CHAPTER XXIII
THE MAJOR EXPLAINS
The man who had emerged from the closet gazed at Hal in amazement.
"Who are you?" he exclaimed, taking a step forward.
"What! Don't you know me?" exclaimed Hal.
The other peered at him intently. Then he uttered an exclamation ofpure astonishment.
"Hal Paine!" he cried. "Is it really you? And what are you doing inthat uniform?"
"I might ask you, major, what you are doing out of uniform?" laughedHal, as he grasped his old friend's hand.
"Well, I'm here on business," explained the major.
"And I'm here trying to get out of the German lines," said Hal.
"And where is Chester?" asked the major.
"He's upstairs, waiting for me to bring up a candle that he may havelight," said Hal. "By George! It's good to see you again. Let mesee, it has been almost two years since I last saw you in France."
"Yes, it's been all of that," agreed the major.
"And what of our old friend Anderson? Do you know what has happened tohim?"
"No," said Hal, "the last indirect word I had of him he had been sentto Mesopotamia. I have not seen him for many months. But, tell me,what are you doing here?"
"It isn't a very long story," said Major Derevaux. "As you perhapsknow, General Byng's drive against the Germans has been one of thegreatest successes since the Battle of the Marne."
Hal nodded.
"Well," the major continued, "I have been stationed with General Pitainat Verdun, where I last saw you. Now we know that the Germans havedrawn heavily from other fronts to make possible the Italian invasion.Other fronts now will have to be weakened to hold back GeneralByng--even to launch a counter-offensive, for we all know that Hindenburgwill strike back. That leaves the Verdun situation somewhat in theair."
"I see," said Hal. "If you can make sure that the Verdun front of theenemy has been weakened, the French will strike there."
"Exactly," said the major. "Then there is another possibility. It maybe the plan of the German general staff to make a show of force hereand then, when we are feeling secure before Verdun, to deliver alightning-like blow there. Those are the things I am commissioned tolearn."
"I see," said Hal again. "But how does it happen I find you here?"
"It's very simple. This woman here is a distant relative of mine. Sheis a patriot to the soul. Under the gruff exterior which you have seenshe is the most kindly soul in the world. She is risking her lifeevery minute she remains here, for she is accounted one of the mostsuccessful of French spies."
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal. "You don't mean it. Why, her veryactions toward us, if used toward other Germans, it strikes me, wouldmean a firing squad for her."
"That," laughed Major Derevaux, "has been her greatest asset. TheGermans are not particularly fond of her, that's a fact. She attacksthem with a sharp tongue, but for that very reason she is looked uponas harmless. Come, I'll introduce you."
Major Derevaux led the way across the room to where the woman had beeneyeing the two in the utmost astonishment.
"Lieutenant Paine," said the Major, "I take pleasure in presenting youto Mademoiselle Vaubaun. Mademoiselle, this is Lieutenant Paine, ofHis British Majesty's service."
"I must correct you, major," said Hal, smiling and acknowledging theintroduction. "Lieutenant Paine, U.S.A."
"Oh--o!" said the major. "So you are fighting with your owncountrymen at last, eh?"
"I am, thank goodness," said Hal. "But can this indeed be MademoiselleVaubaun? I have heard of her before, but I judged that she was a youngwoman."
Major Derevaux smiled.
"And a consummate actress," he said. "Mademoiselle, will you grant myfriend the lieutenant a look at your true self?"
"If this young man is a friend of yours, Raoul, he is a friend ofmine," said the woman.
She removed a cap from her head, straightened herself up and shook downher hair. Then she passed a hand several times over her face, and whenHal looked again there stood before him a girl in her teens.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal, and started back.
In a few words he now explained his own presence in the German lines,together with that of Chester and the four Canadians.
Mademoiselle Vaubaun, in turn, told the lad how she had been left inCambrai when German troops had swept across Belgium and France in theearly days of the war, and how, from time to time, she had found itpossible to send word to the French and British staffs of impendingGerman movements.
"But how about me and my friends?" inquired Hal.
"I can hide you all, too. Beyond the room in which your friends arenow is a second room and beyond that a false wall. It is there, I willhide the major. I was about to take him there when you came to thedoor tonight. There is room for all."
"Then I shall return to my friends," said Hal. "I have been gone solong Chester will fear something has happened to me. Will you go withme, major?"
"To be sure. I shall be glad to see Chester again. May we have alight, Antoinette?"
"I will lead the way myself," said the girl. "It will be as well thatyou go to your hiding places now."
She lighted the way upstairs with a candle.
In the darkened room above, Chester and the Canadians had been waitingimpatiently. Chester had come to the conclusion that something hadhappened to Hal and was about to go down and hunt for him. As thelight came upstairs, however, he drew back.
"It's all right, Chester," Hal called. "Here is the light and an oldfriend to greet you."
"Old friend," said Chester in surprise. "I didn't know I had anyfriends on this side of the line."
"Well, have a look at this man and see if you recognize him," said Hal,and pushed Major Derevaux forward.
Chester took one look at the major and then dashed forward with handout.
"Major Derevaux!" he cried.
The two clasped hands warmly.
"Now, Chester," said Hal, "I want you to meet our hostess, MademoiselleVaubaun."
Chester bowed in acknowledgment of the introduction, then added: "Isuppose it was your mother who admitted us some time since?"
The girl laughed lightly.
"Why, no," she said. "I admitted you myself."'
"But--but--" said Chester, nonplussed.
"I'm not surprised at you, Chester," said Hal. "Cannot a woman or agirl wear a disguise as well as you?"
"By Jove!" said Chester. "I hadn't thought of that. So that was it,eh?"
"Yes, that was it," said the girl.
The Canadians now were introduced around, after which the young girlsaid.
"Come. I may as well show you to your hiding places. It is as wellfor you to be there as here. There is no telling when some of theGermans may arrive."
"But aren't you afraid to be among them alone?" asked Hal.
"Pshaw!" exclaimed the girl. "Who would hurt a harmless old woman?"
She led the way into the room beyond, walked across and pressed ahidden spring in the side of the wall. Instantly a secret door movedopen.
"It can be opened from within as well," said the girl. "You may have alight here if you wish. The door is so constructed that the rayscannot be seen from without. I shall leave you now. My onlyinjunction is, do not talk too loud. I'll bring you food and water inthe morning."
She bade them good-night and took her leave.
The friends talked in low tones for some moments, then stretched out onthe floor and soon were fast asleep.
Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders; Or, the Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge Page 23