CHAPTER XXVI.
JOSH MAKES A DISCOVERY.
Rod soon fixed the transportation part of it, just as his confidentchums felt sure he would be able to do. He quickly selected a certainoutfit that had stopped on the border of the ford for a minute or so,while a loose portion of the harness was tightened.
Entering into conversation with the sergeant, who seemed to be inauthority, Rod explained in a measure who they were and how they came tobe loose on the battle lines at such a time as this.
Then he made his request, and with such simplicity, accompanied by awinning smile, that the dapper Frenchman could not have refused hismodest request even had his heart not warmed toward these young friendsof France from across the sea.
"We must get over the river, because it is necessary that we find AndreD'Aubrey if he is yet alive," Rod had gone on to say ingenuously; "andsince it would be unpleasant for us to continue our ride if we weresoaked to the waist, perhaps M'sieu le Sergeant would permit us to climbup with him on the caisson, and accompany him over the ford?"
"Indeed, it would be a pleasure to have you along with me," hastilyreplied the non-commissioned officer of the battery, "and as the harnessis now repaired, make yourselves at home here, if you can find alodgment where your feet will be out of the reach of the water."
Gladly then did the trio of lads accept of his friendly offer. Trustthem for finding a perch where they would be beyond the reach of theriver, unless the soldier astride one of the horses managed to lose theshallow line of the ford and stray into the depths.
Luckily this did not happen. The water did come close to their feet sothat Hanky Panky was impelled to draw himself up into something of aknot in the fear of getting wet; but the worst was over, so thatpresently the gun caisson emerged from the Marne, and the boys were ableto jump down.
Rod looked about him. It was indeed a stirring picture taken in all, foreverywhere the French had occupied the ground so tenaciously defended bythe German rearguard.
Hundreds of soldiers were moving this way and that, with the officersgathering as if for a council of war.
Other batteries could be seen coming on the gallop toward the capturedford, as though the birdmen aloft may have sent the signal along to tellthem that now the coast was clear they could make the passage in safety.Some of these were heavier guns than any the boys had as yet seen,showing that the French were hurrying all their available resourcesforward in order to strike the enemy hard while yet in retreat.
"Now what, Rod?" asked Josh.
"We'll look around a bit so as to get our bearings," he was told. "It'strue we came here on a mission, but perhaps it might be wise not tobother the commander-in-chief in too big a hurry. He's certainly got hishands full as it is, and can't be worried with our private affairs."
"I guess that's about so, Rod," agreed Hanky Panky. "To us Andre'sbusiness may seem mighty important, but why should a general waste aprecious minute of his time with any one's affairs, when he's got to mapout his movements, with a beaten but still fighting foe ahead?"
"Look there, fellows!" exclaimed Josh just then; "unless I miss my guessthat must be the hero of the battle they're fetching in right now."
"See how the men take their caps off, will you?" said Hanky Pankyreverently; "I'd feel like doing the same myself if he came near me,because it was his work that really made the passage of the fordpossible. They all know it too, and just now they fairly worship thatlucky chap."
"Oh! I hope it doesn't mean he's dead!" exclaimed Josh with a tinge ofdeep regret in his voice; "that'd be too everlasting bad, you know,after he'd won his promotion, and the cross these Frenchmen prize somuch."
"No, he is still alive, because I saw him wave his hand feebly just thenwhen he passed that group of cheering soldiers," said Rod quickly.
"Bully for that!" exploded Josh exultantly; "somehow or other I justseem to be taking a personal interest in that brave chap, as if he mightbe a friend of mine, though of course I wouldn't know him from Adam. Buta thousand pair of eyes saw what he did, and the army of France knowshow to honor such a hero. We must find out his name before we leavehere, Rod, that's sure."
"I'll not forget to ask it!" declared the other positively, "becausewe'll want to write it down in our log. Whatever his name turns out tobe it's bound to go down to posterity as belonging to one of the heroesof the Battle of the Marne."
"There," continued Hanky Panky, "see, the general is going over himselfto see the wounded man now. Why, even he takes off his military cap. Itmust be a proud time for the man who threw that bomb and wrecked theGerman battery. He not only won the ford for his side, but like as notsaved the lives of scores of his comrades."
Rod was considering his plan of campaign.
"You can see that some of the officers are gathering under that shedyonder," he went on to explain. "I reckon they mean to hold theircouncil of war there, because it looks like the best shelter around. Iwouldn't be surprised if the German forces had the same places forheadquarters before their retreat, because I can see a table there andsome camp chairs."
"Yes, and then, too, it seems to be out of range of the batteries thatwere on the other side of the river; sort of protected as it were," Joshobserved, for he was quick to notice such things.
"All right," Rod wound up by saying; "our plan is to hang around untilthe war council breaks up, and then try to find a chance to speak withthe commander-in-chief. All we want to do is to show him who and what weare, and then ask about Andre. He may not have the time to bother withit himself, but I hope he will put us in charge of some subordinateofficer who can tell us what we want to know, as well as take us toAndre, if so be the poor fellow still lives."
While waiting they strolled around the immediate vicinity, beingconsiderably interested in all that was going on.
Josh in particular seemed disposed not to lose anything. He moved thisway and that, now watching the labors of a string of men dragging at arope by means of which they were helping the horses attached to a heavygun pull the same up out of the river; and a little later even observingthe field surgeon and his assistants binding up the grievous wounds ofscores of poor fellows who had been more or less injured in the battle.
Rod was seated on a stump and thinking seriously of their own affairswhen he suddenly became aware of the fact that his two chums werehurrying toward him. He could also see that they looked both excited andgrave, as though something had happened to alarm them.
Of course the first thing that came into Rod's mind was bad news; hefeared that in some way they might have learned about the fate of Andre,and were now hurrying to tell him all their efforts had been in vain,for the husband of poor Jeanne could never sign his name to the paperthey carried.
"Is he dead, then?" was the way he addressed them as they came pantingup.
"Oh! it isn't about Andre, Rod!" gasped Hanky Panky.
"What then?" questioned the other, at the same time giving a sigh ofrelief, for he had feared the worst.
"It's something Josh here hit on, that's given us both a bad shock;he'll tell you, Rod," continued the other, who was trembling visibly.
"It's just this way, you see," Josh spoke up. "There's a German soldierhiding close by, a wild-looking chap in the bargain. Whee! but he's gotstaring eyes, and he makes me think of a crazy man."
"Oh! he must be one of their wounded," said Rod; "when they pulled outin such a big hurry they couldn't take all with them, and some had to beabandoned. This fellow in hiding that you've run across must be hurt inthe legs, and couldn't get away with the rest."
Josh shook his head with a vim.
"Excuse me, Rod, but I don't think you've hit the real secret," he wenton to say. "This man has stayed here _for a purpose_, and he'sabout ready to lose his own life, I'd say, so as to carry it out. Ireally and truly believe he must have a screw loose in the upper story."
"Go on," said Rod, seeing that Josh evidently knew more than he had asyet explained.
"I just noticed him by the meres
t accident," explained the other. "He'shiding in a hole in the ground. I happened to see him lift his head, andnoticed that he wore the dark green uniform of a German soldier. Then Idiscovered something else, Rod, that gave me a cold feeling, and madethe chills run down my back."
"Go on, and hurry, too!" advised Rod.
"It was a wire, Rod, a wire that seemed to come up out of the ground,and disappear by the side of a tree. It headed straight for the shelterthat used to be the headquarters of the German staff, and where theFrench officers are gathering right now, waiting for the general to jointhem."
"A wire, did you say, Josh?" demanded Rod, starting up, and lookingwhite.
"Yes, and ten chances to one there's a mine, planted under headquarters,which he means to explode so as to blow up the French staff, general andall."
Big Five Motorcycle Boys on the Battle Line; Or, With the Allies in France Page 26