CHAPTER XXIX.
SENTENCED TO DIE.
Chester's and Lieutenant Anderson's interview with General Brentz was farfrom being the pleasant few minutes that Hal and Stubbs had experienced.Hal now considered the general a pleasant middle-aged man and a courteousgentleman; Chester looked upon him almost as a barbarian.
General Brentz was striding wrathfully up and down his quarters whenChester and Colonel Anderson were taken before him. He greeted theirarrival with a fierce scowl and motioned the guards outside the door withan angry gesture.
"So!" he exclaimed. "You are British spies instead of German secretagents, eh? Well, we know how to treat all such here. What have you tosay for yourselves?"
"Nothing," said Colonel Anderson, replying for both.
"'Twould do you no good," responded the officer. "But there is one thingI would know. How does it come that you are familiar with the password ofthe Wilhelmstrasse?"
"I can't see where it would do any good to tell you, general,"replied Chester.
"But I demand to know."
"You'll never learn from me," declared the lad.
Colonel Anderson smiled.
"That goes for me, too," he said quietly.
The general glared wrathfully at first one and then the other.
"Very well," he said, controlling his anger. "You shall both be shotat sunrise."
He gazed at the two closely to see what effect his words had; but if heexpected to find an expression of fear upon either face, he wasdisappointed. Colonel Anderson and Chester eyed him steadily, thoughneither spoke.
It was what they had expected.
After a few moments the general spoke again, this time more kindly, withhis eyes full upon Chester.
"You," he said, "appear to be too young for this sort of business. How doyou happen to be mixed up in such desperate work?"
"It's too long a story to go into, general," replied Chester quietly."Besides, as we have not much longer to live, Colonel Anderson and Iwould rather be left to ourselves."
The general seemed about to make an angry reply; then changed his mind,and asked:
"Are you English?"
"No, I am not," replied Chester. "I am an American."
"I thought so," declared the general. "Well, it's too bad, but if youwill mix up in business that does not concern you, you must pay thepenalty. Orderly!"
His orderly entered and came to attention.
"Have these prisoners closely confined," was the command. "Station adetail of five men and see that they are not unguarded a single moment.Then present my compliments to Colonel Frestung and tell him to have afiring squad ready at sunrise. These men are spies and must die."
Again the orderly saluted and motioned the prisoners to precede him fromthe general's quarters.
With heads erect and shoulders squared, Chester and Colonel Andersonmarched out ahead of him. Each realized the futility of a break forliberty and each was determined to live his last moments and die thedeath of a soldier.
Outside a squad of soldiers surrounded them and they were led to a largetent, which was to be their last prison. Inside they found comfortablechairs, a table and several books.
"They seem to take pains to make it pleasant for a man about to die,"remarked Colonel Anderson. "We should be able to spend a profitable day."
"So we should," was the reply. "I wonder if Hal and Uncle John gotthrough safely?" he remarked somewhat irrelevantly.
"I guess we can bank on that," said the colonel. "They got through ifthere was a possible chance."
"I hope that Hal does not venture into the Austrian lines in an attemptto rescue us," declared Chester. "It would be sticking his head into thelion's mouth."
"Nevertheless, that is what he is likely to do," asserted ColonelAnderson. "It is not like him to keep quiet when some one is in danger."
"That's what worries me," confessed Chester. "There is no use of hisbeing killed, too."
"Oh, well," said the colonel, "whatever happens is beyond our power toremedy. Let's talk about something pleasant."
And so they did, whiling away the rapidly flying hours with stories andreminiscences; and the shadows deepened as darkness approached.
"It seems to me that we could get out of this place some way," declaredChester suddenly.
"It seems to me that you are wrong," said, the colonel grimly. "There arefive guards outside, each armed to the teeth. What chance would we have?"
"Well, I don't know," confessed Chester. "I was just thinking."
"Think while you have a chance," said the colonel with a slight grin."Looks like our thinking days were about over."
Chester's eyes roamed about the tent. His eyes sparkled.
"We might as well have a little fun, anyhow," he remarked. "How hard doyou think you could hit a man with that chair you are sitting on?"
Colonel Anderson felt the chair carefully with his fingers.
"Well, pretty hard, I guess," was his reply. "What's the idea?"
"Think you could hit him so hard he wouldn't have time to cry out?"
"Yes; if I was particular how I handled it."
"Well, we'll have a try at it then," declared Chester.
"Try at what? What do you mean?"
"I'll tell you. I'll step out of the tent. The first guard in sight willorder me to get back inside. I'll protest. Then he'll put me in. When helets loose of me, you whack him over the head with that chair, and becareful how you do it."
"Yes, but the other guards?"
"I guess we can work that all right. I have noticed that no two of theguards are in front of the tent at the same time--they are walking aroundall the time. When you have disposed of the first man, we'll work thesame trick on the other."
"And then what?"
"Why then," said Chester simply, "we'll put on their uniforms and walkout of here."
"By Jove!" ejaculated the colonel. "Now I wonder--"
He broke off and for some moments was lost in thought. Then he gotquietly to his feet, determination written upon his strong features.
"It may work," he said. "We'll try it. But we'll have to move quickly andsilently; and we shall have to don the uniforms almost in a single jump."
"All right," said Chester. "Ready?"
"All ready," replied the colonel with a nod.
He picked up the heavy chair and swung it once about his head. Thenhe took up a position at the side of the tent, just out of view fromthe entrance.
Chester walked boldly from the tent.
"Get back in there," came a harsh command in Austrian.
Chester paid no heed and continued to gaze straight ahead into therapidly descending darkness.
"Get back in there," came the command, and still Chester made no move.
The Austrian soldier came up to the lad, and taking him by the shoulders,thrust him within the tent. Chester threw out an arm and succeeded indrawing the man in after him. Then he released his own hold, and with aneffort shook off the grip of his captor. At the same moment he jumpedlightly aside and called in a hoarse whisper:
"Now!"
There was a rush of air as the heavy chair descended, followed by a dullthud, and a second impact as the soldier fell to the ground with acrushed skull. Colonel Anderson was over the unconscious form in amoment, ready to choke an outcry should his blow not have been true. Butthere was no need for this. His aim had been true, and the man wasunconscious before he fell.
"All right," whispered the colonel hoarsely. "Rip off your clothes whileI get him out of this uniform."
Chester flung off his clothes hurriedly, and stepped quickly into theuniform Colonel Anderson gave him. Then he deprived the man of his gunand revolvers.
"All ready for the next one," he said. He moved toward the door.
"Hold on there," called the colonel. "You can't go in that uniform."
"By George! you're right," declared Chester. "What now?"
"You'll have to wield the chair," was the reply. "There is no time tochange
again."
He walked out of the tent and Chester picked up the chair and steppedinto position.
This time, therefore, it was Colonel Anderson who engaged in a heatedaltercation with a second Austrian soldier. The plan worked as well asbefore and the man pushed the colonel back into the tent. The latterdragged the man in after him and stepped hurriedly aside, just as Chesterbrought the chair down upon the Austrian's defenseless head with all hispower. The man dropped like a log.
Hurriedly Colonel Anderson stripped off his outer garments and climbedinto the Austrian's uniform. Then he seized the man's gun and revolversand led the way from the tent.
"If you see another of them, keep your back toward him if possible,"whispered the colonel.
And just as Chester emerged from the tent a third guard stepped aroundthe side. Chester turned his back, as did Colonel Anderson, and the manpaid no heed to them. The fugitives walked away quickly.
Out of sight of the tent they slowed down and breathed with relief.
"Which way now?" asked Chester.
"As straight toward the front as we can go," was the reply. "We'll haveto trust to luck to get through."
They made off with all speed.
And suddenly, from the direction in which they had come, there came aloud cry, followed by several pistol shots and the sound of footstepsrunning after them.
"They have discovered our escape!" shouted Colonel Anderson. "Run."
He suited the action to the word and Chester ran after him.
"We'd better double back and try to throw them off our track," called thecolonel over his shoulder.
He swerved to the right, ran a few rods, and turned to the right again.
And then, abruptly, he came to a pause. Chester, a step behind, crashedinto him. He stumbled, and uttered an exclamation of dismay, as he heardColonel Anderson say:
"We surrender!"
CHAPTER XXX.
SAFE.
As Hal and Anthony Stubbs approached the tent in which Chester andColonel Anderson had been so recently confined, they discussed their planof action; and after several plans had been advanced and rejected, Haldecided that caution must be thrown to the winds.
"A quick dash--and a fight if necessary," he declared.
And Stubbs had agreed, peaceful man though he was; and although Hal didnot know it, the little man was literally shaking in his boots. However,like many men of his kind, he had a certain manner of concealing hisnervousness, and he now followed Hal coolly enough.
Fifty yards from the tent Hal paused, as he saw two figures emerge fromthe prison and walk quickly away.
"Strange. Wonder what that means?" he said to himself. He turned toStubbs. "All right now," he said quietly. "Follow me and be quick."
He ran lightly forward and dashed into the tent. And in the darkness hestumbled over a prostrate form. Quickly he drew a match from his pocketand struck, it. The face of the man on the floor was not that of Chesternor Colonel Anderson. The flare of the match showed him a secondprostrate form, and he saw that this, too, was a stranger to him. Then hesaw the discarded clothing and realized what had transpired.
"Quick, Stubbs! They have escaped!" he shouted, and darted from the tent.
And in the entrance he met an Austrian guard, whose attention had beenattracted by the sound of Hal stumbling within. The man uttered a lowexclamation and sought to bring his gun to bear.
But Hal was too quick for him. In spite of the fact that he keenlyrealized the need of caution, he also realized the value of time. Hishand slipped quickly to his revolver, and without raising it he firedfrom his hip. The Austrian staggered back and tumbled over.
"We're in for it!" cried Hal. "Follow me and hurry!"
He dashed forward in the direction recently taken by the two figures hehad seen leave the tent, for he felt sure the forms were those of Chesterand Colonel Anderson.
Stubbs was right behind him. Fear lent wings to the little man's legs,and Hal, despite his longer strides, did not forge ahead of him. Both ranat full speed.
And suddenly Hal made out figures in front, and before he could swerveaside, he heard Colonel Anderson's well-known voice exclaim:
"We surrender!"
With a stifled shout, Hal put forth an extra burst of speed, as herealized that the men who held the drop on Chester and Colonel Andersonnumbered but three, although from beyond he could see others rushingtoward them.
Again his revolver spoke and a bullet whizzed close to Colonel Anderson'shead; but an Austrian soldier dropped. The others were taken by surprise,and relaxed their vigilance for a moment. And then Colonel Anderson andChester, who had now recovered his balance, fired.
Chester started as he recognized Hal's voice, which now called out:
"Quick, Chester! To the right."
Colonel Anderson was no less surprised, but he did not hesitate; andclosely bunched the four turned to the right and ran for their lives.
Men sprang up on all sides now; and it seemed impossible that the fourcould escape. But fortune favored them.
Swerving suddenly again, Hal, who was in the lead, stopped short, anduttered a cry of pure dismay. The way ahead was blocked. There seemed noway out; and then Chester cried:
"An aeroplane hangar!"
It was true. Fortune had guided their footsteps to possibly the onlyplace in the whole Austrian camp where there was a chance of escape.
Hal wasted no time. Rapidly he mounted the hangar, the others followinghim closely. The lad uttered a short prayer as he climbed and then gave agreat sigh of relief. He had feared there would be no air craft there,but, and Hal cried his relief aloud, there was.
He glanced at the machine quickly and uttered another cry of joy as hemade out that the craft was exceptionally large, capable of seating atleast ten men, and the additional fact that it was a self starter.
"Climb in quick!" he shouted, leaping into the pilot's seat and takingthe wheel.
The others followed this command with all despatch, and Chester took hisplace at the motor.
"Let 'er go, Chester!" shouted Hal.
There came a faint buzz at first, followed by a louder noise as the motorbegan to whir; there was the sound of the whizzing propellers, and themachine shot from the hangar with a lurch.
And at the same moment there came from all sides volleys of rifle andpistol shots. Chester felt a sharp tinge in his left arm, and Hal feltthe breeze of a bullet as it flew by his ear. Colonel Anderson wasuntouched, but Stubbs sent up a howl of anguish.
"I'm shot!" he cried and started to his feet.
The machine rocked crazily as he attempted to rise and Colonel Andersonreached quickly up and seized him by the arm.
"Sit down, you fool!" he commanded. "Do you want to spill us all out?"
Hal threw over the elevating lever and the huge air craft soared into thesky. And not until they had reached an altitude of a thousand feet didHal straighten the machine out for a level flight.
Then he slowed down a moment to take stock of injuries.
"Hit, Colonel Anderson?" he asked.
"No," was the reply.
"You, Chester?"
"Scratch, I guess," answered Chester. "Bullet touched me on the arm.Doesn't amount to much."
"Stubbs?" queried Hal.
"I'm killed!" exclaimed the little man, and there was the trace of aquaver in his voice. "Shot through the heart."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Hal. "If you had been shot through the heart youwouldn't be talking about it now."
"But I was," protested Stubbs.
"Look him over, Colonel Anderson," instructed Hal. "If it's as bad as allthat, throw him out. We can't be bothered with excess now."
"No! No! I'm all right!" declared Stubbs, drawing away as ColonelAnderson extended an exploring hand. "I don't think the bullettouched me."
"All right then," declared Hal, smiling to himself, for his ruse hadworked. "We'll go ahead then."
"Which way?" demanded Chester.
"Back to the Italian
lines; and it behooves us to hurry. There will be asquadron of the enemy after us in a minute."
"Right," declared Chester briefly.
But, much as they would have liked it, they were not to get back withinthe heart of the Italian army for many a long day; and strenuous timeswere to befall them before they again saw their mothers, and Uncle John,who was to put in many weary days searching for them.
As Hal headed the huge machine southward, a blinding glare caught hiseyes. It cut off his view entirely, and only for the lad's quick wit,might have ended the lives of all.
But the moment the light blinded him Hal acted. He knew in an instantfrom whence it came, and he swerved to the right so quickly as almost toupset the plane; but it was in time to avoid the forward sweep of anenemy plane.
"Wow!" cried Stubbs. "Don't throw me out!"
"Keep quiet," ordered Hal, when he had slowed down a bit, so as to easehis dazzled eyes and gain his bearings.
"What was the matter?" demanded Chester.
"Matter?" echoed Hal. "You mean to tell me you didn't see that otherairship flash by?"
"I didn't," replied Chester.
"Well, I did," declared Hal. "We'll have to get away from here prettyquick. There'll be more of them along in a minute."
He threw over the elevating lever and the craft soared higher into theheavens. And again Hal turned south.
Once more he caught the flash of a hostile craft in time to avoid beingrun down. Again and again it happened. And at last Hal said:
"Evidently there is no use trying to get back that way. They must be onthe lookout for us. What shall we do?"
"Whatever you say," replied Chester.
"We'll take a vote on it," Hal decided. "I'll make my suggestion first."
"All right," was the reply.
"Then I'll suggest that we head in some other direction and keep goinguntil we have passed out of the enemy's territory."
"Which way?" asked Colonel Anderson.
Hal considered a few minutes before replying.
"Well," he said finally, "I should say east."
"What!" exclaimed Chester. "Right into the heart of Austria?"
"And why not?" Hal wanted to know. "We'll be safer there than any placeelse. Besides, if we go far enough we'll eventually land in Greece orperhaps Servia or Montenegro. They won't be expecting a foe that far fromItalian soil. What do you say, Colonel Anderson?"
"I'm with you," was the quiet response. "I believe that is goodreasoning."
"My only objection," said Chester, "is that we must get back to UncleJohn, and then to Rome, where mother is."
"True," replied Hal. "But mother would a great deal rather have us safein Greece or Servia, than dead in Italy."
"Which is more good reasoning," declared Colonel Anderson.
"I guess you are right," replied Chester. "I'm with you then."
"And you, Stubbs?" questioned Hal. "You have a vote on this."
"Oh my, I don't care where you go," was the answer in a weak voice, "justso you let me put my feet on the ground once more. I'm so sick."
"Poor fellow," said Chester, in a low voice, "he's frightened."
"What's that?" demanded Stubbs in a shrill voice.
"Frightened? Me frightened? I'll leave it to Hal there if I amfrightened. Who was it found the way to get here and help you fellows,anyhow? Who was it, I ask you? I'll tell you who it was. It was me,Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent of the New York _Gazette_. Yes, sir, itwas--Oh, let's go down. I'm so sick."
"Stubbs, you are all right," declared Hal, and added to the others: "Whathe says is perfectly true. Had it not been for him, we would not be herenow. He conceived the plan that admitted us to the Austrian lines, and ifit were light enough you would see that it was a good plan. I'll ventureto say you would know neither one of us but for our voices," and heexplained in detail.
"By George, Mr. Stubbs, I didn't think you had it in you!" exclaimedChester. He stretched forth a hand. "Shake!" he said.
"Oh, please let me alone," moaned Stubbs. "I'm terribly sick. How longbefore we can go down?"
"Not for some hours, I'm afraid," replied Hal. "If we were to descend nowwe would fall into the hands of the Austrians."
"I don't care whose hands we fall into," mumbled Stubbs, "if we couldonly fall, that's all I ask."
"He must be sick," declared Chester. "Funny it never affected methat way."
"No, it's not," declared Stubbs, suddenly taking an interest in things."Nothing would affect you like it does me. Nor any of the rest of you.You are hardened to these things. I'm a man of peace, and sympathetic,and kind. You are a lot of hard-hearted brutes."
The other three occupants of the machine smiled to themselves. Not forthe world would they have laughed at the little man, for he was veryclose to them all. And at last Hal said:
"Tell you what, Stubbs. I'll put on a little extra speed, just for yourbenefit. We'll get you back on terra firma just as soon as we can."
Stubbs' only reply was another moan.
"Well, Chester," said Hal, "here we are again, flying over an enemy'scountry. May we be as fortunate as we have been before."
"Which we shall be," was Chester's quiet response. "We have had our shareof bad luck in the last few days. Fortune must smile on us at last."
And Chester proved himself a true prophet; for, before another sun hadrisen and set, the huge air craft had carried its four occupants safelyacross the Austrian empire and beyond the Montenegrin border. And here,among these hardy mountaineers, among the best fighters in theworld--among the people of this little Balkan kingdom--the smallest todeclare war against the Teuton oppressor--the lads were to see more ofthe horrors of war--were again to play active parts in the struggle. Andalso they were to see service with the heroic Servian troops, than whomthere are none braver.
But these adventures must come in their proper place; and so, for thetime, we must again take leave of these two lads and their bravecompanions and friends, but only to meet them again in a succeedingvolume, entitled: "The Boy Allies in the Balkan Campaign; or The Struggleto Save a Nation."
Boy Allies in Great Peril; Or, With the Italian Army in the Alps Page 29