CHAPTER XXIV.
"OUT OF THE FRYING PAN--"
"This way," came a low voice, as the lad reached the top of the steps.
It was now after nightfall, and the street was very dark, but Chestercould dimly make out the form of the officer a few yards ahead of him.
"Follow me," came the voice again, "and remember that I have my gunready. Just so surely as you make a false move I will kill you."
Chester made no reply, but followed his captor down the street. At thefirst corner the officer stopped and allowed Chester to come up with him.
"I guess we can walk along together now," he said, as they turned thecorner. "It is hardly likely that they suspect me."
"I am sure I can never thank you enough," said Chester fervently.
"Never mind that," said the German. "I don't want any thanks. But it is apoor gentleman who cannot return a favor."
The two continued their way in silence. They came at length to a littlehouse, setting well back on a dimly lighted street, and here the Germanturned in, Chester accompanying him. The officer let himself into thehouse with a night key, and the two ascended the stairs, at the top ofwhich the officer led the lad into a small but comfortable room.
"Just make yourself at home," he told Chester, "It isn't much, but it'sthe best I can offer. Here you will have to stay till after to-morrownight, or at least until we have occupied the city."
From a little cupboard the officer produced some sandwiches and twobottles of beer.
"Help yourself," he said.
"Thanks," said Chester. "I'll try one of the sandwiches, but I don'tbelieve I care for any of the beer."
"What's the matter?" demanded his host. "Don't you drink beer?"
"No," said Chester, "and I don't want to start now."
"Suit yourself," said the German, pouring himself a glass. "Have one ofthese sandwiches, anyhow."
Chester ate hungrily, for it had been many hours since he had tastedfood. The light meal disposed of, the German lighted a cigarette, and thetwo leaned back for a talk. They discussed various topics for severalhours, and then the German said:
"Well, I guess it is time for me to turn in. You will bunk in thecorner there," pointing, "and I'll sleep in the other corner. But firstI must tie you up. It wouldn't do to have you escape, you know, for inspite of the fact that I am your friend, I am first of all a servant ofthe Kaiser."
He produced some rope, and soon Chester was once more bound securely, butnot uncomfortably. The lad lay down and closed his eyes, and a momentlater the German also turned in.
Chester was in no mood for sleep. He had too much on his mind to think ofslumber. Several moments more and the deep regular breathing of theofficer gave evidence that he was sound asleep.
Chester squirmed and twisted quietly in his bunk, trying to release hishands. Minute after minute he continued with untiring energy. A clocksomewhere in the house struck the hour of twelve, and still Chestersquirmed and twisted.
As he turned this way and that, straining at his bonds, his left handsuddenly came free. Chester could hardly believe his own senses. A momentlater and he had released his feet. Cautiously he arose and peered intothe darkness. He could not see an inch before him. The room wasabsolutely black.
But Chester's sense of direction stood him in good stead now. Slowly andcautiously he tip-toed toward the spot where he knew the door to be. Hisoutstretched hand touched the wood, and a moment later his exploringfingers found the knob. He found the key and turned it, then slowly andsilently turned the knob.
The door swung open without even a creak and in a second more the lad wason the outside and the door was closed behind him. Stealthily hedescended the stairs, opened and went out the front door, closing itsoftly behind him. Then he darted down the street as fast as his legscould carry him.
After rounding several corners, he finally slowed down to a walk. He feltnow that he was safe from pursuit, and he set about finding his way tothe headquarters of General Givet. He continued his walk for severalblocks, and then he was suddenly challenged by a sentry.
The lad explained his mission, received the proper directions, and wassoon making all haste toward the general's quarters. Once more before thegeneral's hut, the lad informed the soldier standing guard that he mustsee the general immediately.
"It is impossible," was the reply. "The general is taking a much-neededrest. He gave orders that he must not be disturbed on any account. Buthere," suddenly, "here comes Captain Bassil. He will see that anyinformation you may have reaches the general."
Chester turned to greet the newcomer. He saluted as the latter came up tohim. As the officer drew close, he gave one startled look at the boy'sface, and then drew back with an exclamation.
"You here?" he exclaimed.
"Why, yes, sir," replied the lad, "and I have important information." Tohimself he added:
"Where have I heard that voice before?"
"What is your information?" demanded the officer harshly.
Briefly and quietly Chester told him what he had learned.
"Impossible!" was the officer's exclamation, when Chester had concludedhis recital. "It is my belief that you have come here to spy." He turnedto the soldier. "Send Lieutenant Armand to me at once," he said.
The man saluted and disappeared. At the last words of the officer itsuddenly came to Chester where he had heard the voice before. Heapproached the officer and peered more closely into his face.
"I wasn't sure, until I heard your last words," he told him, "but I knowyou now. You are a German spy."
"Hold your tongue," said the officer harshly, "or I will shoot you downwhere you stand."
At that moment another officer hurried up and saluted the captain.
"You sent for me, sir?" he asked.
"Yes; this boy is a German spy. I have positive proof. Have him shotat sunrise."
"Very well, sir," replied the lieutenant; then to Chester: "Come!"
"But--" began the lad.
"No words," said the lieutenant. "Forward--march!"
Chester saw it was no use to protest, so he marched ahead of thelieutenant without another word. He was taken to a small tent, thrust in,and a trooper ordered to mount guard over him. Wearily the lad threwhimself down, and, in spite of his predicament, was soon asleep.
It was just beginning to grow light when he was rudely awakened bysomeone shaking him by the arm. Five minutes later and he was marchedfrom his tent between a file of soldiers.
As he walked rapidly along between his captors, he suddenly espied anofficer approaching on horseback. Even from where he was, in the dimlight Chester recognized the horseman, and his spirits rose. It wasplainly apparent that the rider would pass within a few feet of him.
A moment more, and he was close enough to the mounted officer to touchhis horse. Suddenly the lad sprang forward and cried:
"General Givet! General Givet!"
The mounted officer pulled up his horse sharply. At the same moment theofficer in charge of the squad sprang forward and grasped Chester roughlyby the arm.
"Get back there!" he commanded sharply, but the boy paid no heed.
"General Givet!" he called again, and laughed happily aloud as thegeneral turned his horse and came squarely up to him.
"Why, by my soul!" exclaimed the Belgian commander after a sharp look atthe boy, "if it isn't young Crawford! What are you doing here?"
"They are going to shoot me as a spy, general," said Chester.
"What!" exclaimed the commander. "You a spy!"
He turned to the lieutenant in command of the squad.
"By whose order, sir?" he demanded.
"Captain Bassil's order, sir," was the reply.
"Captain Bassil, eh? Well, you will conduct your prisoner to my quarters.Then you will inform Captain Bassil that I desire his presenceimmediately."
The lieutenant saluted, and the general rode off.
Ten minutes later, in the general's quarters, Chester was face to facewith his accu
ser.
"Well, sir," said General Givet to Captain Bassil, "what was your reasonfor ordering this lad shot? You will please explain yourself at once."
The captain shifted uneasily from one foot to another.
"I was sure he was a spy, sir," he made reply. "Why else should he bespooking about your tent at such an hour in the morning? But if I havemade a mistake--"
"You have, sir," interrupted the general, "a very serious one--one thatwill require a more satisfactory explanation than the one you have justgiven. This lad"--and the general laid his hand on Chester'sshoulder--"already has proven himself invaluable to our cause. Had I notfortunately arrived in time, he would now be dead. And in that event itwould have fared badly with you. But I must investigate this casefarther. Captain Bassil, you will go immediately to your quarters andconsider yourself under arrest."
As the captain saluted and turned to leave the tent, Chester, who hadbeen silent thus far, exclaimed:
"One moment, please, Captain Bassil," and then turned to General Givet."I will explain, sir," he, added, "if you will have Captain Bassil remaina moment longer."
The general nodded and Captain Bassil remained. Chester walked up to himand looked him steadily in the eye for several moments. Then he turned toGeneral Givet and said calmly:
"I accuse Captain Bassil, sir, of being a German spy!"
"What!" exclaimed the Belgian commander, starting back. "Do you realizewhat you are saying?"
"Perfectly, sir, and I am prepared to prove what I say."
Captain Bassil smiled sneeringly.
"I won't believe you will take any stock in such a wild story, sir," hesaid to General Givet. "With your permission, I shall go to my ownquarters."
"One moment," said the general, raising a detaining hand, and then turnedto Chester. "Explain yourself," he added shortly.
In a few well-chosen words Chester recounted his experiences of theday before.
"And I am positive," he concluded, "that if you will have Captain Bassilsearched, you will find in his possession a paper similar to this," andhe handed the commander the document he had taken from one of theconspirators before he entered their council chamber.
The commander ran his eye over the paper hurriedly, and turned sternlytoward Captain Bassil.
"What have you to say to this charge, sir?" he demanded.
"That it is a lie!" shouted the accused officer. "He is accusing me tosave himself."
The general looked at him in silence for some moments, apparentlyundecided as to how to act.
"Well," he said at length, "it will do no harm to find out."
He stepped to the door of his tent and spoke to the sentinel on dutyjust outside:
"Ask Lieutenant Armand to step this way at once."
As General Givet turned from giving this command, Captain Bassil suddenlyuttered a loud cry and leaped upon the commander.
"At least you shall never live to thwart our plans!" he cried, ashe sprang.
Taken completely off his guard, General Givet was hurled heavily to theground by the force of the traitor's spring. The commander's head struckthe ground with a crash, and he lay still. A revolver barrel gleamed inthe sunlight that filtered through the half-closed opening in the tent.But even as it was brought to bear Chester leaped forward.
With one strong hand he seized the traitor by the wrist, and deflectedthe revolver just as the traitor's hand pressed the trigger, and thebullet whistled harmlessly through the top of the tent.
The captain turned upon Chester with the fury of a madman, and so suddenand fierce was his attack that the lad was borne to the ground. But inspite of the fact that he was underneath, one hand still grasped the handin which the spy held the revolver; and, try as he would, the latter wasunable to break the boy's grip.
His teeth bared in a snarl, the traitor suddenly released his grip on therevolver, drew back and drove his fist at the lad's face. But if CaptainBassil was quick, Chester was quick also. With a rapid movement, herolled over, the revolver still in his hand, and thus escaped theterrific blow aimed at him.
But before he could rise or bring the revolver to bear, the traitor wasupon him again, and two hands seized him by the throat. In vain the ladtried to shake himself free, and he was slowly being choked intounconsciousness.
But with a last desperate effort, he succeeded in bringing therevolver, which he still held firmly, between him and his enemy, andpressed the trigger.
There was the sound of an explosion, and for a moment the grip on theboy's throat seemed to grow even tighter. But for a moment only, and thenthe hands relaxed, Chester heard a faint moan, and, drawing in greatgasps of fresh air, the boy fell into unconsciousness, just as the flapto the tent was jerked hurriedly aside and many men rushed in.
Boy Allies at Liège; Or, Through Lines of Steel Page 24