Part 37 (1/2)
He also shook hands with Hal. Major Derevaux and Stubbs expressed pleasure at seeing each other again. Then Hal demanded:
”Where did you get hold of Stubbs, Anderson?”
”I found him back in the British lines,” said the colonel. ”I was detailed to come here to see a woman who lives in this house and to bring a companion for the journey. I asked Stubbs to accompany me, and he was glad of the chance.”
”What!” exclaimed Hal. ”You mean you brought Stubbs where there was danger and he didn't protest.”
”No, I didn't protest,” declared the little war correspondent. ”But I protest now. I didn't sign up for any adventures in your party, and neither will I; you can bet on that.”
”If you didn't know him, you'd think he was afraid,” laughed Colonel Anderson.
”I am afraid,” declared Stubbs. ”I'm afraid to go fooling around with these two,” and he indicated Hal and Chester with a sweeping gesture.
”I'd rather fool around with dynamite.”
”Well, we can't stay here any longer,” said Major Derevaux, and in a few words explained to Colonel Anderson what had happened. ”What was the nature of your business here?” he asked.
”About the same as yours,” returned the colonel with a laugh. ”But, as you say, there is no need to linger now. You have learned what I Came to find out. We may as well be moving.”
”How'd you come, an airs.h.i.+p?” asked the major. ”Yes; and you?”
”Same way.”
”Then we may as well get both machines back. I'll take half of your party. My plane is only about a hundred yards from here.”
”My plane is not much farther--in a little woods there.”
”By Jove! So is mine. Wouldn't be surprised if they were near the same spot. Well, let's be moving.”
Colonel Anderson led the way from the house, and the others followed him through the darkness.
CHAPTER XXVII
A NEW VENTURE
It was three days later and Hal and Chester sat in their own quarters in the shelter of the American lines. The flight from the German lines had been made safely. The aeroplanes had been found where Colonel Anderson and Major Derevaux had left them.
These had ascended without knowledge of the Germans, and had started on their homeward flight before being discovered. Then there had been pursuit, but they had landed without being so much as scratched.
”Well,” said Hal, rising and picking up a pile of papers, ”I've studied these maps until I know them by heart. Now if someone can tell me what it's all about, I'll be obliged.”
”Same here,” Chester agreed. ”Funny, when you stop to think about it.
Here they give us these maps and tell us to stuff our heads full of them. Well, my head is full, all right.”
”And mine--h.e.l.lo, here comes someone.”
”It's Captain O'Neill. Maybe he'll, be ready to explain now,” said Chester.
A moment later the American captain entered the tent. The boys saluted. The captain came to the point at once.