CHAPTER VII.
GERMANY'S NAPOLEON.
Hal raised his hands in token of surrender.
"There is no help for it," he said to his two friends in an undertone.
The German commander motioned the three to approach. They did so.
"You will each climb up behind one of my men," ordered the Germanleader.
Hal and Chester did as ordered, but when Alexis approached one of theGerman horsemen the latter eyed him dubiously.
"Man!" he exclaimed. "You can't ride with me. You would break this horsein two."
The officer turned to the soldier.
"Give your horse to the prisoner," he commanded, "and you climb upbehind the man nearest you."
The soldier did as commanded, and a moment later Alexis also was in thesaddle. Then the little troop got under way again, headed for the Germanlines.
There was no conversation as the little troop rode along, and at lengththey were well inside the German trenches. Here, after some delay, thethree prisoners were conducted before General von Hindenburg, the Teutoncommander in the East, a man of kindly face and courteous bearing, theman whose successes, brief though they were, earned him the name of "TheGerman Napoleon."
"How comes it," asked General von Hindenburg of Hal, "that you twoAmerican lads are fighting with the Russians? How comes it that two ladsborn and reared in a civilized country have espoused the cause of thebarbarians?"
"In the first place," answered Hal boldly, "I do not consider theRussians barbarians. In the next place, we joined the Allies when theGermans ravaged Belgium."
"Ravaged!" exclaimed the German commander with some heat.
"Exactly," said Hal. "We joined the Belgian army before Liege, and wehold commissions in the Belgian army. We were also attached for a timeto the British forces under Sir John French. We bore communications fromSir John French to Grand Duke Nicholas, that is how we happen to behere."
"And how did you carry these dispatches, may I ask?" inquired Generalvon Hindenburg.
"By airship," replied Hal briefly.
"What!" cried the general. "You flew over Germany in an airship?"
"Well, only part of it," replied Hal with a grin; and seeing no harm, hetold the German commander of their adventures after being captured andtaken to Berlin.
"You are brave lads," said the general calmly, when Hal had finished. "Iwould that Germany had more like you. But I fear your fighting days areover."
"What will you do with us, General?" asked Chester, who up to this timehad remained silent, Hal usually acting as spokesman when there wasexplaining to be done.
"You will be sent to Posen," replied the general, "where you will bedetained until after the war."
"But that may be for years, General," protested Hal, trying to draw thegeneral out.
In this he was successful.
"You are mistaken," replied General von Hindenburg calmly. "The war willbe over within the next six months. Germany will have conquered."
Hal did not reply, for he had no mind to antagonize the general; but hehad his own ideas as to the ultimate outcome of the war.
The general now summoned one of his staff, and turned the lads over tothe latter with this injunction:
"Have them sent to Posen. Instruct Commander Friech that they must bewell guarded, but treated with kindness."
He bowed gravely to both lads, who saluted and followed the otherofficer from the German commander's quarters.
"You will remain in my quarters until to-night," said the officer to thethree friends, "and you probably will start on your journey aboutmidnight. There is a detachment leaving about that time."
He conducted the three and the dog to his tent, where their wounds weredressed and a guard was stationed over them. Then they were left tothemselves.
Alexis, who up to this time had not spoken, at last opened his mouth.
"What's this all about?" he demanded. "I can't understand thisoutlandish gibberish. What's it all about, anyhow?"
The conversation between the lads and the German officers had been inEnglish.
Chester broke into a laugh.
"Outlandish gibberish!" he exclaimed. "Why, Alexis, if you only knew howyour native tongue sounds, you wouldn't call anything gibberish. It'sfortunate you speak German."
"Well, perhaps so," Alexis agreed. "But what's it all about?"
"Simply," said Hal, "that we are to be taken to Posen, where we will beheld prisoners till after the war."
Alexis uttered a loud Russian imprecation.
"I was in hope," he said, "that when I went into East Prussia it wouldbe as part of an army too big for the Germans ever to drive out."
"It can't be helped now," said Chester briefly.
"It would have been helped if you had let me fight when I wanted to,"said the big Cossack regretfully.
All day long the three were kept close inside the tent. Not once werethey permitted to step into the open. Night fell, and food was placedbefore them. They were almost famished, so they ate heartily, sharingtheir meal with Marquis. It was well along toward midnight when theGerman officer once more entered the tent and informed them it was timefor them to leave.
They followed the officer into the open air, where a large body of menwere ready to move. Quickly they were led to horses, and were soon inthe saddle. Then, closely guarded, they were led away at a swift trot.
The German camp was some miles from the nearest railroad station, and ittook several hours to cover this distance. At last, however, they wereconducted aboard a train, where, under heavy guard, they continued theirjourney.
It was well along toward the next evening when the train, after manystops, finally pulled into Posen. With a number of other prisoners, thethree friends and Marquis, who had been allowed to accompany them, weretaken from the train and turned over to another squad of troops. In thecenter of these they were led to a large and massive castle at one endof the town. Here they were thrust into a dark though well-appointedroom, which, their guard informed them, was to be their prison.
"So this is where we are to spend the next few years, eh?" said Chester.
"The outlook is not very bright," replied Hal, "but we shall have tomake the best of a bad situation."
The three began a careful survey of their prison. There were two largewindows in the room, looking out into a little court. Through these adim light streamed. The windows were heavily barred. Hal and Chestertested the bars. Alexis, however, after one look, sat down in deepdisgust. If his wounds bothered him any, he did not seem to mind them.
"No chance of escape here," said Hal, after shaking one of the heavyiron bars.
"I should say not," agreed Chester, after making a test.
They turned from the windows just as a key grated in the lock of theheavy door, and a man of huge stature, topping the giant frame of Alexisby more than an inch, entered the room.
"Good evening," he said politely enough. "I have come to see if yourequire anything. We have been instructed to treat you kindly."
"A little liberty is about all," said Hal, with a rueful smile.
"I am sorry," replied the newcomer, also smiling slightly, "but that isthe one thing I cannot grant you. I suppose you wonder who I am?"
The boys nodded.
"I," said the newcomer, striking himself a hard blow on the chest, "amFreiderich von Bernstrum, brother of Heinrich von Bernstrum, commanderof this fortress, and I am kept cooped up here while there is fightingto be done--me, Freiderich von Bernstrum, a real fighter!"
"Hm-m-m," muttered Hal to himself as he glanced keenly at Alexis. "Twoof a kind."
Alexis moved restlessly as the big German made this boast. It was plainto both lads that, while he might like to brag himself, he did notrelish hearing another do so.
"Yes," continued von Bernstrum, "I would go to the front. But mybrother, he would stay here. You see," and the talkative German leanedcloser to the lads, "he has a fair captive in the tower above, and heseeks to marry her."
"And who is she?" demanded Hal.
"I will mention no names," replied the German. "Enough that she is aRussian countess."
Alexis jumped to his feet and advanced upon the big German.
"You have dared to lay a hand upon a Russian lady?" he demanded.
The German eyed him amusedly.
"And what of it?" he demanded. "However, you need have no fear. Sheprefers me, and I shall take her away from him."
Alexis raised a threatening hand, but Hal stayed him.
"Quiet," he whispered. "Some good may come of this if you obey me."
Alexis subsided.
Hal approached Chester and whispered.
"Keep von Bernstrum in conversation while I have a word with Alexis."
Chester did as Hal ordered, and the latter whispered to the big Cossack:
"Do you think you can whip this man?" pointing to von Bernstrum.
Alexis' fingers twitched.
"Remember you are wounded, Alexis."
"Try me," he said simply.
"Keep quiet, then, and do as I tell you," said Hal.
He turned again to von Bernstrum.
"I can see," he said, "that the lady would be pleased to know a man likeyou."
"Ah! you see it?" cried the German. "But Heinrich is so cunning. Now ifI had your help----"
"What would you have us do?" asked Hal.
The big German was silent for some minutes before replying.
"If I had your help," he said at length, "I would see that you allregained your liberty. Will you help me?"
"What is it you would have us do?" asked Chester.
"I will not say until you have promised," said von Bernstrum.
"And we will not promise till you have told us," said Hal. "How do weknow that you are a man of your word, or that you are a fighter, such asyou would have us believe."
"What! Freiderich von Bernstrum not a fighter!" exclaimed the big Germanin surprise.
"We have only your word for it," said Hal quietly.
Von Bernstrum paced up and down excitedly. He stopped suddenly.
"Let me bring swords!" he exclaimed, "and you shall see whether I canfight!"
He made as if to leave the room.
"Not so fast!" exclaimed Hal. "The clash of steel would bring the wholefortress down on us. But I shall try you out."
"How?" exclaimed the German eagerly.
"Alexis!" called Hal.
The big Cossack approached.
"Here," said Hal to the German, pointing to Alexis, "is a foeman worthyof your steel. You shall try with him."
"Good!" exclaimed von Bernstrum. "With fists?"
"No," replied Hal, who was somewhat doubtful of Alexis' prowess in thefistic art. "How about a wrestling match?"
"Good!" exclaimed von Bernstrum again. "But I assure you I am hissuperior." He turned to Alexis. "Get ready, man!"
Boy Allies with the Cossacks; Or, A Wild Dash over the Carpathians Page 7