle. I am glad -they don't know just how glad I will be to hear -the story they will tell us when they get the job -finished. Three prisoners, and they want an -escort of officers and an electrician! Well, they are -on the trail of something, I'll be bound! I would -like to question those prisoners but I won't spoil -the boys' innocent pleasure in what they are -doing. But I must say that I want one of you to -keep an eye on them every second now until we -return to headquarters. They are to be shipped -home from there with a special passport, and I -will be able to sleep better."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They came with General Bright, did they -not?" asked a Captain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, and when he was called to Paris, I foolishly -offered to let them stay at headquarters. I -thought they would play around and kill time -until Bright came back. That's what I get for -overlooking their records. Things are bound to -happen wherever they go."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All boys are like that more or less, but this is -a lively pair," said the Captain. "They seem to -want to know everything. They are studying all -my books on the French and English guns now, -and I heard one of them say the other day that he -had some good ideas on airplanes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hope he takes them home then," said the -General. "They are good youngsters, and I'll be -glad to get a receipt from their parents for them. -They are perfectly obedient, and strict as any old -regular about discipline, but no matter </span><em class="italics">what</em><span> good -care we try to take of them, they are always -getting into tight places."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Their coming over here seems a strange -thing," said one of the officers. "Sort of irregular."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is a reason," said the General. "They -don't know it themselves. They were sent across -because it seemed a good thing to have a boy's -point of view for the boys over there of things -over here. When I say they were sent, I do -not mean that their expenses were paid. The -Potters are amply able to spend money, but it was -a good and patriotic thing for them to risk the -lives of a fine pair like Porky and Beany. I don't -even know their real names. Not that it -matters. They would make themselves felt if they -were called Percy and Willie. They are that sort."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Talk drifted to other things and time passed -until a stir and footsteps outside made it evident -that the expedition had returned. The door flap -opened and the party filed in, the remaining -prisoner in their midst.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General glanced at him, then bent a steady, -steely look on the man's face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You!" he said. "A German prisoner, you—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man's face lighted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He stood erect and made an effort to salute with -his bound hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir," he said in a low tone. "If I'm to be -shot, sir, won't you let me tell you how it all -happened?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General glanced at his wrist watch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is three o'clock," he said. He nodded -toward the sergeant. "Take this man in charge. -To-morrow at seven o'clock bring him to my tent -and I will talk with him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He turned away and did not glance again at the -prisoner as he was led away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He knew you," said a Captain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He worked for me four years on my apple -ranch in Oregon. The foreman wrote me that he -and seven others had left suddenly soon after the -beginning of the war. I think we will get some -very interesting information out of that young -man. In the meantime," he turned to the two -boys standing as stiffly at attention as their fagged -out bodies would permit, "in the meantime, boys, -can you tell your little story in half an hour? It is -very late, and we have a hard day before us to-morrow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It won't take that long," said Porky. "We -just went down a little ways, inside our own lines, -General, so you wouldn't worry, and Beany, he -hears things just like a cat, and there was a little -hill, with these men inside, and I climbed on top -and talked to them through the trap door, and -Beany made believe he was a squad."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And Porky had two of 'em tie up that Fritz -fellow," interrupted Beany, "and made 'em come -out the door, and we just made 'em think the squad -was guarding the hill, and we brought 'em up here, -and they came too easy. And we didn't try to -carry arms, General, we just had a couple of -monkey wrenches, and say, Porky, I've lost mine! -That chauffeur will murder me!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A few details missing, however," said the -General. "However, that will do for to-night. In -the morning, if you like, you may be present when -I see the prisoner. Good-night!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-prisoner-s-story"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE PRISONER'S STORY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Some three minutes later (so the boys thought), -some one shook them awake. It was morning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Six o'clock!" said their tormentor, prodding -them viciously. It was the driver of their car. -"Say, did youse have my monkey wrench!" he -demanded of both boys.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure!" said Porky quickly. "Here it is!" He -handed out his wrench, while Beany tried to -pretend to sleep again. The chauffeur looked it -over.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Naw, that ain't me wrench," he declared. -"Same size and shape but it ain't me wrench!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why not?" asked Porky. "One of us took -your wrench last night, and if this is the same size -and shape, why isn't it the same wrench?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Because it ain't," said the man. "That ain't -got the same feel as my wrench. You can't wish -off any strange wrench on this guy! I gotta have -me own wrench! If General Pershing is goin' -to let youse kids go stealin' wrenches, I'll—I'll—well, -you'll </span><em class="italics">see</em><span> what I'll do, discipline ner no -discipline!" He glared at the boys and at the -unoffending wrench.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beany sadly allowed himself to wake up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I had your old wrench," he said, "and I guess -I lost it. I will buy you a new one if I can't find -it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You find it!" said the man. "I don't want no -new one! I know the feel of me own tools, and -no others need apply!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He went off grumbling, and the boys, now wide -awake, watched him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I told you how it would be," groaned Beany. -"He'll never let up on me. Wonder where I could -have dropped it. In No-Man's-Land probably, -where it would be as easy to find as a needle in a -haystack, and where we can't go anyhow, now it's -light. Look there! Oh praise be, I believe he has -found it himself!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was so. The man suddenly pounced on an -object lying on the ground, took it up, examined it -with a tenderer care than would usually be -bestowed on a tool, and with a scornful look turned -and waved it at the watching boys. "Got it!" he -called.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good!" said Beany affably.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No thanks to you!" called the chauffeur. He -stalked away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I would never let myself get so wrapped up in -a little thing like that," said Beany. He threw -himself back on his bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't do that," said Porky. "We are going -to the General's tent at seven, you know, to hear -what the Fritz person is going to say for himself. -I bet he tells the truth anyhow. If the General -fixes his gimlet eye on him once, he will tell the -truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I would in his place," said Beany. "It -wouldn't seem just healthy to lie to the General." He -commenced the simple process of dressing as -practiced by soldiers in the field. It consisted of -very brief bathing in a couple of teacups of water -in a collapsible, and usually collapsing washpan, -made of canvas waterproofed, and after that the -simple drawing on of breeches, canvas puttees and -shirt. A soldier sleeps in his underwear, but -sleeping in his outer garments is very strictly -forbidden, no matter how cold the weather may be.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys reached the General's tent at ten -minutes to seven, and although they knew that the -great man had been up for a couple of hours, they -sat quietly outside until their watches told off the -very tick of the expected hour. Then, just as -they saw the guard bringing up the prisoner, they -tapped on the tent flap, and at a word of summons -entered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General, looking as though he had never -stirred since the night before, sat in his -accustomed place at the head of the table, over which a -number of papers were strewn. He bade the boys -good morning and nodded them to seats. In -another moment the prisoner entered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a few moments the General took no notice of -the man, keeping his eyes on his papers, while the -fellow shifted uneasily from one foot to the other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then General Pershing looked up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Prisoner," he said, "it is not customary to -accord a prisoner of war the sort of interview I -am about to give you, but the circumstances alter -this case. I want the truth, and the whole truth."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky and Beany nudged each other slyly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I want some of the information that it is in -your power to give me, and I want it straight. -You know you are in my power. There is always -a firing squad for men like you. But I want you to -unravel this puzzle. I want you to commence -when you left the ranch—yes, even before that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The prisoner spoke eagerly. "I </span><em class="italics">will</em><span> tell you -the truth, sir. I am glad to be here, no matter -what you do to me. And I swear to tell you the -truth." He held up his right hand, and the boys -saw it tremble. They commenced to believe him. -It was evident that the General did, for he nodded -and the man plunged into his story.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It held the boys breathless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There were eight of us working for you, -General, before America went into this war. Eight -men of German ancestry or birth. Most of them -were naturalized, but one night a man came to -my house and commanded me to meet him in a -certain place. He was a German officer and of -course I was curious to know what he wanted. -When I arrived at the meeting place I found the -others there. The officer, showing credentials of -his rank that we could not doubt, told us that we -were wanted as interpreters. Just that, General. -He explained that Germany was obliged to use all -the men within her borders as fighting men, and as -they were most anxious to have no misunderstanding -with America, they were picking a German -born, or German bred man here and there as they -could without rousing suspicion. They were -taking them from the farms rather than from the -cities. He said that several hundred would be -needed. He assured us that education was not -necessary. It sounded very plausible, General, -and the salary we were promised was magnificent. -We all bit, General, and he took us away that very -night in a couple of automobiles."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The foreman told me," said the General, "that -you went away in the middle of the busy season -without giving warning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, we did, General. I am sorry, and I was -sorry then, but the pay—it was a </span><em class="italics">great</em><span> -temptation. We have been punished since. We went -down through Mexico and took ship. There were -five hundred men on board who were all going over -to be 'interpreters.' And we never guessed, poor -fools, that ship after ship was bearing each a like -load. We never suspicioned the outcome. When -we reached German soil, we were scattered, two -going one place, two another, and instead of -having any interpreting to do, we were outfitted as -soldiers and attached to different regiments. Men -kept coming day after day. I dare not say how -many thousands of Germans have been taken out -of the United States in this way. We were -virtually prisoners. Of course to the most of us it -did not matter much. After all Germany was our -fatherland before America adopted us. As long -as we were fighting the French and English and -the Russians, we did not care.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But then, when we were already very tired, -came the news that President Wilson had declared war.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"General, it is not yet believed in Germany. -All of them, the highest officers, even the Emperor, -on occasion, all have addressed the troops and -have explained that war was declared solely for -political purposes and that no troops were to be -sent over sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They know now, do they not?" asked the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very few of them, General. They think that -the English have adopted the American uniform -as a blind."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What did you think, Fritz?" asked the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I saw them fight, and I knew," said Fritz -simply. "I know them; I know how they fight. -I told the others so. And when they came across -the plain I wanted to hurrah. I suppose I will be -shot as a German prisoner, but I could not help it. -All my mistake was in the beginning. I would -have deserted if I could have done so. Why, -General, if those fellows over there behind the German -lines knew the truth, a third of them would walk -right over here. They are lied to again and again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How is the army faring as regards food!" -asked the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is not enough to feed a third of the men. -All Germany is dying slowly of substitutes. Substitutes -for bread, for meat, for tea, for sugar, for -coffee, for milk. At first the army was fed well, at -the expense of the civilians. Now all suffer -together, and no man in the world works well or -fights well on an empty and aching stomach." He -groaned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What were you doing ont there in that hillock?" -asked the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We were well behind the German lines a few -days ago," said Fritz, "but whether they retired -purposely or not, I cannot say. Since then, -however, we have been kept there to communicate with -the airplanes. It was possible to signal them by -means of electric flashes down on the floor of our -hiding place, through the open trap doors on top. -Peter was in command. He took and sent the -messages, and repeatedly he crept out in the night. -I was never allowed to do anything, but if the -Allies took the plain, and those ridges beyond it, -Peter said we would all go out in American -uniforms and learn what we could. We were -expected to discover things too cleverly hidden from -the airplanes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This is interesting at least, Fritz," said the -General. "It would be still more interesting to -know just how true it is that the German army in -general does not know that we are seriously in the -war. There are two millions of us here now, -Fritz, and more coming."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Two millions!" echoed the astounded prisoner. -"Two millions! When they learn that, the war is -over. But how will they ever learn it? Your -airplanes scattered leaflets along the front several -times. Not where I was stationed, but I heard the -order that any man who saw another stoop to pick -up one of those leaflets, any man who was caught -reading one was to be shot dead by the nearest -soldier, who would receive the cross for doing it. -I tell you, sir, they are doing </span><em class="italics">everything</em><span> they can -to keep the army from learning that you are in -the fight."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder how true all this is," mused the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky and Beany watched him narrowly. They -were sure he had some plan, but it was clear that -he wanted the prisoner to speak first.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is </span><em class="italics">all</em><span> true," said Fritz. "General, won't -you let me earn my life, set me free for two -hours—only that? And I will prove it to you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You will disappear just as you did from the -ranch, I suppose," grated the General in a harsh -voice. "Why should I give you any chance?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't deserve it," said the prisoner, "except -that if my plan fails, I will certainly be shot by the -Germans."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you propose?" asked the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Two, perhaps three hours of freedom!" -begged Fritz. "And if I can reach the German -lines alive, I will return with twenty prisoners to -prove to you that every man who is told that the -Americans are here and are promised that they -will not be shot, will follow me across."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are having a skirmish now," said the -General, listening, "and a thunder storm is -coming beside." He was lost in thought. "Fritz, -make good!" he said. "I release you. You are -but one man, no loss to us, but you have told me -a story of what amounts to kidnapping. I would -like to know if this is true. Just one thing. -Prove it to me by bringing twenty men back; but -while you are there </span><em class="italics">set the word free that the -Americans have arrived</em><span>. Two millions, remember, -perhaps three." He smiled. "And do not -attempt to go or come until nightfall. I will -remain here until midnight to-night. You are under -guard until dark. You may go." He rapped -sharply on the table, the guards entered and -removed the prisoner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General began to smoke.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you think, boys? Will he come back?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir," said both boys together.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why?" asked the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, he was telling the truth!" said Porky,</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They don't look like that other times," said -Beany. "He was straight, all right."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He will have to prove it," said the General -grimly. "Men who leave a job without warning, -no matter what the needs of the situation, do not -fill me with confidence."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I guess he is sorry now, anyway," said -tender-hearted Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We will hope so," said the General. "Porky, -you may typewrite these letters for me, and you, -Beany, may check up these lists. If you can do -this properly, it will release a man for other -duty."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For two hours the two boys were too busy to -know what went on in the tent. When the task -was done the General dismissed them with strict -orders that they were not to go more than thirty -feet in any direction from his tent.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the Germans had occupied that side of the -valley, they had also used the hill as a temporary -headquarters. Porky and Beany, like a pair of -very restless and inquisitive hounds, went over -the ground inch by inch. They could not help -feeling that something good must be waiting for them -within their screen of trees. The fighting -miles away went on all day, and the time dragged -for the boys until about three in the afternoon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And then Porky found it—a tiny piece of wire -sticking out of the ground under a root of the big -tree under which they were sitting, feeling like a -couple of prisoners themselves. They had never -been on such close bounds before, and they didn't -like it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky started to pull the wire, when Beany fell -on him with a yell.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A bomb!" he cried, flinging Porky on his back.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My word! You have scared me to death anyhow," -said Porky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Together they dug around the wire and followed -it down and down until they almost gave up. At -last, however, they had their reward, a square -black tin box which they carried carefully to the -General's tent.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Even then the greatest care was taken in opening -it, for fear of an infernal machine of some sort. -It opened easily, however, and without harm and -disclosed a mass of papers. So many that the -German officer who had been in charge of them, -fearing capture, had evidently buried them, -thinking that with the turn of battle he could easily -reclaim them from the earth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Among the papers were several cypher keys, -and one of them was found to fit the papers found -by Beany in the oak table in the dungeon at the -chateau back at headquarters.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Even the General was delighted, as a little -study disclosed the most important plans of the -coming campaign and a scheme for the expected -drive, which now could be met point for point.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was dusk before the General and his staff -finished with an examination of the papers, fitting -the new keys to the papers already in their -possession.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky allowed himself to crow. "Guess we -are sort of little old Handy-to-have-around!" he -chortled. "Guess we get to go all the way with -</span><em class="italics">this</em><span> distinguished mob!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Looks so," said Beany, "but you never can tell."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">And they couldn't</em><span>.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="orders-are-orders"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">ORDERS ARE ORDERS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Night fell dark and stormy. As soon as it was -dusk Fritz begged to be released and, receiving -the General's permission, slipped away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I doubt if he comes back," said the General, -"but it will spread the news at least. No, it is -too much to expect that a man will persuade a -couple of men, to say nothing of twenty, to give -themselves into the hands of an enemy they have -been taught to believe is ruthless, but if he does, -we will know that the conditions in the German -army are worse than we dream."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Time dragged away. The boys, still believing -in Fritz, sat at the head of the only trail, -watching. They almost wore their watches out looking -at them, and trying them to see if they were -wound. Time seemed to stand still and yet, -somehow, ten o'clock came, and eleven and a quarter -past. At half past the drivers prepared the cars -for their silent night journey to the next sector. -The tents were down, all but the screen of blankets -behind which, with a closely shaded light, the -General sat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Ten minutes and the boys looked once more at -the illuminated dials, and sighed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd have bet on that duck, if I was a betting -man," said Porky sadly. "I bet he </span><em class="italics">meant</em><span> to -come."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hark!" said Beany, listening.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Porky listened too. He could always hear what -Beany heard, if Beany called his attention to it. -A soft tramp of feet could be heard. The boys -leaped to their feet. Tramp, tramp, scuffle, -scuffle, up the hill in the darkness!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are coming!" gasped Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A flash of lightning preceding the storm that -had hung off all day split the sky, and in its -momentary glare the boys saw a small squad of -American soldiers come out into the little clearing. -The boys stood aside as they passed. Another -squad brought up the rear, and between them—yes, -between them marched, or rather staggered, -a dismal company of twenty haggard skeletons -headed by Fritz!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had kept his word. The men were evidently -frightened badly and Fritz kept talking to them -as they advanced. The General came out of his -shelter and surveyed them by the light of his flash.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here they are, sir," said Fritz. "Ask them -what you like."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The General spoke to the weary men and they -replied rapidly in harsh, hoarse voices. Porky -and Beany stood in an agony of curiosity, wishing -that they had studied German instead of Latin in -high school.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Finally the General took time to explain to the -officers who did not understand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He gave orders to have the prisoners fed, and -soon the strange little company wound off down -the hill again on its way to the prison camp. -Fritz, as a sort of trusty, was given special -privileges.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is quite true, gentlemen," said the General. -"The conditions in the enemy's army are most -serious. They are only half fed, poorly clothed and -letters occasionally smuggled from home report -a frightful state of affairs—famine, disease and -intense suffering among the families of the -soldiers. This alone you know will break the morale -of their troops.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And Fritz said he could have brought five -hundred men as well as this twenty, but they are -taught that we torture them and always shoot our -prisoners sooner or later. That is why they fight -so desperately.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They think death awaits them in any case, and -that death on the battlefield is far preferable to -that which we will mete out to them if taken -prisoners.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fritz assured me that he had set the ball -rolling, however, the news of our millions of men in -the field. This has been a surprising experience -but we are already late. We must be off!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Rapidly the party took their seats in the -automobiles. The first was about to start when a -motor was heard in the darkness. It was -approaching, apparently from headquarters.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Word for the General!" was the whispered -word, and sure enough, the driver of the swift, -low car had a letter for the General. He read it -and called the boys.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"News for you, young men," he said regretfully. -"General Bright has been recalled to the -States, and you are to return with him. This -cuts your stay several weeks and, I regret to say, -makes it impossible for you to continue with us. -You are to return in this car."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys, desperately disappointed, hopped out, -found their field kits, and advanced to say good-by -to the General.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He shook hands heartily and patted each on the -shoulder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall miss you, boys," he said. "You have -certainly done your bit! Some day, when we are -all back in America, I shall expect you to come -and see how </span><em class="italics">real</em><span> apples grow on a ranch in Oregon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys thanked him. They could not say -much. It was a great disappointment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They settled back in the car which was to take -them back to General Bright. They heard the -other cars glide quietly and swiftly away in the -distance. They too shot out at high speed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Soberly they stared into the darkness. Their -thoughts flew forward to the tiresome trip to the -port of embarkation, the long ocean voyage with -its deadly inaction. They had been living in -confusion, danger, and uncertainty. They -commenced to see before them their home, their father -and mother, the familiar fellows.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We have to get Bill and Peggy," said Beany.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yep!" said Porky briefly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They could just </span><em class="italics">see</em><span> their mother, with oceans -of love for them and plenty for the two orphans -beside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For the first time a great wave of homesickness -swept over the boys. That they were to have a -pleasant, safe trip would not have interested them -if they could have been told of it. They were -homesick. Silently they rolled on and on in the -dark. Presently Beany slipped an arm around -the hunched up shoulders of his twin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wish we were home </span><em class="italics">now</em><span>!" he said huskily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gosh!" said Porky.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>FINIS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 6em"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="backmatter"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst" id="pg-end-line"><span>*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>THE BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="cleardoublepage"> -</div> -<div class="language-en level-2 pgfooter section" id="a-word-from-project-gutenberg" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<span id="pg-footer"></span><h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span>A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h2> -<p class="pfirst"><span>We will update this book if we find any errors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This book can be found under: </span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45202"><span>http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45202</span></a></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>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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