Part 4 (2/2)

”I've already met a compatriot of yours,” said the young Dutchman, smiling, ”a Herr Stubbs. He is with one of the New York papers--I forget which.”

Hal and Chester gave a start of surprise, but quickly recovered themselves.

”He is with my paper, The Gazette, sir,” returned Chester. ”Is he in these parts?”

”He was yesterday,” replied Block. ”I do not know where he is now.”

The three friends took an instant liking to the young Dutch newspaper man. He led the three to where he was temporarily quartered.

”We can have a little chat here,” he said.

During the course of the conversation Hal asked:

”And what is the sentiment in Holland regarding the war?”

The young Dutchman hesitated a moment, and then turned and gazed around quickly.

”The sentiment,” he said at last, ”is that Germany must be crushed. Of course, at this moment Holland cannot afford to enter the arena.

Germany has ma.s.sed thousands of troops upon our border. An unneutral act would be dangerous. Nevertheless, Holland's sympathies are with the Allies--have been from the start. There is another factor besides Holland's natural grat.i.tude to England--that makes for this.

Germany has overrun Holland, as well as the rest of the world with spies. Holland is offended, but cannot afford to show it--now. But while we are kept quiet, there are few of us who would not do much to help the Allied cause.”

Hal thought quickly. He glanced at the young Dutchman shrewdly. He felt he could be trusted.

”Then,” said the lad quietly, ”can you conceive of any way by which we can get pa.s.sports from the Dutch government that will pa.s.s us into Germany?”

The young Dutchman manifested no surprise.

”Have no fear,” he said, as Chester and McKenzie manifested some anxiety at Hal's words. ”I shall not betray you. Only yesterday I was able to get a pa.s.sport for your friend Herr Stubbs.”

”What?” cried Hal. ”Stubbs gone into Germany?”

”I supposed you knew that,” said Block. ”I supposed he was one of you.”

”No,” said Chester, ”Stubbs is what he represents himself to be--a war correspondent.”

”Nevertheless,” said Block, ”he has gone into Germany as Herr Klepstein, a Dutch newspaperman.”

”That means,” said Hal, ”that it will be hard work getting pa.s.sports for us.”

”Not at all,” said Block. ”I can do that with ease. There are many Dutch correspondents in Germany. Two or three more won't matter. One of you can take my pa.s.sport.” He looked at Hal. ”You and I look something alike, anyhow,” he said.

”So we do,” Hal agreed. ”But can you get pa.s.sports for my friends here?”

”I can manufacture them myself, the same as I did for your friend Stubbs,” said the Dutchman quietly, ”I need not tell you, however, that should I be discovered I would probably be shot. But why shouldn't I do it? My mother was an English Woman.”

”We shall be greatly obliged,” said Hal.

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