The Boy Allies in the Trenches Part 24

Another shot rang out from the next house, and a second German trooper, who had exposed his head for a moment, toppled over.

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Chester. "That's pretty good shooting, if you ask me. Wonder who's doing it?"

"There is not much question about that," said Hal dryly. "That is His Lords.h.i.+p, fighting for his bed."

"By Jove!" cried Chester. "I'll bet that's just who it is."

The lads were right.

No sooner had they left the room in which His Lords.h.i.+p lay asleep than he arose and peered forth. His eyes fell upon the Germans in the distance.

His Lords.h.i.+p muttered to himself: "Why can't they let a man sleep?"

It was at that moment that one of the Germans, thinking to draw a fire from whoever chanced to be in the house, fired through the window. The bullet whistled close to His Lords.h.i.+p's head and moved him to action.

"Shoot at me while I'm trying to take a nap, will you?" he said to himself. "Well, if you want my bed you'll have to come and take it."

He reached for his rifle, which stood near the bed, and, dropping on his knee at the window, brought it to bear upon the first German. A crack and a puff of smoke and the Teuton was no more. A second one met the same fate.

These were the two shots whose effect the lads had witnessed from the house next door. Now His Lords.h.i.+p calmly left the window and dragged the bed right up against it. Then he climbed in and lay down flat, still keeping his hand upon the rifle, which protruded through the window. As he glanced over the sights he rested.

Several German bullets crashed through the window and sped above his head; but to these he paid no heed, nor did he fire until he drew a bead upon a vital spot of some German. Then there would be a sharp crack and the result would be one enemy less.

Hal and Chester also were able to pick off an occasional enemy when one happened to expose himself. But the Germans became more cautious now.

"It's only a question of time until they get us," said Hal quietly.

"Certainly they will not allow us to remain here and pick them off like that."

"True," replied Chester. "But I guess we'll be able to pick off a few more before they get us."

From the next house came a hail in His Lords.h.i.+p's languid voice:

"You fellows hold 'em off a little while," it said. "I'm going to take a nap!"

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Chester. "Do you hear that?"

"Oh, I heard it, all right," replied Hal, and he was forced to smile a little to himself.

There came no further shot from the next house, even when a German exposed himself. Had His Lords.h.i.+p been on guard he could have picked him off with ease.

"He's asleep, all right," said Hal briefly. "We need look for no help there."

But in this the lad was mistaken, as he was soon to learn.

The silence from His Lords.h.i.+p's station evidently had caused the Germans to believe that one of their bullets must have gone home, for they came into the open and appeared to be ready to make a dash upon Hal and Chester.

Immediately both lads opened upon them, and several fell. In spite of this, however, the Germans came on. But, as they drew closer to the house, and the lads continued to pour lead into them, there came several quick flashes from the window next door, and as many Germans dropped in their tracks.

His Lords.h.i.+p's repeating rifle was at work once more. The Germans drew off.

His Lords.h.i.+p pumped lead into them right and left as they dashed for the nearest shelter, and by the time they reached it half the number who had rushed forward lay upon the ground.

Now, from the distance, came the sound of trampling hoofs. The sound came from the rear, and in another second the Germans broke from behind their shelter and fled swiftly.

A force of French cavalry dashed into view around the house.

Both lads heaved a sigh of relief and left their refuge.

"May as well go in and tell His Lords.h.i.+p he can finish his nap," said Hal.

But there was no need for this. When the lads entered the room His Lords.h.i.+p lay sleeping peacefully, one hand still grasping his rifle.

"Well," said Chester, "he's the limit. However, he's some fighter, too.

You'll have to give him credit for that."

A few moments later the squadron of British, which had advanced again in the wake of the cavalry, came into sight. The sergeant dashed rapidly toward the house where he had left the boys.

The latter greeted him at the door.

"We didn't miss you until we had gone too far to come back," said the sergeant. "I feared you had been killed."

"We are all right," replied Hal, "but there is no telling what might have happened to us had it not been for His Lords.h.i.+p, who is sleeping in the next room."

"What! His Lords.h.i.+p sleeping while all this was going on?" exclaimed the sergeant, pointing to the bodies of the dead Germans that lay scattered about.

"Oh, that!" exclaimed Chester. "His Lords.h.i.+p did most of that between naps!"

The Allies were now in force enough to hold the town, which they did all that day with Hal and Chester in command. With the coming of night, however, an officer appeared to relieve them. He also informed them that General Joffre desired their presence immediately.

Accordingly the lads left the little village, and midnight found them back in their own quarters. They retired immediately to rest, for General Joffre had left word that he would postpone his interview with them until the morrow.

Bright and early the next morning, however, the lads were admitted to his presence.

"This," said the French commander, placing a paper in Hal's hands, "is an important communication for the French prime minister. I have selected you two lads to place it in his hands immediately. Since you told me of the plot to kidnap the President, I have investigated. From a prisoner I have learned additional facts, which I have put into the paper you hold."

"The prime minister is in Paris, is he not?" asked Hal.

"He is. I have informed the prime minister, by wireless, that you are on the way with the message; also, that if there is any work to be done, he could not do better than to give you chaps a hand in it."

"Thank you, sir," said both lads in one voice.

"Make all possible haste," said General Joffre, waving them from his presence.

CHAPTER XVIII.