Part 23 (1/2)

”Oh, no, no! He is so unkind,” she said with a shudder that Jack could easily detect. ”He even whipped me because I cried for my mother and Jeanne. So I will go with you, and do anything you say.”

How understandingly she talked for one so young! Jack had marveled that Jeanne should show such remarkable qualities and appear so self-reliant; and apparently Helene was like her. But, alas, war had aged even the babies caught in its snare.

”Listen, Helene,” Jack went on to say, ”do you think you could dress yourself without having a light?”

”Oh, yes, m'sieu, I am sure I can!”

That caused Tom to chuckle with relief, for he felt pretty certain that neither he nor Jack could have managed that, even if given all the illumination heart might wish. And, moreover, Tom felt that he, at least, did not want to try.

”Then get your clothes on just as fast as you can, Helene,” said Tom.

”We will be waiting, and trying to figure out what the next move shall be.”

His last words reminded Jack of the fact that they were now faced by another knotty problem. If the door was locked and the key safe in the possession of the gruff old general below, how then could they take the child away?

He knew it would be utterly impossible to get her to the other window by means of that ledge; for the task had been difficult enough when both hands were free.

But evidently resourceful Tom had already conceived a plan for he was busying himself with the cot from which Helene had so recently arisen and now called to Jack.

Close by the child could be heard moving about, as her nimble little fingers secured first one article of apparel and then another, spurred on by the wild hope of once more seeing her dearly beloved sister.

Jack, pus.h.i.+ng forward, found his chum had turned the cot over, and seemed to be working swiftly at something.

”What have you found, Tom?” he asked.

”As luck would have it, Jack, this cot has a rope under the mattress in place of the usual spring. And it seems to be a good stout rope in the bargain, I'm glad to tell you.”

”Now I get you, Tom! Good! We can slip down that way.”

”If the rope turns out to be long enough. I can put Helene in your arms and drop you down. Then I can follow. I'd rather go about it some other way, but with this locked door we haven't any choice.”

”Why, I think it a cracking good scheme,” said Jack.

”Listen!” exclaimed Tom. ”Doesn't it strike you that there's talking going on outside now?”

”You're right,” agreed the other, almost immediately. ”I do believe those Hun officers are making a move at last. Now there's going to be some fun let loose when they find that both cars are shy on gas.”

”That may be,” muttered Tom. ”But I wish they'd chosen to hang on for just another half hour. I'd ask nothing better. Helene, how are you getting on, child?”

”I am almost ready, m'sieu,” came back in a childish voice that quite thrilled Jack's heart. ”I have only to slip my shoes on now and then I shall be ready.”

Jack followed his chum over to the window, for by this time the entire rope had been secured from the cot. Tom tested its strength as well as he was able, and found reason to believe it was stanch enough to bear a double burden if necessary.

Loud talking now came from in front of the chateau. Evidently the general had gone out to see his guests off. The chauffeurs could be heard cranking their cars desperately, sounds which gave Jack considerable delight. Apparently their ill success had already begun to arouse suspicions in the minds of the two drivers that something was amiss, for the cranking suddenly ceased, and the watchers from the upper window of the chateau could see feeble lights moving about.

These they knew were matches held by the soldiers while they looked over the motors of their cars. After darkness had come again loud cries arose to tell that the alarming discovery had been made that tanks which the chauffeurs swore had contained a fair amount of petrol at the time they drew up before the chateau, were now most mysteriously empty!

The officers chimed in with expletives that came splutteringly from their lips, so that altogether it was a scene of confusion and excitement which was taking place in front of the old building. One particularly rasping voice Jack fancied must belong to the general himself. He pitied those two wretched chauffeurs, who would be apt to feel the displeasure of their superiors in some way altogether unpleasant.

What the outcome of the affair might be Jack had no idea, nor did he care a particle. All he asked was to be given a chance to make off with Helene while the row was in progress. Once they reached the waiting plane, he felt they could snap their fingers at not only General von Berthold but the entire Hun army as well.