Part 27 (1/2)
”It's like having you back from the dead,” declared Franz, with tears in his eyes as he held the hands of the three friends.
”Better even, for alife they is!” exclaimed Iggy. ”I home a letter will write saying not to read the other what I sent.”
”What other?” asked Bob.
”Oh, he wrote one saying you had been captured and that he was going to hike into German territory and find you the first chance he had,”
explained Franz.
”Sure I would go, but now not,” declared Iggy. ”I home write annudder letter soon.”
”It was good of you to think of us,” said Jimmy. ”And now tell us about yourselves. Are you all right? Have you done any fighting, and have you heard anything of Maxwell and our missing money?”
”Oh, have a heart!” laughed Franz. ”You're worse than an intelligence officer wanting to know the results of a trench raid. But we're all right, as far as that goes.”
”Except we wos of broken hearted yes for fears of you,” put in Iggy.
”Sure we were worried to death,” agreed Franz. ”There didn't seem to be a chance for you. As for fighting, well we haven't done much, though I hear there's a big battle about to come off. And as for Maxwell, we haven't heard a word.”
It was one afternoon when the five Brothers were in a dugout, awaiting orders to go on duty for the night, that Jimmy bethought himself of the sight they had had of the mysterious captain.
”We didn't tell Franz and Iggy about him,” he remarked to Roger and Bob.
”No. Go ahead with the story,” said Bob. ”Maybe they can throw some light on it.”
But Franz and Iggy--though the latter did not say much--could offer no explanation save that put forth by Jimmy and the two lads who had seen what he had seen--that Captain Frank d.i.c.kerson was a German spy.
The night pa.s.sed without incident of moment, except for two false alarms that the Germans were starting a general engagement. And in the morning, after breakfast, the long-looked-for word came.
”It's the advance!” was the general cry. ”We're going forward and pinch out the German salient!”
There was one on this sector--a salient, or wedge, driven into the American line, or, rather, one that had existed since the Americans had taken over this particular part of the country.
”Now for the big battle!” cried Bob.
”And may it soon bring the end of the war!” added Roger.
Jimmy marched along with his chums, going to take charge of a squad that would be among the leaders of the advance. And, as he pa.s.sed a group of American officers, saluting as he did so, his heart almost stopped beating. For standing in their midst, and conversing earnestly with them, was Captain Frank d.i.c.kerson, and this time he wore the uniform of an American officer, with the two bars denoting his captaincy!
CHAPTER XXII
FIERCE FIGHTING
Jimmy's astonishment at seeing the man they had called a German spy was duplicated by his companions. With one accord they halted and stood staring at the captain who had saved their lives. On his part he did not see them, apparently. He stood there talking with other officers as calmly and coolly as though nothing worried him.
”There he is!” exclaimed Bob.
”No question about it!” said Roger.