Part 9 (2/2)
The German commander motioned the three to approach They did so
”You will each climb up behind one of my men,” ordered the German leader
Hal and Chester did as ordered, but when Alexis approached one of the German horsemen the latter eyed him dubiously
”Man!” he exclaimed ”You can't ride with me You would break this horse in two”
The officer turned to the soldier
”Give your horse to the prisoner,” he commanded, ”and you climb up behind the man nearest you”
The soldier did as commanded, and a moment later Alexis also was in the saddle Then the little troop got under way again, headed for the German lines
There was no conversation as the little troop rode along, and at length they ell inside the German trenches Here, after some delay, the three prisoners were conducted before General von Hindenburg, the Teuton com, the h they were, earned him the name of ”The German Napoleon”
”How co of Hal, ”that you two A with the Russians? How comes it that two lads born and reared in a civilized country have espoused the cause of the barbarians?”
”In the first place,” answered Hal boldly, ”I do not consider the Russians barbarians In the next place, we joined the Allies when the Gered!” exclaimed the German commander with soian arian army We were also attached for a time to the British forces under Sir John French We bore communications from Sir John French to Grand Duke Nicholas, that is hoe happen to be here”
”And how did you carry these dispatches,
”By airshi+p,” replied Hal briefly
”What!” cried the general ”You flew over Germany in an airshi+p?”
”Well, only part of it,” replied Hal with a grin; and seeing no harm, he told the Ger captured and taken to Berlin
”You are brave lads,” said the general calmly, when Hal had finished ”I would that Ger days are over”
”What will you do with us, General?” asked Chester, who up to this ti as spokes to be done
”You will be sent to Posen,” replied the general, ”where you will be detained until after the war”
”But thatto draw the general out
In this he was successful
”You arecalmly ”The ill be over within the next six months Germany will have conquered”
Hal did not reply, for he had no eneral; but he had his own ideas as to the ultimate outcome of the war