Part 30 (1/2)

Half an hour later they set foot in the streets of the little French city, in German hands now for more than three years.

”We'll hunt a house with a light and see if they'll put us up for the night,” said Hal.

Down a side street they saw a house somewhat larger than the others.

Several lights showed from the windows.

”Somebody up, at all events,” said Chester.

”Trouble is, Germans may already be quartered there,” said Hal.

”Well, we'll have to take a chance,” said Chester grimly.

”Right. So the sooner we try the better.”

Hal led the way, and knocked on the door. Came the sound of hurried footsteps within, and a moment later the door was thrown open. An old woman poked her head out.

”What do you want?” she demanded.

”A place to sleep,” replied Hal, in excellent German, although the woman had spoken in French.

”There is no place here for you!” exclaimed the woman, and would have shut the door.

But Hal was too quick for her. He shoved a foot in the door, and thus prevented its closing.

”Come, my good woman,” he said. ”We mean you no harm, but we must have a place to spend the night.”

”How many of you are there?” asked the woman.

”Six,” replied Hal briefly.

The woman threw up her hands in a gesture of dismay.

”I can't possibly take care of so many!” she exclaimed.

”But we are all coming in,” declared Hal, who realized that the sooner they were off the streets the better.

He pushed the door open and went inside. Chester and the four Canadians followed him.

”Which way, madam?” asked Hal. ”Upstairs?”

The old woman nodded, and led the way up a flight of winding steps.

”I've only one room,” she said, ”so you will have to make the most of it.”

”That will be satisfactory,” said Hal. ”We don't like to inconvenience you.”

”You don't, eh?” exclaimed the woman. ”You're the first who wear that uniform who haven't gone out of their way to inconvenience me, and all other French women.”

”Come, come,” said Hal. ”I'm afraid you are too hard on us.”